r/Koryu

Hello everyone!

I recently completed an annotated English translation of the 1915 Kenjutsu Kyōhan, the Taishō-era Army fencing manual that covers bayonet, two-handed sword, and cavalry saber.

I’m looking for one or two experienced kendoka willing to read through the sword chapter and flag anything that doesn’t square with his/her understanding of the underlying mechanics.

It’s a primary source translation, not a how-to guide. I’m specifically interested in whether the biomechanical descriptions in my annotations track with lived practice.

Please comment or DM with any interest!

Hi everyone,

I don't know if a question like this has popped up on here before, but I hope it is relevant.

Two years ago my 5 year old was diagnosed with brain cancer and we were told he only had 9 months left to live. I'm happy to say that we went with a second opinion and he's still doing great 2 years later, but obviously this kind of thing got me doubting myself a lot since there was a lot of hesitation and second-guessing in the decision process for my kid's treatment.

But martial arts have been a lifelong hobby of mine, so I couldn't help but approach this situation with martial philosophy as my framework. It was kind of weird -- when my kid got out of his first surgery he had a seizure and had to be re-intubated on the spot, and I remember I was sitting next to the social worker, my left hand squeezing my left hip like a saya while my right hand just instinctively stayed loose as if ready for an iai. Kind of silly I know, but that's what I mean: it was just kind of part of me.

But processing all this, I was wondering what you all think about Munenori's (or any koryu) philosophy and how it could be applied to a situation like mine.

Obviously I'm still processing all of it (I'm even writing a historical fiction novel to help me with it), but I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks all. And feel free to ask me anything about it -- I won't get upset talking about it.

I am a collector ('of ghosts', as I call it), not a koryu practitioner (although I have met some notable sensei during my two decades in Japan).
Anyhow, I was attempting to put my books in order this week and, whilst being visited by a Japanese acquaintance who is a senior iaidoka, he mentioned that he believed some of my signed books to be quite rare.
I have no intention of letting them go at this time but I'd sincerely appreciate your expert input as to whether this is so or not. Also, should they be placed somewhere more protective than a simple bookshelf?
Many thanks.

The books in question
are:

Nakamura Taizaburō

'Iai & Kendo' 1st edn.
Signed and dated with two inkan.

'Revised Definitive Edition Living Sword Drawing-Style: The Way of the Sword' 1st edn. Signed

Gordon Warner (with Donn F Draeger)

'Japanese Swordsmanship' 1st edn. Signed by Gordon Warner in Okinawa with his inkan. Dedicated "To Ko Noda Sensei: In deep appreciation for your kindness in guiding and teaching me the true road, in my efforts to learn kendo and iaido. Sincerely, Gordon Warner"

Otake Ritsuke

All three first editions of 'The Deity and the Sword' from 1977/78. Fine in near fine dustjackets (two are first printings, one is second printing - I can't remember which without checking).
All three are hand inscribed to me by Otake Sensei in 2007.

'Katori Shinto Ryu: Warrior Tradition' first hardbound edition. 2007
Again, hand inscribed to me by Ōtake Sensei in 2007.

I'm looking for the term, if there is one, when the shitachi puts their sword at the uchitachi's throat or shoulder and walks them backward.