Delphi Martial Arts Experience, with Baptiste Tavernier
Discover “Tankendo”: A Short-Sword fighting Experience at the Nippon Budokan
Many Delphites came to Japan because they fell in love with the austere beauty of Japanese martial arts. It is for them that we have arranged this event with a world-class instructor (and Delphi membe!), Baptiste Tavernier.
The session has been formatted as a hands-on discovery session dedicated to Tankendo (短剣道)—the Japanese martial art of the short sword. Whether you are a seasoned martial artist looking to expand your perspective on distance and timing, or simply curious about a rare, highly dynamic aspect of Japanese budo, this session is open to all.
The idea is to replicate a proper training session, but taking into account that many of us are no longer in our 20s...!
Tankendo is a modern Japanese martial art focusing on short sword fencing, using a 53 cm bamboo or wooden training sword (tanken shinai). It is a fast-paced combat system heavily influenced by spear techniques and French military fencing brought to Japan during the Meiji era. Tankendo evolved from traditional dagger fighting techniques. It was updated to bayonet training in the Meiji era, the bloody Russo-Japanese war of 1905 and taught to soldiers in WW2.
Post-war, it became a “sport”. It requires very fast movements, reflexes and precise strikes.
Our instructor will be Delphi member Baptiste Tavernier. He is a French-born martial artist, artist, and researcher based in Tokyo, Japan, who is highly regarded in the realm of Japanese budo. He serves as the Vice Chairman of the International Jukendo Federation.
Baptiste is a highly ranked practitioner and instructor of Tankendo (短剣道), holding a 7th Dan Kyoshi.
Because of his deep understanding of budo—he trained at the International Budo University in Chiba—Tavernier is a leading English and French voice on the subject. He authored the definitive resource “Jukendo and Tankendo Kata”, which breaks down the footwork, thrusts, strikes, and historical movements of both discipline
Please come with light sports clothes such as T-shirts and shorts/track pants.