Kenjutsu with names and surnames.

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573) in Japan, there was a power vacuum caused by General Ashikaga Takauji, in aid of the emperor Go-Daigo, to slow down the advancement of the Hojo clan (for which Takauji had previously worked ). Victor Takauji, victorious in combat, broke the relations with the weak emperor, thus creating a duality of faced power since Takauji put in the imperial throne to an relative of the emperor, being established the era of Nanboku-cho or the time of the two courts (North and South), the legitimate emperor in the South Court until 1339, and Prince Kazuhito (later known as Emperor Komyo) in the North Court; this fact lasted until 1392 being characterized by the fights between the princes heirs between itself with its father. Finally Go Komatsu Tenno (Motohito) was elevated with the throne of the Japanese empire, being considered like the official pretender from 1382 when the emperor Go Kameyama abdicated and the rest of emperors yielded the throne.

Throughout this feudal period a great anarchy occurred in the country giving rise to Ashikaga Shogunate, in which the local daymos were acquiring more and more power until 1603 with Tokugawa, who established the last Shogunato.

In the Shogunate Ashikaga, the country experienced an economic boom caused by the search for external allies and commercial exchanges with Western Europe, which led to the formation of strong personal armies and as it did not have to have expert personnel in the fight with the sword to train these professional type soldiers called SAMURAI.

This era is known as the awakening of Kenjutsu schools: The first recognized was created thanks to the CHUJO family, which faithfully served the Ashikaga Shogunate for generations under the figure of Nagahide Chujo. From this point the numerous schools and styles were created, being relevant BOKUDEN TSUKAHARA (1490-1572), which is known as "never having been defeated by the long sword technique and the principle of the Zen adaptation to the warrior As a reflection of the practice of saber. " Another contemporary was Muneyoshi Yagyu (in the province of Yamato, now Nara) who studied with Kamiizum Ise no Kami (founder of the Shin-kake ryu), later being sword master of the Shogun Tokugawa; This honor made him able to later open the Yagyu school, in addition his family continued to serve the direct descendant and soon boasted of the title of Shogun, obtaining like service reward the title of governor of provinces and chief of the police of the Shogun.

Other famous masters were: Tempo Yoshioka, Miyamoto Musashi (Masana) who is credited with the Gorin no sho and the creation of the Emmei school. Kurando Marume in 1630 founded the Shinkan school in Asakusa (Edo), this one is known for having had clashes with spear masters like Mataebi Takada and duels against the Shogun of that time. As early as the 1700's, Tadaaki Ono (Jirouemon) will be known as the creator of the Ono Itto Ryu style (a sword), and precisely this study was decisive for the appearance of kendo since his disciple (Chuta Makanishi) founded the Nakanishi Itto Ryu, changing from then on teaching methods. There were other schools scattered throughout the country, however they were not as well known as those described above.

At present, schools like:

Niten Ichi Ryu, Suio Ryu, Katori Shinto Ryu, Kashima Shinto Ryu, Ittô-ryû, y Kashima Shin Ryu