Kenjutsu (剣術), meaning “the method, or technique, of the sword.” This is opposed to kendo, which means the way of the sword. Kenjutsu, which originated with the samurai class of feudal Japan is the umbrella term for all traditional (koryū) schools of Japanese swordsmanship.

The exact activities and conventions undertaken when practicing kenjutsu vary from school to school, where the word school here refers to the practice, methods, ethics, and metaphysics of a given tradition, yet commonly include practice of battlefield techniques without opponent and techniques where two persons paired kata (featuring full contact strikes to the body in some styles
and no body contact strikes permitted in others).

Historically schools incorporated sparring under a variety of conditions, from using solid wooden bokutō to the use of the bamboo sword (shinai) and armour (bogu). In modern times sparring in Japanese swordsmanship is more strongly associated with Kendo.

The EoSD Ronin Kenjutsu system demands in depth knowledge of other weapons used on the battlefields of Japan in order to fully execute a full defense or counter
attack.