Tomari Budokai Durham

ablished in November 2004. Shodai Ryu involves the drawing of a sword, approaching a target, cutting through the target, sheathing the sword and retreating. Equal emphasis is placed upon every aspect of the performance, meaning that a failed cut, whilst being something preferably avoided, does not mean that the performance has failed. Indeed, should a swordsman fail to cut the target and knock over the stand in the process, it should be treated as an injured enemy and a finishing technique delivered accordingly. Shodai Ryu practitioners train in the use of both a katana (Japanese long sword) and the shorter wakizashi (kodachi). Students of Tomari Budokai also have the opportunity to train with the nodachi and naginata. The tanto is worn as a symbol of the art's status - highly ranked samurai would often wear a tanto in place of the more conventional wakizashi, particularly at formal events. A Shodai Ryu Enbu (military display) is considered to be a formal event so, accordingly, practitioners of the art are expected to dress to reflect this. Whilst the act of cutting straw targets is relatively common in sword-based martial arts and is usually referred to as tameshigiri, Shodai Ryu utilises a level of formality which is often overlooked in cutting used as a form of supplementary training in other art forms. Additionally, Shodai Ryu includes training in the practice of kaishaku, the traditional act of assisting in seppuku (ritual suicide).