Seizan himself studied a number of styles of martial arts during his life as well as the Shingyōtō ryu, including Heki ryu archery, Tamiya ryu iaijutsu, Koshin ryu sojutsu, Sekiguchi ryu jujutsu, as well as horsemanship and gunnery.
Seizan's writings on the sword display a strong Neo-Confucian flavor; however they are not merely academic but reflect his extensive experience in swordsmanship.