Zentokan Dojo - 前途館道場

Zentokan Dojo - 前途館道場 Zentokan Dojo (前途館道場) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit school offering training in Japanese sword arts in Brooklyn, New York. Federation of Battodo.

Zentokan Dojo (前途館道場) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit school of the Japanese sword founded in April 2016 by Zach Biesanz sensei. Since that time, Zentokan has grown and operated continuously in its present home, sponsoring seminars on Toyama Ryu Battodo and other Japanese sword arts, as well as special classes in body work, aiki, and other weapon arts. Michael Shane sensei is the chief instructor. We teach battodo: the art of drawing the sword. Our combat-oriented curriculum includes foundational exercises, solo and paired forms, test cutting, and free sparring to produce a well-rounded skill set. Zentokan is an official branch dojo of the Zen Nihon Toyama Ryu Iaido Renmei and a member dojo of the U.S.

This incredible tsuba is unsigned but displays all the hallmarks of the Higo artist Korin (光隣) from the late Edo period,...
10/01/2026

This incredible tsuba is unsigned but displays all the hallmarks of the Higo artist Korin (光隣) from the late Edo period, and the NBTHK has attributed it to him. The skull and bones motif is called nozarashi (野ざらし).

09/22/2026

Practicing tsuki with a narrow target like a tatami mat is a great way to work on targeting and stability in the thrust. Practicing it with a segment of mat that is freestanding is an even better way to check that targeting, technique, and power are all correct.

In this situation a proper tsuki will pe*****te the mat (ideally passing all the way through it), and the detached segment of mat will travel directly forward in a straight line.

Juzu (数珠) or nenju (念珠) or mala (in India) are traditional Buddhist beads used for various practices across different se...
09/16/2026

Juzu (数珠) or nenju (念珠) or mala (in India) are traditional Buddhist beads used for various practices across different sects and traditions, including in shugendo. In the Kurikara Ryu we use a main strand of 27 beads to explore the connection between the body and the Kurikara mandala. The number 9 is significant because Kurikara Ryu is rooted in the kuji-ho (九字法), a system of 9 mudras, mantras, and other connected practices that guide each person through their process of development.

Each student makes their own juzu when they reach the appropriate level in training.

Morning tanren at Zentokan
09/09/2026

Morning tanren at Zentokan

08/19/2026

Cutting detached pieces of the mat like this is a good way to evaluate the quality of the cutting action. And of course… waste not, want not!

Nebaru (粘る) means to be sticky or adhesive. “Nebari ken” is the sticky sword, a practice we use to develop sensitivity a...
08/16/2026

Nebaru (粘る) means to be sticky or adhesive. “Nebari ken” is the sticky sword, a practice we use to develop sensitivity and connection.

08/10/2026

Tameshigiri training begins with a single target and and the progressive addition of new tasks: footwork, drawing, kiai, and multiple cuts. It’s important to proceed systematically to make sure bad habits don’t develop along the way.

07/29/2026

This sequence looks pretty good, right? Let’s analyze it together. Michael won’t mind! 😉

Cut 1: Poor zanshin and ki-ken-tai-ichi into the cut leads to an incomplete cut that doesn’t “finish” properly

Cut 2: Weak coordination during the step back leads to disconnection of upper and lower body; the cut coming too much from the arms; too much turning of the hips; unstable head; and disturbance of posture

Cut 3: Posture compromised

Cut 4: Small collapse in the waist, and the finishing position is a bit high

Cut 5: Needs more enkeisen (circular trajectory) in the path of the blade

Tameshigiri is about more than just the mat. 🙇‍♂️

This incredible katana (on display at the Japanese Sword Museum in 2023) was made in 1636 by Hizen Tadahiro (肥前国住藤原忠広). ...
07/24/2026

This incredible katana (on display at the Japanese Sword Museum in 2023) was made in 1636 by Hizen Tadahiro (肥前国住藤原忠広). It was dated a lucky day in the 2nd month of the 13th year of Kanei (寛永十三年二月吉日).

This pulse oximeter reading was taken in between exercises during a tanren practice session. A low resting heart rate on...
07/22/2026

This pulse oximeter reading was taken in between exercises during a tanren practice session.

A low resting heart rate on its own does not imply amazing cardiovascular health, though athletes commonly have lower than average resting heart rates (and all martial artists should be sure to do some cardio!).

In this case, what this does show is how the breathing practices of the tanren activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which in turn modulates the heart rate. So this is an example of a highly responsive system finely tuning oxygen conservation to counteract the body’s natural “fight or flight” response.

In other words:

“Although transforming the breathing process is central to tanren, it is not increased intake of oxygen, but intensification of the energy or inner wind associated with breathing that is required. In fact, as we have noted earlier, success in tanren leads to a reduced requirement for oxygen.” — Kurikara: The Sword and the Serpent, by John Evans / John Maki Evans

Address

316 Dean Street
Brooklyn, NY
11217

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8:15pm - 9:45pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 8:30am
Thursday 8:45pm - 9:45pm
Saturday 4:15pm - 6:15pm

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