Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Suiō-ryū Iai Kenpō (水鴎流 居合 剣法) is a style of classical Japanese swordsmanship. It was founded by Mima Yoichizaemon Kagenobu (1577-1665). He was born in the Dewa Province to Mima Saigū, a priest at the Jūnisha Gongen Shrine. He studied Bokuden Ryū, as well as some style of jō practiced by Shinto priests.
When he was 18, he began to study the iai techniques of the Hayashizaki school under Sakurai Gorōzaemon. After being given an overview of those techniques, he travelled throughout Japan, to study under different masters and perfect his skills. For some time, he trained in the naginatajutsu of the Buddhist monks from Mount Hiei, techniques that were applied often by the priests during the Warring States period.
He was not content to develop only the physical side of his martial arts during this time. Instead, he continued training as a Shinto priest, and meditated nightly, even going so far as to go on long retreats to secluded holy sites deep in the mountains. It was because of this spiritual side of his training that he eventually attained enlightenment. In the twentieth year of his training, he was struck with a vision of white gulls floating effortlessly and without conscious thought on the water, and named the style that arose from his revelation the "Suiō Ryū", or Water-Gull style of swordsmanship.
The spiritual, philosophical aspects of his training are everywhere in the Suiō Ryū techniques, and the core waza, or techniques, are tied to the Shinto cosmology that defines the heavens and earth.
Yoichizaemon continued training and touring throughout his life, and at age 67 retired to pass the Suiō Ryū to his son, Mima Yohachirō Kagenaga. To the core techniques established by the founder, Yohachirō added the 10 basic Goin and Goyō forms, which serve to establish strong basic technique. The 9th sōke, Fukuhara Shinzaemon Kagenori, introduced Masaki Ryū kusarigamajutsu to the curriculum. The tradition of oral transmission of techniques continues to the present day, with the 15th sōke of the Suiō Ryū Iai Kenpō, Katsuse Yoshimitsu Kagehiro.
[edit] In Popular Culture
- The Protagonist of Lone Wolf and Cub is said to use Suiō Ryū. However, it should be noted that in the six-part film series, Wakayama Tomisaburo uses a Kabuki-based style of swordsmanship, with elements of many styles of iaijutsu included to add variety to the techniques performed.
