TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS OF JAPAN
Great Falls Budokan is a traditional Japanese dojo established in 1974. Today, Great Falls Budokan is located in Sterling, Virginia and continues to teach Itto Tenshin-ryu kenjutsu, Yamate-ryu aikijutsu, and zazen. Class sizes are generally small and class instruction is personalized. Training is rigorous and disciplined. The arts that are taught have a combative orientation and require continuous study to obtain mastery.
Itto Tenshin-ryu®
Kenjutsu
Adults 16+
Kenjutsu is the art of swordsmanship, and considered the most highly respected of all Japanese martial arts. Generations of swordsmen have devoted their lives to the study of every conceivable variation in the use of the weapon. Those swordsmen laid the groundwork for the strategic and philosophical aspects of the art, penetrating to the very core of conflict itself.
Yamate-ryu®
Aikijutsu
Adults 14+
Aikijutsu is a highly refined martial art derived from the Japanese tradition of jujutsu (sometimes spelled ju-jitsu or jiu-jitsu). The curriculum contains techniques and principles which allow an accomplished practitioner to defeat an opponent with minimal physical effort, making it an especially effective martial art for law enforcement, women, and those who enjoy the challenge of sophisticated technique.
Zazen - Seated Meditation
Seated meditation, or zazen, is a practice that yields immediate and tangible benefits. We learn to relax and quiet the body and mind, while developing mental strength, flexibility, control, and focus. It is considered a gateway to more profound realizations with infinite potential.
Participants need not be able to sit in any particular way other than being able to align their head, neck, and trunk, and should wear comfortable clothing. Seiza benches are available for participants to use, and participants are also welcome to bring their own seiza bench, zafu, and/or zabuton. Chairs are available for those unable to sit comfortably on the floor.
