Traditional Era · 1508–1577

Kamiizumi Nobutsuna founded the Shinkage-ryu school of swordsmanship and invented the fukuro shinai (padded practice sword), enabling realistic sparring without lethal risk. His innovations directly shaped kendo as we know it, and his lineage through the Yagyu family influenced Japanese martial culture for centuries.
AI-generated content — may contain inaccuracies
Founded: Shinkage-ryu
Yagyu Shinkage-ryu