SERIOUS SWORD TRAINING.
CLEAR PROGRESS.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE.
Saboten Kenjutsu gives busy adults and driven teens a structured path to real sword skill. Train hard, progress clearly, and build something real without being expected to live at the dojo.
Adults train for technical growth and disciplined practice. Teens train through our Tasai Ryu curriculum, built for long-term development, leadership, and competition experience that carries beyond the mat.
Begin with a $25 trial class.
Start Your Trial: Complete the form below to register for your $25 trial class.
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3
World Championship Winners2
Black Belts Awareded3
Years in Operation20+
Years ExperienceWhy Choose Saboten Kenjutsu?
Saboten Kenjutsu is built for people who want serious sword training that fits alongside real life. Our weekend model gives busy adults a serious path to technical growth, while our teen program emphasizes discipline, consistency, leadership, and competition experience through the Tasai Ryu curriculum. This is structured, long-term training for students who want to build something real.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Check out the most frequently asked questions about Saboten Kenjutsu.
Still haven't found the answer?
Is there a free trial?
No. We do not offer free trial classes. Our classes are intentionally small, structured, and coached, so first visits are paid.
What is Tasai Ryu?
Tasai Ryu is Saboten Kenjutsu’s signature sword curriculum. It is our formal training program: structured, progressive, and built for long-term development rather than casual participation alone.
Do I need any experience or to already be in shape?
No. Most students start as beginners. You do not need prior sword experience, and you do not need to “get in shape first.” Training is scaled to the student.
What ages do you accept, and how are classes divided?
We divide training more by readiness and purpose than by strict age alone.
General participation:
Students age 10 and up may participate without a parent, as long as they can follow class procedures and train safely.
Younger students:
Students age 8 to 9 may only participate if a parent is enrolled and present. These younger students train in a modified beginner track and may be limited to short-sword practice and other scaled procedures.
Formal sword program:
Our formal sword program is a separate, instructor-approved track designed to begin in high school. Limited early entry may begin midway through 8th grade for students who are ready.
Is this safe? Will I get hurt?
We use padded weapons, safety gear, controlled contact, and structured practice rules. Training is supervised, pairings are managed, and beginners are progressed step by step.
Like any physical training, there is some risk. Our goal is not to pretend risk does not exist, but to manage it responsibly through equipment, rules, coaching, and appropriate scaling.
Do I need to be in the formal sword program to spar?
No. Sparring is available as its own training option through drop-in or punch-card access, provided you have approved equipment and are a good fit for the room.
Do I need to spar to be in the formal sword program?
Serious students in the full program should expect live application to be part of training. Formal sword study is not just memorizing forms; it includes learning how technique functions under pressure and with partners.
What kind of community are you building?
Saboten Kenjutsu is a small school for people who want serious training in a good culture. We welcome beginners, but we value commitment, self-control, respect for the room, and steady growth over ego or chaos.
Can anyone join the formal sword program?
No. The formal sword program is selective. Age is part of the policy, but it is not the only factor. Readiness, maturity, consistency, fit, and instructor approval all matter.
Why do you allow sparring more broadly than formal sword study?
Because they are not the same thing. Sparring is a broader-access practice environment. Formal sword study is a narrower, deeper curriculum with a long-term progression path. One is participation; the other is apprenticeship.