DON'T JUST WATCH SOMEONE ELSE USE A SAMURAI SWORD.

LEARN TO WIELD ONE YOURSELF.

There's something about the Japanese Samurai sword that has fascinated people for centuries.

Its history.

Its design.

Its reputation.

And the extraordinary skill of the warriors who carried it.

Maybe you've watched skilled practitioners drawing and cutting with a katana.

Maybe you've seen sword techniques demonstrated in martial arts classes, movies, documentaries or online.

Maybe you even own a Japanese sword yourself.

But there's a tremendous difference between watching someone else wield a Japanese sword...

and beginning to develop the ability to wield one yourself.

That's what the Samurai Sword Primer is designed to help you do.

Over the course of this progressive program, I'll introduce you to the foundational skills involved in actually handling and moving with the Japanese sword—from properly wearing and drawing it to assuming kamae, moving, fundamental cutting actions, managing distance, defending and beginning to put those individual skills together.

And because this is LIVE instruction, you won't simply be left trying to imitate what you see on a screen.

I'll be able to watch you work, identify problems, make corrections and help you improve as we progress.

A VIDEO CAN SHOW YOU A SWORD TECHNIQUE.

BUT A VIDEO CAN'T WATCH YOU TRAIN.

There's certainly no shortage of information about Japanese swordsmanship available today.

You can find demonstrations on YouTube.  Buy instructional videos.  Read books.  Study photographs and diagrams.

And all of those can be useful.

But none of them can look at what you're doing and say:

“Move your foot here.”

“You're reaching with your arms instead of moving your body.”

“Your distance is wrong.”

“Try that again—but make this adjustment.”

And then watch you try it again.

That's the difference between simply having access to information and receiving instruction.

During this Samurai Sword Primer, you'll be able to follow along with me whether you're standing on the training floor here in Sunbury or joining us LIVE through our Cyber-Dojo on Zoom.

You'll learn.

You'll try it.

I'll watch.

We'll make corrections.

Then you'll have time to practice what you've learned before returning to build upon it.

THIS ISN'T FOUR UNRELATED SWORD CLASSES.

The Samurai Sword Primer is deliberately progressive.

Rather than dumping hours of techniques on you and hoping you remember them, we'll build your foundation in stages.

The developmental rhythm is simple:

LEARN → PRACTICE → RETURN → BUILD

We'll spend our first three Wednesday evenings developing the individual skills.

Then something important happens.

You get time to practice.

Instead of immediately rushing into more lessons, you'll have an extended practice and integration period to work with what you've learned.

You'll be able to use the class recordings, repeat the material, discover what's becoming comfortable—and find the things that aren't.

Then you'll come back.

And this time, we'll have three hours together.

We'll review, troubleshoot, correct, refine... and  connect the pieces.

And then begin applying those skills through an introduction to Tojutsu (刀術)—the combative use of the Japanese sword.

HERE'S WHAT WE'LL BE DOING

CLASS 1 — SEPTEMBER 9

GET COMFORTABLE HANDLING THE SWORD

Wednesday • 7:30–9:00 PM Eastern

Before you can begin wielding a sword effectively, you need to become comfortable simply handling it.

We'll introduce the weapon itself and begin developing the habits and fundamental skills you'll need throughout the rest of the course.

CLASS 2 — SEPTEMBER 16

Learn to draw, move, wield, defend and control the Japanese sword while developing fundamental cutting and thrusting actions.

Wednesday • 7:30–9:00 PM Eastern

Now we begin putting the weapon into motion.

You'll start developing the relationship between your body, your footwork and the sword rather than treating cutting as something performed only with your arms.

CLASS 3 — SEPTEMBER 23

LEARN TO DEFEND AGAINST ANOTHER WEAPON

Wednesday • 7:30–9:00 PM Eastern

Being able to move and cut with a sword is only part of swordsmanship.

Eventually there's another person—and another weapon—in the equation.

We'll begin exploring the fundamental relationships that allow you to protect yourself while creating opportunities to respond.

THEN... WE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

YOU GO PRACTICE.

After the first three progressive lessons, you'll have an extended Guided Practice & Integration Period.

This isn't dead time between classes.

It's part of the course.

You'll have the recordings from the lessons you've already completed and specific material to work with.

Instead of constantly adding something new, you'll have time to make what you've already learned better.

You'll be able to work on your draw, your kamae, your movement, cutting actions, transitions, distance, and your defensive actions.

And, inevitably, you'll encounter questions.

Something you thought you understood in class may suddenly feel different when you're practicing it by yourself.

Something awkward may start becoming natural.

Something else may feel out of place or uncoordinated.

And... That's Good!  That's what training is all about!

Because then you're coming back to the instructor with something more valuable than a blank slate.

You're coming back with experience.

FINAL 3-HOUR INTEGRATION WORKSHOP

PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER

Sunday, October 11 • 2:00–5:00 PM Eastern

This won't be just another 90-minute lesson.

After your extended practice period, we'll come back together for a three-hour capstone workshop.

FIRST — REVIEW & REFINE

We'll revisit the foundational material from the first three lessons and see what happened during your independent practice.

What improved?

Where did problems develop?

What needs correcting?

What still feels awkward?

This gives me an opportunity to help you refine the skills you've been developing before we move forward.

NEXT — CONNECT THE PIECES

We'll begin moving beyond isolated exercises.

Draw into kamae.

Kamae into movement.

Movement into cutting actions.

Cutting into recovery.

Receiving into positioning.

Defense into counter-attack.

You'll begin seeing how the individual pieces you've practiced relate to one another.

THEN — BEGIN APPLYING IT THROUGH TOJUTSU

Finally, we'll introduce fundamental attack-and-defense models and Tojutsu no Kihon Gata that allow you to begin applying what you've developed.

The purpose of this isn't to just hand you another set of sword techniques.

It's to give you a place to begin putting together the things you've spent the previous weeks learning and practicing.

NEW! Payment Plan Option!

*After completing your enrollment, watch for a confirmation email containing important course information and next steps.

YOU'RE NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME A SWORD MASTER IN A FEW WEEKS.

And anyone promising you that probably shouldn't be trusted with a sword!

The objective of the Samurai Sword Primer is much more practical:

Build a legitimate foundation that further Japanese sword study can be developed.

By the end of the Primer, you'll have been introduced to the foundational skills involved in:

Wearing → Drawing → Kamae → Moving → Cutting Actions → Controlling → Defending → Applying

More importantly, you'll have actually worked with them, practiced them between lessons and returned for instructor feedback and correction.

WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU ENROLL

Your registration includes much more than access to four meetings.

Over 7 HOURS OF LIVE JAPANESE SWORD INSTRUCTION

Three progressive 90-minute lessons followed by a three-hour final integration workshop.

LIVE INSTRUCTOR FEEDBACK

I'll be watching students both here at the dojo and online so I can identify problems, make corrections and help you improve while you're actually working.

GUIDED BETWEEN-CLASS PRACTICE

You won't simply finish a lesson and wonder what you're supposed to do until the next one.

You'll know what you should be practicing.

AN EXTENDED PRACTICE & INTEGRATION PERIOD

After the first three lessons, you'll have additional time to work with the material before returning for the final workshop.

RECORDINGS OF EVERY CLASS

Miss something?

Need another look at a lesson?

Want to review something while you're practicing?

Every class will be recorded so you can return to the material.

A PROGRESSIVE SWORD CURRICULUM

You're not purchasing four disconnected collections of techniques.

Each stage prepares you for what comes next.

LIVE IN SUNBURY OR JOIN US ONLINE

TRAIN WITH US IN PERSON

Warrior Concepts Black Belt & Life Mastery Academy
314 Market Street, Suite 1
Sunbury, PA 17801

Train directly with me on the dojo floor.

OR JOIN US LIVE ONLINE

Not in Pennsylvania, or too far away to travel?

Join us through Zoom.

Position your camera so I can see you work and you'll be able to follow the same lesson, ask questions and receive feedback during the live class.

NEW! Payment Plan Option!

*After completing your enrollment, watch for a confirmation email containing important course information and next steps.

CAN'T MAKE ONE OF THE CLASSES LIVE?

All four sessions are recorded.

That means a scheduling conflict doesn't have to cost you an entire lesson—and you'll have access to the recordings for review during your personal practice.

YOU DON'T NEED TO ALREADY BE A SWORDSMAN.

That's rather the point.

The Samurai Sword Primer is an introduction.

You don't need to show up knowing all the kamae.

You don't need to know Japanese terminology.

You don't need to have memorized sword kata.

And you certainly don't need to pretend you're already good at something you've come here to learn.

Come ready to learn.

We'll start from there.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

You don't need an expensive collection of Japanese sword-training equipment to participate.

BOKKEN ("Wooden Practice Sword") — REQUIRED

A wooden Japanese training sword will be your primary training weapon for much of the course.

It will allow you to safely develop and practice fundamental kamae, movement, cutting actions and defensive skills.  And, while some may think, "I'll just use one from the Academy," this doesn't help with the all-important between-class practice needed for students to do well in this course.

MARTIAL ARTS UNIFORM & BELT — REQUIRED

You'll need a martial arts uniform (Gi) and martial arts belt (Obi).

I'll also show you how to properly tie and wear your belt for sword training so that it can securely support and position the sword for drawing and returning it.

IAITŌ — OPTIONAL

If you already own an appropriate non-sharpened Japanese practice sword with saya (scabbard), you're welcome to use it during the appropriate portions of the course.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO PURCHASE AN IAITŌ TO PARTICIPATE.

A suitably sized piece of plastic tubing can serve as a simple practice scabbard for your bokken.

This will allow you to practice the mechanics of wearing, drawing and returning the sword without the added expense of an iaitō simply to participate in the Primer.

NO LIVE BLADE IS REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE.

The objective is to develop your foundational sword-handling and movement skills—not to see who owns the most expensive sword.

LOCAL STUDENTS: NEED EQUIPMENT?

WE CAN HELP WITH THAT, TOO.

If you're attending at the Academy and don't already have the necessary equipment, you won't have to search online and guess about what you should buy.

Local participants will have the opportunity to order a Samurai Sword Primer Training Bundle through the Academy when registering.

Already have some of the equipment?

No problem.

You can simply order the individual pieces you still need.

Training equipment is purchased separately from course registration.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ONLINE STUDENTS

Make sure you have sufficient clear space around and above you to safely use your bokken without striking ceilings, lights, furniture, other people or pets.

And remember:

You don't need an iaitō to participate online.

A bokken and an appropriate practice scabbard are enough to work with the foundational skills being taught.

THE SWORD MAY BE WHAT GETS YOUR ATTENTION.

WHAT IT CAN TEACH YOU IS WHY YOU'LL KEEP TRAINING.

Yes, you're going to learn about the Samurai sword.

You're going to draw it.

Move with it.

Learn to execute cutting actions with it.

Defend with it.

And begin learning how to control it.

But as your skill develops, you may begin discovering that the sword has quite a bit to teach you about yourself as a martial artist as well.

Distance becomes harder to ignore.

Timing matters.

Poor positioning has consequences.

Movement that seemed “good enough” without a weapon may suddenly feel very different with three feet of weapon extending from your hands.

That's part of what has made sword study valuable to generations of martial artists.

The sword isn't merely something you learn to use.

It becomes something you learn FROM.

THE SAMURAI SWORD PRIMER

A Progressive Introduction to Wielding the Japanese Katana

THREE PROGRESSIVE LIVE CLASSES

Wednesday, September 9 • 7:30–9:00 PM ET

Wednesday, September 16 • 7:30–9:00 PM ET

Wednesday, September 23 • 7:30–9:00 PM ET

PLUS...

GUIDED PRACTICE & INTEGRATION

Work with what you've learned before returning for your final session.

THEN...

Don't Just Watch Someone Else Wield a Samurai Sword.

Put One in Your Own Hands and Begin Learning to Wield It Yourself.

*After completing your enrollment, watch for a confirmation email containing important course information and next steps.

NEW!  Payment Plan Option - 2 x $67.

First Pmt of $67 now, and balance of $67 30 days from enrollment.