Tsukahara Bokuden (塚原 卜伝 1489 - 1571) was a famous swordsman of early Sengoku period. He was widely regarded as a kensei (sword saint). Events March 14 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. ... Events January 11 - Austrian nobility is granted Freedom of religion. ... A swordsman is one skilled in the use of swords. ... The Sengoku Period (戦国時代 Sengoku jidai) or warring-states period, is a period of long civil war in the History of Japan that spans through the middle 15th to the early 17th centuries. ...

Bokuden learned the Katori Shinto-ryu from his adopted father and later honed his skills by engaging in musha shugyo (warrior's ascetic training), traveling throughout Japan and training with most of the skillful and knowledgeable swordsmen of the day. He later systematized the teaching of the Kashima area's local martial arts, including such approaches to combat as Kashima no tachi and Ichi no tachi. After receiving a divine inspiration from Takemikazuchi no kami, the deity of Kashima Shrine, he named his martial system as Kashima Shinto-ryu. He also, for a brief period, called his system Mutekatsu-ryū (winning without hands). Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō Ryū (天真正伝香取神道流) is one of the oldest extant martial arts in Japan, a true koryu. ... Kashima (鹿嶋市; -shi) is a city located in Ibaraki, Japan. ...

Tsukahara Bokuden was the classic knight-errant. A rich nobleman, he travelled the Japanese countryside, often with a full entourage, in search of adventure. Of course he often found it. Bokuden, a master of the sword, was challenged by a mannerless ruffian. When asked about his style, Bokuden replied that he studied the "Style of No Sword." The ruffian laughed and insultingly challenged Bokuden to fight him without a sword. Bokuden then agreed to fight the man without his sword but suggested they row out to a nearby island to avoid disturbing others. The ruffian agreed, but when he jumped from the boat to the shore of the island, drawing his blade, Bokuden pushed the boat back out, leaving the ruffian stranded on the island. Bokuden explained, "This is my no-sword school."