Mugai ryu

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Mugai-ryū is a Japanese sword fighting style belonging to the Iaidō . Iaido is a budo discipline of the Japanese warrior caste, the samurai . The term Mugai Ryu is written in Japanese characters ( Kanji ) 無 外流. 無 ( mu ) means nothing , 外 ( gai ) means outside or outside and 流 ( ryū ) means school or style , among other things . The fighting style is already described for the 17th century.

In Japan, the style is assigned to the Koryū (classic Bujutsu discipline), which in German roughly means old school . The designation of the style was inspired by the following poem, which Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi called his Zen teacher Sekitan : "Ippo jitsu mugai, Kenkon toku ittei Suimo hono mitsu Dochaku soku kosei" - the free translation of the quote is "There is nothing besides the one truth, it is all-encompassing and everlasting, the spring carried by the wind is at its disposal, to experience unity, in the midst of confusion, means enlightenment ”.

Mugai later became the writing name of Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi . The name Mugai-ryū only refers to the fighting style, while the schools have their own names. At a time when there was no clear guidance, the style of Mugai-Ryū split into different traditions ( Edo-Mugai-Ryū and Himeji-Mugai-Ryū ).

history

Born in 1648 in what is now Shiga Prefecture, Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi attended the Yamaguchi-Ryu -Dojo in Kyoto at the age of 13 , where he was taught various styles of Iai until he completed his training .

At the age of 26, after an unsuccessful attempt to run his own school, Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi went to the Azabu Kyukoji Temple , where he was instructed in the ways of Zen and Chinese philosophy (see Chinese philosophy ). At the same time he continues to work on his swordsmanship. There he developed fundamental philosophical principles on which later his own style of Mugai-Ryu-Iaido , closely interwoven with Zen , will be based.

At the age of 45, Gettan attained enlightenment on the path of Zen Satori . He established the style of Mugai-ryu and founded a school that over the years received numerous high-ranking samurai and liege lords. Gettan became highly regarded as a master of swordsmanship as well as a scholar of Zen. He also asked his experienced students to view and practice the teaching of Zen as inseparable from the art of sword fighting.

At 71 years of age, he was given the highest honor of an audience with the Shogun , which, however, did not take place because the Shogun had died earlier. In 1728 Gettan died at the age of 79 amid peaceful and deep meditation.

Teaching or training

The training of Mugai-Ryū includes three forms of physical training ( Kata , Kumitachi and Tameshigiri ) and a spiritual training, which - among other things as Zen in motion - is part of the philosophy of Zen Buddhism .

The basis of the style and its techniques is the straightforward and targeted application of defense and attack techniques. In higher degrees, these techniques are used to end a fight before a seriously injurious or even fatal act. These techniques can be sword techniques, but also a charisma trained by enriching Iai or Ki .

In Kata training, the Iaitō is initially used as a training device for the student grades and a shinken (sharp sword) for the master grades . In higher grades, techniques with a short katana, the kodachi or wakizashi , or the ritual dagger of the samurai, the tantō , can be learned. In addition, there are special techniques for physically handicapped people (e.g. one-armed people).

In Kumitachi , two training partners each use a Bokutō or, in higher degrees, Kodachi- or Wakizashi-Bokuto to train a common partner form. The Kumitachi is trained to train the distance to the opponent and the right time to react to an attack.

The tameshigiri is a cutting test similar to the breaking test that is carried out with a ham . The aim of Tameshigiri is to train a cutting technique that cuts in practice.

The training is carried out in a meditative atmosphere in compliance with dojo etiquette and takes place in a fixed process. First the trainee bows to his own sword ( Tōrei ). Later, all exercisers bow to the common path, the training leader and the other exercisers ( Gōrei ). After the training, a joint Gōrei is carried out again.

Training equipment

During the training, basic equipment and, depending on the type of training or the level of the student or master, the following additional training items are required.

Basic equipment
Other training items
  • Iaitō (unpolished training sword , mostly made of aluminum)
  • Bokuto or Bōkken (wooden sword)
  • Kodachi - or Wakizashi -Bokuto (short wooden sword)
  • Shinken (real katana , except for tameshigiri this is only reserved for masters)
  • Tatami mats (mats for cutting with tameshigiri from Igusa grass)

Basic techniques

Basic techniques are the basic cuts (Japanese Suburi ) and the Kihon training.

Basic cuts (Suburi)

The execution of the basic cuts is trained to be as oval as possible and with forward-facing dynamics in order to use the length of the sword and the speed of movement. Force is only necessary to a limited extent. For the effectiveness of the cuts, an angle coordinated with the cutting direction and a corresponding speed are decisive. In Mugai-Ryu has the following basic sections:

  • Mako Giri (two-handed vertical cut from above)
  • Kesa Giri Sa (two-handed cut with a 30 degree deviation from the top right)
  • Kesa Giri Yuu (two-handed cut with a 30 degree deviation from the top left)
  • Yako Kesa Giri (one-handed cut at 45 ° from the bottom left)
  • Yokoichi Monji (one-handed cut horizontally at heart level)

Kihon

The Kihon basic techniques are a coherent application of basic cuts, sequences of movements and other techniques in a similar sequence to a kata (see below). The Kihon are taught from the beginning and contain all the important elements of the style. Its elements can be found in many other kata and can be seen as a measure of the ability of the student as well as of a master. In Mugai-ryu Meishi Ha there are the following kihons :

  • Kihon ichi (German base one)
  • Kihon ni (German base two)
  • Kihon san (German base three)

Kata

Kata is found in almost all Japanese martial arts (see also Form (Martial Art) or Kata (Karate) ). They are complex movement sequences in which the fight against one or more imaginary opponents is practiced. In Mugai-Ryu-Iaido there are kata that are performed while sitting ( zagi ) as well as standing ( tachiwaza ) or while walking ( hashirigakari ).

One purpose of the kata is to pass the essence of a style down through the generations. Mugai-ryu is a very puristic style. He dispenses with any superfluous movement with the sword or the body and is geared towards application-related effectiveness. The no-frills make the style look simple at first. With the training, however, the student realizes that the claim, the goal and the effect lie precisely in simplicity.

If the Iaidoka is able to transfer this knowledge bit by bit into his everyday life, he can work on a foundation for a happy and successful life beyond physical training, which corresponds to the Zen Buddhist path.

Those who practice the kata consistently not only make the specified cuts with the sword, but also gain an understanding of the respective shape and the situation. The mind comes to rest. The practitioner finds himself.

With the practice of the kata, a sequence of basic cuts (sometimes in a slightly different form) is trained in relation to their application.

Mugai Ryu Iaido Kata (overview of all forms)

In Mugai-Ryu there are 20 open Kata . This is followed by 5 Naiden and 3 Okuden , closed Katas, which are only taught to high Dan bearers (see Dan (Martial Arts) ) who have received Okurisshou from the Soke.

Goyou 五 用 (Zagi)
  1. Shin真
  2. Ren連
  3. Sa左
  4. Yuu右
  5. Sha捨

Goka 五 箇 (Zagi)

  1. Suigetsu水月
  2. Inchuuyou陰中陽
  3. Youchuuin陽 中 陰
  4. Hibiki Gaeshi響 き 返 し
  5. Hazumi破 図 味

Goou 五 応 (Tachiwaza)

  1. Munazukushi胸 尽 く し
  2. Enyou円 要
  3. Ryouguruma両 車
  4. Nookuri野 送 り
  5. Gyokkou玉 光

Hashirigakari 走 り 懸 り

  1. Maegoshi前腰
  2. Musougaeshi夢想 返 し
  3. Mawarigakari回 り 懸 か り
  4. Miginoteki右 の 敵
  5. Shihou四方

Kumitachi

The partner exercise with a sword is called Kumitachi . In addition to kata and tameshigiri , kumitachi is part of the essential Mugai-ryu training. Mugai-Ryu-Iaido includes both Iai and Kenjutsu / Kumitachi . The kumitachi almost always uses the bokutō , a hardwood sword based on the katana in shape and appearance . Hereby the Iaidoka practice attacks, defense and counter-attacks together. In higher student or master degrees, partner exercises with the Kodachi or Wakizashi -Bokuto are also taught.

In addition to attack, defense and counterattack techniques, the Kumitachi also trains the distance to the opponent and the time of reaction to an attack as one of the decisive elements in the fight.

Mugai-Ryū Iaihyoudo Kumitachi (list of Kumitachi forms)

Iai No Kata 居 合 の 形

  1. Hokuto北斗
  2. Taihaku太白
  3. Inazuma稲 妻
  4. Kasumi霞
  5. Ryuusei流星
  6. Kiritome切 留
  7. Tsukitome突 留
  8. Ukenagashi受 流 し
  9. Kiriage切 上
  10. Kuraizume位 詰

Mugai-ryū Kenjutsu 無 外流 剣 術

  1. Shishiouken獅子王 剣
  2. Honshatou翻車 刀
  3. Shinmyouken神妙 剣
  4. Suigetsukannou水月 感 応
  5. Gyokurenfudan玉 簾 不断

The following Shinto-Ryu Kenjutsu Kata are only taught in the Meishi-Ha curriculum.

Shinto-Ryu Kenjutsu Shitsu u

  1. Ukenagashi受 流
  2. Inchuu咽 中
  3. Myucedomas三 受 留
  4. Tsukidashi突出

Shinto-Ryū Kenjutsu Hatsu 八 通

  1. Aissun相 寸
  2. Aissun Gyaku相 寸 逆
  3. Ju鷲
  4. Sarin左輪
  5. Chibarai乳 拂
  6. Ukekaishi受 返
  7. Nitouai二 刀 合
  8. Surikomi擦 込

Tameshigiri

Tameshigiri is the cut test. In Mugai-Ryu Meishi-Ha , the cutting test is part of the basic training and is part of the Dan exams. The current importance of tameshigiri as training can be compared with the breaking test in unarmed combat.

For this purpose, specially wrapped mats made of Igusa grass, so-called tatami omote , or bamboo trunks are used. In a Tameshigiri training, different cuts are carried out, either individually or in a sequence, in order to test the practicability of the techniques learned through the Kata training and to refine one's own skills. The respective cuts are usually the basic cuts mentioned above. The cutting sequences can be one of the kata listed above .

For the correct execution of the cuts, the angle of the blade must be brought exactly in line with the angle of the cut, otherwise the sword will tilt and the clean cut will be thwarted. This can even break the blade.

An important learning effect through the Tameshigiri is to understand that a cut with the katana does not require great effort, but rather a mature technique and speed.

Grand master and ancestor (Japanese Sōke) of Mugai Ryu

The style of Mugai-Ryu was shaped and passed on by the following grandmasters and family members (Japanese title: Sōke).

generation Surname Edo Mugai ryu
1 Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi founder Edo
2 Tsuji Uheita Edo
3 Tsuji Kimata Sukehide Edo
4th Tsuji Bunzaemon Suketaka Edo
5 Tsuji Kimata Sukeyuki Edo

In the 6th generation, the style was split into two places of activity (see more under the tradition).

generation Surname Place of work Surname Place of work
6th Tsuji Bunzaemon Sukenobu Edo Takahashi Hachisuke Mitsusuke Himeji
7th Tsuji Kinichiro Yoshishige Edo Takahashi Tatsuzo Mitsuharu Himeji
8th Tsuji Kimata Shibaoka Edo Takahashi Hachisuke Shigeyuki Himeji
9 Tsuji Kamegoro Sadatoku Edo Takahashi Tetsuo Takeshige Himeji
Edo Mugai ryu
After the 9th generation, the line of Edo-Mugai-Ryū with Tsuji Kamegoro Sadatoku died out.
Himeji Mugai ryu
Takahashi Hachisuke Mitsusuke was the eldest son of Takahasi Shoue Akishige and was born in the 3rd year of the Kanei period (English) (1927) in the house of the Sakai clan (English) in Edo. He studied with Tsuji Bunzaemon Sukenobu , who later became the 6th Sōke of the Edo-Mugai-Ryū line, initially under Tsuji Bunzaemon Suketaka (4th Sōke ) and later under Tsuji Kimata Sukeyuki (5th Sōke ).
He taught the Sakai clan as an official Iai teacher. At the age of 43 he was ordered back from Edo to Himeji as the chief Iai teacher of the Sakai clan .
Since Mugai-ryū in the Edo lineage with the 9th Sōke , Tsuji Kamegoro Sadatoku , died out, Takahashi Hachisuke Mitsusuke and his successors carried the traditional Mugai-ryū through the Bakumatsu era, which marked the end of the Tokugawa shōgunate and the beginning of the Meiji era is known.
generation Surname Place of work
10 Takahashi Kyutaro Koun DaiNippon Butokukai
11 Nakagawa Shiryo Shinichi

According to Nakagawa Sensei there were and still are the following Menkyo Kaiden carriers:

  • Nakatani Takashi
  • Shirai Ryotaro
  • Toda Motohisa
  • Okamoto Yoshiharu
  • Konishi Misakazu
  • Nagasawa Masao
  • Niina Toyoaki Gyokuso
  • Sega Yoshiyuki
  • Konishi Shin
  • Tamenori Akitada
  • Fujimura Michio
  • Nakatani Masaya
  • Furuhata Kimiyuki

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ E. Steinhauser: The Soke, the Sword and I: the traditional Japanese sword fighting arts Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai-Jutsu and Komei Jyuku Iai-Jutsu in today's society , novum publishing gmbh, 2005, p. 37, ISBN 3-900693- 09-9 , here online
  2. ↑ Quotation fromenkenaku-kan.com: Mugairyu , here online  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , last accessed on March 23, 2010@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.senkaku-kan.com