Takeda Ryu Kenjutsu
Sword Fencing
The sword, as the most dangerous weapon, stands in the centre of this discipline. A direct confrontation on the battlefield is supposed.
For a time wooden swords are used.
The student gets an insight into the possibilities of handling a sword and the basic strategy of sword fighting. Development of alertness, space comprehension and reaction are in the foreground. The aims resemble those of Kempo, under the aspect of using a weapon.
Old Grand master (called "Soke") narrate of battles with rarely more than 3 to 4 contacts between two swords, as the blades were broken or deformed thereafter.
Happened this, the samurai were able to fall back on the other disciplines of Bujutsu (Aikijutsu, Kempo, Jojutsu), thus closing the circle of Bujutsu.This is the essential aim of the classification into disciplines in Bujutsu: to dispose over potentialities to counteract all dangers in case of emergency.Also in Kenjutsu competitions act as learning aid to gain experience in situations described above. There have never been sword fights taking minutes not to mention hours, no matter with or without a sword.
Competitions take place with the so called "Fukuro Shinai", a wooden stick wrapped in textile and without protection gear.
Watching the fight, everybody can imagine the feeling of the competitors.
These skills are essential for the insight in Bujutsu with its mental, physical and intellectual requirements.
A short summary you find here.