06/09/2019
Subject : 実戦居合道 (Jissen iaido: actual fighting iaido)
Attached is a translation of an interesting part of the CD made by Katsumata Kenichi Kyoshi 8 Dan.
Instruction & explanation by Kanagawa Prefectural Kendo Federation iaido section teacher Katsumata Kenichi, Kyoshi 8 Dan. Supervised by Ueno Sadanori, Hanshi 8 Dan.
Practical combat iaido
(The secret arts of the various techniques)
Koryu Tamiya ShinKen Ryu
Instruction & Explanation
Kanagawa Prefectural Kendo Federation
Iaido section teacher 8 dan Katsumata Kenichi
“THE TAMIYA SCHOOL OF IAI”
(Tamiya Shinken Ryu)
The Tamiya Ryu was founded 400 years ago by Tamiya Heibei Narimasa who learned the arts from Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu.
This school has been passed on this day through many various routes to become what is known as Tamiya Shinken Ryu (Tamiya Shinken Style).
Untill the 5th direct head of the school, Tamiya Jiroueimon Naramichi, the school is given the name of Ko Tamiya Ryu (Old Tamiya Ryu). From the 6th head of the school onward, it is called the Kishuu Tamiya Ryu (The Kishuu region Tamiya school of iai).
Moreover, there exists the Shin Tamiya Ryu (The new Tamiya school) founded by Wada Hirasuke Masakazeu of the Mito Province which has included the teachings of Miwa Genbei, the leading pupil of Narimasa (founder of the Tamiya school).
These three Tamiya schools are collectively called the Tamiya san Ryu (Three Tamiya schools of iai).
The Tamiya Shinken Ryu school is an extension of the Kishuu Tamiya school and is the school of Tsumaki Seirin who has upheld the Tamiya Shinken Ryu that was passed to the Saijou province. After the death of Master Tsumaki, the senior representative of the school, Master Fukui Seichi was to be entrusted with the teachings of the school.
Master Fukui has tried to re-examen the origin of Kobudou and has instructed his disciples mainly along the teachings of MinoKane.
In the Tamiya school of iai , the techniques mentioned in the scrolls of Tamiya, are called Minokane.
The meaning of Minokane is derived from an ancient text which in meaning emphasises the adherance to rules & teachings, and this is a quotation of the book of Mencius*, where Kikujunjou (different reading for the word Minokane) refer to the compass & ruler(square)** in the word Kiku and the water-level in the word Junjo. Both of which are symbols of Examples and Rules.
In the Tamiya school, the following are the main cutting techniques: Ichi Monji giri (horizontal level cut) Kirioroshi (downward cut) Kesagiri (diagonal cut) and Gyaku Kesa giri (reverse diagonal cut). As well as three stabbing thrust techniques: Morote Tsuki (twin handed thrust) Katate Tsuki (single handed thrust) and left handed Soete Tsuki.
In addition, the school of Tamiya martial arts also instructs the mind, body and spirit in comprehensive manner. “
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Additional notes & info:
* Mencius inherited and developed the theory and ideology of Confucius. The main content of Mengzi (the Book of Mencius) is the sayings of Mencius and his disciples. Mencius proposed the virtuous humanity theory: he believed that human was born with four moral characters -- the humanity, justice, courtesy, and wisdom. Human would lose the moral characters if he didn't maintain or develop them by practice. Hereby, he demanded people to pay attention to inner cultivation.
** The compass teach us the main tenets of friendship and brotherly love, and the ruler(square) is an emblem of morality and teaches us how to act with our fellow humans and treat them fairly.
Thank You Patrik Demuynck + Ramon Lawrence
