Jigen-ryū (示現流 lit: ''revealed reality style'') is a traditional school (''
koryū'') of
Japanese martial arts
Japanese martial arts refers to the variety of martial arts native to the country of Japan. At least three Japanese terms (''budō'', ''bujutsu'', and ''bugei'') are used interchangeably with the English phrase Japanese martial arts.
The usa ...
founded in the late 16th century by
Tōgō Chūi (1560–1643), a.k.a. Tōgō Shigekata, in
Satsuma Province
was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Satsuma" in . Its abbreviation is .
History
Satsuma's provincial capital was Satsumasendai. D ...
, now
Kagoshima prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. It focuses mainly on the art of swordsmanship.
Jigen-ryū is known for its emphasis on the first strike: Jigen-ryū teachings state that a second strike is not even to be considered.
[Powerful 1st strike of Jigen-ryu (Jul. 6, 2008) http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0005/lens236.htm]
The basic technique is to hold the sword in a high version of
hasso-no-kamae called tonbo-no-kamae (蜻蛉構 Dragonfly Stance), with the sword held vertically above the right shoulder. The attack is then done by running forward at your opponent and then cutting diagonally down on their neck. The
kiai
KIAI (93.9 FM) is a commercial radio station that serves the areas of Mason City, Iowa and Austin– Albert Lea, Minnesota. The station broadcasts a Country format. KIAI is owned by Alpha Media, through licensee Digity 3E License, LLC, whic ...
is a loud "Ei!".
Traditionally this is practised using a long wooden stick, and cutting against a vertical pole, or even a real tree. During a hard practice, the wood is said to give off the smell of smoke. During the Edo period, at the height of its popularity, adepts of Jigen-ryū were said to practice striking the pole 3,000 times in the morning, and another 8,000 times in the afternoon. The style is also famous for his specific and impressive
kiai
KIAI (93.9 FM) is a commercial radio station that serves the areas of Mason City, Iowa and Austin– Albert Lea, Minnesota. The station broadcasts a Country format. KIAI is owned by Alpha Media, through licensee Digity 3E License, LLC, whic ...
they called ''Enkyō'' (monkey's scream).
The style is still taught at the Jigen-ryū practice hall in the city of Kagoshima.
References
External links
Jigen Ryu Togo FoundationHome page of the Jigen-ryū information center in Kagoshima.
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Ko-ryū bujutsu
Japanese martial arts