are there any still practicing the art of the Samurai?

[yoda1]

i have always wondered if there are still samurai practicing the art. i think its very intersting and would love to learn more, but havent been so lucky in finding any information that has been translated =/

[nitrogen]

That would be interesting to know. I know its more of an "ancient" art, but I would assume that the style wouldn't completely die, and would still be studied by some.

[applexcore]

yeah i think that would be cool to see if this is even practiced anymore...

i hope someone can give us some info on this...

[Tonic]

Yeah for sure, its still practiced in asian countries and even if you looked around where you live there is probably someone teaching it from a back shed somewhere.

[Raven]

I saw a program a few days ago that was about the samurai, and how they are having to redeveop themselves to modern day. According to the show they are still about, but not so much since the second world war, aparently a few wayward samurai used their swords to decapitate captured american soldiers, it seriously discredited the otherwise extremely honourable martial art, and way of life.
Needless to say, they are trying to regain the honour that was lost.

[kyasuriin]

It's good to know it wasn't lost and isn't decapitation a traditional way to kill an enemy. It shouldn't be held against them. They were following the rules of war, it was their rules but those rules have been around a lot longer than more modern sets.

[Empi]

I practice Bushido. It is not a lost art, and is still very much alive.

[jadewolf]

the art you are looking for is akijujuitsu also it should have kendo/kenjutsu and iado the empty handed techniques should be sword based hope that helps

[Empi]

I'm familiar with Kendo and Iado (a friend of mine used to practice the later, though unfortunately forgot everything useful she had learned). The main problem is that I can't afford to pay for katana instruction, so most of what I learn revolves around self-taught techniques, the few kata videos I can find around, and anything else I pick up. It suffices to say my swordwork needs polishing.

Really though, the idealogy behind the art of Samurai is not hard to come by. When I say ideology, I refer to the state of mind and level of discipline that comes of being at that level. I see it from time to time in a sensei, and it's really an amazing sight to behold and witness. It's really just the litteral sense behind being samurai that is rare, and that may indeed be a dying way. Then again, the ideal survives, so one might even say that the art of the samurai has evolved.

[sirdarksol]

Originally Posted by yoda1

i have always wondered if there are still samurai practicing the art. i think its very intersting and would love to learn more, but havent been so lucky in finding any information that has been translated =/

Yes, there are people practicing the arts that the samurai practiced. However, there are no samurai. Sadly, the class known as samurai was disbanded quite awhile ago.