Kenjutsu

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Template:Short description Template:Italic title Template:Infobox martial art Template:Nihongo is an umbrella term for all (ko-budō) schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration. Kenjutsu is a martial arts that more emphasizing in various real life sword combat scenario, rather than its modern adaptation, kendo, which is evolving more into some kind of modern sports with little targets, very few attacks pattern, and many rules. Some modern styles of kendo and iaido that were established in the 20th century also included modern forms of kenjutsu in their curriculum.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Kenjutsu, which originated with the samurai class of feudal Japan,<ref>Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation, Volume 2, Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation, Thomas A. Green, Authors Thomas A. Green, Joseph R. Svinth, Editors Thomas A. Green, Joseph R. Svinth, Edition illustrated, Publisher ABC-CLIO, 2010, Template:ISBN, Template:ISBN P.599</ref> means "methods, techniques, and the art of the Japanese sword". This is opposed to kendo, which means "the way of the sword" and uses a bamboo sword (shinai) and protective armour (bōgu).<ref name="Ozawa97"> Template:Cite book </ref>

The exact activities and conventions undertaken when practicing kenjutsu vary from school to school, where the word school here refers to the practice, methods, ethics, and metaphysics of a given tradition, yet commonly include practice of battlefield techniques without an opponent and techniques whereby two practitioners perform kata (featuring full contact strikes to the body in some styles and no body contact strikes permitted in others). Contact striking during kata is used for example in Ono Ha Ittō-ryū. Although kata training has always been the mainstay, in later periods, schools incorporated sparring under a variety of conditions, from using solid wooden bokutō to the use of a bamboo sword (shinai) and armor (bōgu).<ref name='Ozawa97' />Template:Rp In modern times sparring in Japanese martial art is more strongly associated with kendo and is mainly practiced by students or the police force. Although kendo is common in Japan, it is also practiced in other countries around the world.

History

Early development

It is believed that the first iron swords were produced in Japan during the fourth century, utilizing technology introduced from China via the Korean Peninsula.<ref name='Ozawa2005'> Template:Cite book </ref>Template:Rp Although swords held significant cultural and religious importance in ancient Japan,<ref name='Ozawa2005'/>Template:Rp it was during the Heian period that the curved Japanese sword—now internationally recognized as the katana—was developed, marking their emergence as both practical weapons and symbolic objects.<ref name='Ozawa2005'/>Template:Rp The oldest martial arts schools still in existence today originated during the Muromachi period (1336–1573), a time characterized by extended periods of inter-state warfare. Three major schools emerged during this period.<ref name='Ozawa97'/>Template:Rp

These schools form the ancestors for many descendent styles, for example, from Ittō ryū has branched Ono-ha Ittō ryū and Mizoguchi-ha Ittō-ryū (among many others).

On the island of Okinawa, the art of Udundi includes a unique style of both Kenjutsu and Iaijutsu. This is the only surviving sword system from Okinawa. It was the martial art of the noble Motobu family during the Ryukyu Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Edo period

During the Edo period (1603–1868), kenjutsu schools (ryū) proliferated, with more than 500 styles recorded.<ref name='Ozawa97'/>Template:Rp Training methods and equipment evolved significantly during this time. In the 19th century, the development of the bamboo practice sword (shinai) and protective armor (bōgu) enabled practitioners to engage in full-speed sparring while minimizing the risk of serious injury.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Prior to these innovations, kenjutsu training typically consisted of practicing fundamental techniques and paired kata using solid wooden swords (bokutō) or, in some cases, live blades.<ref name='Ozawa97'/>Template:Rp

Decline

Beginning in 1868, the Meiji Restoration led to the breakup of the military class and the modernization of Japan along the lines of western industrial nations. As the samurai class was officially dissolved at this time, kenjutsu fell into decline, an unpopular reminder of the past.<ref name='Ozawa97'/>Template:Rp This decline continued for approximately 20 years, until rising national confidence led to an increase of the uptake of traditional sword arts again, particularly in the military and the police.

In 1886 the Japanese Police gathered together kata from a variety of kenjutsu schools into a standardised set for training purposes.<ref name='Budden2000'> Template:Cite book </ref>Template:Rp This process of standardization of martial training continued when, in 1895, a body for martial arts in Japan, the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, was established. Work on standardizing kenjutsu kata continued for years, with several groups involved<ref name='Budden2000'/>Template:Rp until in 1912 an edict was released by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. This edict highlighted a lack of unity in teaching and introduced a standard core teaching curriculum to which the individual kenjutsu schools would add their distinctive techniques. This core curriculum, and its ten kata evolved into the modern martial art of kendo.<ref name='Budden2000'/>Template:Rp This point could be regarded as the end of the development of Kendo. Kata was provided for the unification of many schools to enable them to pass on the techniques and spirit of the Japanese sword.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Weapons

One of the more common training weapons is the wooden sword (bokutō or bokken). For various reasons, many schools make use of very specifically designed bokutō, altering its shape, weight and length according to the style's specifications. For example, bokutō used within Yagyū Shinkage-ryū are relatively thin and without a handguard in order to match the school's characteristic approach to combat. Alternatively, Kashima Shin-ryū practitioners use a thicker than average bokutō with no curvature and with a rather large hilt. This of course lends itself well to Kashima Shin-ryū's distinct principles of combat.

Some schools practice with fukuro shinai (a bamboo sword covered with leather or cloth) under circumstances where the student lacks the ability to safely control a bokutō at full speed or as a general safety precaution. In fact, the fukuro shinai dates as far back as the 15th century.

Nitōjutsu

File:Kenjutsu at the Japanese Garden 04.jpg
An example of modern nitōjutsu practice.

A distinguishing feature of many kenjutsu syllabi is the use of a paired katana or daitō and wakizashi or shōtō, commonly referred to as Template:Nihongo. Styles that teach it are called Template:Nihongo; contrast Template:Nihongo.

The most famous exponent of nitōjutsu was Miyamoto Musashi (1584 – 1645), the founder of Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū, who advocates it in The Book of Five Rings. Nitōjutsu is not however unique to Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryū, nor was nitōjutsu the creation of Musashi. Both Tenshin Shōden Katori Shinto-ryū were founded in the early Muromachi period (ca. 1447), and Tatsumi-ryu founded Eishō period (1504–1521), contain extensive two-sword curricula while also preceding the establishment of Musashi's school.<ref>Serge Mol, 2003, Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts Kodansha International Ltd, Template:ISBN (pp.22-23)</ref>

Notable historical Japanese practitioners

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See also

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Sources

  • Diane Skoss. Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan. 3 vols. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Koryu Books, 1997-2002:
    • vol. 1: Koryu Bujutsu: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan. 1997. Template:ISBN
    • vol. 2: Sword & Spirit: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan. 1999. Template:ISBN
    • vol. 3: Keiko Shokon: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan. 2002. Template:ISBN

References

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