JAPAN / Goshinkan Shibuya Dojo

The headquarters of the Goshinkan are located on the top floor of a worn out building, five minutes away from the hippest station in the Japanese capital city.
In this 8 tatami space, Tabuchi Sensei, 8 Dan Shihan and founder of the Goshinkan, has offered for more than 20 years, lessons in Iaido, Tameshigiri, and of course Spochan, which is referred to as Goshindo (literally : the Way of Self-Defense).
Here is a report from the Chanbara.fr team, on how training is handled, in one of the oldest Sports Chanbara dojos in Tokyo.



Recognized for his clearly martial approach, Tabuchi Sensei has, since the creation of the Goshinkan, been teaching a Chanbara that goes against what is practiced in most Japanese Dojos. He is responsible for the introduction of Nuki-Uchi-Choken (literally : Draw and Cut) in tournaments. This category requires a Saya, in order to match, in a single gesture, the essence of a sword fight.
The atmosphere during training is reminiscent of most other Budos. Alternating Boken Katas, Iaito Kihondosa and Kachinokori-Keiko (the winner stays) in all weapon categories (including the Kusarigama!), each lesson can involve many technical aspects of armed combat, without losing sight of tournament practice. Moreover, once a week, training is concluded with a Tameshigiri (art of cutting) session, so that each student can find out how it feels to cut, and integrate this in the practice of Chanbara.
Tabuchi Sensei, though quite demanding, does not seem to impose any specific style to his followers. So, everybody evolves freely along varied paths. It is also interesting that no specific dressing code is enforced : the Sensei himself simply wears a T-shirt bearing the club's logo, forsaking Dougis and Hakamas.
His only wish is to transmit the spirit of the Bushido, through what he calls the basic tripod of the Goshinkan : Iaito for the spirit and the richness of its katas, Tameshigiri for its understanding of the purpose of a blade, and Goshindo for practicing the techniques.



Traditionally, the Goshinkan Shibuya Dojo is a mandatory stop for the various national teams visiting Japan. Fighters from the entire world can often be found there. Some are there to display their Kihondosa, others want to fight against the Club's Senpais, or simply enjoy a few hours of training from one of the pillars of international Chanbara.

The Goshinkan currently runs 11 clubs in Japan, inceluding 6 in Tokyo. There are also branches in Korea, New-Caledonia, with plans for extension in France and Australia in the near future.