Chanbara is a sport martial art developed in Japan as a means of effectively practicing sword and weapons fighting. Over thirty years ago Japanese martial artists and sword masters created a better training style that would help reduce injury, yet allow combatants to practice with full force. Chanbara was founded by Tanabe Tetsundo along with other prominent martial artists in Japan. They wanted to find a way to educate the public in the ways of the modern Japanese Samurai and Chanbara is now practiced the world over. We use various weapons from the samurai era including the famous Samurai Sword, Naginata, Kodachi, Choken, Nunchaku and many more. Weapons are padded and students wear protective head gear and gloves to prevent against injury and to allow the students to practice full force.

Teachings include proper samurai stances and the correct way to hold and use weapons. Students are put through drills that teach them to deal with multiple opponents and different weapon situations and a number of kata are used to train them to use proper foot work and sword techniques. Some drills include:

War: All students utilize 1 or 2 weapons and find themselves up against all the students in a fast and furious drill. Once a student is hit by a weapon, they are officially out and the battle continues until there is only 1 victor!


Learn the same mental & physical lessons once taught to the Samurai.

Classes are taught by New York state representatives and certified Instructors Sensei David Doughertyand Sensei John Brancato


The Evolution of Chanbara
Japanese warlords trained their armies with various metal and wood practice weapons. This proved dangerous; one wrong move, one poorly executed technique and injury or death could result. Each warlord developed his own fighting techniques, which were tested on the battlefield. Some techniques were retained while others were discarded, depending on how effective they proved in battle. After centuries of civil unrest and war, Japan united into a single government. The warrior no longer fought wars but the samurai spirit remained. Toward the end of the Edo period (circa 1875) one of the larger sword schools developed a new combative sport, called kendo. This evolved into a national sport that employed protective gear. Now one could practice without 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.

Then Tanabe Tetsundo and his group founded goshindo, also called chanbara. These traditional swordsmen, aware that times were changing, began to educate the public in the way of the modern samurai while utilizing traditional ways and techniques. Swords made out of flexible plastics (called a ‘choken’) proved a stroke of genius, because wearing a light head mask for face and eye protection was all that was required for safety.

This innovation made such a difference that the Japanese public wholeheartedly embraced this new combative sport. It is a part of the Japanese Department of Education and Recreation. Today, chanbara is the fastest-growing combative sport in the United States, boasting 200,000 combatants worldwide.

Letter from the Founder I have dreamt of a venue where swordsmen and other martial artists from East and West could compete safely, fairly, free from injury, cumbersome rules and overprotective gear. This easily adopted concept could be applied universally in gyms, martial art schools and sports centers throughout the world. Up to now, martial artists and swordsmen all over the globe never had the opportunity, nor were they able, to match their special skills and techniques in a single competition. Envision a learning center attended by a mixture of combatants embracing European, Middle Eastern, Western, Asian and African martial art styles. Visualize a European epee matched against a Middle Eastern saber both capable of astounding one-handed manipulations. Imagine the Cora fencers of Asia, who are noted for their lightning-quick thrusts, fending off an African Masai tribesman's lance or evading a stick fighter from the Philippines. Add to this sublime menu of combatants the traditional Japanese samurai versed in swords, spears and staves and you will discover “Heaven on earth in one arena."