Evolution of Koryu with the Taisha-ryu Sword School
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- In this video we explore the the evolution of traditional martial arts in Japan and how they seek to survive in modern day, all specifically through the lens of the Taisha-ryu sword school.
This video has been made with the help of members of Taisha-ryu Daniel Trauner and Alex Allera who helped to write the majority of the script.
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I suppose, the ultimate achievement in any art, including martial arts, is the attainment of wisdom while practicing it. In this regard, the maker of these videos on Japan's history and culture is a sensei in his own right. While admitting little knowledge or experience of actual martial arts, the ability to teach history and help the rest of us share in its wisdom is itself one of the highest of achievements. Thank you, Sensei of history.
Those ideals you speak of are a hallmark of modern martial arts. The goal of Katchu bujutsu is to successfully kill as many people as possible with as little effort as possible. Katchu bujutsu is mainly just pure physics. Then you have more modern Suhada bujutsu where you can see the same techniques have more steps and embellishments because they were never used in battle. Despite what he says in the video, Suhada bujutsu is inferior simply and obviously because if this.
Thank you very much for the video collaboration with us. We really appreciate the effort you put in this project.
You guys have a beautiful rich history. Keep on practicing hard as fellow Kenshin!
I am happy I am able to help promote your school!
@@TheShogunate why not made video top 10 swordsman in history japanese
As a HEMA practitioner, I would love to also learn historical Japanese swordsmanship.
Would love to practice hema
I wish all these Kendo schools practiced as hema. So frustrating only training kata techniques....I'm a Bujinkan practitioner for some years, and all the kata and techniques becomes stagnate if you don't try it out in a stressed and random sparring situation. We have a few of those tests in a randori situtation, but that rarely is practiced in Bujinkan. Have also tried Katori shinto ryu. Anyway, some good armor and safe mats, and one can train more realistically and fun is what I believe, the deadly techniques can be modified to not be too deadly in sparring easily. The old traditions needs more liveliness! :)
@@eccer Kendo schools would greatly benefit from pressure testing and they could be revitalized. Aikido was seen as a useless martial arts until more recently. The more Aikido practitioners pressure tested their techniques, the more practical Aikido came to be seen. Now Aikido is being slowly introduced into MMA as more people are learning practical Aikido. Kendo needs a revolutionary change to rediscover the practical elements to make for a more interesting study.
@@luelee6168 most aikido guys are still deluded tho
Which school of hema is fiore or desreza?
If you do decide to learn Japanese swordsrmanship I highly recommend you learn both a Koryu style of KenJutsu or Iaijutsu AND Kendo. If you can find a school that does both like mine it's a goldmine. Nothing better than learning legitimate swordsmanship with lineage and traceability to Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu along with the practicality of Kendo(regardless of the "do" in Kendo its still practical and can be deadly). Personally I practice Ryushin Shouchi Ryu. I hope one day you make an origin video of Ryushin or our decent ryuha Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu the signature style of the great Shimazu clan.
This is quite profound and interesting to see.
I've done martial arts before like karate and kickboxing but never Japanese swordmanship especially if it is legitimate with traces back to Tenshin shoden katori shinto Ryu.
@@thedragonofechigo7878 there's a few that branched from TSKSR. Jigen split into a couple which then split into my style Ryushin. I believe TSKSR has many branches like the main Shinbukan and then Sugino and some recognize others and some domt recognize any other style. But in the end what's crucial is legitimacy, traceability, practicality, technique and foundation regardless of what style you chose. Even style with origins of Kashima Shinto a very good.
Interesting! I'm an Iaidoka of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu. Primary focus is forms and technique.
No physical cutting, so many students use an Iaito. You may use a Shinken, but Iaito are more feasible. I highly recommend for those who prefer to learn and perfect techniques of a 400+ year old preserved art.
@@justinkosuk3458 you Eishin guys have beautiful deadly katas. Very interesting I think my favorite is Ukigumo. It's really stylish lol
I would say, possibly pick up TSKSR, but maybe consider another Koryu.
I would advise against practicing anything but a Koryu along with possibly Aikido, Judo, Jujitsu or other complimentary hand to hand martial art.
Learning a Koryu is a lot of work and requires a lot of dedication.
If you practice twice a week for two hours at every occasion it will take you about 15 years to learn, but then you should be practicing daily for at least half an hour at home.
Koryu is not for everyone.
Also, Taisha ryu is also a descendant of TSKSR
This is one of the best Japanese martial arts history videos i’ve seen on UA-cam. Great work!
I hope you make more in the future.
Thank you for helping to keep this rich history alive.
FANTASTIC WORK!!! This is the best documentary I have seen on the history of koryū and Marume Kurando Nagayoshi I have seen. As a documentary filmmaker myself, I tip my hat in respect to you. Thank you for the new insights . . .
This is quite interesting to see and I loved it. Very fascinating indeed.
Somehow this does not surprise me. People of today do not put much thought in hand-to-hand combat that involves medieval weapons. It is all done for sport. The West has lost almost all aspiration for practical martial arts of old. Which causes an excess in reliance on firearms. Japan is not the only nation that slowly loses its martial traditions. Sad but true...
About the only places where martial arts with weapons that are even close to medieval persist, are nations where access to firearms is limited but the need for prowess in the art of combat is still prevalent. My home country, the Philippines is one such country. Martial arts unlike many places in the world are still truly alive as martial techniques and philosophy are actively developed and redeveloped to suit needs and wants ranging from the military, police, urbanites and even at the source: rural peasants utilizing whatever they have at hand to either protect their lives, families and property or, to resist those who would constrain or otherwise threaten their way of life. As conditions in our country improve though, the need will fade and to tradition will our arts soon be relegated. Such is the flow of time.
To be fair, its kinda worse in the east (China, Korea, Japan) because of how many fraudulent new religious movements there are. In Europe you can at least be sure that its passionate people doing it and not just an insane person making stuff up.
@@genghiskhan6809 Everything I've seen about Filipino martial arts is intense and practical. I'm not surprised to hear that they have a more vibrant martial arts scene.
But the west still hasn't lost them? in fact HEMA which aim for the praticalness which include weapon and hand to hand combat is getting more popular by the days and i would even say that it is more close to real combat since it include sparring unlike most kenjutsu school in japan
The way of Samurai is so fascinating. That I always use the mindset to cope up in every situation of my life. ❤️❤️
That was a really great video indeed and hopefully in the future you manage to make more of these, I imagine it must be quite time consuming and difficult task.
Being part of the Taisha ryu myself I must say that you have difficult to find nicer people than these. Also thanks for Alex and Daniel to making this possible.
Thank you Jari!
Fellow koryu trainee here! While I'm enjoying pre-Meiji japanese swordfighting, I have to say that the declining in traditional martial arts is not a surprise for me. Koryu is not for everyone. It's expensive, demanding, there's no tournaments and awards to win and hard to access. But It's a journey worth starting. Taisha-ryu is in friendship with my school, and I had the chance to speak with Alex Allera before (he's a very nice man). Taisha-ryu is very peculiar because their school was born in the Sengoku Jidai. Their moveset pretty much proves that. Has a really ancient feel, similiar to Niten Ichi-ryu (but, IMO Taisha-ryu looks more effective).
Thank you, that's very kind of you to say!
Love this presentation I am a practitioner of Muso Shinden Ryu.I would like to hear about all the different ryu’s that exist.❤
The best part about this channel is that all the episodes have sengoku Jidai as the base for story telling which makes it niche ,it’s a great contribution towards learning of Japanese history and culture
I’m among other things a goju ryu karate practitioner, I love learning about martial arts and would love if you made more videos like these!
Some schools probably won't die do simply to them having international exposure. Yagyu Shinkage ryu is a great example bc they have a dojo not too far from me in Philly.
I would strongly recommend reading the Koryu overview books edited by Diane Skoss, published by Koryu Books, if you wish to know more about various Koryu
Most informative indeed
A great video nick. As always your edits are awesome, your voice perfect and your attitude wonderful. I think it is time to dig deep into the way of martial arts in Japan. So a great start.
Thanks Antony!
I love your channel, subjects like this and how you present it is what sets you in your own category for Samurai history/culture online. As others have stated, if you do pursue sword martial arts, choose to do both a form of Iaijutsu/kenjutsu with kendo. I firmly believe studying the Japanese sword, if done correctly, fills the soul with a deeper appreciation of life and nature. I truly hope you get the get the opportunity one day. In the meantime, thank you so much for your content.
Thanks love the info great work.
Nice educational video & keep up the good work 👍🏻
One thing about Japanese history, especially pertaining to the violent, brutal yet fascinating past of the Samurai. There is always more to learn and it never stops and that's what I love about it.
Could you possibly produce a video in talking about the difference between the Ashikaga Bakufu and it's successor, the Tokugawa Bakufu and why the latter lasted longer than the former.
Probably because the timing. 16-19th century are not good time for everyone European engulfed in bloody conflict up to Napoleon while China keep kicking them self on the nut. So when Tokugawa went isolationist nobody can force them until Perry mission arrive at Edo Bay.
@@yulusleonard985 I think the Sakoku edict did help to an extent in maintaining national stability which meant not getting involved with foreign law and influence at all for over 200 years. Iemitsu was the Shogun to enact the national isolanist policies which is credited with maintaining Japanese independence and sovereignty by preventing interference in Japanese domestic affairs and colonization by European countries by missionaries acting covertly. On the other hand, there is a another theory that Iemitsu simply disliked foreigners .
If European countries originally had the intention of colonizing Japan, they would have engaged in armed conflict, and it would not have mattered whether or not Japan stood by its isolation policy.
However, it has been argued that the isolation policy was not to prevent colonization by Europe, but to wipe out the spirit of admiration for the west and resentment for the east. The results of the policy are thought to be more than enough when viewed in this light.
@@thedragonofechigo7878 Thats not going to happen if foreign powers are strong. It just at that time everyone have their own issue. Spain abandon their plan to colonize japan because they have their own wars with everyone and China was conquered by Manchu people.
@@yulusleonard985 those foreign powers were preoccupied at the time plus an all out warfare to colonize Japan didn't seem likely once Iemitsu made influence of Christianity less and less prevalent.
So are you suggesting, if none of these foreign powers had their issues at the same time the isolationist policy took hold, they would've indefinitely sought to invade Japan and colonize it. It's quite clear that there is a risk involved anyway but perhaps China may have done it had they focused a lot of their resources to take on Japan.
@@thedragonofechigo7878 Yea but China at that time also have their own issue bad enough to be conquered by the Manchu. And then the Manchu because they are nomad choose to expand inland toward Gobi Desert and Himalayas. When Japan adopt isolationist policy the rest of the world does't care or can't afford to care.
In 19th century there is something called Napoleonic war and the aftermath European power agree not to kill each other in large scale again and form "Concert of Europe". This is when they expand outside Europe and start to chip power from the Ottoman and China and create large colonial empire like "Scramble for Africa".
So yes. If none of those shenanigans of 16th-18th century like the devastating 30 years war, English civil war, American Independence and other wars, they are strong enough to start "Scramble for Africa" much earlier and Tokugawa at that time is still recovering from civil war wont be able to stop any colonization effort.
one big issue about Koryu is that there aren't many translated works. I am sure it could enjoy a renaissance like hema is right now through out the world but finding sources is hard.
I’m hoping this tradition will survive.Excellent video. I have aikido training but had a few training with bokken. I need to practice again …..
20:35 so samurai were the first streamers? Interesting
Excellent video 👍
Never knew taisha-ryu had the same origin in shinkage-ryu
Hi Nick, If you are interested in studying swordsmanship I would recommend also recommend Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. Also to give you a well rounded knowledge of swordsmanship cross train in either western sword arts or kendo for sparring and Toyama Ryu for tamashigiri. Alternatively train in Shinkendo. If there is any sword class near you, it will help your understanding until you are able to find exactly what you are looking for. As the mechanics and principles are universal. Great insight to the history of swordsmanship. One final piece of advise I can offer you is is that a lot of instuctors are offering online training now so if you don't want go with the previous idea there is that alternative as well.
Great video! Much of any country's history is unwritten but live on in oral/practical traditions that deserve to be studied. If such lore is written, it would likely not be explicit in its meaning and would thus require true scholarship of old kanji as well as being privy with teachings handed down by family traditions.
Martial arts can be morass of charlatans and fakers. It is good that you can discuss all these in a meaningful way without a ruffling any feathers in a disinterested, historical approach.
What is the meaning of things like, battle fans or moustaches in samurais?
Interesting that you said at the time, they wouldn't have called their schools Koryu:
I know a sword school called Ten Shin Ryu. 天心流. If you ask a Chinese person what the characters mean they say
Tian Xian Liu , which both translate to the same meaning.
This means that the Japanese name is a phonetic translation of the original Chinese name. Which means that this art, which was used in Yagyu days, was probably passed down from an even older tradition coming from China.
Cant say this for certain but makes you wonder. Samurai didn't just start from scratch, swords had been around for many years and were continuously developed upon
If I may point out, I think you have got the connection wrong.
It is only logical that Chinese are able to read this characters, as the script has been imported from China. The Japanese adopted the kanji in the 6th and 7th century.
So in your example I can't see a technical connection of this school to China.
On the other hand, of course there was a lot of influence that China, Korea, and Japan had on each other. That includes warfare and martial systems. As always, it is more complicated...
@@taisharyuofficial3839 my point was, that the Japanese name Tenshin Ryu is based phonetically on the Chinese name. The Japanese school is not using Kanji for the name, they are using Chinese characters to write out the name. As you probably know, with Chinese characters, they can have different phonetic names even if they are the same symbol. Dont you think its strange the Japanese would specifically use a phonetic interpretation of the Chinese characters which means something specific in Chinese?
As you say, if the writing was imported from Japan to China, they were probably also importing other things, namely martial arts techniques.
Certain concepts in the training are based on Chinese ideas as well
@@fleepss2407 Thank you for the further explanation. I totally agree that China had an immense influence, and vice versa. To just give two examples:
- Kito-ryu jujutsu was influenced by a Chinese martial artist and scholar Chen Yuan'yun.
- The Chinese military compendium Wubei zhi contains the only surviving scroll of Aisu Kage-ryu, probably obtained from Japanese pirates.
So I am only cautious when it comes to the reasoning to consider kanji as an indication of technical connections to chinese systems.
Anyway.
Maybe you are familiar with the book "Hidden in Plain Sight" by Ellis Amdur? It has whole chapter on "The Chinese Connection". It is an interesting read which you could enjoy.
@@taisharyuofficial3839 Chen had no influence on the school he was not a martial artist stuff about him concerning martial arts was only written after his death, the relationship between him and the school was found to be in a later edit, works by him still existed yet not a single one concerned martial arts.
I honestly would not recommend that book by Ellis his later works honestly in my opinion are pretty meh, I have not read the whole book however what I have read seems to be going off a pop culture idea of internal martial arts.
As for ten shin ryu that's a fake school they have no real connection to koryu maybe some of their students actually have some experience with actual schools or maybe they came across some dead schools Scrolls, but that's guessing and the best you're going to get, still however they are again not an actual School.
make a vid on Katori Shinto Ryu, the oldest existing ryu too!
The Japanese swordmanship uses either the long or short sword but usually the expertized is the long two-handed sword. In the Philippines, their blade fighting art is on the short sword but they do not use a sword but a bladed implement called bolo. The bolo is a working implement of Filipinos and use for cutting grasses or woods; and by this nature of use of the bolo it can also be use as a fighting implement. So Filipinos uses the bolo which is a one-hand cutting implement. The Japanese have with them a long cutting implement which is glaringly for fighting. The Filipinos in the provinces where agricultural work abound, the bolo is normal being seen among ordinary folks tied on their hips in its scabbard while at work .
Dude, you've mastered your narrator voice. You should professionally narrate documentaries or something.
Can you do a show on katori shinto and kashima shinto ryu. look into the story. these are really cool origin schools
Makes me think of how we have transitioned from all the schools of martial arts as demonstrated here in the video to the gun martial arts as taught by all the gun trainers like James Jeager and like type others.
I would absolutely love to go to one of those schools and learn kendo from masters of the art. I can't believe they're having trouble finding students.
If you like samurai stuff I wouldn't recommend doing Kendo. Instead Koryu (Kubudo) would suit you better.
Taisha Ryu swordstyle? Didn't Tachibana Muneshige used this style? Think I saw this in the Nioh game. Think the guy who created it was called Marume or something.
Shimazu Toyohisa was a practioner too? I guess his swordmanship was useful against the orcs and monsters after he become a drifter.....
Afaik, Toyohisa used to Jigenryu instead of Taisha. I forgot what episode but I still remember Toyo said his friends did Taisha ryu while he still stick to Jigen ryu no matter what happens.
@@west_amane haha yes but he used Gun Fu when he fataly shoot Ii Naomasa at the beginning of the manga
@Hanferd lmao yes, he did😂
then in Orte city he just stand like badass and get shot by fixed tanegashima rifle for attacking Hijikata. What a happy go lucky he is.
@@west_amane haha I actually lost track what happened next when it was hinted Jesus is about to invade Nobunagas drifter kingdom
@@west_amane anyways maybe you probably know this if you into Samurai history or Sengoku period. Ii Naomasa did get shot by a stray bullet at the end of Sekigahara, think he was really pursuing the fleeing Shimazus and Toyohisa sacrifice himself where his troops shoot Naomasa during the melee
Please make a video for koryu jujutsu styles ......is very interesting how the movement in unarmed combat is very similar with the armed........there are many schools like takenouchi ryu ,hontai yoshin ryu...etc.Very nice video!!!!Thank you.
The problem I have with people telling the origin of the samurai is that they always omit the Heian era and the entire Chinese influence that created bujutsu. Without the Shaolin temples' influence, the samurai and shogun would have never even existed.
so basically taisha-ryu is a cadet branch of shinkage-ryu.... thats kinda a big deal Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami Nobutsuna is one of if not the premier swordsman in japanese history, i dont think even musashi has the no kami attached to him
Edit: good on these guys for keeping these traditions alive, for me the saddest thing going on in the world right now is the loss of our history and traditions. So much lost, and not much gained... breaks the heart
That so sad i wish could go there and learn
I have had a couple of acquaintances (one ni-Dan and one san-Dan in Shotokan) actively seek out training in Japan. They weren’t rude or pushy but both met a brick wall. It seems many Japanese Sensei don’t want to teach westerners. Or were they both just unlucky?
Is the bujinkan a good substitute if I can't find a traditional Japanese koryu studio?
I do not recommend
History until Taisha-ryu was developed.
Kofun period (3C-7C). Kuninazuno Mabito (3C-4C) developed Kashima Shin-ryu in the Kashima area.
Heian period (794 - 1185). Kyouhachi-ryu was developed in Kyoto.
Muromachi period (1336 - 1573). Nenami Jion, who was training in Kyoto, developed nen -ryu.
Aisu Hisatada has developed kage-ryu. There is a theory that Nenami Jion's disciple Saru gozen is the same person as Aisu Hisatada.
Sengoku period (1467-1590). Kamiizumi Nobutsuna developed shin-kage ryu from kage-ryu. Marume kurando developed Taisha-ryu. Chinese general Qi Jiguang wrote a martial arts book called Jixiao Xinshu from kage-ryu. Qi Jiguang adopted kenjutsu for the army. Chinese Liu Yunfeng learned kenjutsu in Japan. Liu Yunfeng's disciple Cheng Zongyou wrote the martial arts book Dan Dao Fa Xuan. Cheng Zong you developed miao dao from kenjutsu.
Wery nice
I want to know how a 90yo japanese IJA veteran mass killer would fare against a 90yo virgin blade master. Did they ever interview the guys who had the head cutting competition
Maybe a bit out of the topic rambling, I really liked your video and is important to spread the word, thank you :) Anyway, some internet ranting. I wish all these Kendo schools practiced as Hema. So frustrating only training kata techniques....I'm a Bujinkan practitioner for some years, and all the kata and techniques becomes stagnate if you don't try it out in a stressed and random sparring situation. We have a few of those tests in a randori situtation, but that rarely is practiced in Bujinkan(at least where I have trained). Have also tried Katori shinto ryu. Anyway, some good armor and safe mats, and one can train more realistically and fun is what I believe, the deadly techniques can be modified to not be too deadly in sparring easily. The old traditions needs more liveliness! :) Just wish there was someone daring enough to make it a little bit more progressed than the old and tired traditions, I think it would really spark some life into these arts. Bujinkan has a school that has branched out and made a new name for itself, but gets easily frowned upon, and that art has some sparring to it. Go check out Akban on youtube.
So says the padawan. Keep it up, and you find "life" in your boring kata.
@@Jiyukan To be fair, I just wanted to critize :) So, to be fair to my dojo, they are really good at finding life in the techniques, and I have always enjoyed every training I've had. They have a good grasp at realism while still maintaining the old traditions. But I think it is also important to look at what we have and also raise some question to it :) Of course it all depends on the mindset you have when training, but it will always be easy to land in a pattern no matter the art. And Ninjutsu has a clear limit to itself, even if it advocates no limits. Always good to stay padawan in some way ;)
Sir I am a Bujinkan shihan and my dojo have always trained against resistance for a long time. But as you said, schools with methods like mine are frowned upon! I'm one of those realistic schools
How much intent can be present within kata?
ua-cam.com/video/eA2Vc2Wfhio/v-deo.html
or
ua-cam.com/video/S-z50ZTshqY/v-deo.html
Jiu-jitsu originated in Japan too then one Japonese guy took it to Brasil aka Gracie family.
These supposed historians in Japan ignore evidence and claim bujutsu began around 1500AD when tons of historical records show samurai arts dating back to at least 900AD. And all the other historical records also support this timeline. The records indicate this is the time the Sohei appeared. The Sohei were the Japanese equivalent of the Shaolin warrior monks. These monks developed bujutsu derived from Shaolin Chin'na. Bujutsu is technically a "long fist" style. Now the history record is fuzzy as to if these monks became the samurai or they just taught the arts to an outside influence who became the samurai. I believe the monks became the samurai because of the traditions of mikkyo Buddhism that still exist to this day in these very ancient, battle-hardened ryu-ha. I've even found some obscure evidence that shows why the samurai were using Hindu hand mudras a long time ago. Again these are traditions that still exist today in an unbroken lineage. These historians who separate the samurai from the military strategy that gave them everything, but instead reduced them to mere beuracrats or government stooges do the samurai history a huge disservice. Bujutsu birthed the samurai. Without it they would have never had the power to conquer overwhealming odds of the emporer. You don't just learn techniques in these ryu-ha, you inheret a tradition.
Tangent; It has been said that Game of Thrones was loosely based on the Wars of the Roses in ye olde England. However I think that the Sengoku Jidai is a better match given the never ending shifting alliances
What game was in the opening?
Way of the Samurai 3
I practice Battodo myself
niten ichi ryu is the best style
Could you make a chat on your Discord?
Did you make sure to agree to the rules? You can't see chats and participate unless you see the rules and confirm to follow them.
@@TheShogunate That should help! XD
Thanks!
Burasufemasu
Free Penny! Feed many! 🏝🛸🐢♥️,,,,
If you are interested in historical swordsmanship, I would stay away from Kendo. Kendo is a very modern sport which has absolutely nothing to do with martial arts the Samurai practiced.
Jujutsu, though based on original Samurai fighting styles, has evolved to be almost unrecognisable from their origins. Though there are more traditional schools, it focuses more on the unarmed skills.
Aikido incorporates swords in its technicues but the unarmed techniques are even more modern.
The best art for a history buff would imo be Iaido. Its the closest you can get to the Samurai experience and they still follow some old teachings. It's also not that physical and focuses in just the sword.
There are of course kenjutsu schools that teach the real deal but those can be very hard to find.
That's garbage. Kendo is directly linked to the Koryu Kenjutsu styles it's derived from, such as the Hokushin Ito Ryu, Ono Ha Ito Ryu and several others. Many of Kendo's progenitors such as Takano Sasaburo and Nakayama Hakudo were highly ranked and respected members of those schools and the techiniques and concepts in Kendo, while sportified to a degree, trace directly back to the techiniques within those Koryu. Several Koryu like the Hokushin Ito Ryu and Jikishinkage Ryu still persevere their Gekken systems. Maybe if you did an ounce of research on the topic, you would know that!
Banzaï