Obata Toshishiro

Obata Toshishiro is the founder of the Kokusai Shinkendo Renmei (International Shinkendo Federation), an organization dedicated to teaching authentic Japanese swordsmanship. Of samurai lineage, Obata was born in Japan in 1948.   At the age of 18 he was accepted as an uchi deshi (live-in apprentice) at the Yoshinkan Aikido Honbu Dojo in Tokyo under Shioda Gozo. While at the Yoshinkan dojo, Obata taught Aikido to the Tokyo Metropolitan Riot Police and the Japanese Self Defense Army.

In 1973, Obata joined Wakakoma Pro— an elite group of professional martial artists who serve as action choreographers and consultants for the Japanese television and film industry. Under the tutelage of Hayashi Kunishirō, Obata researched the historical practices of the samurai and learned martial skills such as archery from horseback (kyubajutsu), the wearing of traditional armor (yoroi), the art of the spear (sojutsu), and the art of the halbred (naginatajutsu). It was during this time that Obata was able to devote serious study to the martial arts systems that would later influence the development of Shinkendo.

Throughout the 1970s, Obata competed in the All-Japan Battōdō Test-cutting Championships, winning first place multiple times and earning a reputation as a master swordsman.

In 1980, Obata immigrated to the United States with license from Nakamura Taisaburo to be the Chief North American Instructor for Toyama Ryū and Nakamura Ryū Battōdō. Finding these styles to be limited, Obata drew upon his years of experience in other budō and swordsmanship systems, distilling the sum of his knowledge into Shinkendo- a comprehensive system of Japanese swordsmanship based upon his extensive knowledge, experience and historical research.

Obata has appeared in numerous films and television shows, in addition to roles off-camera as an action coordinator and martial arts advisor. He has been featured in dozens of martial arts publications and has authored numerous books on swordsmanship, including Naked Blade, Crimson Steel, Shinkendo: Japanese Swordsmanship, Shinkendo Tameshigiri and Modern Bushido: Samurai Teachings for Modern Times.