Our Philosophy
We don’t worship aesthetics. We respect results. The blade is a multiplier: it makes good movement better—and bad movement worse. Our job is to build the mover first, then let the weapon amplify it. That’s how you walk the path from admirer to scythe master in the making.
Fighter Standards, Not Cosplay
We borrow anime’s spirit, not its shortcuts. Everything we teach needs to survive pressure: timing that holds when you’re tired, posture that doesn’t collapse under contact, and footwork that wins space when it matters. If it fails in live rounds, it’s cut.
Principles Over Techniques
- Control the moment: own the beat, not just the move.
- Break the pattern: change levels, lines, and expectations.
- Reap the result: end exchanges on your terms—exit or finish.
Techniques come and go. Principles scale from empty hands to steel. Whether you’re unarmed or holding a blade, the rules don’t change—only the leverage does. Musashi himself wrote in The Book of Five Rings: rhythm and timing decide all battles. That wisdom drives us today.
The Base That Makes Weapons Honest
Our unarmed roots are simple: Boxing for range and rhythm, Yoga for balance and health, and Niten Ichi Ryu for Musashi’s strategy of timing, adaptability, and dual-sword integration. Weapons sit on top of that base so your mechanics stay clean when the stakes rise.
The Five Elements of Training
Musashi divided strategy into five scrolls—Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Void. We adapt them to scythe work:
- Earth: solid stance, footwork, and guard — foundation that never shifts.
- Water: adaptability in rhythm and distance — flow around resistance.
- Fire: decisive aggression — strike when the moment opens, with full intent.
- Wind: awareness of other schools and styles — learn them, adapt, and overcome.
- Void: presence without thought — freedom of movement when technique vanishes.
These aren’t just concepts—they’re filters for every drill. From footwork rounds to scythe arcs, the elements shape how we train and move.
What We Promise
- Honest feedback and clear standards.
- Weapon work that makes you better even when you’re unarmed.
- A community that values discipline over theatrics.
The mission is simple: build presence, build control, build results. The rest is noise.