BUSHINKAI: JAPANESE BUDO-MARATHON 2009

Perhaps to call the recent tour of Bushinkai members to Japan “saturated” is to say nothing. It was probably the most interesting for the last few years. As for the excursion programme and for Martial Arts practice as well. The School Instructors called it “Budo-marathon” and they were not far from the truth. Two weeks of intensive trainings in different cities were more than interesting and just flied away.  

On the next day after arrival to Tottory province Motoha Yoshin Ryu Ju Jutsu trainings under Soke Yasumoto lead started. Sensei pointed out some subtleties of “Yoshin no kata” and showed different “henka waza” and its training methods. Japanese students of Soke also took part in the trainings. In a few days Nakai Sensei joined us and Yoshin Ryu Ju Jutsu trainings were enlarged with bo-jutsu and Hontai Yoshin Ryu Ju Jutsu. Katas of old Yoshin Ryu classical techniques were trained and for some the training on the highest kata was organised. At the end of the training course the attestation was held, and Pavel Dyatko from Minsk got 3rd dan and Yoshin Ryu Instructor’s certificate, while some School students were attested on kyu grades. Pavel Dyatko and Sergei Baryshev from Donetsk have gained “shoden” and “makimono” scrolls corresponding to their grade. 

Every day the intensive trainings on Mugai-ryu-iai heiho, classical Sword School, survived from the 17th century, was held. Mugai-ryu-iai was very interesting for us, as lots of Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu masters were simultaneously practicing this School. And Soke Yasumoto with Nakai Sensei both have “men-no maki” in this School - the entire techniques passing - and Yasumoto Sensei also holds “renshi” title. We were practising Soke Nakagava Mugai Ryu direction (Himeiji line) and trained not only single iai-forms but also paired “kumitachi” techniques, which are presented for every kata of the School. The forms, which we have got earlier, were corrected during the training, and besides we started to master “hashiru gakari” unit - the form, which can be performed in motion.

In a few days we went to Matsue city, where were introduced to one of the chief Kanshin Ryu Instructors - Kato Sensei. Kanshin Ryu is one of the oldest Japanese Martial Arts School, leading its genealogy from legendary Minamoto Eshitsune. Our group was studying the basic techniques of the School at a common training and then the main unit consisting of 10 iai-jutsu kata was passed to us. It was absolutely new techniques, rather interesting, as they unite ju-jutsu techniques with the sword techniques. Iai-jutsu of this direction includes also defense from different sides holds, throws, strikes and, of course, all this is performed with the possibility of weapon holding and ends with its usage. Kato Sensei performed all basic kata with detailed explanations and paired trainings; he was also kind enough to allow us to shoot it.

At Soke Yasumoto we spoke with Peter Nuchel, the School representative for Denmark, who came on the last days of our training. Just after us the German team under Tim Weigel lead arrived on the training course. We discussed the International Motoha Yoshin Ryu Congress, which will take place next autumn in Japan. It pleased us as the School is getting wider, and not so long ago we were joined by several dojo coming out from Hontai Yoshin Ryu in England. Today Motoha Yoshin Ryu includes 12 actively operating representatives in different countries and some countries, where the School has just started its spreading. Was rather interesting to find out that in recently published in the USA “Inner secrets of Takagy Ryu catalogue” (the editor is Dr. Stephen Greenfield, the student of Manaka Usui) among 10 School’s derived styles Motoha Yoshin Ryu was also stated.

After our departure from Yonago, where we stayed all those days, our group moved to Kyoto, from where we went to the trainings in Osaka. There the trainings were led by Soke Tanaka Fumon - a very famous traditional Bu jutsu Master in Japan and outside it and the author of a number of books on classical Martial Arts. We’ve been acquainted with Soke Tanaka long ago, and it was very useful for us to train under him as he was also one of the successors of Soke Minaki (Soke Yasumoto’s teacher). Tanaka Fumon is a recognized Master of Kukishin Ryu and Kukamishin Ryu (related Schools), emphasizing bo and hanbo techniques, including inner work methods and some ju-jutsu unit. We were training kihon - the basic forms of hanbo and bo usage. Our lessons also included Enshin Ryu trainings (Ju Jutsu style, where Tanaka Sensei holds Soke status).  It is worth to point out that Ju Jutsu of this School, mainly locks and strangulations, happened to be very close to us. The trainings were held in a small dojo in the house of Soke Tanaka. After the trainings some of the members of our group were officially accepted for Kukishin Ryu Bo Jutsu (Minaki-den), took the corresponding documents and got the right to attend closed Kukamishin Ryu and Koden Enshin Ryu trainings.  

In Osaka we have attended the trainings in Daito Ryu aiki ju jutsu. One of this Martial Art style headquarters is located there, and we got a private training under Yamamoto Sensei, and then took part in a common training together with his students. Daito Ryu rather pleased us as we trained familiar Hakko Ryu techniques in a different manner. Yamamoto Sensei showed us not only the techniques but a number of interesting exercises for trainings, described some School principals and was very friendly and competent. We agreed upon our further cooperation and visiting his dojo under any opportunity.

In Kyoto we attended the training under Ono Yotaro Sensei - the Master of one of the oldest School -  Takenouchi Ryu. Last year he took our delegation in his dojo and now gradually turned to the trainings. We trained together with his students in bo-jutsu and mastered the main 3 paired School kata and basic techniques, then turned to Ju Jutsu. Takenouchi Ryu training system is strictly systematized and very practical. At first the technique itself is to be mastered, then the defense against it, afterwards the method of this technique appliance on a person trying to defend using it. That is renjoku (combining) and kaeshi waza (countertechniques) are included almost from the very beginning. After basic training we were passed bo-dori unit - the defense techniques against burling, consisting of 5 main forms, each of one was in omote and ura variants. In other words, at the beginning we trained the weapon taking off, then technique against one, who is trying to take this weapon off. Next time Ono Sensei is going to give us tanto-jutsu and proceed basic techniques teaching.

In addition to bu-jutsu our group visited lots of historical places of Japan, including the most beautiful castle in Himeiji, castles in Osaka and Matsue, temples in Kyoto and Nara, Tokugawa castle in Kyoto, Adachi Museum of Art, beautiful garden on Daikon-shima Island and lots of other sights of Japan.