Tankendo (Way of the Short Sword)
短剣道Japanese budo with a 53 cm short shinai, rooted in army work with the short blade. Run by the same federation as jukendo, it is practised today only in part of the Self-Defense Forces.
Quick Facts
JapanCharacter & Origin
Training
Organisation & Competition
What the style is built from
Editorial rating on a 0–3 scale, based on how much room each area gets in ordinary training.
About Tankendo (Way of the Short Sword)
Tankendo is a Japanese budo in which fighters spar with a 53 cm short shinai and which is run by the same federation as jukendo. According to a paper at a 2011 congress of the Japanese Academy of Budo, it rests on the one-handed technique of the short sword kodachi, taken from swordsmanship, and developed from the middle Meiji period. According to the same paper, research on the short blade at the army Toyama school, in view of the experience of the First World War, culminated in 1921. Baptiste Tavernier, vice-president of the International Jukendo Federation, dates the origin of the army tanken-jutsu system to around 1919 and states that the Toyama school published its manual in 1922.
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After the war, according to Tavernier, tankendo formally returned much later than jukendo, in the nineteen-seventies. Japanese Wikipedia states that the All Japan Jukendo Federation introduced it in 1978. The equipment is largely that of kendo, but practitioners wear the kote glove only on the right hand and the urabuton padding under the right arm. According to the International Jukendo Federation, all hits recognised in kendo count, plus a thrust to the trunk and a close-range thrust to the trunk after the opponent's arm has been immobilised, seitai-zuki. A bout is won by whoever scores two points of three. The 2011 paper states that tankendo is in fact practised only in part of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
History
According to a paper at a 2011 congress of the Japanese Academy of Budo, tankendo is a budo based on the one-handed technique of the short sword kodachi, taken over from swordsmanship, which arose and developed from the middle Meiji period. In view of the wartime experience of the First World War in particular, the use of the short blade was studied at the army Toyama school, and in 1921 this research was completed. Japanese Wikipedia links the origin to the usefulness of the knife in trench warfare. Baptiste Tavernier, vice-president of the International Jukendo Federation, writes that around 1919 the Japanese army developed a new one-handed system of close combat, tanken-jutsu, which drew on fighting with a detached bayonet and on kodachi techniques. According to him, the Toyama school published a 74-page manual on tanken-jutsu in 1922, covering short blade against short blade, against a rifle with bayonet and against a two-handed military sword. After the war, according to Tavernier, only juken-jutsu and tanken-jutsu were restored, as jukendo and tankendo, and tankendo formally returned much later than jukendo, in the nineteen-seventies. Japanese Wikipedia, citing the federation's page, states that tankendo was not practised when the All Japan Jukendo Federation was founded in 1956 and that the federation introduced it in 1978.
How it differs
Tankendo differs from jukendo in its weapon. Instead of a wooden rifle, a short shinai is held in one hand, and the aim is, besides a thrust, a hit of the kind recognised in kendo. Japanese Wikipedia states that in technique and rules tankendo is close to kendo, but for historical reasons it is run not by the kendo federation but by the jukendo federation. Unlike in jukendo, according to it the kote glove is worn on the right hand. Baptiste Tavernier describes present-day tankendo as rebuilt around the short sword kodachi instead of the detached bayonet. A curved wooden sword similar to the kendo one replaced the straight weapon of 1922. The 2011 paper examined whether the one-handed work with the short shinai from tankendo can be used in teaching beginners in kendo.
Technique
The International Jukendo Federation states that tankendo draws on the old Japanese techniques of the short sword kodachi. According to the 2011 paper, it rests on one-handed work with the short sword, and thrusts decide the great majority of bouts. At a tournament in 2010, thrusts made up 98.7 percent of valid hits. According to Baptiste Tavernier, the left hand in present-day tankendo is without the kote glove, so that it stays free for holds called seitai waza. In the tanken-jutsu of 1922 both hands wore kote and the left hand was a valid target. Tavernier also states that the left hand at the side suggests a scabbard at the waist.
Training
According to the International Jukendo Federation, practice uses a shorter shinai 53 cm long, meant to imitate a Japanese bayonet in the hand. Japanese Wikipedia gives a weight of 250 g for adult men and 200 g for women and youths under 18. The protective equipment is largely the same as in kendo, but practitioners wear only the right kote glove and the urabuton padding under the right arm. According to the federation, tankendo has its own series Tankendo no kata of eight forms, in which short blade stands against short blade. It shares with jukendo the series Mokuju tai tanken no kata and Tanken tai to no kata, each of six forms.
Ranks and progression
The International Jukendo Federation lists separate jukendo and tankendo grades for its officials, for example Jukendo Renshi 7th dan and Tankendo Renshi 6th dan. According to Japanese Wikipedia, the All Japan Jukendo Federation awards the grades and titles renshi, kyoshi and hanshi. According to the same Wikipedia, first to fifth dan are examined in the prefectures twice a year, from sixth dan nationally once a year, and eighth dan can be taken at the earliest six years after seventh and from age 48.
Competition
According to the International Jukendo Federation, in tankendo all hits recognised in kendo count, plus a thrust to the trunk (do-tsuki) and a close-range thrust to the trunk after the opponent's arm has been immobilised (seitai-zuki). A bout is won by whoever scores two points of three. Japanese Wikipedia states that a point counts when two of three referees raise the flag and that the area, as in jukendo, has sides of 10 m. According to it, an All Japan Tankendo Tournament has been held since 2001, the first at the Self-Defense Forces physical education school and later ones at the Nippon Budokan. The paper from the 2011 congress of the Japanese Academy of Budo found that at one regional jukendo and tankendo tournament in 2010 thrusts were 98.7 percent of valid hits.
Today
Tankendo is run by the All Japan Jukendo Federation and internationally by the International Jukendo Federation, which oversee both disciplines together. According to a paper at a 2011 congress of the Japanese Academy of Budo, tankendo is in fact practised only in part of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Japanese Wikipedia states that it is widely practised at the Defense Academy and in the Self-Defense Forces and that soldiers sometimes form the majority at tournaments. Among civilians, according to it, ALSOK's company club practises it, among others, and activity at universities is weak.
Did you know
According to Baptiste Tavernier, a shallow lunge that comes from the army manual Kenjutsu Kyohan of 1889, compiled from French texts, has survived in both present-day jukendo and tankendo.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between tankendo and jukendo?
In jukendo a wooden rifle is used and only the thrust counts, in tankendo a 53 cm short shinai held in one hand, and hits recognised in kendo count too. The All Japan Jukendo Federation runs both disciplines.
Where does tankendo come from?
From Japanese army training. According to a paper at a congress of the Japanese Academy of Budo, research on the short blade at the army Toyama school was completed in 1921, and technically it draws on the short sword kodachi.
Who practises tankendo today?
According to the 2011 paper, it is practised only in part of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Japanese Wikipedia states that it is widely practised at the Defense Academy and in the Self-Defense Forces.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.