Katori Shintō-ryū 香取神道流 - Vietnam ベトナム

[VIETNAMESE]
HÀNH TRÌNH TẠI LỄ HỘI VĂN HÓA VIỆT - NHẬT 2026 ⛩️🌸

Ngày 8/3 vừa qua, võ đường Shobukan đã tham gia biểu diễn tại Lễ hội Văn hóa Việt - Nhật 2026, mang đến công chúng TP.HCM những nét đẹp của kiếm thuật cổ truyền Nhật Bản.

Xin chân thành cảm ơn Ban tổ chức và quý khán giả đã dành sự cổ vũ nồng nhiệt.
Mời mọi người cùng nhìn lại những khoảnh khắc đáng nhớ của võ đường tại sự kiện!

[ENGLISH]

SHOBUKAN AT THE VIETNAM - JAPAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2026 ⛩️🌸

On March 8, the Japan Vietnam Friendship Association and the Japanese Consulate invited Shobukan Dojo to perform at the Vietnam - Japan Cultural Festival 2026. We presented the Japanese classical martial arts to the public in Ho Chi Minh City.

We thank the organizers for their kind invitation and the audience for their warm support.
Here is a link to the online article about the event.
https://www.vothuat.vn/su-kien/chuong-trinh-bieu-dien-vo-thuat-khuay-dong-san-khau-le-hoi-van-hoa-viet-nhat-2026
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Website: https://katorivietnam.org
Instagram: Katori_shobukan_vietnam
Hotline:
- D7: 090 907 2742
- D2: 090 979 4624
Location:
- DISTRICT 7: D1.01 Riverside Residence block D, Tan My ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
https://shorturl.at/nFz5r
- DISTRICT 2: 204/28 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, HCM City.
https://shorturl.at/tEKQW

"To explain the style of combat advocated by Katori Shintō-ryū, I must first briefly describe defensive weaponry. Defensive weaponry, which has developed in tandem with offensive weaponry as its counter, includes the use of regional climatic conditions, available local resources, and man-made defensive equipment.

Fortresses and other such facilities are common examples of the use of local resources or terrain. Similarly, shields are one form of highly mobile defensive equipment; they then evolved into armor that could be wrapped around the human body like clothing.

To defend from enemy assaults, humans are said to have wrapped themselves in pelts or worn wooden armor made of interlaced bark. By the Kofun period (ca. 300-710 A.D.), the early varieties of Japanese armor called tanko and keiko were already largely perfected.

In Japan, armor is known by a variety of terms, including katchū, yoroi-kabuto, and kabuto-yoroi, depending more on the period in which it was referenced than differences in design.

Whether referred to as tankō, keikō, ōyoroi, dōmaru, hara-ate, hara-maki, gusoku or other terms, as the face of warfare changed through the ages, Japanese armor kept pace to reach ever-greater levels of freedom of movement and efficient shape.

I mentioned earlier that the ultimate goal of warfare is to achieve victory without resorting to conflict. The key to successfully achieving this goal is to have an unequalled advantage over the enemy in terms of combative technology, weaponry, and psychology, and to be always one step ahead in terms of intelligence. Thus, we must have a thorough knowledge and understanding not only of offensive weaponry, but of defensive weaponry as well.

Japanese armor has as much artistic value, utility, and presence as the Japanese sword, and is a formidable product of the best in technologies.
However, Japanese armor has, for the sake of greater ease of movement, unavoidable and exposed weak points, and it is this design defect that is targeted by the omote set of sword techniques in Katori Shintō-ryū."

Source: Risuke Otake, Katori Shintō-ryū - Warrior Tradition, New Jersey, Koryu Books (2007)
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Website: https://katorivietnam.org
Instagram: Katori_shobukan_vietnam
Hotline:
- D7: 090 907 2742
- D2: 090 979 4624
Location:
- DISTRICT 7: D1.01 Riverside Residence block D, Tan My ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
https://shorturl.at/nFz5r
- DISTRICT 2: 204/28 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, HCM City.
https://shorturl.at/tEKQW

[For English please see below]

THÔNG BÁO NGHỈ TẾT NGUYÊN ĐÁN 2026

Chào phụ huynh và môn sinh,

Võ đường Shobukan xin thông báo về lịch nghỉ Tết âm lịch năm 2026.

Trường sẽ ĐÓNG CỬA từ Thứ Sáu ngày 13/02/2026 đến Thứ Năm ngày 26/02/2026 và MỞ CỬA tập lại từ Thứ Sáu ngày 27/02/2026.

Chúc các phụ huynh và môn sinh năm mới nhiều sức khoẻ, hạnh phúc và thành công!

Trân trọng.
Võ đường Shobukan
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TET HOLIDAY 2026 ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear parents and students,

Shobukan dojo would like to inform you about the Tet holiday 2026.

We will CLOSE from Friday 13/02/2026 to Thursday 26/02/2026 and REOPEN from Friday 27/02/2026.

Happy Lunar New Year!
We wish you and your family health, happiness and success in the new year.

Best regards,
Shobukan Team
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Website: https://katorivietnam.org
Instagram: Katori_shobukan_vietnam
Hotline:
- D7: 090 907 2742
- D2: 090 979 4624
Location:
- DISTRICT 7: D1.01 Riverside Residence block D, Tan My ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Lz6ZAzLMi5XVoKiK6
- DISTRICT 2: 204/28 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, HCM City.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wzR1zPdk3yTe9XLZ8

“Yari - Spears
An array of polearms, or yari, also brought death to more people than swords in samurai medieval warfare. Most were double-bladed and designed for stabbing, they ranged from smaller spears designed to be used in confined spaces, to long nagae yari, which could stretch to 21¼ feet (6.5 meters). In between, there were crescent-shaped blades, triple-bladed spears, asymmetrical blades and even triangular-shaped blades. By the 16th century, ashigaru maneuvering in close formation were the backbone of battlefield armies, sometimes integrated with lines of soldiers bearing fi****ms. Mounted samurai also used spears, the momentum of a horse's gallop adding to the deadly force of the weapon.
Spears, and the earlier naginata (glaive), were also used to injure and dismount horseback riders. The naginata was essentially a curved sword mounted on a shaft; it was also a popular weapon among warrior monks and became the representative weapon studied by women of samurai families to defend the homestead. Naginata is practiced as a martial art in contemporary Japan, primarily by women.”

Source: Gavin Blair foreword by Alexander Bennett, An illustrated guide to Samurai History and Culture - From the Age of Musashi to Contemporary Pop Culture, Tokyo, Tuttle Publishing
Pic source: Risuke Otake, Katori Shintō-ryū - Warrior Tradition, New Jersey, Koryu Books (2007)

Website: https://katorivietnam.org
Instagram: Katori_shobukan_vietnam
Hotline:
- D7: 090 907 2742
- D2: 090 979 4624
- DISTRICT 7 LOCATION:
D1.01 Riverside Residence block D, Tan My ward, Ho Chi Minh city.
https://shorturl.at/nFz5r
- DISTRICT 2 LOCATION:
204/28 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, HCM city
https://shorturl.at/tEKQW

“THE APPEARANCE OF WEAPONS
All living creatures possess an intrinsic capacity for waging struggle. As beasts grow nature gives them weapons with which to attack enemies or defend their families. Beasts have sharp claws, tusks, strong horns, forelegs with which to deliver powerful blows, and hindlegs useful for kicking; with these weapons they defend themselves.

Man does not possess such formidable natural weapons as do beasts, but because of his various experiences and research has learned how to make the best effective use of implemental weapons for hunting or combat.

Any race in any country in the world, including our Japanese ancestors of the remotest eras, had methods with which to catch birds and other animals for food. The implements that they used the ancients used for hunting were eventually developed into sophisticated weapons.

Archeologists have proved that many of the weapons used in prehistoric times were clubs and axes made of stone, or in some cases, made from bone, horn, or the tusks of beasts. Stone weapons, once used in prehistoric hunting, have been found in our modern time.

While swimming in the sea or walking in the mountains and fields, ancient man noticed the elasticity of seaweed, grasses, vines, trees, and bamboos, and discovered that these things could be used to project missiles more effectively than the stone thrown by hand. Later, these early experiences with the projection of missiles led to the development of the bow and arrow. The bow and arrow is a great invention, and relative to the time when it was first discovered, it as monumental a discovery as is our nuclear bombs of today.

Until quite recent times the bow and arrow has used for hunting purposes as the best projectile weapon with which to kill game at long range.

As for weapons operating at middle-range, mention must be made of the halberd and spear, both featuring a blade that is mounted on a long wooden shaft. With regard to short-range weapons, the sword has proven best. The oldest sword used by primitive man dates to man's earliest appearance on earth. Later, the copper sword appeared; this being rather short in length because of the inherent weakness of that metal, no matter how efficient was the cutting edge. Then the iron sword appeared; it was both sharp and strong…”

Source: Risuke Otake, The deity and the sword 2, Tokyo (Japan), Minato Research & Publishing Co.,LTD (1977)

Website: https://katorivietnam.org
Instagram: Katori_shobukan_vietnam
Hotline:
- D7: 090 907 2742
- D2: 090 979 4624
- DISTRICT 7 LOCATION:
D1.01 Riverside Residence block D, Tan My ward, Ho Chi Minh city.
https://shorturl.at/nFz5r
- DISTRICT 2 LOCATION:
204/28 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, HCM city
https://shorturl.at/tEKQW

"𝑲𝑰𝑨𝑰 - 𝑼𝑵𝑰𝑭𝑰𝑬𝑫 𝑬𝑵𝑬𝑹𝑮𝒀
𝐊𝐢: 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲; 𝐀𝐢: 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐚𝐢 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬; so important that it has engendered a whole literature in which the most ludicrous assertions have been made. Who hasn't heard of the story of the warrior paralysing his enemy with a secret method of battle screaming?

The Kiai may have two effects: one physical and one psychological.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐚𝐢 is to solicit the abdominal part of the body by forcibly exhaling air. This abdominal part is the link between the two most important muscular parts of the body: the thighs and the back. By contracting the abdominal region, the Kiai permits a concerted action of the whole body on a given point with a maximum of perfectly controlled energy.

The Kiai is tiring because it obliges the trainee to give himself totally each time, but the regular production of the Kiai will make him aware of the origin of his energy and will progressively improve his use of it.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐚𝐢 is not as fanciful as some lore or films would have us believe. On the contrary, a well trained individual will not so much as blink at the sound of a Kiai, unless it is delivered with unusual intensity and resonance. However, it is clear that Kiai is a useful teaching tool for a beginner. While it strongly underlines the intensity of the work, an unexpected Kiai can also be a test of a student's concentration, or can simply shake him out of his lethargy. The Kiai also has a psychological effect on the person who emits it. It will "give him heart" when he faces formidable opponent.

Finally, the intensity of the Kiai is an excellent indicator of the quality of the work produced in a Dojo. It can be an important clue in revealing loss of control in a student who is getting worked up and takes the "bit by the teeth"."

Source: Pascal Krieger, Jodô - The way of the stick

Website: https://katorivietnam.org
Instagram: Katori_shobukan_vietnam
Hotline:
- D7: 090 907 2742
- D2: 090 979 4624
- DISTRICT 7 LOCATION:
D1.01 Riverside Residence block D, Tan My ward, Ho Chi Minh city.
https://shorturl.at/nFz5r
- DISTRICT 2 LOCATION:
204/28 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, HCM city
https://shorturl.at/tEKQW

“Following the Chinese tradition, the warriors of Japan were concerned not only with the interplay of the two contrasting basic components of the world, but also with the five elements which combine in an infinite number of ways to create all that exists in the world. Otake Sensei elaborated on these aspects of the Japanese warrior's world view:

“The days of the week are named in accordance with the principles of yin and yang. The first day of the week is the day of the sun, Sunday; the second day of the week is the day of the moon, Monday; and the remaining five days of the week are named after the five principal physical elements as determined by the study of the positive and negative principles in ancient times in Asia. The days are named after the five elements: fire, water, wood, metal and earth. According to the principles of yin and yang, these five elements can be arranged in two fashions. One is an order in which they generate each other, and this is a harmonious ordering; the other is one in which the elements are arranged according to their rivalry with each other.

In the harmonious relationship of the five elements wood will produce fire, and fire will turn the wood into ash: that is to say, it will produce earth. The earth will produce metal; metal will produce water and water will produce wood, "The second ordering, based on the concept of the rivalry of these elements, begins with wood. This will break up the earth; earth will soak up or stop water; water will put out fire; fire will melt metal and metal will cut wood. "This study of the positive and negative forces in the universe; the study of the Buddhism of incantations and spells called mikkyo; the study of the five elements, and the study of magic spells, were all brought together and played a role in the self- cultivation of the fighting men, and of the military generals of the past. These studies formed the basis of their curricula.

"The true content of what has been traditionally called the martial arts is not concerned only with techniques for killing other people. Much more is involved. The founder of the Shinto Ryu, Choisai Sensei, devised studies aimed at developing mutual harmony and an essentially peaceful co- existence between man and nature, and man and his fellow men. This is what he had in mind when he said that the martial arts must be the arts of peace. The serious warriors and commanding officers of the past knew a wide variety of arts besides those of killing other people. Without their philosophical content, the martial arts would be nothing more than the acquisition of animal-like brute strength.””

Source: Howard Reid & Michael Croucher, The way of the warrior, New York, Simon & Schuster, Inc (1987)

Website: https://katorivietnam.org
Instagram: Katori_shobukan_vietnam
Hotline:
- D7: 090 907 2742 (Ms. My)
- D2: 090 979 4624 (Ms. Tram)
- DISTRICT 7 LOCATION:
D1.01 Riverside Residence block D, Tan My ward, Ho Chi Minh city.
https://shorturl.at/nFz5r
- DISTRICT 2 LOCATION:
204/28 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, HCM city
https://shorturl.at/tEKQW

[For English please see below]
Thông báo nghỉ lễ 2/9

Kính gửi phụ huynh và học viên,

Võ đường Shobukan sẽ NGHỈ từ thứ 7 ngày 30/08/2025 đến hết thứ 3 ngày 02/09/2025 mừng Lễ Quốc Khánh.

Trường sẽ MỞ CỬA LẠI vào ngày thứ 4 ngày 03/09/2025.

Chúc các gia đình một kỳ nghỉ lễ vui vẻ !!!

Trân trọng,
Võ đường Shobukan
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Vietnamese National day announcement
Dear parents and students,

Shobukan dojo would like to inform you that our dojo will be CLOSED for Vietnamese National Day from Saturday 30/08/2025 to Tuesday 02/09/2025.

We will REOPEN on Wednesday 03/09/2025.

Have a great holiday !!!

Best regards,
Shobukan Team

“BUGEI AND BUDO
During the Tokugawa period, the term "budo" was used in the same way as bushido or shido to represent the customs and lifestyle of warriors. The terms representing the martial arts included “bugei” and “hyoho”, whereas budo and bushido referred to the warrior’s way of life.

The most important attribute of a warrior subjected to a life of conflict was "autonomy". Bushi rose from circumstances of instability. They had no recourse to rely on other people to protect their holdings and families, and needed to be self-sufficient and capable of safeguarding their own interests. This idea of independence lay at the very foundation of bushi culture, and was the source of their pride and honour. Their autonomy was sustained by virtue of their personal strength and fighting skills, and they embodied a degree of confidence to triumph in any confrontation through their own devices.

Warriors needed to be capable of dealing with any situation without having to rely on others. They possessed combat skills as well as the ability to manage and govern their estates. They also functioned as protectors or police for the lower classes of people of residing in their domains. Ideally, bushi were adept in diplomacy with other warrior groups, were educators to their own children, and were capable of an array of tasks necessary to ensure survival and prosperity for the family line.”

Source: Nippon Budokan, Budo - The martial ways of Japan, Tokyo, Japan, Nippon Budokan Foundation (2009)
Picture source: Internet

Website: https://katorivietnam.org
Instagram: Katori_shobukan_vietnam
Hotline:
- D7: 090 907 2742 (Ms. My)
- D2: 090 979 4624 (Mr. Cuong)
- DISTRICT 7 LOCATION:
D1.01 Riverside Residence block D, Tan My ward, Ho Chi Minh city.
https://shorturl.at/nFz5r
- DISTRICT 2 LOCATION:
204/28 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, HCM city
https://shorturl.at/tEKQW

“TYPES OF SHURIKEN
From the study of old shuriken and from illustrations in old manuscripts, it is clear that numerous types of shuriken existed. Basically, sources on the subject seem to agree on two main categories: the bōshuriken (棒手裏劍,”stick shuriken") and the shashuriken (車手裏劍, wheel shuriken"). Further classifications are possible, including the following: kugi-gata (釘形), harigata (針形), ryōbarigata (両針形), yarihogata（槍穗形),hokogata（鉾形), tantōgata(短刀形), ryūseigata (流星形)，and jūjigata(十字形). The list is virtually endless and depends largely on the imagination of the shuriken maker or the person undertaking the cataloguing. It must also be borne in mind that many of the names were not used by the inventors of a shuriken but were attached later. The inventor wanted the weapon for its surprise value, so he was not going to show it and thus did not need a name for it. For ease of reference, I will divide shuriken according to the following characteristics:
• straight shuriken
• star, cross, and disc shuriken
• special shuriken
It is not always easy to assign a certain shuriken to a particular category. When a bō-shuriken has two sharp points, it is called ryōbarigata shuriken（両針形手裏劍，"double-
pointed shuriken"), and a name for shuriken with at least three points (for example, the
famous star-shaped shuriken） is tashinshuriken（多針手裏劍，"multiple-point shuriken").
All tashinshuriken are also shashuriken, but shashuriken are not always tashin-shuriken. According to one explanation, the name shashuriken refers to its movement when in flight, as it spins around its axis like a wheel (sha). The flight of the star-shaped shuriken resembles this, but since it has more than three points, it is both a shashuriken and a tashin-shuriken. Some shashuriken are shaped like discs, with a cutting edge all around the circumference but no points, so they cannot be called tashinshuriken. In fact, the flatter star, cross, and disc shuriken can also be called hirashuriken (平手裏劍),meaning "flat shuriken," since they resemble flat metal plates (teppan). In the discussions of the different shuriken, more precise information will be provided, wherever appropriate, about other categories they might fit into, as well as any special names and other characteristics."

Source: Serge Mol, Classical Weaponry of Japan - Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts, Tokyo, Kodasha International Ltd (2003).

Website: https://katorivietnam.org
Instagram: Katori_shobukan_vietnam
Hotline:
- D7: 090 907 2742 (Ms. My)
- D2: 090 979 4624 (Mr. Cuong)
- DISTRICT 7 LOCATION:
D1.01 Riverside Residence block D, Tan My ward, Ho Chi Minh city.
https://shorturl.at/nFz5r
- DISTRICT 2 LOCATION:
204/28 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, HCM city
https://shorturl.at/tEKQW

“Among the different paths involving disciplined training, the particularly dangerous nature of budo requires unwavering vigilance in the course of training.

Those who choose the path of budo must remain mindful that to approach training with a malevolent heart is destructive, a mindset known in kenjutsu as satsujinken (the murderous sword). Examples of swordsmen of old whose paths led to misfortune merely because they lacked upright characters are not as rare as one might think. But if we always approach training with a pure heart, conflicts can be faced with the confidence needed to quell hostilities and find peaceful solutions, an attitude known as katsujinken (the life-giving sword).

Bushido, the way of the warrior, is a life lived to the very end without swerving from the sacred path of integrity and sincerity. In other words, bushido imbues one with a spirit of self-sacrifice. This spirit enables us to give our lives without regret for the sake of those who appreciate our worth as human beings. The beautiful phrase, "A samurai will gladly lay down his life for those who truly understand him," exemplifies this moving sentiment.

Thus, bushido inspires people to act with sincerity and approach those of higher standing with respect and those below with love. Regardless of how low a person's standing may be, the same affection and sensitivity that is shown to superiors should also be shown to those who recognize one's true worth. It is within this relationship that fresh life is given to our innate human capacity for a loving-kindness that transcends the bounds of class differences.”

Source: Risuke Otake, Katori Shintō-ryū - Warrior Tradition, New Jersey, Koryu Books (2007)

Website: https://katorivietnam.org
Instagram: Katori_shobukan_vietnam
Hotline:
- D7: 090 907 2742 (Ms. My)
- D2: 090 979 4624 (Mr. Cuong)
- DISTRICT 7 LOCATION:
D1.01 Riverside Residence block D, Tan My ward, Ho Chi Minh city.
https://shorturl.at/nFz5r
- DISTRICT 2 LOCATION:
204/28 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, HCM city
https://shorturl.at/tEKQW