Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū
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, meaning "Divine True Willow School", can be classified as a traditional school ('' koryū'') of
jūjutsu Jujutsu ( , or ), also known as jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu (both ), is a Japanese martial art and a system of close combat that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdue one or more weaponless or armed and armored opponent ...
. It was founded by in the 1830s. Its syllabus comprises ''atemi-waza'' (striking techniques), ''nage-waza'' (throwing techniques), ''torae-waza'' (immobilization methods), and ''shime-waza'' (choking techniques). Once a very popular jujutsu system in Japan, among the famous students who studied the art were
Kanō Jigorō was a Japanese judoka, educator, politician, and the founder of judo. Judo was one of the first Japanese martial arts to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic Games, Olympic sport. Pedagogical ...
and
Morihei Ueshiba was a Japanese martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art, martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher". The son of a landowner from Tanabe, Wakayama, Tanabe, Ueshiba studied a number of ...
. Kanō founded the modern art of
judo is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, combat sport, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyc ...
, and Ueshiba founded
aikido Aikido ( , , , ) is a gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art which is split into many different styles including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai, and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practic ...
.


Description

Essentially, Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū is the amalgamation of two separate systems of jūjutsu: the
Yōshin-ryū ("The School of the Willow Heart") is a common name for one of several different martial traditions founded in Japan during the Edo period. The most popular and well-known was the Yōshin-ryū founded by physician Akiyama Shirōbei Yoshitoki at ...
and Shin no Shintō-ryū. The distinctive feature of this particular school is the use of ''atemi'' or strikes to disrupt the balance of the opponent as well as a more flexible and flowing movement of the body than seen in some older schools of jūjutsu. The older schools employ somewhat larger and slower movements to mimic the use of armour in the battlefield. Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū was developed after the period of civil war in Japan; thus, without armor, the movements emphasized were faster and more strikes were incorporated. The strikes were also primarily aimed at human vital points and meridians, which were exposed due to the lack of armor. Like most koryu, the Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū follows the bujutsu
Menkyo is a Japanese term meaning "license." It refers to the license to teach used by practitioners of various Japanese classical arts and martial arts certifying some license within the school or ryū. The ''menkyo'' system dates back to the 8th ce ...
ranking system, as opposed to the budo
kyū is a Japanese language, Japanese term used in modern martial arts as well as in Japanese tea ceremony, tea ceremony, ikebana, flower arranging, Go (game), Go, shogi, academic tests and other similar activities to designate various grades, leve ...
/ dan system.


The sources of the art

Shin no Shintō-ryū was created by a palace guard at Osaka castle named Yamamoto Tamiza Hideya who had studied Yōshin-ryū before implementing changes in the curriculum and paring down the system to 68 techniques. Iso Mataemon Masatari (1787–1863) studied Yōshin-ryū under Hitotsuyanagi Oribe and Shin no Shintō-ryū under Homma Jouemon. He then went traveling and training throughout the country where he engaged in various competitions. It is said that he was never beaten. According to tradition he was once involved in a fight involving a hundred assailants and it was this experience that further solidified the importance of atemi-waza, or striking techniques, in his system along with throwing and strangling techniques common to other systems of jūjutsu. Iso created a composite system based on the techniques of the Yōshin-ryū, Shin no Shintō-ryū and his experience and founded his own tradition called the Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū around 1800. "Tenjin/Tenshin" meaning that it was divinely inspired, "Shin" from Shintō-ryū and "yō" from the Yōshin-ryū. Iso became the jūjutsu instructor to the
Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...
and his school flourished to become the most popular school of jūjutsu of the time (1848–1864). Iso taught 5000 students in that time. After the
Meiji Restoration The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored Imperial House of Japan, imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Althoug ...
of 1868 the study of jūjutsu fell into decline generally and this affected the Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū as well.


Training methodology

The training methodology, as with most koryu systems, is ''kata'' based or a form of pre-arranged fighting. Students learn the specific subtleties, or the more hidden meaning of the form, through the continuous repetitions of the katas. There are over 124 kata of this classical jūjutsu, unarmed combat teaching from seated positions, standing positions, weapons defence, and also includes special healing methods and resuscitation (''
kappo are healing techniques that often involve stimulation of specific acupuncture points. Kappo is commonly used in martial arts such as Danzan Ryu and Judo. ''Kappo'' contains two kanji: ''katsu'' ( 活 “resuscitation, life”) and ''ho'' ( 法 ...
''). Certain katas are subject to secrecy, due to the nature of lethal effects and subject of martial traditions. The ''kappo'' or resuscitation techniques, were a secret, however Kubota now teaches at Kōdōkan to the leading teachers at the seminars. The higher level of kata, not only relates to the aspect of physical movements, but the deeper inner meanings, or link between the philosophy, and mindset of the practitioner. Such kata are taught only to students with many years of commitment and experience.


Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū Today

With the 5th headmaster, Iso Mataemon dying without designating a successor, the 4th headmaster passed the entire body of knowledge required for full mastery to three Shihans (menkyo kaiden's with impeccable moral character) that were identified and designated as such by the 3rd headmaster (the grandfather of the 5th headmaster), and a fourth as selected by the 4th headmaster to fulfill the "divine scheme" of transferring the school outside of the family lineage. One of these Shihans, Torijiro Yagi, was able to complete and learn the additional teachings provided to them by the 4th headmaster, and as such is the one and only true and complete lineage of Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū today. Although there exist a number of individuals who received
Menkyo Kaiden is a Japanese term meaning "license." It refers to the license to teach used by practitioners of various Japanese classical arts and martial arts certifying some license within the school or ryū. The ''menkyo'' system dates back to the 8th ce ...
awards in the art from legitimate headmasters of the past, none of them have the final "keys" to be considered as having received the full transmission. Torajiro Yagi passed the full transmission of the body of knowledge to Fusataro Sakamoto, who in turn passed the full transmission of the body of knowledge to the one and only master of the ryu today, Kubota Toshihiro.Summarized from the translation of the "Flag Book", the original body of knowledge passed to the three
Shihan is a Japanese term that is used in many Japanese martial arts as an honorific title for expert or senior instructors. It can be translated as "master instructor". The use of the term is specific to a school or organization, as is the process o ...
of the 3rd headmaster and written by Iso Mataemon Masanobu (4th Generation Headmaster). Confirmation of this information was provided by Mr. Kubota in response to a 2nd printing of the "Flag Book", authored by Chiharu Yoshida, the fourth Shihan to receive this body of knowledge and the first to validate its purpose. Moreover, Mr. Kubota speaks of this and other pertinent matters regarding the ryu in Nippon Jujutsu – Japan Book of Formal Military Ways, chapter 5.
As the leading active teacher is Toshihiro Kubota whose legitimacy in preserving the teachings of his teacher Sakamoto Fusataro is supported by senior exponents of other
ko-ryū is a Japanese term for any kind of Japanese school of traditional arts. The term literally translates as " old school" (''ko''—'old', '' ryū''—'school') or "traditional school". It is sometimes also translated as "old style". Martial ar ...
. He formed his
dojo A is a hall or place for immersive learning, experiential learning, or meditation. This is traditionally in the field of martial arts. The term literally means "place of the Tao, Way" in Japanese language, Japanese. History The word ''d ...
and organization, the Tenyokai, in 1978. Receiving instruction in both
judo is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, combat sport, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyc ...
and Tenshin Shinyo ryu from his teacher Sakamoto he received his license in 1973. In his seventies, he still actively participates in the teaching of the art three times a week. Apart from locals, his students are from far ranging countries such as Australia, Germany, Israel, Sweden and England. In addition to Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū jūjutsu, Kubota holds a 7th dan in judo. A second, although incomplete line of the Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū traces its lineage through Tobari Kazu who received her training from Tobari Takisaburo. Tobari had in turn studied under Iso Mataichiro, the younger brother of the fourth headmaster of the ryu. She maintained the dual traditions of Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū and the Shin no Shintō-ryū until her death some years ago, running a small dojo in Osaka in which many of her students were strong judo players. As this line seems to have become inactive in recent years its survival is cast in some doubt. Miyamoto Hanzo was a student of both Inoue Keitaro and Tozawa Tokusaburō (戸沢 徳三郎, 1848–1912). Tozawa is believed to have briefly taught jujutsu to
aikido Aikido ( , , , ) is a gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art which is split into many different styles including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai, and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practic ...
founder Ueshiba Morihei. In Miyamoto, who was also very well known as a strong judo man, once again we see the connection between this classical school of jūjutsu and modern judo. Miyamoto taught Aimiya Kazusaburo, who himself produced a number of strong students, but after suffering a stroke he was forced to stop teaching the art. Of those students it seems only Shibata Koichi currently continues to teach the art albeit upon a very limited scale.
Kanō Jigorō was a Japanese judoka, educator, politician, and the founder of judo. Judo was one of the first Japanese martial arts to gain widespread international recognition, and the first to become an official Olympic Games, Olympic sport. Pedagogical ...
, the founder of judo, studied Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū jūjutsu for several years under two leading exponents of the day, Fukuda Hachinosuke and 3rd generation headmaster Iso Mataemon Masatomo. The Tenshin Shin'yō-ryū, along with the
Kitō-ryū is a traditional school ('' koryū'') of the Japanese martial art of jujutsu. Its syllabus comprises ''atemi-waza'' (striking techniques), ''nage-waza'' (throwing techniques), ''kansetsu-waza'' (joint locking techniques) and ''shime-waza'' ( ...
, played a role of seminal importance to the development of Kanō's judo system. Although modified for safe sport use, the influence of the Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū can be seen today in many of judo's core throwing techniques such as ''seoi nage'' (shoulder throw), ''harai goshi'' (sweeping hip throw) and ''osoto gari'' (outer reap) to name but a few. The Itsutsu no kata, or the five forms, of Kodokan judo preserve techniques of an esoteric nature found in the Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū's "five teachings of the kuden" kata and techniques from the Kime no kata are said to show the influence of Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū tactics. In this way while creating a modern sport Kanō was able to preserve some aspects of the Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū in his art and it is for this reason that contemporary judo participants tend to show such an interest in this particular
ko-ryū is a Japanese term for any kind of Japanese school of traditional arts. The term literally translates as " old school" (''ko''—'old', '' ryū''—'school') or "traditional school". It is sometimes also translated as "old style". Martial ar ...
jūjutsu form.


References


External links


Website of the Tenyokai International, the official international representative of the Tenyokai Japan



Further reading

* Donn Draeger. 1974. ''Modern Budo''. The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan, 3. New York & Tokyo: Weatherhill. * Skoss, Diane (Editor). 1997. ''Koryu Bujutsu''. Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Volume 1. New Jersey, Koryu Books. (Extensive article on Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū) * Skoss, Diane (Editor). 1999. ''Sword and Spirit''. Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Volume 2. New Jersey, Koryu Books. (For references to
Yōshin-ryū ("The School of the Willow Heart") is a common name for one of several different martial traditions founded in Japan during the Edo period. The most popular and well-known was the Yōshin-ryū founded by physician Akiyama Shirōbei Yoshitoki at ...
) * Mol, Serge. 2001. Classical Fighting Arts of Japan: A Complete Guide to Koryu Jujutsu. Tokyo. Kodansha International. * Daigo, Toshiro. 2005. ''Kodokan Judo: Throwing Techniques''. Tokyo. Kodansha International. (Despite being a judo text there are extensive references to Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū, line drawings of the school's techniques from the 1890s and photographs of Kubata Toshihiro performing techniques) {{DEFAULTSORT:Tenjin Shinyo-Ryu Ko-ryū bujutsu Jujutsu Japanese martial arts