The Yamato Yagyu-kai is a organization dedicated to quietly practicing and upholding the traditional style of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu Heihou, which has a 400+ year history. We are a tiny organization with only a few dojos. We choose not to participate in large organizations such as the Kendo Renme and Iaido Renme of Japan, in order to maintain our autonomy and preserve the sanctity of the style. We are focused on daily practice, reflection, and then more practice, with the goal of polishing our skills and our spirits. We are all about perseverance, longevity and tradition.
An important disclaimer for all traditional Japanese Martial Arts
Authenticity in traditional Japanese Martial Arts (Kobudo) is not determined by the number of published books, number of students worldwide, or most YouTube videos. Nor does a flashy website make one style more legitimate than another. Choose your dojo based on the quality of instruction and the legitimacy of the lineage. Often, the best instruction is at small, unassuming dojos. Even in Japan today, there are many newly created "traditional" styles that have only tenuous history or connection to Japan's long samurai history. There are an abundance of teachers with questionable background and skills, even in Japan. Often, they dress flamboyantly and have high budget, grandiose video demos. They quickly attract large followings of unaware students, which adds to the aire of legitimacy. However, please be aware, that just because someone looks the perfect stereotype of of a Japanese "master" from a samurai movie, does not mean that they have achieved a sufficient level of technical mastery and spiritual maturity. Choose your style and your instructor carefully. The demeanor of a mature instructor is centered in humility. If they need slick marketing to sell it to you, it might not be what it appears.
An important disclaimer for all traditional Japanese Martial Arts
Authenticity in traditional Japanese Martial Arts (Kobudo) is not determined by the number of published books, number of students worldwide, or most YouTube videos. Nor does a flashy website make one style more legitimate than another. Choose your dojo based on the quality of instruction and the legitimacy of the lineage. Often, the best instruction is at small, unassuming dojos. Even in Japan today, there are many newly created "traditional" styles that have only tenuous history or connection to Japan's long samurai history. There are an abundance of teachers with questionable background and skills, even in Japan. Often, they dress flamboyantly and have high budget, grandiose video demos. They quickly attract large followings of unaware students, which adds to the aire of legitimacy. However, please be aware, that just because someone looks the perfect stereotype of of a Japanese "master" from a samurai movie, does not mean that they have achieved a sufficient level of technical mastery and spiritual maturity. Choose your style and your instructor carefully. The demeanor of a mature instructor is centered in humility. If they need slick marketing to sell it to you, it might not be what it appears.
