Livingston Student Earns Shodan Rank In Iaido

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Ryushin Shouchi Ryu Japanese martial arts with swordsmanship school, located in New York, headquarter in Japan, awarded the Shodan (1st degree black belt) rank to Anshuk Shetty of Livingston High School.

Anshuk started his Iaido training at age 13 and is one of the youngest to pursue and gain ranks to Shodan, in this rigorous practice.

The soke (grandmaster) Yahagi Kunikazu Sensei is world renowned and has been practicing this art for several decades.

Iaido is a branch of martial arts with sword and has ancient origins going back to the training programs of the samurais. The practice requires precise knowledge in the handling of the sharp-edged sword known as Shinken. The main area of focus is to perfect your Kata(forms), Kumitachi or partner practice and Tameshigiri or cutting.

Anshuk was introduced to the martial art by his uncle and continued his training under Sensei Valiant Yeung at Ryunshin Kan. The practice is not usually open to younger students due to the maturity required to handle Iaito or Shinken(swords) but interested students can start with a bokken or wooden sword.

Anshuk “The development of strong mind along with training your body to be flexible and agile is what keeps me motivated in Iaido."

The views expressed here are the author's own.