What is "tendo-ryu"

Tendo-ryu may refer to:

• Tendo-ryu bujutsu, a bujutsu koryu specializing in the use of the naginata
• Tendo-ryu Aikido, an aikido style founded by Kenji Shimizu
• The style of "Anything-Goes Martial Arts" practiced by the Tendo family in the anime/manga series Ranma ½

is a koryū (school of traditional Japanese martial arts) founded in 1582 by Saito Hangan Denkibo Katsuhide. It originally specializes in the use of the kenjutsu but now shift to naginata. Current headmaster (as in 2014) is 17th sōke Kimura Yasuko. Its name appears to translate to "Heavenly Path School."

In addition of naginatajutsu, Tendō-ryū includes kenjutsu (either with katana or kodachi or both at once) and techniques performed with kusarigama. Also taught are methods of combat with a broken naginata i.e. stick fighting with just the shaft of a naginata.