There was once a legend named Tsukahara Bokuden. He was known as kensei (sword saint) of the Sengoku period. Born in 1489, he first learned Katori-Shinto Ryu from his adopted father and later honed his skills by engaging in musha shugya. He later systematized the teachings of the Kashima area's martial arts. After recieving a divine inspiration from Takemikazuchi-no-kami, the deity of Kashima shrine, he then went on to founding his own martial system known as Kashima Shinto-Ryu(a.k.a. Mutekatsu-ryu). Bokuden was a classic knight type warrior. He once travelled Japan as a wanderer often accepting challenges from other Samurai and fought in battle over 30 times, and won over 100 duels. But as he grew older, he often used his new philosophy of swordsmanship. "Style of No Sword." Bokuden died at the age of 80 in 1571 of natural causes. That was a great legend, still and always to be remembered.
Jeremy Schmidt (Tx, USA).
