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Spearmanship Demonstration

Spearmanship Demonstration

Introduction

This is a demonstration of Japanese Spearmanship as taught within the Kukishin ryu. The demonstration will cover the history of the school, stances, strikes, and kata taught within the ryu, as well as an explanation of each form. The training spear that I am using is something that I made for my own training. It is based on a type of Japanese spear known as a makura yari (lit: Pillow spear) which was used for home defense. (Rati, 244)

Kukishin Ryu

The school of spearmanship which I am demonstrating is called the Kukishin ryu. I have studied, for about 15 years, in a Martial arts school which teaches a branch of the Kukishin Ryu called Kukishinden Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu. This school teaches hand to hand fighting as well as, polearms, swordsmanship, and many others. The Kukishin ryu was founded shortly after 1336, when Yakushimaru Kurando Takamoto saved the life of Emperor Godaigo. The emperor granted him the surname Kuki, meaning “Nine gods” (also sometimes read demons).(Organization for Preserving Kuki Shinden) Shortly after this happened Yakushimaru Kurando Takamoto founded a branch of the Tosui Ryu, called Tosui Kukishin ryu.(Mitchell) Which is now known as just the Kukishin ryu.

Use in period

Contrary to popular belief, in the Warring States Period in Japan, Samurai were archers or spearmen first, and swordsmen when distance required it.(Turnbull, 52-54) This means that sojutsu was a large portion of what a samurai would know. In addition to the noble bushi, there were a class of warriors known as Ashigaru (lit. lightfeet). Ashigaru are foot soldiers from the peasant class who came to be considered Samurai.(Rati, 84) Ashigaru commonly used spears, as well as matchlocks, and other weapons. The stances, strikes, and forms that I will be demonstrating would be specific to those who have trained in the Kukishin Ryu.

Method

My method for putting together this demonstration is as follows. Firstly, I purchased a reasonably reliable translation of the Kukishinden Ryu Bōjutsu1 and Sōjutsu2 denshō3. Then, I acquired a couple of other translations of the same text. These two additional translations are akin to training notes kept by sensei who have trained in Japan with the current grand master of the art, Masaaki Hatsumi. I then cross referenced translations to form a better picture for myself of what the densho was saying. I took copious notes, and then tried each of the kata looking for places where the movement felt wrong. When I found those places I looked back at the translations of the densho to reread the wording. I then brought my understanding of the form to my Sensei, and asked her opinion. The resultant understanding is what I am presenting.

This differs from the manner in which it would have been done in period only in that the sensei would teach from the densho. So all of the information regarding the techniques there in would be covered in such a way as to allow a student to use the densho as an aide memoir.

I chose this to demonstrate for a variety of reasons. The first of which is the fact that Japanese personae are rare locally. It is my hope to share the aspects of Japanese martial culture that have been my passion. Secondly, it was a challenge. While we teach the Kukishinden ryu; we very rarely use the densho. Interpreting the densho is a skill I am learning as a part of my more advanced studies. This gave me an opportunity to explore the densho of a component of the Kukishinden Ryu which we very rarely even look at. Thirdly, I wanted to explore the subtlety that can be found in the movement of a large weapon like the spear.

List of things to be Demonstrated

  1. Stances
    1. Gedan no Kamae - (General Classification) Low Stance
    2. Chudan no Kamae - (General Classification) Middle Stance
    3. Jodan no Kamae - Spear above head, angled down in front of body
    4. Seigan no Kamae - Middle stance with spear directed towards opponent’s eyes
    5. Taihen no Kamae - Middles stance with spear level with shoulders body angled forward a small amount
  2. Strikes
    1. Ashi Barai - Sweeping strike to ankle/shin
    2. Dō Uchi - Strike to the ribs
    3. Kasumi Uchi - Strike to the temple
    4. Tsuki - Thrust
  3. Kata
    1. Kanpo - Warding method - A series of thrusts followed by a quick ashi barai
    2. Hichō Kaku - Long series of strikes and evasions followed by a thrust
    3. Kugi Nuki - Advanced kata offering several openings before thrusting.

Sources:

 Kure, Mitsuo. *Samurai: An Illustrated History*. Boston: Tuttle Pub., 2002. Print. 

 Mitchell, Adam. E-mail interview. 1 June 2016.

Organization for Preserving Kuki Shinden (2007). "Bojutsu Devoted to Mother". *History of Ryu-ha, part 1*. http://archive.is/www.shinjin.co.jp. Retrieved 2016-09-16.

 Ratti, Oscar, and Adele Westbrook. *Secrets of the Samurai: A Survey of the Martial Arts of Feudal Japan*. Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle, 1973. Print.

Takamatsu, Toshitsugu. Kukishinden Ryu Bojutsu densho. Budoya, 2002. Print.

Takamatsu, Toshitsugu. Kukishinden Ryu Sojutsu densho. Budoya, 2002. Print.

Turnbull, Stephen R. The Samurai Swordsman: Master of War. North Clarendon, VT: Tuttle Pub., 2008. Print.

Footnotes

  1. Bojutsu - 棒術 - The art of using a staff as a weapon ↩

  2. Sojutsu - 槍術 - Spearmanship ↩

  3. Densho - Written transmission of knowledge. Usually passed from Head of school to licensed instructors. ↩