Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-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 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][notes 1]}

History

Foundation

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.

Born in the village of Iizasa in Shimōsa Province he moved when young to the vicinity of the famous Katori Shrine, a venerable Shinto institution northeast of Tokyo in what is today's Chiba Prefecture. The Katori Shrine enjoys a considerable martial reputation; the Shrine's Kami, Futsunushi 経津主神 (Futsunushi no kami) being revered as a spirit of swordsmanship and martial arts.

After studying swordsmanship he went to Kyoto, where, according to most authorities, he was employed in his youth by the eighth Muromachi shōgun, Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436–1490), a devotee of the martial arts. Iizasa was later known as Yamashiro no kami (governor of Yamashiro Province) in accordance with a practice of Muromachi times whereby noted warriors took old court titles. Still later in life Iizasa became a Buddhist lay monk and was known as Chōi-sai, 'sai' being a character that many noted swordsmen chose for their sword name.

When Chōi-sai returned home he offered prayers to the deities of both Katori Shrine and Kashima Shrine, the latter a famous local shrine in nearby Ibaraki Prefecture where shrine officials themselves reputedly practised a form of swordsmanship, called 'hitotsu no tachi' (the solitary sword). Even today the Kashima Shrine training hall attracts kendo practitioners from around the world, and the chief object of interest for visitors is the shrine's sacred sword. Supplementing his considerable skills with assorted weaponry, Chōi-sai was also an expert in Musō Jikiden ryū yawaragi, holding the position of seventh headmaster in the history of that ryū. ^{[notes 2]}

Legend says at the age of 60 Chōi-sai 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. He called his swordsmanship style derived from this miraculous dream the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū, the "Heavenly True, Correctly Transmitted Style of the Way of the God of Katori".

This legend is typical of martial arts ryūha and other cultural forms as well. Ryūha founders often attributed their mastery to magical teachings transmitted by Shinto or Buddhist deities, by long-dead historical figures like Minamoto no Yoshitsune, or by legendary supernatural creatures like the 'tengu', a Japanese goblin commonly depicted with a long red nose. Ienao died in 1488 at the age of 102.

Iizasa's Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū, thus presumably linked to the sacred tradition of both Katori and Kashima Shrines, was transmitted through his own family.

Headmasters

1. Iizasa Yamashiro-no-Kami (later Iga-no-Kami) Ienao Choisai, died April 15th 1488
2. Iizasa Wakasa-no-Kami Morichika
3. Iizasa Wakasa-no-Kami Morinobu
4. Iizasa Yamashiro-no-Kami Moritsuna
5. Iizasa Saemon-no-Jo Morihide
6. Iizasa Oi-no-Kami Morishige
7. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Morinobu
8. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Morinaga
9. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Morihisa
10. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Morisada
11. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Morishige
12. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Moritsugu
13. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Morikiyo
14. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Nagateru
15. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Moriteru
16. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Morishige (Kan-Rikusai), died July 11th 1853 at 78 years of age
17. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Morifusa, died January 4th 1854 at 51 years of age
18. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Morisada, participated in the Mito Rebellion against the shogunate, died June 2nd 1896 at 56 years of age
19. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Kinjiro, died in 1943
20. Iizasa Shuri-no-Suke Yasusada (current)

In 1896, the 18th soke died without a male heir. Yamaguchi Eikan shihan governed the ryu until his death March 14th, 1917. Until Iizasa Kinjiro married into the Iizasa household, the following eight shihan helmed the ryu:

• Tamai Kisaburo
• Shiina Ichizo
• Ito Tanekichi
• Kuboki Sazaemon
• Isobe Kohei
• Motomiya (Hongu) Toranosuke
• Hayashi Yazaemon (1882-1964)
• Kamagata Minosuke

^[2]

Recent history

Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is the source tradition of many Japanese martial arts. Several famous swordsmen (including Tsukahara Bokuden and Matsumoto Bizen no kami Masanobu) who learned directly from Chōi-sai or his immediate followers became founders of their own schools, with either the same name (Shintō, written with a variety of other characters) or different names: Kashima Shintō-ryū (Bokuden-ryū), Kashima-ryū, Kashima shin-ryū (founded by Matsumoto), Arima-ryū, Ichiu-ryū, Shigen-ryū, and others.

As such in 1960 the school received the first ever "Intangible Cultural Asset" designation given to a martial art.^[3] 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 popularised in the west by the extensive research and writings of late Donn F. Draeger (1922–1982).

The current (2014), twentieth generation headmaster, is Yasusada Iizasa (飯篠 修理亮 快貞 Iizasa Shūri-no-suke Yasusada). For reasons of health he does not teach his family's system and instead appointed as his current, main representative instructor Risuke Otake who has a personal dojo close to (Narita City, Chiba Prefecture).

Iizasa devised a unique method to ensure warriors could train without serious injury and yet maintain a resemblance to 'riai' (integrity of principle) and combative reality. The weapon training of the ryū, in the form of kata-bujutsu (pre-arranged, combative training drills), illustrates this well. What appears to the outsider as merely a block of the opponent's attacking weapon is, in actuality, only a substitute for the part of the attacker's body intended to be cut or struck. Thus, full impact training could be maintained with safety to the practitioners. Furthermore, while the sword was considered to be the central and most important weapon in the Japanese warrior's arsenal of his era, Iizasa designed the scope of his ryū to include a wide range of weaponry. Thereby, he extended the training of his students to the use of other weapon systems as well, in order to be totally familiar with their capabilities and not be surprised on the battlefield by something unexpectedly different.

The uniqueness of Iizasa's Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is still evident today, in the particular aspects of weapon-wielding, posture, stance, and foot and body movements which make allowance for the fact that the bushi (classical samurai warriors) of his era would be wearing 'yoroi' (armour) weighing around 35 kg, and fighting on uneven terrain. These factors tend to keep the wearer's feet firmly and flat on the ground, and slow down mobility considerably. The distinctive techniques and tactics of this ryū also acknowledge the design of classical Japanese armour, which, although protecting the wearer well, had many 'suki' (openings). The main attacking areas included: under the wrists; inside and behind the legs; the hip area; the space between the 'kabuto' (helmet) and 'do' (chest protector) where the neck arteries and veins could be easily severed. The signature, 'omote' (basic-battlefield) sword technique of the ryū, 'makiuchi-jodan', was created by Iizasa because the bushi could not raise the sword above the head, due to the obstruction of the kabuto, and secondly, notwithstanding that restriction, a very powerful 'chopping' blow from above was still needed to be generated in order to produce the maximum destructive force for when circumstances dictated attacking areas of the 'yoroi' other than the 'suki'.

Curriculum ^[4]

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:

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:

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

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:^[5]

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.

Most Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū variants headed by instructors other than Risuke Otake 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 readily receive instruction from the local instructors until such time as they may be 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 has been authorised to take keppan from those members wishing so to do. This was the case in 2007, and again in 2009 when Kyoso Shigetoshi, younger son of Risuke Otake, held an open European seminar and existing participants of varying levels of expertise from the different organisations were invited to take keppan.

Branches

The mainline branch of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is currently represented by the Otake and Iizasa families. Several branches have split from the mainline with varying ties to the hombu dojo and Iizasa family.

• Sugino-ha - Sugino Yoshio trained under Hayashi-shihan, Otake Risuke's predecessor, and received menkyo kaiden. Many of his students have opened Katori Shintō-ryū dojos outside of Japan. His son, Sugino Yukihiro had continued to teach without permission from the soke, though he has since reestablished relations with Iizasa Yasusada and his students occasionally visit Otake Risuke's Shimbukan dojo. A high-ranking student of Sugino's, Hatakeyama Goro, was teaching independently and his students are sometimes considered to be practicing Hatakeyama-ha rather than Sugino-ha.
• Hatakeyama-ha - A high-ranking student of Sugino's, Hatakeyama Goro, was teaching independently and his students are sometimes considered to be practicing Hatakeyama-ha.
• Sugawara-ha - Sugawara Tetsutaka edited and published The Deity and The Sword through his own publishing company. He was awarded menkyo kyoshi (teaching license) in 1986, but later fell out of favor with the mainline. He currently teaches Katori Shintō-ryū as part Sugawara Martial Arts Institute's curriculum.
• Noda-ha - Noda Shinzan (1848-1917) began training in Katori Shintō-ryū in 1853 under Yamada Naomune, a retainer of the Date clan. Many Date retainers had trained in Katori Shintō-ryū and developed their own distinctive style. After Naomune's death in 1912, Noda and his son, Seizan, trained under Yamaguchi Kumijiro, the one of several mainline shihan at the time. Following the death of Yamaguchi and several other shihan, Hayashi Yazaemon began reforming and standardizing the mainline curriculum. Finding his style incompatible with Hayashi's, Noda Seizan quietly withdrew to private teaching, referring to his branch as Noda-ha Katori Shintō-ryū. Noda-ha preserves some kata that have been lost in the mainline.^[6]
• Ichigidō - Shiigi Munenori began training in Katori Shintō-ryū under his father before formally training at Otake Risuke's dojo for over thirty years. He incorporates Katori Shintō-ryū as part of the curriculum of his Ichigidō organization and maintains a positive relationship with the Iizasa family.
• Yoseikan Budo - Mochizuki Minori incorporated Katori Shintō-ryū into the curriculum of Yoseikan Budo. His son, Mochizuki Hiro, continues to teach.

Notable swordsmen in relation to Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū

• Tsukahara Bokuden - from the early sengoku period who developed his own style of swordsmanship Kashima Shinto-ryu
• Muso Gonnosuke - founder of Shinto Muso-Ryu
• Miyamoto Musashi - he meditated in the Kashima-Katori shrines
• Yamazaki Susumu - Shinsengumi officer, physician and spy
• Katakura Murakiyo - eighth head of the Katakura clan, earned menkyo kaiden
• Kuroda Kanbei - late Sengoku daimyo and advisor to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, appointed shihan
• Takenaka Shigeharu - advisor to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and jōseki shihan of Katori Shintō-ryū
• Kamiizumi Nobutsuna - founder of Shinkage-ryū, student of Katori Shintō-ryū, Nen-ryū, and Kage-ryū

Notes

References

Further reading

• 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 III, 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 4-7700-2619-6
• 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
• Otake, Risuke (2016). Strategy and the Art of Peace: Tenshinshō-den Katori Shintō-ryū (English Edition). Nippon Budokan Foundation. ISBN 9784583109848 (description page)
• 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 0-8348-0236-8
• Watatani, Kiyoshi (1967). (Zusetsu) Kobudōshi, Tokyo

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū.

• Official website
• Introduction to Tenshinshō-den Katori Shintō Ryū