Kashima-Shinryu is an old-fashioned Japanese martial art tradition (what Japanese call a koryû) that has been handed down for almost 500 years through 19 generations of headmasters (shihanke). Kashima-Shinryu is a comprehensive martial system that includes unarmed and armed exercises (kata) as well as initiations into the lore and theory of traditional budo.

The Kashima-Shinryu Club provides students, staff, and faculty at UCLA with the opportunity to learn traditional forms of Japanese martial arts and science. The curriculum includes jujutsu (grappling), kenjutsu (swordsmanship) with mock wooden swords (bokuto) and mock leather-covered bamboo swords (fukuro shinai) as well as with actual swords (Nihonto). Advanced students also can learn kaikenjutsu (dagger), nito (two-sword variations), battojutsu (swordsmanship that begins with the sword in its scabbard), as well as pole arms, including but not limited to bojutsu (staff), naginatajutsu (glaive), and sojutsu (spear). These last two also are practiced with mock wooden weapons. Practices are conducted on campus as well as at nearby fields, beaches, and mountains. In addition, UCLA members join practitioners from other universities in the U.S. (and, sometimes, Japan) to participate in an annual North America Gasshuku (summer training camp). Students who travel to Japan can train at Japanese universities (such as Tokyo University or Tsukuba University), at the Kashima Grand Shrine, at the Kashima Shinbuden (etc.). Sometimes they also participate in martial art offering (enbu) at shrines, such as the Kashima Grand Shrine, and other locations.