Niten Ichiryu
Niten Ichiryū ( Japanese 二天 一流 , German "two-heaven-one (-style) school") is the name of the sword fighting school developed by Miyamoto Musashi in the 17th century in Japan , in which the short sword wakizashi and the long sword katana for Use.
description
Traditionally, Miyamoto saw the use of the long sword as inadequate when one was carrying two swords. The legend often says that he recognized the use as a parrying weapon for the wakizashi when he fought against Shishido Baiken , who was armed with a kusarigama (chain sickle). With the short sword he fought off the weighted chain and killed the enemy with the long sword. This version is supported by the fact that in the two-sword school the principle of the short sword is implemented as a parry weapon, whereupon the counterattack with the long sword follows. But there are also other versions of this struggle or doubts that it ever took place.
The fact is, however, that the use of both swords at the same time represents only part of the Miyamoto's school and was previously known in other styles. Miyamoto, however, was the first to systematize the fight with two swords and to propagate it for certain situations.
The comparable European counterpart to this is the fight with rapier and left-handed dagger .
Miyamoto wrote the Gorin no Sho , the book of the five rings. It is a classic of tactics, in which he also outlined his basic sword techniques.
In contrast to other sword fighting styles, Miyamoto Musashi's Niten Ichiryū is practical and suitable against multiple opponents. The two swords are used in parrying and cutting techniques. Differences can easily be recognized, for example, in the fighting stances, which are all based on a natural, firm stance. The stomping ( fumikomiashi ) desired in Kendō is also strictly forbidden in Niten Ichiryū.
Mastering the katana with just one hand not only requires strength, but also a special degree of coordination, as you move two blades at the same time.
Historically, Miyamoto had won 60 duels before his natural death. He often fought in the Niten Ichiryū, especially against several or supposedly stronger opponents, but only carried out important fights with the long sword.
In Niten Ichiryū today, 5 nitō, 12 long sword and 7 short sword kata are common.
distribution
Niten Ichiryū is now practiced in Australia, Canada, the Philippines, Finland and France in addition to the south-western region of Japan. This school can be found in modern Kendō as the Nitō technique.
Nitō used to be banned from kendō competitions. Today Niten Ichiryū is sponsored in Japan by the non-profit organization Musashi Kai .
List of chiefs
- Miyamoto Musashi Fujiwara no Genshin (until 1645)
- Terao Kumenosuke Nobuyuki
- Terao Kyoemon Katsuyuki
- Yoshida Josetsu Masahiro
- Santo Hikozaemon Kiyoaki
- Santo Hanbei Kiyoaki
- Santo Shinjuro Kiyotake
- Aoki Kikuo Hisakatsu
- Kiyonaga Tadanao Masazane (1967–1975)
- Imai Masayuki Nobukatsu (1976-2003)
- Kiyonaga Fumiya (2003–2004), Iwami Toshio (2003–2013), Chin Kin (from 2003)
- Yoshimoti Kiyoshi (successor to Kiyonaga Fumiya, from 2007), Kajiya Takanori (successor to Iwami Toshio, from 2013)