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Paired bokken kata in Katori Shinto Ryu keiko. 木刀（Bokken / Bokutō / 木刀 / 목도）
Curriculum & Transmission

Curriculum & Transmission

Katori Shinto-ryu is Japan's oldest surviving comprehensive martial system. This page presents the arts and forms by transmission stage: Keppan, Oku, Mokuroku and Menkyo.

System Overview

System Overview

Otake sensei teaching Katori Shinto Ryu keiko. 稽古（Keiko / 稽古 / 게이코）

Body mechanics in Katori Shinto-ryu are rooted in sword work; stepping and power generation carry across every weapon. Keiko centres on paired kata with bokken, bo and iaito, preserving the distances and angles of Sengoku-era armored combat.

4

Transmission stages

授业阶段

15

Arts & groups

术科与分组

1447

Founded

流派创立

Transmission Stages

Order of Transmission

Four stages in sequence; each lists the arts and forms transmitted at that stage, with hiden placed within Menkyo.

I

KEPPAN | 血判

Entry & Initiation

血判 · Keppan

Foundations & DistanceSword & IaiPolearm Expansion

Foundations & Core Curriculum: Upon entering the tradition through Keppan (blood oath), practice commences with Omote no Tachi (sword) and Iaijutsu (drawing art) to forge structural stability and fundamental distance perception. As foundations solidify, training sequentially expands into Bojutsu (staff) and Naginatajutsu (polearm), with Jujutsu and Shurikenjutsu as optional disciplines.

Omote no Tachi

表之太刀

4 forms

Omote no Tachi

  • Itsutsu no Tachi五津之太刀
  • Nanatsu no Tachi七津之太刀
  • Kasumi no Tachi神集之太刀
  • Hakka no Tachi八神之太刀

Omote no Iai

表居合術

6 forms

Omote no Iai

  • Kusanagi no Ken草薙之剣
  • Nukitsuke no Ken抜附之剣
  • Nukiuchi no Ken抜討之剣
  • Uken右剣
  • Saken左剣
  • Happōken八方剣

Tachiai Battōjutsu

立合抜刀術

5 forms

Tachiai Battōjutsu

  • Ikiai Gyakunuki no Tachi行合逆抜之太刀
  • Zengo Chidori no Tachi前後千鳥之太刀
  • Ikiai Migi Chidori no Tachi行合右千鳥之太刀
  • Gyakunuki no Tachi逆抜之太刀
  • Nukiuchi no Tachi抜討之太刀

Omote no Bō

表之棒術

6 forms

Omote no Bō

  • Seriai no Bō迫合之棒
  • Sunehishigi no Bō臑挫之棒
  • Sayū no Bō左右之棒
  • Kasahazushi no Bō笠研之棒
  • Hanetsurube no Bō刎釣瓶之棒
  • Tachinami no Bō立浪之棒

Omote no Naginata

表之薙刀

4 forms

Omote no Naginata

  • Itsutsu no Naginata五津之長刀
  • Nanatsu no Naginata七津之長刀
  • Kasumi no Naginata霞之長刀
  • Hakka no Naginata八箇之長刀

Gogyō no Bō

五行之棒

6 forms

Gogyō no Bō

  • Gedan-gamae no Bō下段構之棒
  • Kasumi-gake no Bō霞掛之棒
  • Raikō-gamae no Bō雷光構之棒
  • In-gamae no Bō陰構之棒
  • Hikitsue-gamae no Bō引杖構之棒
  • Tatsue-gamae no Bō立杖構之棒

Jūjutsu

柔術

36 forms

Jūjutsu

Shurikenjutsu

手裏剣術

7 · 8 · 9 forms

Shurikenjutsu

The source lists the Omote, Gogyō and Gokui sets without individual form names.

II

OKU | 入奥

Advanced Mastery

入奥 · Nyūoku

Agility & ReactionPrecision Ma-aiGogyo & Gokui Iai

Advanced Mechanics & Precision Distance: Entering the Oku-den phase builds upon a solid mastery of Omote forms. The curriculum focuses on heightening agility, instant reactivity, and micro-precision in spatial awareness (Ma-ai). Primary instruction covers Gogyo no Tachi (Five Elements Form) and Gokui Iaijutsu.

Gogyō no Tachi

五行之太刀

5 forms

Gogyō no Tachi

  • Mittsu no Tachi三津之太刀
  • Yottsu no Tachi四津之太刀
  • In no Tachi陰之太刀
  • Sha no Tachi捨之太刀
  • Hatsu no Tachi発之太刀

Gokui no Iai

極意居合術

5 forms

Gokui no Iai

  • Kumokiri no Ken雲切之剣
  • Hangetsu no Ken半月之剣
  • Muichi no Ken無一之剣
  • Muni no Ken無二之剣
  • Seigan no Tachi清眼之太刀
III

MOKUROKU | 目录

Mastery of Timing & Dual Blades

目録 · Mokuroku

Dual BladesGokui KodachiShinpo & Timing

Spatial Dominance & Dual-Wielding: Reaching the Mokuroku stage introduces Ryotojutsu (two-sword technique) and Gokui Kodachijutsu (short sword art) alongside core swordwork. This phase demands an advanced elevation of body mechanics (Shinpo) and split-second tactical timing.

Ryōtōjutsu

両刀術

4 forms

Ryōtōjutsu

  • Eigetsu no Tachi永月之太刀
  • Suigetsu no Tachi水月之太刀
  • Isonami no Tachi磯浪之太刀
  • Murakumo no Tachi村雲之太刀

Gokui no Kodachi

極意小太刀術

3 forms

Gokui no Kodachi

  • Seigan no Kodachi清眼之小太刀
  • Suigetsu no Kodachi水月之小太刀
  • Hangetsu no Kodachi半月之小太刀
IV

MENKYO | 免许

Ultimate Mastery & Intuition

免許 · Menkyo

Gokui Shichijo & SpearHiden NijoCombat Perception

Transmission of Secrets & Combat Perception: The Menkyo stage culminates in the transmission of Gokui Shichijo no Tachi and Sojutsu (spear), with the Hiden Nijo imparted as classified oral teachings. Mastery at this level transcends physical execution—forging total rhythm control and intuitive perception of the opponent's intent.

Gokui Shichijō no Tachi

極意七条之太刀

3 forms

Gokui Shichijō no Tachi

  • Tōyama no Tachi遠山之太刀
  • Katanami no Tachi片浪之太刀
  • Agenami no Tachi揚波之太刀

The Japanese source lists these three; the full seven-article set follows headquarters transmission.

Sōjutsu

槍術

6 forms

Sōjutsu

  • Hiryū no Yari飛竜之槍
  • Kyoryū no Yari去竜之槍
  • Tsukidome no Yari突留之槍
  • Anya no Yari楊矢之槍
  • Denkō no Yari電光之槍
  • Yoru no Ya-yari夜之矢槍

Hiden

秘伝

2 forms

Hiden

Hiden within Menkyo

  • Jōdan no Yariai上段之鎗合
  • Gedan no Yariai下段之鎗合

Hiden is oral transmission within the Menkyo stage, not a separate stage.

On the Order of Transmission

This page follows the four stages of Keppan, Oku, Mokuroku and Menkyo. The two hiden spear forms belong within Menkyo and are not a separate stage. Form names follow Japanese-language sources; actual transmission pace is determined by headquarters and the instructor for each practitioner.