Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū

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Traditional Japanese martial art
Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
(天真正伝香取神道流)

DVD Cover of Yoshio Sugino's "Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū", performing te ura gasumi.
Founder Iizasa Chōisai Ienao (飯篠 長威斉 家直, c.1387–c.1488)
Date founded c.1447
Period founded Middle Muromachi period (1336–1573)
Location founded Shimōsa Province
Current headmaster Yasusada Iizasa (飯篠 修理亮 快貞 Iizasa Shūri-no-Suke Yasusada, born c.20th century)
Current headquarters Katori, Chiba
Arts taught
Art Description
Kenjutsu Sword art
Iaijutsu Art of drawing the sword
Ryōtōjutsu (両刀術?) Art of using both long and short sword at once
Bōjutsu Staff art
Naginatajutsu Glaive art
Sōjutsu Spear art
Shurikenjutsu Spike throwing art
Jujutsu Unarmed grappling art


Ancestor schools
None identified
Descendant schools
Nakamura-ryū • Meifu Shinkage-ryū • Shintō Musō-ryū • Yagyū Shinkage-ryū


Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (天真正伝香取神道流?) is one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts, and an exemplar of koryū bujutsu. The Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū was founded by Iizasa Ienao, born 1387 in Iizasa village (present day Takomachi, Chiba Prefecture), who was living near Katori Shrine (Sawara City, Chiba Prefecture) at the time. The ryū itself gives 1447 as the year it was founded, but some scholars claim circa 1480 is more historically accurate.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Iizasa Ienao (飯篠 長威斎 家直 Iizasa Chōi-sai Ienao, c.1387–c.1488) was a respected spearman and swordsman whose daimyo was deposed, encouraging him to relinquish control of his household to conduct purification rituals and study martial arts in isolation. During his youth he had been in the service of the shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436-1490). Legend says at the age of 60 he spent 1000 days in Katori Shrine practising martial techniques day and night, until the kami of the shrine, Futsunushi no Mikoto (経津主之命), appeared to him in a dream and handed down the secrets of martial strategy in a scroll named Mokuroku Heiho no Shinsho. Ienao died in 1488 at the age of 102.

The current (2008), twentieth generation headmaster, is Yasusada Iizasa (飯篠 修理亮 快貞 Iizasa Shūri-no-suke Yasusada). The representative, and head instructor on behalf of the headmaster is Risuke Otake (Narita City, Chiba Prefecture).

The son of the late Yoshio Sugino (杉野 嘉男 Sugino Yoshio, 1904–1998), Yukihiro Sugino (Sugino Yukihiro) is also teaching Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū at Yuishinkan Sugino Dojo in Kawasaki, Japan.

The previous long-term head instructor under the late Yoshio Sugino, Goro Hatakeyama, is also independently teaching Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū in his Yokohama Dojo in Kanagawa, Japan.

Tetsutaka Sugawara is a previous senior student and holder of an instructor license issued in 1986 by Risuke Otake. He teaches Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū at the Sugawara Martial Arts Institute in Tokyo, Japan.

Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is the source tradition of many Japanese martial arts such as Kashima Shintō-ryū (Bokuden-ryū), Arima-ryū, Ichiu-ryū, and others. As such in 1960 the school received the first ever "Intangible Cultural Asset" designation given to a martial art. It claims to have never aligned itself with any estate or faction, no matter what stipend was offered. This allowed the ryū to maintain its independence and integrity.

Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū was popularized in the west by the writings of late Donn F. Draeger (1922–1982).

[edit] Curriculum

The Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is a comprehensive martial system. This means that unlike modern martial ways such as Kendo or Iaido, which concentrate on one specific area of training, study is made of a broad range of martial skills.

The main emphasis of the school is on Kenjutsu (sword technique). A wide range of other weapons are being taught as part of the curriculum, but the sword remains the central weapon.

The primary curriculum includes:

Arts Forms
Sword arts
(tachijutsu)		 Sword combat
(kenjutsu)		 4 Forms: Basics of the Sword (表之太刀 Omote no Tachi?)
5 Forms: Five Teachings of the Sword (五教之太刀 Gogyō no Tachi?)
3 Forms: Seven Essential Articles of the Sword (極意七条之太刀 Gokui Shichijo no Tachi?)
Sword drawing
(iaijutsu)		 6 Forms: Basics of Sword-Drawing (表之居合 Omote-no Iai?)
5 Forms: Standing Sword-Drawing (立合抜刀術 Tachiai Battōjutsu?)
5 Forms: Essentials of Sword Drawing (極意之居合 Gokui no Iai?)
Two swords
(両刀術 ryōtōjutsu)		 4 Forms: Two Swords (両刀 Ryōtō?)
Short sword
(kodachi)		 3 Forms: Essentials of the Short Sword (極意之小太刀 Gokui no Kodachi?)
Staff art
(bōjutsu)		 6 Forms: Basics of the Staff (表之棒 Omote no Bō?)
6 Forms: Five Teachings of the Staff (五教之棒 Gogyō no Bō?)
Glaive art
(naginatajutsu)		 4 Forms: Basics of the Glaive (表之長刀 Omote no Naginata?)
3 Forms: Seven Essential Articles of the Glaive (極意七条之長刀 Gokui Shichijo no Naginata?)
Spear art
(sōjutsu)		 6 Forms: Basics of the Spear (表之槍 Omote no Yari?)
Spike-throwing
(shurikenjutsu)		 7 Forms: Basics of Spike Throwing (表之手裏剣 Omote no Shuriken?)
8 Forms: Five Teachings of Spike Throwing (五教之手裏剣 Gogyō no Shuriken?)
9 Forms: Essentials of Spike Throwing (極意之手裏剣 Gokui no Shuriken?)
Jujutsu 36 Forms: Essentials of Jujutsu (極意之柔術 Gokui no Jūjutsu?)

The Gogyo and Gokui kata are only taught to advanced practitioners after many years of fundamental practice.

Other, more advanced areas of study of the school include:

  • Ninjutsu/Shinobi (intelligence gathering and analysis)
  • Chikujojutsu (field fortification art)
  • Gunbai-Heihō (strategy and tactics)
  • Tenmon Chirigaku (astronomy;geomantic divination)
  • In-Yo kigaku (philosophical and mystical aspects derived from Mikkyo - specifically the esoteric Shingon school of Buddhism)

[edit] Membership

Historically, the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū variant headed by Risuke Otake applied stringent limitations on prospective members. These, as detailed in Otake's formal Shinbukan Dojo Rules, include...

  • 1. Nyumon (admittance) is restricted to those prepared to take keppan (blood oath) and pay the prescribed nyumon-ryo (entrance fee);
  • 2. Persons of foreign nationality interested in joining must reside in Japan;
  • 3. Upon leaving Japan, the applicant must not teach in any way;
  • 4. Persons practising other martial arts will not be accepted.

In recent years, however, with the relaxing of these rules Otake's Narita-headquartered organisation has achieved significant growth in membership through a crop of recently appointed and soon-to-be-appointed shidosha (country representatives) in a number of European countries, Russia, and as far afield as South Africa. A rapidly increasing inflow of visiting foreign enthusiasts spend periods of up to a few weeks at the Hombu (head) dojo, no longer excluded by the historic rules (2) to (4). Otake's younger son and Shihan (chief instructor)-in-waiting, Shigetoshi Kyoso, in actively fostering the school's upsurge in accessibility and recent international growth, has made a number of overseas training visits in support of these new branches.

The Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū variants headed by senior Japanese instructors Goro Hatakeyama, Yukihiro Sugino, and Tetsutaka Sugawara had not laboured under such restrictive policies in the past and have always been readily accessible world-wide for a number of decades. Over that period they had developed significant student followings throughout Europe, Canada, and the Philippines.

[edit] Keppan

Historically, before beginning any training in Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū, every prospective pupil had to sign an oath of allegiance to the school. The method was to make keppan (blood oath) in support of the following kisho or kishomon (pledge). This oath was a written one with the prospective member being required to sign his name in his own blood. The applicant would prick or cut a finger or sometimes the inner arm and with the blood drawn, sign the following pledge:[2]

On becoming a member of the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū which has been transmitted by the Great Deity of the Katori Shrine, I herewith affirm my pledge that:

  1. I will not have the impertinence to discuss or demonstrate details of the ryū to either non-members or members, even if they are relatives;
  2. I will not engage in altercations or misuse the art against others;
  3. I will never engage in any kind of gambling nor frequent disreputable places.
  4. I will not cross swords with any followers of other martial traditions without authorization.
I hereby pledge to firmly adhere to each of the above articles. Should I break any of these articles I will submit to the punishment of the Great Deity of Katori and the Great Deity Marishiten. Herewith I solemnly swear and affix my blood seal to this oath to these Great Deities.

Marishiten is originally the Brahman figure of Krishna. In later Chinese Buddhist mythology she became the heavenly queen who lives in one of the stars of the Great Bear. She is mostly depicted with eight arms, two of which are the symbols of the sun and the moon.

Some Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū variants headed by instructors other than Risuke Otake, for example the Sugino and Hatakeyama schools, do not require keppan. However, Risuke Otake regards the making of keppan as a strict requirement for all candidates seeking entrance into his school in order to preserve the secrecy and integrity of the ryū's teachings. Even so, students joining his various overseas branches receive instruction from the local instructors until such time as they are able to travel to Otake's dojo to take keppan. Additional opportunities arise should an overseas dojo be visited by one of the school's senior instructors who have been authorised to take keppan from those members wishing so to do. This was the case in 2007 according to Erik Louw, country representative for Holland, when Kyoso Shigetoshi, younger son of Risuke Otake, held an open European seminar in Holland and existing participants of varying levels of expertise were 'invited' to take keppan. Tetsutaka Sugawara also requires keppan of his prospective students.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^  The TSKSR itself gives 1387 as the birth year of its founder. See Deity and the Sword, Vol 1 p. 16-17. Watatani (1967) speculates 1417-1420 is more historically correct.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Watatani, Kiyoshi (1967). (Zusetsu) Kobudōshi, Tokyo
  2. ^ Ōtake, Risuke (2007). Katori Shinto-ryu: Warrior Tradition, Koryu Books. ISBN 978-1-890536-20-6 (A total revamp of The Deity and the Sword, combining all 3 volumes into one re-translated and edited book with additional material)
  • Amdur, Ellis (2002). Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions, Edgework, p. 21-45
  • Draeger, Donn F. The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan series, 3 volumes.
  • Friday, Karl F (1997). Legacies of the Sword, the Kashima-Shinryu and Samurai Martial Culture, University of Hawaii Press, p. 26 & 93, ISBN 0-8248-1847-4
  • Hall, David Avalon. Marishiten: Buddhism and the warrior Goddess, Ph.D. dissertation, Ann Arbor: University microfilms, p. 274-292.
  • Hurst 111, G. Cameron (1998). Armed Martial Arts of Japan, Swordsmanship and Archery, Yale University Press, p. 46-49 & 58, ISBN 0-300-04967-6
  • Mol, Serge (2001). Classical Fighting Arts of Japan, A Complete Guide to Koryu JuJutsu, Kodansha International, p. 43 & 151, ISBN 4770026196
  • Otake, Risuke (1977). The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 1, Japan, Japan Publications Trading Co. ISBN 0-87040-378-8 (Original Japanese title for all three volumes in this series is Mukei Bunkazai Katori Shinto-ryu)
  • Otake, Risuke (1977). The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 2, Japan, Japan Publications Trading Co. ISBN 0-87040-405-9
  • Otake, Risuke (1977). The Deity and the Sword - Katori Shinto-ryu Vol. 3, Japan, Japan Publications Trading Co. ISBN 0-87040-406-7
  • Ratti, Oscar & Westbrook, Adele (1973). Secrets of the Samurai, A Survey of the Martial Arts of Feudal Japan, Charles E. Tuttle Co. ISBN 0-8048-0917-8
  • Skoss, Diane (editor) (1997). Koryu Bujutsu, Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Koryu Books, vol 1, ISBN 1-890536-04-0
  • Skoss, Diane (editor) (1999). Sword & Spirit, Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Koryu Books, vol 2, p. 67-69. ISBN 1-890536-05-9
  • Skoss, Diane (editor) (2002). Keiko Shokon, Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Koryu Books, vol 3, ISBN 1-890536-06-7
  • Sugino, Yoshio & Ito, Kikue (1977). Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu Budo Kyohan (A Textbook of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu Martial Training; originally published in 1941).
  • Warner, Gordon & Draeger, Donn F. (1982). Japanese Swordsmanship: Technique And Practice, ISBN 0834802368
  • Watatani, Kiyoshi (1967). (Zusetsu) Kobudōshi, Tokyo

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Traditional schools of Japanese martial arts
12th century (1101-1200)
13th century (1201–1300)
14th century (1301–1400)
15th century (1401–1500)
Kage-ryū (Aizu) • Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
16th century (1501–1600)
17th century (1601–1700)
18th century (1701–1800)
19th century (1801–1876)
Traditional arts practiced:
Battōjutsu • Bōjutsu • Hojōjutsu • Iaijutsu • Jōjutsu • Jujutsu • Juttejutsu • Kenjutsu • Kenpō • Kyūjutsu • Naginatajutsu • Ninjutsu • Shurikenjutsu • Sōjutsu