Kensaido means "The Way of the Sword Master", thus this is precisely what a Kensaido Knight is. It is a relatively new and elite warrior class occupation that first began a little over five years ago when Nyan Tamya saw that a new class of warrior hero using many of his abilities he'd become famous for, would change the lives of all sentients. He scoured the younger grades of the High Schools in Wa-Daisho during a series of displays of swordsmanship, and magic capabilities that awed even many of the Sorcerers that were attending. He used these functions, to not only encourage the students to become members of the Red Devils of Wa-Daisho, but for them to strive to be even more ... to be a hero. He wanted to leave an impression - a seed of heroism, so to speak. A couple of weeks later, he went and spoke with several Sorcerers who had taken up Cadets, he discovered several students who had really caught on to what he was saying - and had taken it to heart. Their grades had increased, their studies had grown stronger, one even developed the spell of Fingers of the Wind at the record young age of 12 years old! Thus Nyan took several of these students under his wing - and began to train them personally.

      As with the Sorcerer/Battle Mage, training begins at 12-15 years of age. They are drawn from all walks of life, but all must display the attributes of a magic potential, an extreme regard for ethics, purity, honor, and a sense of justice to match. They must also be intelligent, and extremely agile. All of these traits were deemed necessary, to become a Kensaido Knight.

      Once selection of students was made, training began with the basics - the Kensai's code. This code is not very dissimilar from the Cyber-Knight's code, but focuses greatly on protecting the innocent, as well as makes them fanatically loyal to Wa-Daisho and her allies. It has been mentioned before that all throughout Wa-Daisho the seeds of nobility have sprung forth new life in this new land, with virtually all the members of the military having taken some aspect of nobility to heart - but the Kensaido Knights are expected to not only take aspects of it to heart, but to "live the way of the sword master", rather than imitate it. It often takes a great deal of time for someone not quite a child any longer, or yet an adult, to grasp a code such as this - thus it is important for patience to be displayed. It is a great deal of responsibility that takes great effort on the part of the teacher. Fortunately, Nyan Tamya had a plan for the future in the creation of the Kensaido Knights.

      Once a basic grasp of the code has been attained, a vigorous physical training program ensues, that will see the young hero to be, changed in a matter of a few weeks. Their soft child-like bodies will be replaced with those of solid adult ones - and their coordination improves greatly. Nyan is most famous for his amazing skill with the Daisho, and the use of these weapons in a twin bladed fashion that is unmatched by any known living swordsman, living or deceased. Thus, it was only natural with being considered THE Swordmaster, that he would focus greatly on teaching students in how to use the Daisho appropriately, as per his techniques. He also delved further to conglomerate three different forms of Samurai Swordsmanship - Tamya Kendo, Hachiman Kensaiken-Ryo, and Zanji Shinjinken-Ryo. (The first one is stock Martial Arts in the Main Book as taught to Nyan as a child, Hachiman Kensaiken-Ryo was taught to Nyan by Hachiman of Kyatashiro - and is actually Zanji Shinjinken-Ryu from the Ninjas & Superspies Book, and the third is Zanji Shinjinken-Ryo as found in RIFTS Japan.) This new form would become known as Kensaiken-Ryo or - "Sword Master's Swordsmanship School", and would be the art of the Kensaido Knight.

      Nyan was certain to work with their speech as well while they were physically training - teaching them about the subtle effects of speech and how it can effect a situation when dealing with someone who could be on edge. After the first year of training, the student is removed from normal classes for more intensive training. At 4 AM in the morning, they are taught to rise - religiously, stretch, exercise for a short period, bathe themselves, groom themselves, practice their spiritual beliefs, and then begin attending classes with their instructor at about 6 AM. From this point, they rotate between classes in the arcane, mathematics, language, literacy, history, politics, and physical training until just after sun down. At this point, the prospective hero is finally allowed to go to bed - only to repeat the process every day for the rest of the week, with only a half dozen days a year that they have to do otherwise. (No such thing as sick days when your' instructor can likely cure whatever ails you!)

      At either 16 or 17 years of age, depending on the student's advancement, they are then juggled in training between the system described above, and the training given to normal Red Devils and Tenzan Elite troops. This is when they are introduced to military skills, modern weapon proficiencies, and their first introduction to learning spell magic. Just before turning 18 or 19 years of age, depending on advancement - the month prior to their turning of age, they are required to enter an exhaustive series of tests and trials, that involve spell use, swordsmanship, agility, martial prowess, sharp shooting, gymnastics, acrobatics, incredible leaps, a perfect combat form, perfect morals, and ethics. During these tests a weakness is sought out. They are not told what it is - but it is capitalized on in their final test. At the end of this period they are sent into the northern wilderness to seek out their final test. Usually it is an illusion - where their weakness is presented to them boldly in the open, whether it be cowardice, fear of killing, or what not - they are expected to pass this test before being heralded as Kensaido Knight. Although only a couple failed their test, it is still a painfully terrifying prospect of failing at that stage.

      When they initially came onto the scene, everyone believed that they were just another variation on the Cyber-Knights, but had the capabilities to use magic. Nothing unusual about them - but with recent conflicts in Tolkeen it has become apparent, that this is NOT the case. The followers of the way of the Kensai, are not afraid of politics - and would not ever turn a blind eye to the blight of innocents. A full half of the dozen or so Kensaido Knights have taken leave from their activities in the Tenzan Elite, to go to war against the Coalition States. Those that remain behind, do so only to train new recruits in Kensaido, not out of cowardice.

      The people of Wa-Daisho first looked on these men and women with a certain level of fear and awe - having been trained personally by Nyan Tamya on such an intimate level is nothing to be taken lightly. When stories first came about of their exploits in activities around Wa-Daisho and abroad however, people quickly grew from awe to absolute admiration and adoration of this new hero class. People along the west coast of the Americas have also grown to know the term Kensaido Knight quite well, as the handful Nyan trained have traveled these lands looking for new prospects, and for people who require their assistance. Over a hundred monsters have been slain by this order of Knights, and close to a dozen tyrants have been ousted because of their influence. Outside of these regional activities, few have heard of the Kensaido Knights, but this will likely change. The Cyber-Knights have heard of them, and because of their Lord Coakes views on war, regardless of cause, has forced them to be branded by that hero class as being along the same lines as the Mystic Knights. In reality, with their penchant for 'justified war, and action' it places them somewhere between the Mystic Knight and the Cyber-Knight. Among the Kensaido Knights is a general feeling of incredible glee whenever they are able to help an innocent, or teach someone a new valuable skill. When they return home from their duties, and they are treated with such courtesy - they stand taller and smile a bit wider - because they realize that all of their actions are done for people like these, and that their thanks is better payment than any fat credit card.

      With their recent formation, there are only a dozen or so followers of this path, with an additional fifty or sixty more in training, that will be joining their ranks by 120PA. Many of these, if not most will eventually be involved in some way with the conflict in Tolkeen - and will gain many supporters among both the Cyber-Knights who have taken up Tolkeen's cause, and the Mystic Knights of the Order of the White Rose.

      Tamya Kensaiken-Ryo is a very new martial art form, devised by Nyan Tamya. (Yes his real name is actually written as Tamya Nyan.) This form was designed to combine the aspects of three different Samurai sword schools into one conglomerate form - that utilized the strengths of all three forms and none of their weaknesses.

      This is the true art of the sword master, an exclusive ability that allows him to fight - and win. It's focus is mainly in speed of attack, rather than it's defense and/or precision. It is only taught to Kensaido Knights.