Kenjutsu (The sword art) is a classic martial art from Japan, known as a koryu budo. There are many schools that teach how to efficiently use the sword in combat.

Students learn mostly by way of kata, and by using swords on water-soaked rolled mats and bamboo poles.  Students use either a bokken (wooden sword) or a shinken  (real swords such as katana, tachi, etc.).

As in other koryu arts, belt colour is not used to show the practitioner's ability. Instead of grades, licenses such as menkyo kaiden are given.

An ancient school of Kenjutsu was more like officer's training academy and finishing school.

Modern budo arts derived from traditional sword work are kendo and iaido.