Yagyu Shingan-ryu

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Yagyū Shingan-ryū (柳生心眼流, Yagyū Shingan-ryū^?), is a traditional school (koryū) of Japanese martial arts. Different schools of Yagyū Shingan-ryū assert different founders, but they all go back to Ushū Tatewaki (羽州帯刀), referred to in some historical scrolls as Shindō Tatewaki, who taught a system based on Sengoku-period battlefield tactics, that was called Shindō-ryū.

The word shingan (心眼, shingan^?) is rooted in Zen philosophy, and was chosen to describe a fundamental concept of the style. Shingan means "mind’s eye", or "heart's eye", refers to the ability to sense an opponent's thoughts or feelings via an inner sense.^[1] Originally called simply Shingan-ryū, it was later renamed Yagyū Shingan-ryū, due to the influence of Yagyu Tajima No Kami MunenoriYagyū Shinkage-ryū.^[2]

Yagyū Shingan-ryū was created to be a battlefield art with a large comprehensive curriculum of weapons, and grappling techniques for use both while armoured and unarmoured. The techniques of Yagyū Shingan-ryū were therefore designed to eliminate an enemy quickly and effortlessly.^[2] In the early days, both the Yagyū Shingan and Shinkage schools were similar, ^[2] as both consisted of an array of armed and unarmed combat techniques. However, as the two schools evolved, the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū focused primarily on swordsmanship (kenjutsu), whereas the Yagyū Shingan-ryū continued as a comprehensive combat system, training several arts, including jujutsu, quarterstaff fighting (bōjutsu), glaive fighting (naginatajutsu), sword drawing techniques (iaijutsu) and sword fighting (kenjutsu).

1 Araki Mataemon
2 Takenaga Hayato
3 Branches
- 3.1 Sendai line
- 3.2 Edo line
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] Araki Mataemon

Araki Mataemon (荒木又右衛門) founded a branch of Yagyū Shingan-ryū^[1], called Yagyū Shingan-ryū Taijutsu, in the early 1600’s.

Araki Mataemon is a household name in Japan.^{[citation needed]} Revered as one of the countries greatest samurai warriors,^{[citation needed]} Araki is often portrayed on film alongside his consort, Yagyu Jubei.^{[citation needed]} Araki was a practitioner of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, under his mentor Yagyū Munenori^[1]. Legend also has it that Araki was Jubei's teacher. Originally, Araki's Shingan-ryū was known as “Araki-dō”, which roughly translates as “Sacred Space of Araki”. The name Yagyū Shingan-ryū Taijutsu was adopted after Araki was given permission to use the "Yagyū" name by Yagyu Jubei. It diverted somewhat technically from the original teachings of the Yagyu Shingan-ryū founded by Takenaga Hayato.

[edit] Takenaga Hayato

Takenaga Hayato (竹永隼人), sometimes known as Takenaga Hayato Kanetsugu, founded the Yagyū Shingan-ryū, which he taught primarily in Sendai, modern-day Miyagi Prefecture.^[2] Before founding the Yagyu Shingan-ryū, Hayato studied Shindō-ryū (神道流) , Shinkage-ryū - Divine Shadow (神影流), Shuza-ryū (首座流), Toda-ryū (戸田流) and [Yagyu] Shinkage-ryū - New Shadow (新陰流). Takenaga Hayato was clearly influenced by his studies of the Shindō-ryū of Ushū Tatewaki. Takenaga Hayato went to Edo, was employed by the Yagyū family and studied Yagyū Shinkage-ryū with Yagyū Munenori.^[2] The name Yagyū Shingan-ryū was used after Hayato was directed to use the family "Yagyū" name in his art Shingan-ryū.^[2] On return to his home in Sendai he taught the ashigaru until his death.

Following Takenaga Hayato the tradition was passed on to Yoshikawa Ichiroemon, Ito Kyuzaburo and thence Koyama Samon, and so on, who traveled to Edo and founded the Edo line of Yagyu Shingan-ryū.

[edit] Branches

There are two main lines of Yagyū Shingan-ryū, and several off-shoot lineages.

[edit] Sendai line

The Yagyū Shingan-ryū Heihō (Sendai-line) is headed by Hoshi Kunio. The Sendai line is known for its armored routines and hard, thrashing strikes and pressure point attacks^{[citation needed]}. The lineage stems from Hoshi Sadaki, a student of Koyama Samon.

The Yagyū Shingan-ryū (Sendai-line) has three primary levels within the curriculum, Omote, Ura and Kage. It has a broad focus and has been practised in Sendai area for several generations.

The Yagyu Shingan Ryu Heihojutsu (Sendai -line) that has spread overseas is headed by Shimazu Kenji (Yagyu Shingan Ryu Heihojutsu Kyodensho Chikuosha). Shimazu Kenji has mastery of both the Edo and Sendai line under Aizawa Tomio (Edo line - Yorifuji den and Sendai line - Kano den) and the Sendai line under Headmaster, Hoshi Kunio (Sendai line - Hoshi den)^[3]. The Yagyū Shingan-ryū Heihōjutsu line under Shimazu Kenji is headquatered in Tokyo. Branches under the direct supervision of Shimazu Kenji exist in Australia, Sweden and France.

[edit] Edo line

Yagyū Shingan-ryū Taijutsu (Edo-line) is directed by Kajitsuka Yasushi (11th Lineal Headmaster). This lineage stems from Matsuo Oriemon, a senior student of the second headmaster Koyama Samon. The Taijutsu school is known for its close quarter jujutsu techniques. The techniques are based on body physics rather than brute strength. Some of the trade-mark manoeuvers include pole-driving (dropping an opponent on his head), back breaking, and neck snapping. Although this style does not employ the wearing of armor during practice or exhibition, the techniques are clearly designed for combating an armored opponent.

Unlike modern Japanese budō, which was created for the masses and is largely sport oriented^{[citation needed]}, kobudō (“ko” being short for koryū, meaning traditional or old) was designed for the warrior, whose sole purpose was to kill or be killed. Many of Japan’s modern budō have their roots in the Yagyū schools of combat^{[citation needed]}, and in particular, Yagyū Shingan-ryū;. Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, was a student of Yagyū Shingan-ryū. He received the rank of Shoden from a Shihan of the Edo-line of Yagyū Shingan-ryū (stemming from the sixth Lineal Headmaster Goto Saburō — hence the name Goto-ha). Likewise, Kano Jigoro, the founder of judo, trained under the seventh Lineal Headmaster of the Edo-line (Yagyū Shingan-ryū Taijutsu), Ohshima Masateru.

The Yagyū Shingan-ryū Taijutsu (Edo line) is primarily located in Kanagawa Prefecture.