From the beginning of time man has used weaponry. This weaponry was as crude as man himself. Tools and weapons were originally created from wood and stone but evolved into metal in the Bronze Age when man experienced great advancements in bladed weaponry, especially the mighty sword.

Ancient man had to always be on the lookout for danger. This danger came from many directions in the form of feuding tribes and wild animals. Man always had to be on the ready for self preservation and that same DNA which gave him alertness is in our blood today. We don't really understand why this occurs or what causes this mental stimulation, but we do know that this feeling has been passed down through the ages and is evident in today’s modern man.

Throughout the ancient world, the sword, which represented both power and wealth, was one of a man's most prized possessions. Design and technique were created for the practicalities of war and defense. The only other usage was for ceremonial, social and cultural events or traditions. For instance, the Japanese culture revered the sword and all it represented. Japan has always been the forerunner in the creation of consistently well-built and sought-after swords for either combat or personal pleasure.

Japanese warlords trained their army with various metal and wood practice weapons which proved demanding because one wrong move or poorly executed technique could result in injury or even death. Each warlord developed their own fighting techniques, which were tested on the battlefield. Some techniques were retained others were discarded dependent upon how effective or ineffective they proved to be in battle.

Japan was united after centuries of civil unrest and war into a single government. The warrior no longer fought wars but the samurai spirit remained. Towards the end of the Edo period, one of the larger sword schools developed a new combative sport called Kendo which evolved into a national sport using protective gear. This of course meant that one could practice without the fear of great bodily harm.

Kendo utilizes a sword made from strips of bamboo. This old-fashioned practice sword combined with protective head and body gear made for a safer way to practice. Science and technology have brought us into a new era of sword play because of the availability of today’s newer materials.

Thirty five years ago, Japanese martial artists and sword masters came together and modernized the “art of practice”. Founder, Tanabe Tetsundo, and his group, which was comprised of some of the most influential swordsmen in Japan, called this new way of thought, Goshindo, also called Chanbara. The word, Goshindo, translates to “the way of self-preservation”.

These swordsmen were very traditional but also were aware that times were changing. They began to educate the public in the way of the modern samurai while utilizing traditional ways and techniques. Swords made out of flexible plastics in the 21st century proved to be a stroke of genius because wearing a light head mask for face and eye protection was all that was required for safety. This sword is called a choken.

This innovation made such a difference that the Japanese public wholeheartedly embraced this new combative sport and made it a part of the Japanese Department of Education and Recreation. Today, Chanbara is the fastest growing combative sport to appear in the United States boasting 200,000 combatants worldwide. The word, Chanbara, loosely translates to swashbuckle.

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The Choken

The choken, also known as a katana, was the samurai warrior's ultimate weapon. The choken wielded considerable strength and power in battle. It averaged 1 meter in length and was by far the most feared weapon available to a samurai. One stroke could easily decapitate. The katana only left its scabbard when it was cleaned or used against an opponent in battle.

Match Use

The choken is the combatant's preferred weapon for the job at hand. This long sword wields decisive match-winning points and its offensive and defensive capabilities offer the combatant a large array of fighting possibilities. The choken is much more difficult to learn consequently most combatants start off with the kodachi ("small sword", wakizashi replica - Ed. note) and then graduate to the longer and much faster choken. Matches using the choken offer the combatant a realistic fight and a chance to play the “ultimate game of physical chess”.

Scoring Points

The target areas of the body are head, torso, legs and arms. Stabbing, thrusting, and slashing techniques receive points. All completed mein, kote, do, ashi and tsuki strikes are legal. The strike must be clean and swift not allowing the opponent to make a counter attack.