Zanjutsu

is the most used form of combat among Shinigami. As the name suggests, it involves using a Zanpakutō and its various special abilities to attack an opponent. In addition to its basic form, each Zanpakutō has two enhanced forms: and, which change the sword's form to unlock its potential and that of its user.

As Arrancar also possess a form of Zanpakutō, the skill to wield one is similar to that of a shinigami. Like a normal shinigami Zanpakutō in addition to its basic form, its release allows the arrancar another form termed Resurrección, which unlocks the sealed hollow form of the wielder.

Swordsmanship Specialist
Swordsmanship specialists are shinigami that specialize in the use of swords during combat. A swordsmanship specialist need only have the ability to release their zanpakuto in shikai as well as a understanding of how to use the abilities their zanpakuto posesses. Someone of this level has to have basic skills in swordsmanship as well. All seated officers of the Gotei 13 have to possess at the very least this level of skill.

Expert Swordsmanship Specialist
An Expert swordsman is highly skilled using their zanpakutō while sealed, or in it's shikai. Most lieutenants are experts, since they must know shikai, and have mastered it to a degree, so as to be promoted. This applies also to some higher seated officers as well and in some cases to captain's who even though possibly having attained their bankai, don't commonly engage in swordsmanship as their desired form of combat. Yoruichi Shihōin, Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Tessai Tsukabishi can fall into this catagory.

Arrancar commonly fight with completely sealed zanpakutō before their Resurrección or no longer possesses one after their resurreccion, therefore they can be considered experts. Hisagi Shūhei, Izuru Kira, Rangiku Matsumoto, Nel Tu Oderschvank and Ulquiorra Schiffer are all experts.

Master Swordsmanship Specialist
Master Swordsmanship Specialists vary greatly by power and technique. In order to be called such, one must be able to fight incredibly skillfully using actual swordplay (Kenpachi Zaraki & Nnoitra Jiruga), have achieved Bankai (Renji Abarai & Ichigo Kurosaki,) or have completely mastered their zanpakutō's bankai (Byakuya Kuchiki & Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai.) The reason for this is it takes incredible skill to achieve bankai alone, and to master it is even better, but someone who has simply achieved it already has an advantage over lieutenant-level fighters. Kenpachi does not know the name of his zanpakutō, yet he is a master to be able to fight other zanpakutō masters like Kaname Tosen despite this disadvantage. Nnoitra is an arrrancar, but is a master by default since he fought evenly with Zaraki ''actually using a sword. Following this rule Neliel Tu Oderschvank could be considered a master for fighting on par and even subduing Nnoitra. Ulquiorra Schiffer can also be considered as such since he evenly fought Ichigo in bankai mode managing to endure his own against the Vizard mask that puts Kurosaki at the same level of a fully powered Zaraki''