大竹利典 (1926–2021)

Few of Japan's ancient warrior traditions have survived the five-and-a-half centuries since their heyday. Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto-ryu is the oldest extant classical Japanese martial art and one of the few that has maintained a comprehensive technical curriculum as well as studies in military strategy and prognostication. This book, by the tradition's only master teacher, is a detailed illustrated introduction to the sword tedchniques, strategy, and esoteric studies of Katori Shinto-ryu, Japan's most famous sword school.

Otake Risuke Minamoto-no-Takeyuki is presently the only authorized master teacher (shihan) of Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto-ryu. Born in 1926 in Daei, Chiba Prefecture, he began training in Katori Shinto-ryu under Hayashi Yazaemon Shihan in 1942. When Katori Shinto-riyiu was designated an Intangible Cultural Asset in 1960, he was named as one of the official Guardians of the ryu; he was concurrently awarded gokui kaiden, the highest level license in Shinto-ryu, and was also appointed shihan of the tradition. He opened his Shinbukan Dojo in 1964 in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, and has been responsible for training the current generation of Katori Shinto-ryu practitioners, including the late Donn Draeger and current shidosha Phil Relnick. He has also worked to increase the public's understanding of the classical martial arts and Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto-ryu through countless domestic and overseas demonstrations, television appearances, magazine articles, and choreography for television and films.

This present book is based on his earlier three-volume work, The Deity and the Sword. The original Japanese has been re-edited, re-translated, and re-designed, with over 850 new photographs and new material on important aspects of the tradition.

'The widest and certainly the most authoritative glimpse into the inner workings, the mechanics, and animating spirit of the classical martial arts of Japan.'-Dave Lowry, Author of Autumn Lightning: The Education of an American Samurai, and In the Dojo: A Guide to the Rituals and Etiquette of the Japanese Martial Arts

'Koryu Books has done the martial arts world yet another great service by rejuvenating this quintessential publication about the granddaddy of al Japanese martial arts-the Katori Shinto-ryu-and making the teachings accessible to us all. A classic book about a classical tradition; written by the master and reproduced masterfully.'-Alex Bennett, Editor, Kendo World, and author of Naginata: The Definitive Guide

'This is a loving, respectful, and updated version of what has become a classic treasure for any student of the history of the classical martial arts and ways of Japan.'-Wayne Muromoto, Editor, Furyu: The Journal of Classical Japanese Martial Arts and Culture

Contents

Foreword by Soke Iizasa Shurinosuke Yasusada
Preface
Publisher's preface by Diane Skoss
The origins of Tenshinsho-The history of katori jingu; The founder, Lord Iizasa Choisai Ienao; The lineage of the Iizasa tradition
The tradition of katori shinto-ryu-Background; Prominent figures; Lineage of tenshinsho-den katori shinto-ryu and related martial traditions; Memories of my mentor; The teachings of katori shintoryu
Combative techniques-Parts of armor; Defensive weaponry; The practical sword; List of techniques; Iaijutsu (Iai-goshi/seated iai posture; Nukitsuke/drawing; Chiburi/Removal of blood & noto/resheathing; Atemi/striking; Holding the sword; Reishiki-etiquette; Omote iai; Tachiai battojutsu); Kenjutsu (Kamae/postures; Application of the sword's curvature; Reishiki/salutation; Omote no tachi; Gogyo no tachi; Ryoto); Kodachi; Bojutsu; Naginatajutsu; Sojutsu; Jujutsu; Shurikenjutsu; Ninjutsu
The elements of heiho-Esoteric studies; On kan and ken; Fudoshin/immutable spirit (rinshin); Kuji-no-in and juji (Kuji/nine magical signs; The techniques of juji); The theory of in-yo gogyo (Ritsuken-no-sho; The tenets of in-yo gogyo; Gogyo as used in fortifications); Kigaku (Directional correlates for the nine stars); Hojutsu; Gunbai heiho
Further thoughts-The advent of weapons; The Japanese people and nihonto; The nature of character formation; Final words
Appendix: Our debts to our parents-Introduction to the appendix; Sutra on one's debts to one's mother and father
About the author… (meer)

from intro (Japanese and English)

The origin of Japanese gungaku heiho, that is, classical martial strategy, is traceable back at least as far as the Nara period (AD 645-794). The development of Japanese martial strategy was much influenced by Buddhism, the latter which was founded in India and brought to Japan by way of China, and also by Shinto, the indigenous Japanese religion. Japanese martial strategy also incorporates many ideas from Chinese philosophy, in particular the concepts of Yin and Yang, and those pertaining to the art of incantation and spells. The highly synthetic nature of Japanese martial strategy enabled the Japanese to produce an excellent tactical standard for use in the art of war.

In this book I introduce the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. This organization is the source from which most classical Japanese martial ryu (martial traditions) have evolved; and, consequently, from these ryu many kinds of bujutsu (martial arts) have appeared.

The techniques have, since the time of their codification almost six hundred years ago, been kept secret.

The fact that the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu has been able to continue in its pure form to the present day is the reason why it has become an important Japanese cultural asset.

According to Otake sensei, today's budo has losts its original flavor and has become simply a recreative pastime for the general public. He states: 'One of the major causes is that today's exponent of budo are familiar with only a small part of the traditional classical teachings. They view budo, and teach it, from the standpoint of modern physical education criteria, and furthermore, base this fractional-part of the more important whole on a framework of Western-style game and sport organization and values. This is being done only to make their interpretation of budo more attractive to an international audience.

Moreover, what is undesirable about this present situaiton is that the original spirit of classical martial teachings are not being adopted as the disciplines of our daily life, and that as a result, classical martial values are on the decline. When we discuss Japanese history we cannot validly overlook the fact that the warrior form of government constitutes the major portion of that history. But it is saddening to see the proud traditions of the warrior culture disappear little by little, but surely, year after year. Under such circumstances it is natural that I should feel an urgent need to hand down the teachings of the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, as an important Japanese cultural property, in their correct form for posterity'.

As you might know,Tenshin shoden katori shinto-ryu is designated as intangible cultural asset and is said to be the oldest exsisting koryu bujutsu in Japan.Bokuden tsukahara,who is one of the most famous master swordsmen in sengoku period,is said to have learned katori shinto-ryu.

We have seldom seen this book even in Japan.The scarcity is mainly because it is a self-published book and has small circulation.This book is becoming hard-to-come by here in Japan.

This book is written both in Japanese and in English.So even if you don't understand Japanese,you'll enjoy this book through many photos and English text.

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu is one of the oldest existing martial arts in Japan, an exemplar of koryu bujutsu. The Tenshin Shoden Katori Shintō-ryu 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

Contents

Frontpiece, Foreword, Preface
Chapter One The Origin of the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu and its Teachings
A History of the Katori Shrine
B The Origin of 'Tenshin Sho'
C The Lineage of the Headmasters
D The Teachings of the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Rkyu
Chapter Two Iai-jutsu
A Iai-jutsu and the Practical Sword
B Omote-no-Kai--Explanation of Iai-jutsu Fundamentals; Etiquette (rei-shiki); The Techniques (Kusa-nagi-no-ken, Nuki-tsuke-no-ken, Nuki-uchi-no-ken, Uken, Saken, Happo-ken)
C Tachi-ai Batto-jutsu Techniques--Yuki-ai Gkyaku-nuki-no-tachi; Zengo Chidori-no-tachi; Yuki-ai Migi Chidori-no-tachi; Gyaku nuki no tachi; Nuki-uchi-no-tachi
Chapter Three Bojutsu
A The Techniques--Seri-ai-no-bo; Sune-hishigi-no-bo; sayu-no-bo; Kasa-hazushi-no-bo; Hane-tsurube-no-bo; Tate-nami-no-bo… (meer)

Otake Risuke Sensei, the grandmaster of the oldest Japanese Koryu (Old classic Budo school) and the oldest martial tradition in existence (with a continuous record of direct lore transmission encompassing more than 20 generations) testifies about his own progression and hands-on experience in it and reveals some its unique history and lore. Some of the practical, theoretical and esoteric knowledge of the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu (TSKSR) is published here for the first time. Unfortunately readers unfamiliar with the Tradition will be unable to profit from all of its many "pearls".
The Koryu Otake Sensei represents, a cultural intangible treasure, has been lately continuously under siege by unscrupulous forces which distort its lore, profit from its notoriety and travesty the mastery of its technique, pompously impersonating legitimate organizations totally alien to the real School which pollute the Internet and attract many paying unsuspecting innocent students. As usual Light illuminates but also attracts pests...
The true initiates of the Art will find this book invaluable (together with the two previous books from Otake Sensei) for their progression in the understanding of the Tradition for generations to come.… (meer)