Whether jujutsu is the origin of all other arts or swordsmanship is; that is a debate that we find of little use when it comes to Daito ryu. It is undeniable that the empty handed techniques of Daito ryu are based in the movement, footwork, and strategy of swordsmanship.

Sword training is fundamental in Daito ryu and can hardly be separated from taijutsu. Even the progression that a student makes in empty handed technique is greatly influenced by the amount of bokuto (bokken), and suburito training he or she does.

With the sword, classical Daito ryu includes other weapons disciplines, such as: sojutsu (art of the spear); jojutsu and bojutsu (art of the staff, including several sizes); tanken/tanto jutsu (the art of the knife); and naginata (the halberd); and other lesser known weapons such as tessen, sun-tetsu, jutte, shuriken, gusari-kama, te no uchi, etc. Weapons training and empty handed techniques are subject to similar heiho [strategy] and one practice reinforces and complements the other.