Date founded November 21, 1582 Current headmaster Kimura Yasuko | Art Description | |
Founder Saito Hangan Denkibo Katsuhide |
Tendō-ryū (天道流) is a koryū (school of traditional Japanese martial arts) founded in 1582 by Saito Hangan Denkibo Katsuhide. It originally specializes in the use of the kenjutsu but now shift to naginata. Current headmaster (as in 2014) is 17th sōke Kimura Yasuko. Its name appears to translate to "Heavenly Path School."
In addition to naginatajutsu, Tendō-ryū includes kenjutsu (either with katana or kodachi or both at once) and techniques performed with kusarigama. Also taught are methods of combat with a broken naginata i.e. stick fighting with just the shaft of a naginata.
References
Tendō-ryū Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA