Chanbara

Chanbara (officially Sport Chanbara) is a safe sword-fighting sport originating in Japan, in which two competitors face each other with padded weapons — from the tanto (a short dagger) to the katana and the long yari (spear). The sport arrived in Finland in 2015, and it is still a refreshingly new addition to the Finnish martial arts scene.

The greatest strength of Chanbara is its low barrier to entry: padded weapons and light face protection make the sparring safe from the very first training session, and no previous martial arts background is needed. The sport suits children, young people and adults — for competitive sparring or simply for keeping fit, depending on the group.

Where to practise Chanbara

The member clubs of Kamppailukorporaatio hold Chanbara training sessions in Helsinki, Espoo, Imatra and Pori. The training groups and schedules differ from place to place — you will find the details on the page of the club in your own town below.

In Finland, Chanbara comes under the Finnish Kendo Federation (Suomen Kendoliitto).