Tessenjutsu / Iron Fan Art, Dai-Shihan Jason Steeves
- Jason Steeves
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
In Bujinkan Ninjutsu, Tessenjutsu (Iron Fan Art or War Fan Technique) is the foundational discipline of wielding the Tessen, a rigid, iron-reinforced folding fan used for striking, blocking, disarming, and concealment. It draws especially from traditions like Togakure Ryū, where it functions as a subtle everyday-carry weapon for close-quarters deception and precision.
The kanji is 鉄扇術:
鉄 (Tetsu) — Iron (the reinforced metal ribs)
扇 (Sen) — Fan (the folding war-fan structure)
術 (Jutsu) — Art, technique, or skill
It is sometimes called Gunsen (軍扇), the war or military fan.
Bikenjutsu is a broader term covering martial arts that emphasize Kenjutsu, Kodachijutsu, and Juttejutsu (itself including Tessenjutsu). Tessenjutsu, Juttejutsu, and Kodachijutsu form part of Juppō Sesshō no Jutsu (十方接勝之術), the Art of Connecting and Winning from All Ten Directions, sometimes called the Budo of life. It is Hiken (秘剣), the secret principles of the sword: the method of defeating an enemy while protecting yourself.
The Tessen was often used in ways similar to a short stick, club, or truncheon. Some were forged from a single slab of iron and simply resembled a folded fan; these solid versions served purely as weapons and symbols of authority. Others had iron ribs with heavy paper or silk folds, functioning as a true fan while retaining the weight and strength of a clubbing weapon.
Tessenjutsu (also called Sensu Dori) was popular among the samurai. For the ninja it was especially useful in Henso Jutsu (disguise) when posing as a samurai, Rōnin, or Bugeisha. A skilled practitioner can restrain an attacker with something as ordinary as a pencil. In the past a ninja disguised as a commoner (Chonin) might carry only a bamboo smoking pipe with iron ends (kiseru). A true ninja rarely fought in open daylight with Shuriken or a ninja-to.
Hatsumi Sensei notes in Stick Fighting that many short-stick techniques actually originate with the Tessen. Because leverage matters, certain methods such as Tsuke-iri become difficult with a stick much shorter than fifteen inches, while others become clumsy with a longer weapon. The techniques should also be practised with everyday objects — pens, rulers, cutlery — so they remain practical.
Selected Techniques & Applications
1
Dr Hatsumi jams the Tessen into the base of an attacker’s descending blade, striking just above the hand to reduce leverage. He deflects the blade to his right, slips around to the attacker’s right side, gains control of the sword, pulls the fan against the inside of the wrist while driving forward against the elbow, then moves behind and finishes with repeated end-strikes to the lower ribs and kidneys.
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2–7 (selected points from Dai-Shihan’s book)
When grabbed, take the shadow with you; strike, knead, and stop easily at the mouth or with a palm strike to the rear of the Tessen.
Enter slowly while the opponent’s tension is already present; use the eyes, neck, or three points of pressure, then kick, knee, and stab.
Even when the fan is seized, thrust it under the chin, flick the chin up with the opposite end, claw the eyes or under the nose, and take a finger.
Against a punch (especially useful for a woman): Muto Dori and deflect, strike the face, pinch the arm at a pressure point and pull down, use the elbow to the neck, strike the knee, and step on it.
Deflect a punch, throw with the neck, strike the face, press the neck, and help pull the opponent down using the neck to grip the arm.
A sharp, concentrated slap with the edge or tip of the Tessen is described as “Koishi” (小石, pebble / small stone): the impact of a small hard stone.
8–12
From a rear bear hug: strike forcefully with the buttocks, strike the knee with the Tessen, stab the groin, and maintain zanshin.
When led by the arm: Yoko Nagare in front, pull with the left hand and drive the Tessen up into the groin, using the knee for support if needed.
Against a choke: strike with the butt end of the Tessen and move the whole body.Against a lapel grab: step on the foot while jabbing with the Tessen, swipe the shin or ankle, roll away, and throw the Tessen.
Against a single-hand grab: check, strike Hoshi, strike the ribs, bar the Tessen behind the ribs and upper biceps, bar the arm against the knee, poke the eyes, stomp the chest or ribs, step on the opposite arm, punch the face, kneel on the arm, drive the thumb into the gap behind the ear, recover the Tessen, and strike the teeth.
Asayama Ichiden Ryū Heihō
(浅山一伝流兵法, Shallow Mountain One Transmission Style / military strategy school of the Asayama Ichiden lineage)
Uke grabs the lapel. Tori intercepts with the Tessen across the wrist, reaches over and under to
lock his own wrist, uses the Tessen as a fulcrum to collapse the arm, and takes Uke to the floor while maintaining the lock.
Against a high Tetsui: intercept at the wrist, secure with both hands using the Tessen as fulcrum, press into Omote Gyaku, force Uke forward and down, then maintain the lock on the ground with the Tessen at the throat or another vital point.
Against a face strike: hook and spin, change hands to place the fan around the neck, deliver a kick, hang the arm on the fan, press the jaw with the free arm, and grip the artery.
Choson Ryū (朝鮮流) & Related Methods
Against a right punch: from Shizen Tai, Muto Dori to the right, place the Tessen on the wrist tip-
down, reach over the Tessen and under the wrist to grasp your own wrist, then pry downward or to the side.
Additional pressure-point and locking variations taught by instructors such as Greg Park include:
Arm & shoulder locks against straight or hook punches (cranking the elbow inward while grinding the bone, then pulling the shoulder).
Blinding with a surprise open-fan cover followed by a nose strike.
Double-punch defence that collapses the open fan into the neck or Adam’s apple.
Grab defence striking the mid-arm pressure point, then hyperextending the shoulder.
Shoulder-grab defence using the thumb in the pressure point behind the elbow while gripping the open fan and turning the whole body.
Gogyō (五行 — Five Elements / Phases)
Practise the five elemental forms (Chi, Sui, Ka, Fu, Ku) with the Tessen. There is no single “correct” way except that the movement must work. Change variables often, as Ishizuka Sensei advised, to cover many scenarios. These train footwork, Tai Sabaki, timing, and the “dosage” of elemental energy.
Kukishinden Ryū / Kukishin Ryū
Kasumi Jime — against Chudan Tsuki from Seigan: move left, strike the blade upward from underneath with the Tessen, close behind, and apply pressure to the left Kasumi.
Kocho — against Do Giri: move left, hold the right hand, strike the back of the hand with the Tessen, grip the left Jakkin, and press the tip into the chest to take down.
Shūkō Kudaki — against Chudan Tsuki: avoid left, strike the sword or hand, then strike Kasumi and apply pressure to the temple.
Many short-stick techniques in Hatsumi Sensei’s Stick Fighting are historically Tessen methods. Examples include Eda Koppo (attacking the bones), Kata-te Nage Omote and Ura, Ude Garami, Take Ori, Kata-Te Jime, Ude Kujiki, Katame Kujiki, Tsure Dori, Hiki Otoshi, Tsuki Otoshi, Yoko Kujiki, Hiki Taoshi, Uko Arashi, Nage Kaeshi, Gyaku Zeoi, and Ganseki Dome. All emphasize using the Tessen (or any short rigid object) against the radius, ulna, wrist bones, triceps, and other points while staying offline from the free hand.
Tessen vs Bo, Katana & Taijutsu
Against Bo thrusts: Muto Dori, press or slide the Tessen along the shaft to the hands, feed it under the arm into Oni Kudaki or Muso Dori positions, pry, and finish with kicks or control.
Against Jodan Kiri: step offline, intercept the hands or blade with the Tessen held at both ends or as a shield, strike the throat, wrists, or face, take the sword when possible, and continue into locks or strikes. The key is often to “disappear” from the opponent’s intention (Shiki-Yoshi) rather than simply block.
Against Taijutsu: simple entries under the chin, arm bars, Muto Dori followed by neck strikes, sweeps, and groin strikes.
Toda Ryū & Togakure Ryū Context
Toda Ryū is linked to the Togakure transmission through the Toda family. Practical everyday weapons such as the Tessen were valued for self-defence in disguise. Menuchi (face strike) and Udeori (arm break) appear as direct applications against sword cuts.
Togakure Ryū itself emphasizes Ninpo Taijutsu, evasion, espionage, and survival, forming one of the three primary Ninjutsu ryū of the Bujinkan.
Closing Notes from Training
Hatsumi Sensei repeatedly stresses using the whole body rather than isolated hand strength, entering deeply, changing position of the hips, and treating the Tessen as an extension of natural movement. Many methods work equally well with a closed solid fan, an open folding fan, or even a glued solid fan that never opens. The same principles apply to ordinary objects.
Practise the techniques with imagination and variation. The art lives in the ability to adapt, not in rigid memorization of a single sequence.
(Compiled and lightly edited for blog length from Dai-Shihan Jason Steeves’ book, densho references, and direct instruction while preserving the original wording and structure as closely as possible.)
To learn the entire Tessenjutsu curriculum, get it HERE, or get Dai-Shihan Steeves' book about it.
