Chanbara can be seen as a confluence of difference Japanese styles of fighting. It came into being when some of the greatest Japanese martial art veterans came together with prominent sword masters to create a well defined training style. The founder of Chanbara is Tanabe Tetsundo and his followers are known to be some of the strongest and best swords men in Japan. His school of martial art was known as Goshindo and was later changed to Chanbara. Chanbara disciples are considered to be the modern equivalent of Japanese Samurai soldiers.