Sword And Staff
Training Resumes March 2024
Sword And Staff
Deepen your understanding of stillness with training in the traditional Japanese martial arts involving both the traditional Japanese training swords (the bokken and the shinai) and the short staff (jo).
As you alternate between the role of attacking sword (teacher) and defending stick (student) in no time, you will become proficient in both weapons, inevitably understanding that the very practice of Sword And Staff is the manifestation of stillness - clarity, certainty, and presence.
Movements and Forms
Like most martial arts, Sword And Staff practice comprises two distinct components – kihon waza (basic movements) and kata (forms), and your training will incorporate plenty of each. And what makes Sword And Staff especially rewarding is that you will be mastering two completely different styles of weapons at the same time.
You will start by learning and perfecting the basics. We dedicate four sessions to each kihon waza. And as each is learned independently of the others, you will have the opportunity to step into the Sword And Staff class every four weeks. Finally, after mastering a handful of the kihon waza, you will begin studying the twelve kata that are the heart of Sword And Staff. And it is here that the teachings of stillness will start to come alive.
You can get there – as many like you have throughout the last 400 years. And Sword And Staff training is suitable for both men and women of all ages.
Class Schedule
Classes are grouped into four-week blocks. With the beginning of a new session, you can presume that it continues for three additional consecutive weeks.
New students are expected to attend an orientation session. Orientations are always scheduled one week in advance of the beginning of a new four-week block. (As a reminder, each block of classes covers a different skill.)
Your Instructor
Jim Redel has been a member of AZC almost from its inception in 1989. And during this time, he had attended over a dozen sesshin (7-day silent retreats) with the late Zen master Joshu Sasaki. These retreats entailed sitting in on nearly 100 teisho (formal talks) on the topic of stillness and engaging in another 350+ sanzen (personal interviews). (Roshi was undoubtedly a Sword And Staff master - without ever having mastered the sword or staff.)
In addition, Jim has studied and taught Aikido, the sword and the staff for nearly 30 years and Sword And Staff exclusively for the last 5 years.
Getting Started
Classes are suitable for both men and women of all ages and mature teens. New students are accepted at the beginning of every month, but must first attend a new student orientation. Check the dates and times listed above.
We are always happy to hear from you and to answer your questions. Please stop by or call or drop us a note through the Contact page or email Jim directly.
Class Fees Can Be Donated Here