2007 training starts next Saturday 3 February
A reminder to all that training starts 3 February.
See you then!
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Koryu that are not like Kendo at all
In the previous post I listed the various branches of Itto Ryu and asked you to consider the similarities between their use of the sword and Kendo. Sometimes when one becomes used to a certain way of doing things, one can fall into the trap of thinking that is the only, or maybe the best, way of doing things. In learning iai kata of Tatsumi Ryu, we are trying to break out of that thinking by exposing ourselves to a system devised long before even the Itto Ryu was founded. This means that there are some fundamental differences in how the sword is used. In these posts I am mostly interested in the differences in how to swing the sword. In Kendo, and indeed in most of the styles of iaido practiced today, the fundamental cutting action is a straight up-and-down action often referred to as kirioroshi , cutting through or cutting down. In Tatsumi Ryu, the characteristic action where the sword first goes through a circular backswing before cutting downwards is called kowauchi , or 'power...
Ben, are these kids being taught (or corrected on) bowing technique? I've heard that Westerners "bow with an accent". To what degree is there variation amongst Japanese, particularly regional? In other words, can someone tell roughly which region or socio-economic background you're from by your bow?
ReplyDeleteMy impression is they're probably being taught the basics of bowing, like we teach our beginners in kendo. Most Japanese kids don't know this stuff. BTW you should check out http://www.ogasawara-ryu.gr.jp/english/index.html
ReplyDeleteIt is one of the oldest schools of martial arts but is most famous for its etiquette. In fact I've read that nearly all forms of Japanese etiquette come from this ryu. The old nanna i that in the pic could well be from there.
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