The Budo Academy of Martial Arts

11/04/2021

It sure has been quiet here hasnt it!
its been a very testing and challenging year for us all, and we are hoping to start training again in our dojos as soon as we are aloud to do so. watch this space and contact your Sensei for details!

stay safe and hope to see you all really soon

16/08/2020

Shoshin "the beginner's mind". I hope to see all current students regularly soon. I would also really like to meet new or previous students in one of our dojos in the very near future!
Matt San 👊🏼🥋

There is NO SHAME in making a comeback. Your sensei and training partners are waiting for you to resume your training. Don't let them down! Use ...

03/06/2020

Exciting times for the Budo Academy of Martial Arts!
First training in the Dojo at the new home and Headquarters of Budo.
The Elms, Edwyn Ralph.

13/05/2020

04/05/2020

The maverick warrior and daimyo, the "Last Sengoku Samurai", Mizuno Katsunari died on this day, May 4, 1651

Mizuno Katsunari was born in Kariya Castle (Aichi Pref.) on September 20th, 1564, the son of Mizuno Tadashige. His father was also master of Ogawa Castle on the Chita Peninsula and Kanbe Castle (Mie Pref.) Mizuno Tadashige’s elder sister was Odai no Kata, wife of Matsudaira Hirotada, and mother of Tokugawa Ieyasu, making Mizuno Katsunari and Ieyasu cousins.

At the age of 16, under Oda Nobunaga’s banners, Katsunari took part alongside his father in the 1579 Battle of Takatenjin Castle (Shizuoka Pref.) held at the time by Takeda Shingen’s son, Takeda Katsuyori. At the time, Katsunari was suffering from a case of conjunctivitis and found wearing his kabuto helmet uncomfortable. Instead, he prepared for battle with just a hachimaki, cloth headband. Seeing this, his father was outraged and admonished him for not wearing his armor properly. (It is most probably that his father was in reality worried about his sons’ safety) Angered at his father’s outburst, Katsunari made sure he was among the first wave of attackers, and drove himself deeper than any other samurai into the enemy ranks, and became the “Ichiban Kubi” taking the first head in battle.

Despite his heroic efforts and having taken the first head, instead of praising his son, Mizuno Tadashige became even angrier at his son. The reason was, according to samurai rules of engagement, entering battle before the designated warrior and unit was considered most rude. In this case, Katsunari’s father had awarded the honor of leading the battle to another of his vassals, who was highly insulted by Katsunari’s sudden advances.

Katsunari would also take part in the Battle of Komaki Nagakute (1584)

The relationship between father and son would continue to deteriorate. Katsunari would later quarrel with one of his father’s vassals, and drawing his sword, cut him down, killing him. There are a number of stories regarding the reason behind this, the most quoted is that Katsunari wanted to borrow some money off his father’s retainer, but the retainer had refused. This angered Katsunari who apparently rudely pointed out that the man was his servant, therefore his property, and anything the man had was therefore Katsunari’s. The samurai rightly pointed out that he was in the employ of Lord Tadashige, not Katsunari, and so he refused. For this, Katsunari cut him down.

When his father found out, he was livid, and expelled his own son from his domains. Katsunari went to Kyoto, where he invited more trouble, arguing with various warriors and killing a few. Over the next four years, Katsunari would serve Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Sassa Narimasa, Kuroda Kanbe, then Kuroda Nagamasa, Konishi Yukinaga, Kato Kiyomasa, Tachibana Mueshige and others, each time either being expelled for arguing with the lords, or the other vassals, or through simply running away from trouble. Much of his history around this time remains unknown, as he wandered the country.

Katsunari had attempted to seek employment from his cousin, Tokugawa Ieyasu, however his father had made moves to block his son from being able to approach Ieyasu. Finally, around 15 years after being exiled, Tokugawa Ieyasu himself intervened, mending the rift between father and son. Katsunari himself appears to have mended his ways too, serving the Tokugawa loyally and bravely at the Battle of Sekigahara, the winter and summer Sieges of Osaka, and at the Shimabara Insurrection.

When Mizuno Katsunari died on May 4, 1651 at the age of 88, he was said to have been the last of the Sekigahara Eastern forces warriors, and last of the Sengoku warriors. He was enshrined as a god alongside Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Nikko Toshogu.

24/04/2020

Matsuo Basho, Poet and Ninja (?)

Matsuo Basho was the most famous poet of the Edo period, and the greatest master of the form known as haiku. He entered the circles of the Edo intellectual and literary scene, and became known as a teacher of verse. Believed to have been born to a low ranked samurai near Ueno in Iga Province, he spent much of his time traveling the nation, and living as a recluse.

Matsuo Basho traveled around Japan writing his haiku poems and publishing them in compilation books such as the famed “Oku no Hosomichi”. This particular trip took him from Edo, north around the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions, then the Tokai area before returning to Edo. A total of 2,400km, and was completed in 150 days. At the time Basho was 45 years old, quite an old man in those days when the average life span was around 50. That means he was averaging 50km per day. Quite a speed for an old man.

Japan at the time was relatively closed. One could not travel freely, as there were checkpoints and post towns along all the major roadways. Matsuo Basho could travel freely. And he carried a pen (brush) and paper with him at all times, writing notes as he traveled and visited a number of important figures, including daimyo at their homes and castles along the way. The perfect way to obtain intelligence information. The same too with his later trips on the Edo Five Routes.

Could it be that the poet was in fact a spy for the Tokugawa rulers, hiding information gleaned on his travels? Born in Iga, Ueno, associated with the rich and powerful, free to travel, and welcomed by the daimyo of the land, and armed with the tools of the spy. Matsuo Basho, poet, and possible ninja, died aged 50.

23/04/2020

Minamoto no Tametomo committed seppuku on this day, April 23, 1170.

Minamoto no Tametomo was the brother of the first Kamakura Sh**un, Yoritomo, and was said to have stood 210cm tall, and with his right arm said to be some 12cm longer than his left, adding to the amount of pull he had on the bowstring. He was one of the finest archers of his day, and was said to have sunk an enemy ship by shooting an arrow through its hull.

After the Hogen Rebellion, a civil war fought over the succession of the Imperial Throne, he was captured when the enemy attacked his palace, and he was forced to flee the flames.

The enemy cut the tendons in his left arm, preventing him from being able to use the bow. He then used his sword to cut himself open in what is claimed to be one of the first cases of seppuku.

22/04/2020

Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi died on this day, April 21, 1650

Born in 1607 to Yagyu Munenori, sword tutor to the Sh**uns, Ieyasu, Hidetada and Iemitsu, Yagyu Jubei is said to have been the most talented and gifted of the Yagyu clan’s many prized swordsmen.

In 1616, records show that Jubei was acting on his father’s behalf as an attendant and sword instructor to Tokugawa Hidetada and his son, Iemitsu, however, there is a large blank until 1631, when it appears he was either dismissed or suddenly resigned his position. The following 12 years of Jubei’s life are also unknown, until he was re-instated at the age of 36 as attendant to the Sh**un following a brief demonstration of his martial skills.

While he remained in Edo for some time, he again left the Sh**un’s court and retired to his family lands in Nara after the death of his father, Munenori in 1646. During his time in Edo, he wrote a book on swordsmanship and the teachings of the wandering monk, Takuan Soho, titled “Tsuki no Sho” or “Excerpts from the Moon”, in which some light is shed on his missing 12 years, suggesting he had undertaken a Musha Shugyo, or Warriors’ Pilgrimage.

Yagyu Jubei died under what are cited as uncertain circumstances, and even the usually highly detailed Yagyu clan diaries fail to clarify the reasons. Rumors suggest his having died from a heart attack, either while falconing or fishing,…or that he was assassinated by his half brother, Yagyu Tomonori’s retainers.

Yagyu Jubei’s “missing years” has led to much speculation, and has been the background to many stories, movies, dramas and TV shows. Despite the story that Yagyu Jubei wore an eye patch to cover an eye damaged in a duel, or, according to other stories, by his father accidentally during a training session, contemporary portraits of Jubei show him with two functioning eyes.

20/04/2020

Hojo Tokimune died on this day, April 20, 1284.

Born June 5, 1251, Hojo Tokimune was the son of the regent and Tokuso, Hojo Tokiyori, and as such was expected to be the de facto ruler of Japan, ascending the position of Eighth Shikken (Regent Sh**un) at the age of 18.

Politically strong, Tokimune simultaneously held multiple titles of power, including Tokuso (Hojo clan head) Rensho (Vice Regent) Sessho (Person of authority able to act on behalf of an Imperial Regent) and Kampaku (Chief Advisor to the Emperor). The last two titles were virtually indistinguishable, and were collectively titled Sekkan, and the holder of these were addressed as “Denka” (also read as “Tenga”) meaning Imperial Highness.

Hojo Tokimune was an advocate of Zen Buddhism, and is seen as one of the influential figures in its establishment as the religion of the warrior caste.

In 1268, the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan sent envoys and a threatening letter to the Japanese government demanding their submission, however Tokimune ignored the letter, and sent the mighty Khan’s representatives home empty handed. More were sent the following year, and again six months later, then more in 1271 and 1272. In 1274, the first Mongol Invasion force was sent, but destroyed by a typhoon just off the coast of Japan. In 1275, five more diplomats were sent, and refused to leave without a reply. Brought before Tokimune in Kamakura, they were executed. In 1279, the Khan sent another five, all of whom were beheaded by Tokimune. Angered, Kublai Khan prepared another invasion force that was also destroyed by a typhoon as the Mongol fleet arrived in Japan, leading to the myths of the protective Kamikaze, and the rising influence of the samurai caste, led by Tokimune.


Subject of the 2001 NHK Taiga Drama series, Hojo Tokimune died aged just 32, from either tuberculosis or possibly heart disease.

19/04/2020

The Edo period social class system, the Shinokosho,

The Shinokosho, or four divisions of society, were composed of the Shi, being the warrior caste, the No, or farming peasants, Ko being craftsmen and artisans, and Sho being the merchant class.
7-10% of the population were of samurai class, 80-85% are believed to have been farmers, 5-8% are believed to have been merchants and craftsmen. The remaining 1.5% were Shinto and Buddhist priests, and another 1% were outcast.

The classes were not set by wealth or capital, but by Confucian standards and moral purity. Although the Imperial family members, the Kuge, (aristocratic nobility) Shinto and Buddhist priests, and the outcasts, including the Eta, Burakumin and Hinin were not classified within this set of four. These classes of society were decisive in outlining their privileges, rights, restrictions and responsibilities that worked to stabilise Edo period society.

Despite being the minority, the order was established with the samurai at the top, enforcing their status as rulers, while at the same time placing emphasis on them to practice restraint as they were to set an example for those below them. The farmers were placed second because of their importance in providing the essential foods that sustained society. Craftsmen and artisans were ranked third as they produced goods and items necessary for daily life. Below them were those who made money on the efforts of others, the merchant class, who sold the foods and goods produced by the farmers and craftsmen.

The classes were abolished August 2, 1868, as part of the Meiji Restoration reforms.