How to Join Shogo’s Online Katana Lessons

Welcome, future katana practitioners!
Thank you so much for your interest in Shogo’s Online Katana Lessons.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what you need — and what you don’t — to get started training online from anywhere in the world.
Let’s dive in! ⚔️🔥

⓪About Asayama Ichiden-ryu (& Shinkagé-ryu Hōgan-ha)

What you will be training in this online lesson is iaijutsu (katana drawing) of a ryuha (style) called Asayama Ichiden-ryu Hyoho.

This tradition also preserves Shinkage-ryu Hōgan-ha, and through it you will be able to learn techniques using the wakizashi and tanto as well.

🔵Asayama Ichiden-ryu

It is a koryu tradition with over 400 years of history, founded in the late Sengoku period.

Because it preserves armored swordsmanship (katchu kenjutsu), practitioners move without standing fully upright, using lowered posture and half-body rotation, and aim attacks at weak points in armor.

The school is a comprehensive martial system that also includes kama, bo, jō (Shunjō), short staff, kusarifundo (tamagusari), and shuriken techniques.

🔴Shinkagé-ryu Hōgan-ha

The term Hōgan refers to a historical title held by high-ranking samurai officials, and the style is said to have been practiced by samurai of elevated status.

For this reason, training is traditionally done without an outer sword belt, instead wearing items such as an inro and kaishi.

The Hōgan-ha was formally integrated into Asayama Ichiden-ryu Hyoho in the 21st generation.

① Make a Safe Training Space

Ideally, your space should be:

• About the size of an 8-tatami room (~13 m² / 140 ft²)
• With a ceiling high enough that you cannot touch it even if you jump

If the weather is nice, practicing outside can also be a great option!
👉 But don’t worry! Many students train in smaller spaces — the ideal size is not required to join the lessons.

② Prepare Your Training Equipment

Here’s What You Need:

• Dōgi (Training Gear)
• Inner Obi (Black Recommended)
• Outer Obi (Must be White)
• Iaitō (Training Katana)
  

※For Iaitō:

1. Choose a blade longer than the typical “recommended length”
   
   
2. If the blade is longer than 2.5 shaku, please select:
   ➜ “Habahiro – Heavyweight Blade”
   Handling a longer blade is harder — but that means your progress will be faster 💪⚔️
   
   If you're taking the Shinkagé-ryu Hōgan-ha Wakizashi/Tantō Class, you also need:
   -Wakizashi Iaitō
   -Tantō Iaitō

🎥 Watch This Video to Learn How to Wear Dōgi: 

Start Simple (Beginner-Friendly Option)

If gathering everything feels heavy on time & budget — no worries!
You can start training with just:

• Bokutō (wooden katana) with plastic saya
• Outer Obi (Must be White)
• Comfortable training clothes (wrap the obi over your outfit)
  Start, improve, upgrade later — that’s perfectly okay 😄

③ Join a Membership Tier on Patreon

Lessons are held three times a week:

✅ You can attend one, two, or all three lessons from here

📅 Add the Google Calendar to easily check your local time

Once you sign up on my Patreon, you’ll gain access to:

✔ Zoom ID & Password for every lesson
✔ Members-only posts and updates
✔ Our growing international community 🌍

④ Create a Zoom Account

We use Zoom for all lessons — please make sure you’re set up beforehand!
https://zoom.us/ja/download

🔻Lesson etiquette🔻

No screenshots, video, or audio recording ❌

⑤ What a Lesson Looks Like

🔵Ichiden-ryu Katana Training (1 hour):

1️⃣ Beginning Reihō (bowing ritual)

We always begin and end each lesson with proper etiquette (reiho).
This discipline is what defines budo as true martial arts— it is just as important as the techniques themselves.

2️⃣ Batto Kihon(basic draw attacks) / Tsumemokuroku (immediate combat readiness) 

Battojutsu in our school is quite advanced, so we focus on building a strong foundation through basic exercises.
It typically takes about one year to become comfortable with these basics, so please take your time and train steadily.
Watching the videos in advance will help you understand the correct form.

3️⃣ Iai kata (katana drawing form)

In the second half of each lesson, we practice one traditional kata (forms) passed down in Asayama Ichiden-ryu Hyoho.

* Moving version of Batto Kihon: 

* Muhi-ryu Iaijutsu (techniques of high-ranking samurai wearing long hakama):

It takes about a year just to get comfortable with the basics, so mastering kata will take even more time.
Feel free to watch the videos in your free time and approach them with a long-term mindset.

4️⃣ Ending Reihō

🔴Shinkagé-ryu Hōgan-ha Wakizashi/Tantō Training (1 hour):

1️⃣ Beginning Reihō (bowing ritual)

We always begin and end each lesson with proper etiquette (reiho).
This discipline is what defines budo as true martial arts— it is just as important as the techniques themselves.

2️⃣ Katana (Standing) / Katana (Seated) / Wakizashi / Tantō Iai Kata

In each lesson, we usually practice around 4 kata.
There are 4 different categories of kata, and after going through the same category twice, we move on to the next one.
In total, you can learn as many as 57 different kata.

3️⃣ Ending Reihō

I teach and train together with you — and then I watch your movement and give feedback individually.
It’s fun, focused, and full of learning ⚔️✨
Even if you can’t join live, you’ll have full access to the video of the past lessons as long as you’re a member!

⑥Envision Your Journey

In my online lessons, you can take part in official rank examinations (1st Dan to 5th Dan).
Exams are held twice a year: March and September.

Your first goal, 1st Dan, covers:

• Batto Kihon:

• Tsume Mokuroku:

So let’s focus on building strong fundamentals first.

After reaching 3rd Dan and attending the annual training camp in Japan, you may qualify to take the Club Leader Exam, which allows you to run your own non-profit training group.

From there, those who contribute significantly to the school may be invited by the Headmaster to become a Branch Leader,
with the opportunity to teach professionally.

⑦Private Lessons

For those who feel the regular group lessons might not be the best fit, private lessons are also available.
These lessons are fully customized just for you! You can choose to:
・🔰 Build strong fundamentals from the ground up
・📝 Prepare for a grading or promotion exam
・🎯 Focus on polishing specific techniques
・💬 Or work on anything you’d like—just tell me!
All private lessons are recorded 📹, so you can review the lesson anytime after the session 👀

📅Add the Google calendar to check when the lessons are available

📩 How to Book

Please contact me with your preferred time slot via:
📧 syamaguchi@kyoto-itsuki.com
or
📷 Instagram

💴 Lesson Fee

¥21,000 per session (1 hour)
✔ Studio rental fee included
✔ Payment processing fee included
👉 Payment is required in advance via PayPal.

Any Questions?

Please feel free to contact me anytime!
I can’t wait to train together with you — wherever you are in the world.
🥋🔥 See you in the dojo — online!