Hi.
Well, it seems others have gotten here before me, some more credible than others, but I thought I'd add to those who have already commented…
First off, the answer's going to be no, as you've gathered. There is no such thing as "kenjutsu" as a particular art… there are many particular systems of kenjutsu instead. And each will have their own traits, mechanics, movement, postural concepts, tactical preferences, applications, and far more. There may be a set of "basics" for a particular system, but there is on single, universally applicable set of "basics" for all kenjutsu.
As a result, the real question will be, as Mark asked, what do you mean when you say "kenjutsu"? Are you referring to a particular system taught at your dojo? Or is what you learn at your dojo more of a generic usage of a Japanese sword within the other teachings (which is commonly, in fact, pretty much universally, a case of an instructor or organisation of some art or another [most often a karate or similar system, such as TKD] making up a bunch of what they think kenjutsu is without the benefit of any actual experience or knowledge, let alone a genuine basis in any usage of the weapon)? If the former, we'd need to know what system you're learning… but realistically, there still won't be anything beyond some potential videos of embu (martial demonstrations) of the system… if the latter, well, who knows what you're learning? You'd need to discuss it with your instructor.
Yes, we will. Because we know what we're talking about… and because you can't learn without an instructor.
Neither Hapkido nor Aikido are sword arts… while Aikido can (and often does) include what is known as Aiki-ken, it is really not the same as kenjutsu… it's an expression of the principles of Aikido through a sword… which is pretty different. As for Hapkido, that's even further removed, so… uh… no.
As far as Kendo, there's again a large number of issues using it as a basis for understanding kenjutsu, or sword in general… so personally, no, I wouldn't advise such searches.
Even that isn't entirely accurate… realistically, kenjutsu is one of a number of terms applied to the combative usage and application of Japanese sword, most typically trained primarily through kata-geiko (which, in Japanese arts, commonly means paired practice), and almost entirely refers to systems classified as "koryu" ("old schools"). These are arts that pre-date the modernisation of Japan with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, and have a basis in the actual usage of swords in combat in one way or another. Modern derivations or interpretations lack this essential aspect, which can lead to some very inaccurate understanding and misinterpretations of swordsmanship, as well as some fairly flawed mechanical and tactical methods.
No, they absolutely are not.
No, you have played with a sword. That's all.
Oh, and before you say I've never met you, and how could I possibly know, remember that you have a link to your you-tube account in your signature, and your sword is seen there… and, if you were to come to me, I'd be telling you to forget everything you think you know about sword, as frankly, there was not a single frame that was good.
No, you-tube is not "as reliable as publications/manuals". You-tube is a good source for getting a glance at the variety of sword arts out there, but there is almost nothing on there that is any good as an instructional reference… even that which is designed for such a purpose is highly specific to particular arts (most commonly Kendo or Iaido), so is not suited to other arts… and, honestly, is best used as a reference for things your instructor has said only. Pretty much all other "sword instructional" videos are done by people who are teaching these "modern", invented, fake systems, or are people who really have no business teaching in the first place.
There are many reasons you-tube wouldn't be as reliable as a manual… even leaving off how limited, mono-dimentional, and lacking a manual or other publication has to be by necessity.
Yep.
Based on how things are presented here, I'm highly inclined to agree… however…
So far, all we have to go on are the following statements from the OP about his study: "I would like to practice at home, while not at the dojo (with a bokken)", "I have an instructor, and he said there I can practice with a bokken, while studying techniques."
Now, we don't know what dojo this is (what is taught there), who the instructor is, what experience the OP has (has he just started, is sword a new aspect to a longer study of whatever is primarily taught at the dojo, is the gent in one of the X-Kan groups, or anything else?), or anything else at this point… so, while you're likely right on the money, Paul, there is a chance that there might be some kind of credibility (on some level, at least) there, and the OP simply hasn't quite understood what has been said. After all, if the teacher has simply told him that he can practice with a bokken at home (meaning to practice what he's learnt in the dojo), but the OP has taken it to mean he is meant to look for his own reference material, that's not necessarily on the instructor, nor a reflection of the instructor not knowing what he's doing… we simply don't have enough information from the OP for that.
That said, there are a few things in those small comments that make me think the options narrow… and a few things I'd like clarified when the OP returns.
Absolutely.
Yep. One of my common comments is that the techniques are not what makes up the martial art… they are simply the way the art is expressed… the real art is what is beneath them.
If the aim is to learn techniques, then yes, it is absolutely a detriment to say the least. If it's simply to be aware of just what the variety of approaches to the concept of kenjutsu consists of, it's fine to watch them. Just don't try learning from them. It simply doesn't work.
Not just your opinion, my friend…
Honestly, until we know what you're actually learning, what system, and so on, there's no indication that he doesn't know what he's doing… it could just as easily be you've misunderstood, or not communicated the situation to us fully. So, can you let us know what you train in? And how long you've trained in it? That's the first step before you decide that your teacher is terrible based on the comments of people you've never met who don't know what you train in.
Just for fun, to finish this off though, I'm going to leave a couple of videos of kenjutsu systems, to show the range that exists:
Tenshinsho Den Katori Shinto Ryu. This is probably the most famous of classical sword systems in Japan, laying claim to being the oldest remaing ryu-ha, as well as being the source school for many other arts, however it is actually a sogo bujutsu (composite system) with the sword as central. As seen here, there is Iaijutsu, Kenjutsu, Ryoto (two sword), Kodachi (short sword), Bo, and Naginata. The system also includes Sojutsu (spear), Shuriken, Jujutsu (Yawara), Ninjutsu, castle fortification, battle strategy, divination, and more. This particular video is of the Otake Dojo, however it's important to note that other dojo (particularly the Sugino Dojo, but also including the Sugawara Budo group, Shigii Munenori's group, and the Noda-ha) do things with large and small differences.
Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu. This is the art of Musashi Miyamoto, possibly the most well known swordsman of Japan's history. The art is known for it's Nito Seiho (two sword methods), however it also has Itto and Kodachi Seiho (long sword, and short sword methods) which make up the bulk of the kenjutsu methods. The art also included Bojutsu, Jutte, and Yawara (Jujutsu). Again, there are other lines, such as the Gosho-ha, who do things a fair bit differently.
Araki Ryu. Araki Ryu is again a sogo bujutsu system, including pole arms (naginata to begin with here, but also including spear and nagamaki), chain weapons (kusari gama and chigiriki), shuriken, and a very rough form of jujutsu. The sword is seen from about 5:45 here. More than the other systems, there is a large amount of variation between forms of Araki Ryu, with the principle of "one domain, one ryu" being applied in many forms (in other words, a fully licenced practitioner, such as Ellis Amdur here, is almost expected to teach not necessarily the exact same methods he learnt, but his own form of Araki Ryu).
Nodachi Jigen Ryu. This very fierce form of kenjutsu was prominent in the Satsuma area, and many of the members of the Satsuma rebellion (that the film "The Last Samurai" was base loosely on) were practitioners of this art. It is, in some ways, a fairly rudimentary system, at least in appearances, and is based on developing an incredibly powerful kiri oroshi. It is said that, in this system, there is no real second cut, as the first cut has already cut the enemy down… to the point that opponents of the Satsuma swordsmen were found with the backs of their own swords embedded in them from an attempt to block the incoming strike.
Okay, this is a long one… and this is an example of all the problems mentioned earlier. This is someone who has no clue about kenjutsu whatsoever, and no actual legit training at all. Everything is wrong from the word go, with issues in grip, postures (they seem to be using the terminology of the Bujinkan's sword methods, but obviously don't have any training there, as everything is done incorrectly and deeply flawed), the idea of what a kenjutsu kata is here is based on the idea of karate kata… really quite different… and far, far more. This is why you can't learn from you-tube… as this guy seems to have tried to do.