Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (Katori for short) is the oldest Japanese school of fencing, including e.g. the art of fighting with a katana sword (kenjutsu), a stick (bojutsu), a glaive (naginatajutsu), a spear (sōjutsu).
Founded in the 15th century, it has survived to this day through direct transmission, making it one of the best-preserved medieval combat systems in the world. Unlike modern martial arts such as iaidō, aikidō or kendō (so-called gendai būdō), it was created for practical use on the battlefield and is classified as so-called martial arts. old samurai schools (kōryū bujutsu) with a long tradition.
The school program includes, among others:
| Sword arts (tachijutsu) | Sword fighting (kenjutsu) | 4 Kata: Basic Sword Techniques (表之太刀 Omote no Tachi) |
| 5 Kata: Five Sword Techniques (五教之太刀 Gogyo no Tachi) | ||
| 3 Kata: the essence of sword fighting (極意七条之太刀 Gokui Shichijo no Tachi) | ||
| Drawing the sword (battojutsu) | 6 Kata: Basic Sword Drawing Techniques (表之居合 Omote-no Iai) | |
| 5 Kata: Standing Sword Drawing Techniques (立合抜刀術 Tachiai Battōjutsu) | ||
| 5 Kata: the essence of drawing the sword (極意之居合 Goku no Iai) | ||
| Two swords (両刀術 ryōtōjutsu) | 4 kata: two swords (両刀 Ryōtō) | |
| Short sword (kodachi) | 3 Kata: Essence of Short Sword Fighting (極意之小太刀 Gokui no Kodachi) | |
| Stick fighting (bōjutsu) | 6 Kata: Basic Stick Techniques (表之棒 Omote no Bō) | |
| 6 Kata: Five Stick Techniques (五教之棒 Gogyō no Bō) | ||
| Glaive fighting (naginatajutsu) | 4 Kata: Basic Naginata Techniques (表之長刀 Omote no Naginata) | |
| 3 Kata: The Essence of Naginata Fighting (極意七条之長刀 Gokui Shichijo no Naginata) | ||
| Spear fighting (sojutsu) | 6 Kata: Basic Spear Techniques (表之槍 Omote no Yari) | |
| 2 Kata: Hidden Spear Techniques (Hiden no Yari) | ||
| Throwing spikes (shurikenjutsu) | 7 Kata: Basic Throwing Techniques (表之手裏剣 Omote no Shuriken) | |
| 8 Kata: Five Throwing Techniques (五教之手裏剣 Gogyō no Shuriken) | ||
| 9 Kata: the essence of throwing techniques (極意之手裏剣 Gokui no Shuriken) | ||
| hand-to-hand combat (jujutsu) | 36 Kata: the essence of hand-to-hand combat (極意之柔術 Gokui no Jujutsu) |
