| Aiki Ten Shin Sho Kai |
| Page: Weapons |

Weapons training makes up an integral part of Ten Shin Sho Kai training.
In the main School it is only graded at the senior level,
though it is taught in parallel with the open hand techniques from beginner level.
Students will be introduced to a variety of different weapons,
which currently include, but is not limited to:
Bokuto (wooden sword)
Hanbo (short stick)
Jo (short staff)
Bo (long staff)
Naginata (halberd)
No matter which weapon is studied, they are all taught along strictly traditional lines,
beginning with basic etiquette, then kamae (stances),
followed by suburi practice (basic strikes), and kata (set forms).
Ultimately, students are aiming for the ability to engage in free form practice
against any variety of other weapon, including weapons taking techniques.
While these are all traditional Japanese weapons and therefore of arguably limited use
as a practical means of self defence, by training in them students add immense depth
to their open hand techniques, especially in the areas of stance, centering and focus.

For students wishing to study the sword only,
Ten Shin Sho Kai also runs a separate, sub-School, specializing solely in Battojutsu.
Battojutsu is an older style of what is more commonly known as iaido.
Currently this is only taught at our Brisbane dojo.