tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61722711144885628282024-02-07T18:14:56.999-08:00Arizona Samurai - Traditional Martial Arts of JapanArizona samurai at the Arizona Hombu Dojo (Hombu of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu) in the Phoenix East Valley (Mesa) train in a variety of traditional martial arts that include Samurai Arts, Karate, Kobudo and Self-Defense.
The traditional samurai arts taught at the Hombu include Japanese sword, polearm (naginata), spear (yari), jujutsu, rope (hojojutsu), knife (tanto), half staff (hanbo) & chain (manrikigusari).Kyoju of Budohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100625487961987538noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6172271114488562828.post-19296785030936322332019-07-09T17:08:00.021-07:002023-07-22T21:45:52.582-07:00Tantojutsu - Martial Art of Tanto (knife)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Kaushan Script; font-size: large;">“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." - </span><span style="font-family: "Kaushan Script"; font-size: large;">Matthew 10:34</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="http://japanese-aikido.blogspot.com/"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIAgM61J_9KiicNiM64DEhavULI7P4Fs_E3S5zQ7ElE9pQr_9FGS9cWubAUjfMinzRbsQDYMzpQnuRPwdZrwSxI-xlITsLuY0rGB3uwISTrr8vfgpWlsb5CCJrHMCHmsXh_sDALEkxI7vRWma2WYyS2Hu_6VH1wrX8rG9hcJ4PJcHsoFL9FM9g1_0c6w=s2400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIAgM61J_9KiicNiM64DEhavULI7P4Fs_E3S5zQ7ElE9pQr_9FGS9cWubAUjfMinzRbsQDYMzpQnuRPwdZrwSxI-xlITsLuY0rGB3uwISTrr8vfgpWlsb5CCJrHMCHmsXh_sDALEkxI7vRWma2WYyS2Hu_6VH1wrX8rG9hcJ4PJcHsoFL9FM9g1_0c6w=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Samurai arts</i></td></tr></tbody></table></a>Japanese Samurai arts include many disciplines all incorporated into one category. The Samurai Arts taught in Arizona include many different arts under the same umbrella - these employ weapons such as: </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(1) Samurai Sword (<i>iaido</i> & <i>kenjutsu</i>), </div><div style="text-align: justify;">(2) Knife (tantojutsu), </div><div style="text-align: justify;">(3) Fan (tessenjutsu)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(4) Spear (sojutsu)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(5) Polearm (naginata),</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(6) Throwing Arts (jujutsu), </div><div style="text-align: justify;">(7) Striking Arts (Kempojutsu),</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(8) Restraining arts (hojojutsu)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(9) 6-foot pole (bojutsu), and offshoot arts such as the Half- (hanbojutsu) which includes similar arts like Walking cane (tsutekki), and even the short sticks (tebo and kuboton). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And then there are even more Samaria arts such as Japanese archery, guns, etc. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prior to the pandemic, Hall of Famer <i>Soke</i> Hausel taught all of these arts to his students, but the worldwide invasion of our homelands closed the <i>Hombu dojo</i> in Mesa, and now <i>Soke</i> only teaches a few select students in a private <i>dojo</i> in Mesa.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Japanese martial arts include many sub-martial arts, and each art has many, many aspects. These include:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Tantojutsu - the art of the knife!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://japanese-aikido.blogspot.com/">T</a></i><i><a href="http://japanese-aikido.blogspot.com/">antō</a></i><i><a href="http://japanese-aikido.blogspot.com/">jutsu</a> </i><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">(</span><span style="font-family: "songti sc"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">短刀術</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">), </span></span>the art of <i>tantō</i> <span style="font-family: "times new roman";">(</span><span style="font-family: "songti sc"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">短刀</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">), or short sword, approximately one <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaku_(unit)">shaku</a></i> length, more commonly known as a knife in the West. The </span><i>tantō, </i>a blade often carried in a samurai's <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obi_(sash)">obi</a></i>, or hidden from others for use in close quarters combat. And students also learn to use <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karambit">karambit</a></i>, a Filipino curved blade used in knife fighting.<br />
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Historically, some Japanese women carried a variety of <i>tantō </i><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">(</span><span style="font-family: "songti sc"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">短刀術</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">), </span>known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiken"><i>kaiken</i></a> for self-defense. The warrior women (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onna-bugeisha"><i>onna-bugeisha</i></a>), who were part of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai">samurai</a> class, trained in <i>tantojutsu</i> and even were known to sleep with a knife under their pillow.</div>
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The traditional length of <i>tanto</i> is one s<i>haku</i> (11.93 inches), which included blade, handle, and hand-guard (tsuba). Some <i>tanto</i> varied from traditional size and became known as <i>O-tanto</i> or <i>Sunobi tanto</i>. The blade was typically single-edged, most were curved, and many had blood grooves and some elaborately decorated.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kyle trains with Glenn at the Seiyo Hombu <br />dojo in Mesa, Arizona.</i></td></tr>
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The <i>tanto</i> became common in the <a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian_Period"><i>Heian</i> Period</a> (795-1192 AD) of Japan, and according to Wikipedia, it was developed as a weapon during the Kamakura Period (1192-1333 AD). While many were for common use, others were employed by samurai. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Tanto</i> were classified as: (1) traditional <i>tanto</i>, which had a guard known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings#Tsuba"><i>tsuba</i></a>; (2) <a href="https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ninja/images/6/66/007ag.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20161006173400"><i>aikuchi</i></a> <i>tanto</i> in which the <i>tsuka</i> and <i>saya</i> met without a <i>tsuba</i>, and (3) <i>hamadashi</i> <i>tanto</i> which had a small <i>tsuba</i> that barely protruded beyond the<i> <a href="http://www.japanese-swords.com/pages/saya.htm">saya</a></i> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings"><i>tsuka</i></a>, and was designed for comfort when carrying the weapon in the obi (belt).</div>
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Other styles of <i>tanto</i> differed by shape of blade. These include: (1) <i>hira-zukuri</i> - a flat, narrow and thick blade, used for slashing and piercing blows, (2) <i>shobu-zukuri</i> - a blade with a ridge line and blood groove, (3) <i>moroha</i> - a double edged tanto, (4) <i>kissaki-moroha-zukuri</i> - a long blade with sharp point (<i>o-kissaki</i>), and (5) <i>kaikan</i> - short <i>tanto</i> with small guards, usually carried by women.</div>
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When <i>tanto</i> was used on the battlefield it was designed to penetrate armor of other samurai. The tanto was usually carried in a wide cloth belt (obi) with the edge up and the handle turned to the right. In the home of the samurai, <i>tanto</i> was often placed with <a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakizashi"><i>wakizashi</i></a> (short sword).</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaxuh2zHbGLsTTSu-BKEWU1pv-6AwbL3ogQ8AqyCKXKBPLx8xFWEDAWK1LtFlfRw4rkHOZYRC0DmMIojG7Y_8i9EFYbmT2AuAPIQh6jiUeJKZj-EsnjYNoqD45JM7Fojve6GiA5dFR-kvKW3avYKb5nOMW5E5uV2WxZ2mo89Wt9qtVShK4JVsQN37_Zg=s2695" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="2695" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjaxuh2zHbGLsTTSu-BKEWU1pv-6AwbL3ogQ8AqyCKXKBPLx8xFWEDAWK1LtFlfRw4rkHOZYRC0DmMIojG7Y_8i9EFYbmT2AuAPIQh6jiUeJKZj-EsnjYNoqD45JM7Fojve6GiA5dFR-kvKW3avYKb5nOMW5E5uV2WxZ2mo89Wt9qtVShK4JVsQN37_Zg=w400-h211" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Parts of the tanto</i></td></tr></tbody></table>In <i><a href="http://www.seiyo-shorinryu.com/">Seiyo no Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai</a>,</i> this is one of many <i>kobudo</i>/samurai arts taught to our members. It includes many bunkai and one kata. Since it is an extension of our empty hand (kara-te) techniques, it can be applied to most <i>bunkai</i>. In addition to the classical <i>tanto</i>, we also teach members to use the Filipino <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karambit">karambit</a>. Both types of knives have similar <i>bunkai</i> with the exception that the tanto has many bunkai for piercing armor requiring the blade to be thrust into an attacker. This may be one of the reasons why most tanto have tsuba - to basically stop the hand from sliding forward over the blade. But the weapon is also used to slice an opponent like a karambit as well as to strike an opponent with the pommel end.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Corley demonstrates how to <a href="https://youtu.be/D7J7iz91YSE">cut an attacker</a> with his own knife at the<br />
University of Wyoming White Crane karate clinic</td></tr>
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Kyoju of Budohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100625487961987538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6172271114488562828.post-40842304680573679492017-10-05T17:44:00.003-07:002022-03-14T11:06:39.893-07:00TESSEN-JUTSU<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In traditional martial arts, one is essentially taught to defend, cripple and possibly kill another, but at the same time, a traditional martial artist is taught to respect, honor and assist others. Nothing seems more characteristic of the <i>In/Yo</i> or opposites that many people know as <i>Yin</i> and <i>Yang</i>. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Much of the art in the martial arts comes from beauty, balance and mystery seen in movements, <i>kata</i>, and techniques, but in traditional martial arts, much art also comes from the way we show respect for others. There must always be art and a path towards humanity to be a martial art! Otherwise it is nothing more than MMA, kick boxing or street fighting.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A few martial arts appear to be performances by extraordinary athletics, and may even appear as intricate dance. What separates martial arts from UFC, MMA, most sport <i>karate</i> and sport <i>taekwondo</i> are philosophy and concern for others. The beginning and ending of every training session in traditional martial arts provide a show respect of the art, the instructor, training partners, opponents and students. </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Then there is <a href="http://seiyo-meikyo.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>kata</i></span></a>: forms of the martial arts. <i>Kata</i> are practiced as a personal form of meditation and a method for building physical fitness, power, focus and self-defense abilities. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There are some traditional martial arts that demand attention because of the extraordinary beauty and performance of the practitioners. Few martial arts are more traditional and artistic as the art of </span><b style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>tessenjutsu</i></b><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;">: </i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">a martial art of samurai of old. </span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Tessenjutsu</i> is the martial art of the war fan. Samurai of old carried <a href="https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Japanese+Fan+Weapon&FORM=IRBPRS&=0"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>tessen</i></span></a> since air-conditioning was not available, and they periodically found themselves in places where swords were not allowed. Not wanting to be unarmed, they trained in <i>jujutsu</i> and carried not so obvious weapons such as <i>tessen</i>. <i>Tessen</i> were designed to strike pressure points, joints and tendons, used in wrist locks, finger locks and elbow locks similar to a <i>hashi</i> stick <i>(</i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubotan"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>kubotan</i></span></a><i>)</i>. In fact, many techniques used in these two weapons, are interchangeable. And some <i>tessen</i> were weighted with iron to increase its mass and assist in blocking and striking, which added to the effectiveness of the weapon. Whereas, <i>hashi sticks</i> were mostly made of wood although often sharpened to add to effectiveness.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Three are three general types of samurai war fans include: (1) <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>gunsen</i></span>, a folding fan used by the average warrior for cooling. (2) Another variety was <i>gunpai</i> (also <i>gunbai, gumpai</i> or <i>dansen uchiwa</i>). These large fans were made of iron and a wooden core used to ward off arrows and darts and even provide shade, or signal troops. (3) The third variety, known as <i>tessen </i>were designed as self-defense weapons<i>. </i>Some were folding fans with outer spokes made of heavy iron plates deigned to look like a normal fan. While others were nothing more than solid pieces of iron shaped to look like a harmless, folded, fan that could be used similar to a club. Some also concealed blades.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The martial art of <i>tessen</i> is referred to as <i>tessenjutsu</i> (鉄扇術). <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=69&v=gClAndix4Wk"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">T</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">essen</span></i></span></a><i>-jutsu</i> employs <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0vZv-bQydM"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; letter-spacing: 0px;">joint locks</span></a>.<i> </i>There are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4_BoILavho"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>tessen</i></span></a> <i>kata</i> that show similarities to <i>tai chi, </i>but other<i> kata </i>demonstrating<i> </i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E0v7YDuMPM"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; letter-spacing: 0px;">strong focus</span></a>. <i>Tessen</i> <i>kata</i> employ one <i>tessen</i> or two and there are even<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ste5UCxKqMs"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>tessen-katana</i></span></a></span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> </span>kata</i>. <i>Tessenjutsu</i> is unknown to most martial artists, but its beauty has resulted in small groups of modern practitioners and a wide range of <i>kata</i> and dances.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzZx3wy971lM-TsvGZYtPok7zK5xSG22WFS346TD8umcLhosrt1lIOTqfBV1tvzqoJxQE4U12K-uee1ieGEg8TYMeNLeNWFc_W_Tnd6wAcZzNcxGi8725fGXBu-sVr7t8s1rjWSWKWMMX/s1600/1280px-Tessen.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="1075" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzZx3wy971lM-TsvGZYtPok7zK5xSG22WFS346TD8umcLhosrt1lIOTqfBV1tvzqoJxQE4U12K-uee1ieGEg8TYMeNLeNWFc_W_Tnd6wAcZzNcxGi8725fGXBu-sVr7t8s1rjWSWKWMMX/s320/1280px-Tessen.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>Tessen fan-like weapon used by samurai</i></span></td></tr>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The use of the war fan in combat is described in early Japanese legends. <i>Yoshitsune</i>, a hero of one Japanese legend was described to defeat an opponent named <i>Benkei</i> by parrying the blows of his opponent's <i>yari</i> with an iron fan.</span></div>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Some <i>tessenjutsu</i> practitioners became so skilled with the weapon, they were able to defend against an attacker armed with <i>katana</i>, and kill an opponent with a lessen. Like so many other Japanese arts of combat taught by samurai, <i>tessenjutsu</i> reached a high level of sophistication (see <i>Daito Ryu</i> <a href="http://www.daitoryu.ca/html/kandan/100598_4.htm"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; letter-spacing: 0px;">website</span></a>). </span></div>
Kyoju of Budohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100625487961987538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6172271114488562828.post-6251654410551662322016-03-10T16:08:00.002-08:002018-09-28T08:57:29.085-07:00Samurai Arts in Arizona<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3oTu9_FsBS-CMZd8Pafp1i9Q4-bTsKSoNyOyWvrY9kfziARhsgSj9qD6Ope6rLkmhzFg71xPD-yw57bv-HJUgxtxgNBYN33MyQEPRa4nUS-vzyoiGw0OjKhRkYMxeJn-VQ5Wp6gOZfvF/s1600/Samurai+%2528with+charging+horse%2529+Phoenix+Arts+Museum%252C+Arizona+Hombu+Dojo%252C+Mesa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3oTu9_FsBS-CMZd8Pafp1i9Q4-bTsKSoNyOyWvrY9kfziARhsgSj9qD6Ope6rLkmhzFg71xPD-yw57bv-HJUgxtxgNBYN33MyQEPRa4nUS-vzyoiGw0OjKhRkYMxeJn-VQ5Wp6gOZfvF/s640/Samurai+%2528with+charging+horse%2529+Phoenix+Arts+Museum%252C+Arizona+Hombu+Dojo%252C+Mesa.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
At the Arizona Hombu <i>dojo</i> on the border of <b>Chandler</b>, <b>Gilbert</b> and <b>Mesa</b>, two <b>samurai</b> train weekly in this unique traditional <b>martial arts school</b>. <i>Sensei</i> Paula Borea, a Hall-of-Fame <b><i>Shorin-Ryu karate</i></b> practitioner, was born in Japan and has trained in <b>martial arts </b>for a good part of her life. Her ancestry indicates she is a <b>samurai</b> descendant - so <b>samurai arts</b> are in her blood. Then there is <i>Soke</i> Hausel, awarded <a href="http://www.jukokai.com/">JKI </a><i>Samurai</i> in 1996 after earning six black belts in <b>martial arts</b>.<br />
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Thus at the Hombu <i>dojo</i>, <b>samurai arts</b> are part of the life of the school and the instructors. The <b>samurai arts</b> are taught along with traditional Okinawan <b>Shorin-Ryu Karate,</b> <b>Kobudo</b> and <b>self-defense</b>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3wkt9yr9dSYr34idGSV01oG9iE4skgZFCBXMQztf-C-YUntC7HduWooBNI2Qo7dZdX9HUO6qFLdnMvKcaESOGArS7HarJ4aa41GSlVLUPstv8QrAxgkzUhULdt0fDBGE21LQJgtT1tzW/s1600/Mesa%252C+Arizona+Martial+Arts+%2528Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1454" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3wkt9yr9dSYr34idGSV01oG9iE4skgZFCBXMQztf-C-YUntC7HduWooBNI2Qo7dZdX9HUO6qFLdnMvKcaESOGArS7HarJ4aa41GSlVLUPstv8QrAxgkzUhULdt0fDBGE21LQJgtT1tzW/s320/Mesa%252C+Arizona+Martial+Arts+%2528Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>Some <b>samurai arts</b> taught at the <i>dojo</i> include: (1) <i><b>iaido</b></i> and <i>kenjutsu</i> - both classical samurai arts of the <i>katana </i>(samurai sword); (2) <i><b>sojutsu</b></i> - the art of the <i>yari</i> (samurai spear;) (3) <i><b>naginata-jutsu</b></i> or the art of the <i>naginata</i> known as pole arm; (4) <i><b>hojojutsu</b></i> or art of restraining; (5) <i><b>hanbojutsu</b></i>, the art of the half bo; (6) <i><b>bojutsu</b></i>, or the art of the <b>Samurai</b> 6-foot stick; (7) <i><b>tanto</b></i> or samurai knife; (8) traditional <i><b>jujutsu</b></i> or throwing arts; (9) <i><b>tsune</b></i>, the cane or walking stick; (10) <i><b>kuboton</b></i>, or hand stick; and (11) <b><i>manrikigusari</i></b> or weighted chain or rope.<br />
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Kyoju of Budohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100625487961987538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6172271114488562828.post-28465390737461016712015-10-10T12:08:00.006-07:002022-03-14T11:13:49.787-07:00All tied up? Samurai Martial Arts in Arizona<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF68OGJ3QZ21-tdQaBmuqZAdU8oHdQB6ZY_AYCagzNUQkp9r-Rwy8Ob5nqFHXmWuoVY2jYabBco3KVkbtlgEfHRFUav9CDy5XsKGC8IQ2ldB7R-DDZicE_knBGZSFFZwd34sVSvNdYSPx/s1600/hojojutsu+at+the+Arizona+Hombu+%2528seiyo-shorinryu.com%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF68OGJ3QZ21-tdQaBmuqZAdU8oHdQB6ZY_AYCagzNUQkp9r-Rwy8Ob5nqFHXmWuoVY2jYabBco3KVkbtlgEfHRFUav9CDy5XsKGC8IQ2ldB7R-DDZicE_knBGZSFFZwd34sVSvNdYSPx/s640/hojojutsu+at+the+Arizona+Hombu+%2528seiyo-shorinryu.com%2529.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ben Moeur volunteers at the Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu<br /></i><i> to be tied up. His hands are tied with Sageo </i><i>(cord attached <br />to a samurai's saya (scabbard) of a katana (samurai sword),</i><br />
<i>while his arms, legs and neck are restricted using hojo cord.</i></td></tr>
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During the 2015 Utah <i>gasshuku</i>, Soke Hausel, from Arizona traveled to Salt Lake City to teach a variety of martial arts including <i>kobudo</i>, self-defense, <i>tameshiwara</i>, and <i>hojojutsu</i> to the <i><a href="http://utahshorinryu.org/">Utah Shorin-Ryu karate</a></i> group. The Utah Shorin-Ryu Karate group is led by another Hall-of-Fame martial artist - Hanshi Rob Watson, 9th dan. </div>
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At the clinic, members trained in <a href="http://kamajutsu.blogspot.com/"><i>kama</i></a> and <a href="http://hbjutsu.blogspot.com/"><i>hanbo</i></a> - weapons of self-defense. The <i>kama</i> is considered to be an <a href="http://az-kobudo.blogspot.com/"><i>Okinawan kobudo</i></a> weapon and <i>hanbo</i> a Japanese martial art weapon. A special request to learn <i>tameshiwara</i> led Soke to teach the group about rocks & rock identification before moving on to <a href="https://chandler-karate.blogspot.com/">breaking</a> rocks with bare hands. </div>
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During the weekend clinic, Soke taught self-defense techniques against an assailant armed with handgun and a rifle. Then the group moved onto the <i>jujutsu</i> art of <i>hojojutsu</i> -basically methods used to restrain prisoners with rope.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTYEtyzYdIKTsii_f1ItzvzPcfzfiRa0xKaSafgUO0I1kFW4AQ4CFkouNjWNXs0EIFUI2T7ELKnVqeMB3OX4Dl3rnvzjwx-dj6t3NQwPEnmcYB643xnewMXrLvhVMH-Jb3uydQeamI-qb/s1600/hojojutsu+at+the+Utah+Gassuku.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTYEtyzYdIKTsii_f1ItzvzPcfzfiRa0xKaSafgUO0I1kFW4AQ4CFkouNjWNXs0EIFUI2T7ELKnVqeMB3OX4Dl3rnvzjwx-dj6t3NQwPEnmcYB643xnewMXrLvhVMH-Jb3uydQeamI-qb/s400/hojojutsu+at+the+Utah+Gassuku.jpg" width="383" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Logan and Thadd are prisoners of the Utah samurai during the Utah</i><br />
<i>Gassaku clinic at the East Canyon resort in the Wasatch Mountains.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-LuOMmFaU2B-raSoGnqUnyAak4Qfs6asNrlrDG1Hy38bdJKPjZ-nkX1u_xU2vtEQqs_4McQKEi1VUZ6uAfoVRP3a0kn4N-9cdXMuviCnvjWr9LclCRWWlbk3O-NyfqzkIwQwIK9DRiJG/s1600/Kobudo+-+the+ancient+art+of+farming+with+weapons+%2528tools%2529+at+the+Utah+Gassuku.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-LuOMmFaU2B-raSoGnqUnyAak4Qfs6asNrlrDG1Hy38bdJKPjZ-nkX1u_xU2vtEQqs_4McQKEi1VUZ6uAfoVRP3a0kn4N-9cdXMuviCnvjWr9LclCRWWlbk3O-NyfqzkIwQwIK9DRiJG/s640/Kobudo+-+the+ancient+art+of+farming+with+weapons+%2528tools%2529+at+the+Utah+Gassuku.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Group photo of kobudo participants at the August 2015 Gassaku at the East Canyon Resort, <br />east of Salt Lake City.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTDkwXNaxOpPMfC166jZDbkdMA5r4F1szaV46H9LbYRU6FV5S2WWZjkTlokGht2PiCARFOFKD8QQizZQO0_SiDpq2o6YJY_l903u6SvGGhyphenhyphenACaAkNlxELOnwNEYtZjhCaoFxgnTuPnRYr/s1600/Kris+trains+with+hanbo+with+assistance+of+Todd+%2528Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTDkwXNaxOpPMfC166jZDbkdMA5r4F1szaV46H9LbYRU6FV5S2WWZjkTlokGht2PiCARFOFKD8QQizZQO0_SiDpq2o6YJY_l903u6SvGGhyphenhyphenACaAkNlxELOnwNEYtZjhCaoFxgnTuPnRYr/s640/Kris+trains+with+hanbo+with+assistance+of+Todd+%2528Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com%2529.JPG" width="504" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kris Watson prepares to throw Renshi Todd Stoneking, 7th dan at the Gassaku</i></td></tr>
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Kyoju of Budohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100625487961987538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6172271114488562828.post-74645463183505591582014-04-10T16:33:00.003-07:002022-03-15T08:40:42.770-07:00Arizona Sojutsu - Ancient Samurai Martial Arts<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKh8BAvLXRxFUwWnFpslmisC4Bg0crbOb0WsTJHpJ7r-Bo0625yTa7tT-ZSTXHBYVeNmd9aZG0YGT7rpwGmLyRKKacptsiLwdGlA8o_HcuvUzRwl39Hnxc7RyQ0LOm9jL0ddpX6bZpX94/s1600/Itsukushima+Shrine,+photo+by+Andy+Finley+-+Copy.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKh8BAvLXRxFUwWnFpslmisC4Bg0crbOb0WsTJHpJ7r-Bo0625yTa7tT-ZSTXHBYVeNmd9aZG0YGT7rpwGmLyRKKacptsiLwdGlA8o_HcuvUzRwl39Hnxc7RyQ0LOm9jL0ddpX6bZpX94/s1600/Itsukushima+Shrine,+photo+by+Andy+Finley+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itsukushima_Shrine">Itsukushima Shrine</a>, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Photo by Andy Finley, Hanshi</i></td></tr>
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</v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype>One of several Japanese/Okinawan samurai (pechin) arts taught at the Arizona Hombu dojo is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C5%8Djutsu">sojutsu</a>,</u></i> a martial art that employs <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yari"><u>yari</u></a></i>
(spear) as a weapon. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sojutsu</i> training includes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kata</i> along with many techniques (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">waza</i>) and kata applications (<i>bunkai</i>).</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-no-proof: yes;">Some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sensei</i> at <a href="http://www.jukokai.com/"><u>J<i>uko Kai International</i></u></a> teach these <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">koryu</i> arts. If you were to train in most of these samurai arts, such as <i>sojutsu</i>, you would most likely have to move to Japan, as few in the US teach these. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><i>Y</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ari</i> </span>is a spear that was favored by some samurai and warrior monks in Japan's past. <i>Y</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ari</i> is just one
of a group of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nihonto</i> (Japanese
blades) (<span class="tnihongokanji"><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">日本刀</span></span>) that include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari
</i>(<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">槍</span>), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">naginata
</i>(<span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">薙刀</span>), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana </i>(<span class="tnihongokanji"><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">刀</span></span>), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi</i> (<span class="tnihongokanji"><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">脇差</span></span>), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">seoidachi</i> (also known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">odachi</i> - <span class="tnihongokanji"><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">大太刀</span></span>), and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tanto</i> (<span class="tnihongokanji"><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">短刀</span></span>). When I was in
the US Army, we trained with bayonets fixed to an M16, but of course, this was a modern martial art. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpQ29uDVR1LygEAEcZDt7mCNeUQTbDkbOwWdypp9_0FqdOjlwLnlNy2omWWCdBLF-tunuOSsWrBFcM1lYNkgztLa324ujd_1lOCS6b0v5FoXZs0k7JSR0Bg4B2KadXY4_ST-ITSsoT4KZ/s1600/2018+Arizona-Utah+Shorin-Ryu+Clinic+-+Sojutsu.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="958" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpQ29uDVR1LygEAEcZDt7mCNeUQTbDkbOwWdypp9_0FqdOjlwLnlNy2omWWCdBLF-tunuOSsWrBFcM1lYNkgztLa324ujd_1lOCS6b0v5FoXZs0k7JSR0Bg4B2KadXY4_ST-ITSsoT4KZ/s400/2018+Arizona-Utah+Shorin-Ryu+Clinic+-+Sojutsu.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sojutsu clinic, Arizona Hombu Dojo, Mesa. Todd Stoneking, 8th dan <br />of Murray, Utah leads the 2018 Arizona-Utah Hombu annual clinic <br />attendees in kata using yari. Not everyone had yari, thus, <br />using a bo with an imaginary blade, can provide a substitute.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Some historians assume the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i> originated in China; however, other historians suggest the spear<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>is as old as Japan, itself. When the Japanese
ancestors picked up sticks to hunt game and fish, they created the first Japanese
spear. Since no one recorded this event, we are left to speculate when and where it occurred.</div>
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Some suggest <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i>
is simply a spear, others suggest to be a true <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i>, the blade must have a full <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tang</i> and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tang</i> must slide
inside a pole similar to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tang</i> of a
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> (samurai sword).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even so, researchers separate Japanese spears into
categories to include: (1) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hoko</i> or
the early spears use by Japanese ancestors, (2) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hoko yari</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i>-like
spears that originated in China, and (3) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i>
blades with a full <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tang</i> that exhibit
unique metallurgy and swordsmith characteristics indigenous to Japan.</div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">According to</span> Japanese
folklore, a god named <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Izanagi no mikoto </i>stood
at the Bridge of Heaven and thrust a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hoko</i>
into the ocean. As he withdrew the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hoko</i>,
shinny drops fell from the weapon and formed the Japan islands. This legend is
very old and Draeger and Smith (1980) suggest the use of spears on the
Japanese islands was older than the legend, and spears likely existed on Japan
as early as 200 BC. Others argue spears appeared later in Japanese history, but
this is likely an argument of semantics, which is why spears are separated into
three categories. </div>
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Kapp and others (2002) reported <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hoko</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i> originated in
China and was exported to Japan during the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nara
</i>Period (710-794 AD). These Chinese spears typically consisted of
wavy-shaped blades mounted on 6-foot long poles. The side of these <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hoko yari</i> often includes a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kama</i> (sickle) blade which was used for slicing and chopping. The base of the
primary blade had a hollow socket that slipped over a pole rather than into the pole – in other words, it did not have a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tang</i>.</div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsDXljYtbbr-8ZFna1Tom2gMakLlMMgBQBNx80Asmy_2zhbfzT9P_TP9iFlI5mGJ7AkIlKeTGw5Z4O-wByykHX99qVjagjor_mB5kMDtccRSE2FskXgj7ir_AWvWjvaScXiLYLZZjPEZs/s1600/Sojutsu+training+with+katana+%2528sword%2529+and+yari+%2528spear%2529+Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com+copy.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsDXljYtbbr-8ZFna1Tom2gMakLlMMgBQBNx80Asmy_2zhbfzT9P_TP9iFlI5mGJ7AkIlKeTGw5Z4O-wByykHX99qVjagjor_mB5kMDtccRSE2FskXgj7ir_AWvWjvaScXiLYLZZjPEZs/s400/Sojutsu+training+with+katana+%2528sword%2529+and+yari+%2528spear%2529+Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com+copy.JPG" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ben blocks sword (katana) attack by Amira using the <br />pommel end of yari during a 2016 clinic at the Seiyo <br /><a href="http://azhombu.blogspot.com/">Hombu</a> in Mesa.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hoko-yari</i> likely
produced some interesting moments on the battlefield when a foot soldier, or an
angry Buddhist priest lost their spear blade as it flew off the pole similar to
what we periodically see in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dojo</i>
today when students use low-cost <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> that do
not have full <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tang</i>, or cheaply made <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tonfa</i> purchased from most of the popular
martial arts equipment outlets. I can visualize a young Japanese soldier on an 8<sup>th</sup>
century battlefield swinging a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hoko</i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i> with great focus stirred by adrenalin just to have the blade fly off before striking the
intended target. Armed only with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bo</i>
I imagine hearing a loud "gulp" followed by loss of bodily functions as the opposing
forces made their way toward him with blades drawn – makes you wonder how fast
he could run. </div>
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<v:shape alt="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Yari02.JPG/180px-Yari02.JPG" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yari02.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_5" o:button="t" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 259.2pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 1.15pt; margin-top: 45.15pt; position: absolute; text-align: justify; visibility: visible; width: 59.5pt; z-index: -5;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-326 0 -326 21500 21535 21500 21535 0 -326 0">
<v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t">
<v:imagedata cropleft="24980f" cropright="20708f" o:title="180px-Yari02" src="file:///C:\Users\dhausel\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg">
<w:wrap type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:fill></v:shape><div style="text-align: justify;">This happened to me (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just the
part of losing the blade, not the latter)</i>. I purchased a modern
garden hoe (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=photos+of+japanese+kuwa&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=TdsJT5CgD-eW2AWm7_WPDA&sqi=2&ved=0CCkQsAQ&biw=1442&bih=859"><u>kuwa</u></a></i>)
from a garden shop in Laramie, Wyoming that had a blade attached like a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hoko yari</i>. The blade simply slid over
the end of the handle. I took my new <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kuwa</i>
to the evening class in the Education Building Gym on the University of Wyoming
campus and I’m sure some members of the club remember this event. Luckily, I was facing
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dojo shomen</i> so no one was in
front of me when I swung the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kuwa</i>
down with full focus for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">atama uchi</i>
(head strike) at my imaginary opponent: the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kuwa</i>
blade shot off the handle like a guided missile and struck the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tatami</i> (mats) on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shomen</i> wall with a loud report that
echoed throughout the gym and down the halls of the Education Building. I
checked my garden <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hoko</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kuwa</i> (made in China of course) to see if
it had any warning labels stating it should not be swung or used in
self-defense – there were no warnings.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I learned a valuable lesson: you cannot trust martial
arts practice weapons or garden tools purchased from any martial arts supply
house or local garden shop – most are junk and not made for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kumite</i> (sparring), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kata</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bunkai</i> training let
alone everyday use, and we should all
consider wearing safety goggles because of this danger. As another example of the junk sold by these martial arts outlets, after the arrival of an <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eku">eku</a></i> I purchased from a well-known martial arts supply house, the very first time I swung the weapon in the air, it snapped in half!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAE2g-q-tab53qN_Ox-7weYq-wVZS496Zh3nDilXA6Xjmr7Vy0ex_SpNIglQVuuqvimhZk3IKi81JMwWPP17hhdTxP98ehlzCnn8FnLYf_CZV48KRzRgwX4KtYTGENP2veKY_JbVlZY8uX/s1600/Samurai+Arts+at+the+Arizona-Utah+2016+Clinic+%2528Seiyo-shorinryu.com%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="1600" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAE2g-q-tab53qN_Ox-7weYq-wVZS496Zh3nDilXA6Xjmr7Vy0ex_SpNIglQVuuqvimhZk3IKi81JMwWPP17hhdTxP98ehlzCnn8FnLYf_CZV48KRzRgwX4KtYTGENP2veKY_JbVlZY8uX/s640/Samurai+Arts+at+the+Arizona-Utah+2016+Clinic+%2528Seiyo-shorinryu.com%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Moeur blocks sword attack by Amira Rodriguez using his yari during samurai arts clinic in 2016 in Mesa, AZ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When <i>O</i>'<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sensei</i> Bill
Borea purchased garden hoes from a local hardware store in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert,_Arizona"><u>Gilbert, Arizona</u></a> for
use in our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hombu<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>dojo</i>
in Mesa. He drilled
holes through each shaft and added a screw to keep the blades from flying off. Then I picked up a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kuwa</i>
from the <a href="http://www.mekongplaza.com/"><u>Mekong Plaza</u></a> in Mesa. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kuwa</i> has a very heavy blade that Sensei
Borea reinforced as he did with the other hoes. It should now make a formable <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://az-kobudo.blogspot.com/"><u>kobudo</u></a></i>
weapon.</div>
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Martial arts practice weapons are a problem. A few years
ago I taught an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">expandable baton </i>clinic in Casper, Wyoming
and Hanshi Andy Finley purchased new <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kioga</i>
from the same, well-known, popular martial arts outlet. Before the clinic was over,
half of the batons had self-destructed. </div>
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<v:shape alt="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Yari-p1000609.jpg/180px-Yari-p1000609.jpg" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yari-p1000609.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_9" o:button="t" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 261.4pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 3.35pt; margin-top: 20.5pt; position: absolute; text-align: justify; visibility: visible; width: 92pt; z-index: -6;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-241 0 -241 21434 21648 21434 21648 0 -241 0">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
At a martial arts demonstration at a University of Wyoming
basketball game we also had a weapon malfunction that other Wyoming martial
artists will remember. My <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">uke</i> and I
were demonstrating a fighting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kata</i>
between <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><a href="https://okinawabo.blogspot.com/ ">bo</a></u></i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://seiyo-tonfa.blogspot.com/"><u>tonfa</u></a></i>. With the first
block of my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tonfa</i>, my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">uke’s</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bo</i> broke in half - she ended the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kata</i> with a short <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hoko yari</i>.</div>
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During the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heian</i>
Period (794-1184 AD), Japanese sword smiths
progressed to a point that their blade work exceeded all others in the world. Japanese
smithing and metallurgy resulted in some of the strongest and enduring blades
in history. These sword smiths produced <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">naginata</i> blades using the same
methods for manufacture of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> blades. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">naginata</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i> blades were mounted on poles of varying lengths designed to
outreach their opponents’ sword. Some were very long.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yari</span> of the Heian Period
were unique in quality, sharpness, metallurgy, smithing and method for mounting
on a pole arm. They were also unique because the blades were like a
double-edged knife and good for slicing and thrusting.
The edges of most <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</span> were razor
sharp. These had full <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tang</span> to keep
young soldiers from losing blades and soiling pants. In addition to the blade,
the handle was used for thrusting and had a weighted pommel known as a <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hirumaki</span>. The side of the pole was also
used for striking.</div>
</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_PcDh66c9DDqJORIxt2fFcRB476dNNoQjuOTeIx2PZK_yo733hin6YPrNWGysHamy15taK0sC_vpqMYh3Jxmq57BdSzSuT1KVDv0dhS3e7Iq8mJZUluXdcWar-lhyphenhyphen_Wo2g1NvXMKBXaQ/s1600/DSCF6279.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1600" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_PcDh66c9DDqJORIxt2fFcRB476dNNoQjuOTeIx2PZK_yo733hin6YPrNWGysHamy15taK0sC_vpqMYh3Jxmq57BdSzSuT1KVDv0dhS3e7Iq8mJZUluXdcWar-lhyphenhyphen_Wo2g1NvXMKBXaQ/s320/DSCF6279.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Some blades came with sharpened horns or cross blades known
as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">jumonji yari</i> (also known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">magari</span>
yari</i>). These looked like a cross and were similar in shape to the Japanese
number 10. Ten translates as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘ju’</i>,
thus the origin of the root of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">jumonji</i>.
Some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">jumonji </i>also had cross bars
similar to the Okinawan <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.ikigaiway.com/2009/nunte-bo-the-okinawan-spear/"><u>nunte bo</u></a></i>
(aka <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nunti</i>). The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nunte bo</i> was an Okinawan spear with
three prongs. The two shorter prongs were directed in opposite directions.
During the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heian</i> Period, most <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i> were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">su-yari</i> (straight blades). Later in the period, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">naginata</i> were introduced with curved,
single-edged blades (Sinclair, 2001).</div>
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During <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kamakura</i>
times (1185-1333 AD), Japanese metallurgy progressed greatly. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bushi</i> (samurai warrior) had grown
accustomed to their swords which were portable and fast. It is said that
excellent swordsmen could defeat a spearman (Draeger and Smith, 1980). The
sword was considered the soul of samurai and became the favored weapon of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i>. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so-hei</i> (warrior priests of militant Buddhist sects) chose <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">naginata</i> as weapons. </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
Both <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">naginata</i> had an
advantage of reach over horse-mounted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i>.
Near the latter half of the 16<sup>th</sup> century, Japanese foot soldiers
known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ashigaru</i> were armed with
long pikes (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nagae yari</i>) to defend
against cavalry charges. Sinclaire (2001) reports <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i> were as long as 18-feet while most were 10- and 12-feet-long.
Foot soldiers marched into battle with their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nagae yari</i> to stop the cavalry, while others carried shorter <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">su yari</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">arquebusiers</i> (muzzle-loaded firearms) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yumi</i> (<a href="http://japanesekyudo.blogspot.com/"><u>bow</u></a>). </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 341.1pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 3.35pt; margin-top: 2.35pt; position: absolute; text-align: justify; width: 259.2pt; z-index: -4;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-35 0 -35 21574 21600 21574 21600 0 -35 0">
<v:imagedata cropbottom="2730f" cropleft="579f" cropright="4038f" croptop="2267f" o:title="samurai" src="file:///C:\Users\dhausel\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg">
<w:wrap type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>During the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Edo</i> era
(1603-1868 AD) the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yari</i> lost favor as
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i> placed greater emphasis
on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> and close quarters combat.
Even so, some y<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ari</i> were still
produced, but mostly were ceremonial. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Draeger,
D.E., and Smith, R.W., 1980, Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts:Kodansha
International, 207 p.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Kapp, L,
Kapp, H., Yoshihara, Y, 2002, Modern Japanese swords and swordsmiths:Kodansha</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">International, 95 p</i>.</span></li>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcBEh8rYDP16KTNDokm4wQCdQuKN06wcoKfuW53jIHQMMT5k0Ogf0qjRHb7ko8hVJHE_yjiVZYR4lWZJYNzw9JHgcvipOLM1uBVlmjS0wxlyqVhIrAYWJFrTOGkXXQIXyq_MDJjJAp5DC/s1600/Samurai+Arts+at+the+Arizona+School+of+Traditional+Karate,+Tempe,+Mesa,+Arizona+(Seiyo-shorinryu.com).JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcBEh8rYDP16KTNDokm4wQCdQuKN06wcoKfuW53jIHQMMT5k0Ogf0qjRHb7ko8hVJHE_yjiVZYR4lWZJYNzw9JHgcvipOLM1uBVlmjS0wxlyqVhIrAYWJFrTOGkXXQIXyq_MDJjJAp5DC/s640/Samurai+Arts+at+the+Arizona+School+of+Traditional+Karate,+Tempe,+Mesa,+Arizona+(Seiyo-shorinryu.com).JPG" width="608" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sojutsu at the <a href="http://arizonakarate.webs.com/">Hombu</a> in Arizona</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Sinclaire, C., 2001. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Samurai: The weapons and spirit of the Japanese warrior</i>: The Lyons
Press: 144 p.</span></li>
</ul>
Kyoju of Budohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100625487961987538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6172271114488562828.post-13944043578814000282012-06-03T09:59:00.007-07:002022-06-26T12:05:23.209-07:00Katana - Samurai Sword<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7vpUL6h4uvlO9b2FUxr98uIr2ySOxHhzOSVzI5Xuj501AJG4d3-uluBxyOW_cdwjLiZsHvTDjfM2CaY1JbowPyTJ6keihkIakDln-NlUYPt0n9Uw9K61ISsy_dPX6mP1D-DMFuvKJFZzvt0tO6ar_ZnhD7sO2G5J7nou0GHiWNdqFmkCCOP4IimRPw/s2415/Samurai%20-%20katana.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWdm6VHpmoeYTvqyQ724aivhZankVfGUDPs_UKVDa9kX_XGhqzUOrGsKcgpYdcm8-Wb-LzMEz8gByUjgOZ04AF980cmtsRBoTg0SRpllWDDXlGqVWLEAUJB5dcvUq9xFCU8tpZRK0JSYO28tJ-ZKF7v_AQ7Z5gqLXrW2kHObLk8kxVgUfj66Zp2hwXA/s2232/Katana%20(iaido)%202020-08-21%20Seiyo%20Hombu%20dojo,%20Mesa,%20AZjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2232" data-original-width="1271" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWdm6VHpmoeYTvqyQ724aivhZankVfGUDPs_UKVDa9kX_XGhqzUOrGsKcgpYdcm8-Wb-LzMEz8gByUjgOZ04AF980cmtsRBoTg0SRpllWDDXlGqVWLEAUJB5dcvUq9xFCU8tpZRK0JSYO28tJ-ZKF7v_AQ7Z5gqLXrW2kHObLk8kxVgUfj66Zp2hwXA/w358-h614/Katana%20(iaido)%202020-08-21%20Seiyo%20Hombu%20dojo,%20Mesa,%20AZjpg.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It is said that our dojo doors were locked at night not to<br />protect those within, but to protect those who might<br />break into our dojo.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>At the Hombu in the Phoenix East Valley, students have the opportunity to not only learn classical Okinawan arts of Karate and Kobudo, but also train in classical Japanese samurai arts.</b></div></b></span>
<span style="font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Several swords were prominent during Feudal Japan and these are generally known as Japanese swords (日本刀) or nihontō. The kanji used to write Japanese sword(s) include ‘日’ the ideograph for sun, and ‘本’ the kanji for ‘origin’ or ‘root’ (this symbol is a pictorial graphic of a tree with a root at its base indicated by the small cross horizontal line at the bottom of the kanji). These two kanji (日本) are combined to represent Japan (origin of the sun). The third kanji (刀) represents sword: thus all together we have Japanese sword(s). The Japanese do not distinguish between plural and singular nouns.</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Most Japanese swords
are not well-defined and categories for length of the weapon are general. The
lengths were measured in <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i>shaku</i></span></span> (the average
distance between nodes of a mature bamboo stem ~ 1 foot). The primary <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shaku</i> used to measure most objects in
Japan equals 30.3 cm (11.93 inches).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A general length classification
scheme used for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nihontō</i>:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tant<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i> (knife or dagger) = 1 shaku or
less;</li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kodachi</i> (short swords known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sh<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span>t<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i>) = 1 to 2 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shaku;</i>
</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tachi</i> (long swords known as
dait<i>ō</i>) = more than 2 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shaku</i>;
</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: justify;"><i>ō</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dachi</i> (long
swords) = more than 3 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shaku</i>.
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In addition to the above swords, the
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">naginata</i> </span>and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yari"><u>yari</u></a></i> </b>were considered to be part of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nih<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">o</span>nt<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i> family even though they were
pole mounted blades.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The most common sword known to Westerners is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(</span><span class="tnihongokanji"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">刀</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">)</span>.
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> is a single edged sword,
with a curve blade whose possession was restricted to the samurai lineage during
Feudal Japan. It was thought that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> were the soul of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i> and was so important that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i> actually gave names to their
swords, as they were considered to be part of the living.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""impact" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 26pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Long Swords</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(1)</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://samurai71.blogspot.com/2009/10/odachi-or-nodachi-great-sword.html"><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span>dachi</u></a></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(also known as <i>ō</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tachi</i>) (</b><span class="tnihongokanji"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">大太刀</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span>’</i> in <i>ō</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dachi</i> refers to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘great’</i>. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kanji</i> for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘great’</i> is written as <span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">‘</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">大</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">’</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"">
</span></span>which also means <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">big</i>.
The <i>ō</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dachi</i> predated <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> and had some unique
characteristics. Not only was the sword noticeably long, the <i>ō</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dachi</i> was marked by religious
inscriptions imprinted on the tang. It is thought by most researchers that
<i>ō</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dachi</i> were used in ceremonies
prior to battle; and because their length (5 to 6 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shaku</i>) was enormous (often longer than
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i> was tall), it is thought
many were used as cavalry swords. The <i>ō</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dachi</i> would have been impractical to
carry in an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">obi</i> (belt) around one’s
waist. Thus, it was thought the weapon was either carried on one’s back, in
hand, attached to a horse, or by an assistant who followed the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i>.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: justify;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlVRp-Z4nwDfu_ykbgmY5-Q7CFVBqEaDOg0m1ljhDV8v83felQ_u89EscqO4Kg2Ws13I_Wm2p4Msoo0EY4nag6iRMlR5FTHZhkvWOlFtDsZeSpBG4X3onll36-hvhInKcdbiMZi00fbQu/s1600/great+-+Copy.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" closure_uid_3j9gkp="14" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlVRp-Z4nwDfu_ykbgmY5-Q7CFVBqEaDOg0m1ljhDV8v83felQ_u89EscqO4Kg2Ws13I_Wm2p4Msoo0EY4nag6iRMlR5FTHZhkvWOlFtDsZeSpBG4X3onll36-hvhInKcdbiMZi00fbQu/s320/great+-+Copy.JPG" width="299" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Dr. Teule trains with
bokken at a Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu</em><br />
<em>Clinic taught by Soke Hausel in Gillette, Wyoming.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(2)</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nodachi</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nodachi</i> is often confused with
<i>ō</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dachi</i>. However, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nodachi</i> refers to any type of long
battlefield or field sword (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dait<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i>) as well as a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tachi</i> and is often misapplied to any
over sized Japanese sword. It has the same appearance and design as a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tachi</i>, but was significantly longer. The
sword is believed to have been used primarily for dueling.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""impact" , "sans-serif"">Dait<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></span><span face=""impact" , "sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(3)</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Katana</i> (</b><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">刀</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">)</b>.<span style="color: black;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i>
(pronounced <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kah-ta-nah</i> in Japanese
and popularized as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ka-tan-a</i> in the
West), was one of the traditional swords worn by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a blade larger than <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2 shaku</i> with a more moderate curve than
a similar blade known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tachi</i> (see
#4 below). The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> was worn on the
left side of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i> with the
cutting edge (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yaiba </i>or<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> ha</i>) up. The blade included a circular
to square guard<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> (tsuba</i>) separating it
from a long grip handle or pommel (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tuska</i>) made for two hands. The blade of
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> along with the portion of
the blade known as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nakago</i> that
extends into the handle was all one continuous piece known as the tang. Those <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> made for combat (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shinken</i>) and training (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iaitō</i>) have full <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tang</i>. This simply means that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nakago </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ken</i> (blade) are made of one,
uninterrupted, piece of steel. Many cheap practice (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iait<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i>) unfortunately have two
separate pieces - a blade and handle. This results in loosening of the blade
with prolong use until the handle starts to separate from the blade. Thus, when
searching for an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iait<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">it is best to pay a few extra bucks and
purchase one with a full tang. If you decide to purchase one to train in any of
our <i>dojo</i>, it must be an</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
iait<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">with dull edge. <i>S</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hinken </i>are way too dangerous for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dojo</i> use and in Arizona should be
reserved for trimming cactus.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: justify;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2kLG7OW63o_U1Qqj3OCrXKeXgfvEZWy5BmAXlbJ7C80_Vh4j9jW5W0Hg-3ZEPilMNo77igZ3hDmzJ0gx95sIgA0wnqP_nqC4rUZQF_bQqFX2AYmkuPAPXg1CNxeBtZkPTj6ydmNVNRK6/s1600/samurai+-+Copy.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" closure_uid_3j9gkp="15" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2kLG7OW63o_U1Qqj3OCrXKeXgfvEZWy5BmAXlbJ7C80_Vh4j9jW5W0Hg-3ZEPilMNo77igZ3hDmzJ0gx95sIgA0wnqP_nqC4rUZQF_bQqFX2AYmkuPAPXg1CNxeBtZkPTj6ydmNVNRK6/s640/samurai+-+Copy.JPG" width="475" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Sensei Borea demonstrates naginata at
Seiyo </em><em>Kai Hombu in
Arizona. Sensei is of </em><br />
<em>true Japanese samurai lineage and is the Staff Samurai at our dojo in Mesa, Arizona.</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The grip handle of
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> is typically covered with ray
skin leather (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">same’</i>) and wrapped with
cord known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ito</i>. To hold the handle
(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tsuka</i>) in place on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nakago</i>, a hole was punched into the
steel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nakago</i> and a small bamboo peg
(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mekugi</i>) forced through the handle
into the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nakago</i>. When the handle is
removed from a well-made katana by forcing the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mekugi</i> out, the swordsmith’s signature
should be seen carved into the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nakago</i>. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> was developed from an earlier
sword referred to as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">uchigatana</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(</b><span class="tnihongokanji"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; font-size: xx-small; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">打刀</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">).</b> The
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> was carried in a scabbard
known as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">saya.</i></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(4)</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tachi (</i></span><span class="tnihongokanji"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">太刀</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">)</i></span>. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tachi</i> look very similar but can be
distinguished by locating the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mei</i>
(signature) on the sword’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nakago</i>
under the handle. When worn, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mei</i>
would be carved on that side of the tang that would face outward when placed in
one’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">obi</i>. Because the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tachi</i> is worn with the cutting edge down
opposite of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana,</i> the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mei</i> will be on the opposite side of the tang for this sword. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tachi</i> was often considered as a spare
blade used in battle.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tachi</i> with variations from the classical
weapon that included a larger <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tachi</i>
(see #1 above) known as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>ō</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tachi</i></b> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>ō</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dachi</i></b>) and a shorter sword known as
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">k<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span>tachi</i></b> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">k<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span>dachi</i></b>). The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">k<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span>dachi </i></b>was similar in length
to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi</i></b> (see #5
below).</div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""impact" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 26pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sh<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span>t<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(short swords)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(</span>5)</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wakizashi</b> (<span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">脇</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">差</span></b></span>) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi</i>,
also referred to as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi no
kataka</i>, translates as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘sword inserted
at one’s side’. </i>The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi</i>
typically had a blade of 1 to 2 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shaku</i>. Those closer to the length of a
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i>, were referred to as
<i>ō</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">-wakazashi</i>, while a shorter
blade <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi</i> was closer to the
length of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tanto</i></b> and known as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ko-wakizashi</i></b>. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi </i>was worn with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> only by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i>. Together, the pair were
referred to as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">daisho</i></b> which translates as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">dai’</b></i> (big) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">sho’</b></i> (little), terms some of us are
already familiar with because some of our advanced <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">karate kata</i> use these terms, such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Passai Dai</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Passai Sho</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gAwPu2Bhi7yen4J-8JaLlGKroZr6xnp-A22Gk_eNh1HuJIVSEVKrSaU6KEMPX0E-pQMDbEBA8uvC4dlHxBkgRj9oW2xkz-CNq-rkdsAx0IKqYhWJgSO0DX9WK28eX1DSekbUTGV2Ti4N/s1600/Arizona+Hombu+Dojo+-+Suzette+with+katana+%2528Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="1600" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gAwPu2Bhi7yen4J-8JaLlGKroZr6xnp-A22Gk_eNh1HuJIVSEVKrSaU6KEMPX0E-pQMDbEBA8uvC4dlHxBkgRj9oW2xkz-CNq-rkdsAx0IKqYhWJgSO0DX9WK28eX1DSekbUTGV2Ti4N/s400/Arizona+Hombu+Dojo+-+Suzette+with+katana+%2528Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Suzette practices Iaido at the Arizona Hombu, Mesa</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi </i>was a back-up sword, also used
for close quarters fighting and for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">seppuku</i> (ritual suicide). The size of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi</i> was not regulated until the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Edo</i> Period when in 1638 AD, only <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i> were allowed to wear <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> of a regulated length. At this
time <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi</i> were also regulated.
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Samurai</i> were allowed to wear both
swords while those of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chonin</i>
class (merchants) were only allowed to wear a shorter <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ko-wakizashi</i> to protect themselves from
bandits. It was customary for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i>
to leave <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">katana</i> at a door of a
castle, but they always carried <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wakizashi</i>. The wakizashi was the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai’s</i> honor blade and would never
leave his/hers side, so much so, that it is reported <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i> even slept with them under their
pillows.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<v:shape alt="tanto" id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 135.9pt; margin-left: 245.3pt; margin-top: 23.9pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 259.2pt; z-index: -4;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-125 0 -125 21457 21625 21457 21625 0 -125 0"><v:imagedata chromakey="#826c6e" o:title="tanto" src="file:///C:\Users\dhausel\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image009.jpg"><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span face=""impact" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 26pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tanto (knife)</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(6)</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tanto</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tanto</i> was a knife worn by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">samurai</i> of feudal Japan. One variety was
that of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yoroi t<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span>shi</i></b> or dagger (about 8
inches long) that had a greater thickness and used for piercing armor. Another
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tanto</i> was the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">aikuchi</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(</b><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">匕</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">首</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">)</b>. The
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">aikuchi</i> had the distinctive
characteristic of no <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tsuba, </i>similar
to another dagger known as a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kaiken</i></b>. See also <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ken
tanto</i></b> below (#8). Even so, many <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tanto</i> had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tsuba</i>, such as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tanto</i> given to me by the Utah <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shorin Kai</i> at the last Gassuku (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see photo to right of tanto with shaku
measuring tape</i></b>).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""impact" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 26pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Miscellaneous</span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(7)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Chokut<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></b>. </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chokut<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i> had a straight blade and was
introduced to Japan from Korea.<span face=""impact" , "sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(8)</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kusanagi no Tsurugi</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This was a
double-edged sword used in the 5<sup>th</sup> century in Japan and similar to
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ken tanto</i></b> (double-edged
knife).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(9)</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shirasaya</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(</b><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">白</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">鞘</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">)
</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shirasaya </i>translates as
‘white scabbard’. This was a sword that had a plain wooded blade mount
consisting of a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">saya</i> (scabbard) with
a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tsuka</i> (hilt) and traditionally used
for storage when a sword blade was not needed for some time. In this form, it
was not used on a battlefield.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0AqMHxaEBU3atptpBpzI15x1PLCck6uZ7g7o_Ft4JtKvwEohSQ5Mm8ZLOBXXiM1nBFGa6KLmYWDRcZGfaRA529tNJfp-yF5LJVPN7Ft4rbbiP-v9N71XGkHJqTilF_2yvCIm5Z4s9fj2/s1600/shirasaya.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" closure_uid_3j9gkp="18" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0AqMHxaEBU3atptpBpzI15x1PLCck6uZ7g7o_Ft4JtKvwEohSQ5Mm8ZLOBXXiM1nBFGa6KLmYWDRcZGfaRA529tNJfp-yF5LJVPN7Ft4rbbiP-v9N71XGkHJqTilF_2yvCIm5Z4s9fj2/s320/shirasaya.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(10) Shikomi-zue
(</b><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">仕込み</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">杖</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">)</b>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shikomi-zue</i> is a sword-stick. These
typically contained a blade inside a cane (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tsue</i>) mounting for concealment. Some of
these also concealed other weapons such as pepper powder (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">metsubuski</i>), chains, hooks, etc.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""impact" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 26pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Schools (dojo) and Styles (ryu)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most
Japanese swords are traced to one of five provinces in Japan that included <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shoshu, Yamato, Bizen, Yamashiro</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mino</i>. There were different styles and
systems of Japanese swordsmanship and training. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kenjutsu,
Kendo</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kenjutsu</i></b> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sword techniques</i>) is the martial art
combat sword training. Similar to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kenjutsu</i> is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kendo</i> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">way of the sword). </i>Both tend focus on
techniques of the sword after it has been drawn from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">saya</i> (scabbard). <i>Kendo-ka</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> practice with bamboo swords known as
<i>shinai</i>, while wearing padded clothing known as<i> bōgu</i> and head gear
known as <i>men</i>. Most <i>kenjutsu</i> use sword.<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: #66ff66; background: rgb(102, 255, 102);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJZDT8S2yzkM0s2EGLcWZ4S6satOmc-qNcpv9NFVeIQMqIKLuNdhoa5bqsxfztoLuvU9kecYKYu02v76rOXTOdxyl4A0u1052k4K04qirEoXPBkuO3FZDSLOmGnFXtWV_Y_KEF03cR12Y/s1600/Kendo+-+Copy.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" closure_uid_3j9gkp="19" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJZDT8S2yzkM0s2EGLcWZ4S6satOmc-qNcpv9NFVeIQMqIKLuNdhoa5bqsxfztoLuvU9kecYKYu02v76rOXTOdxyl4A0u1052k4K04qirEoXPBkuO3FZDSLOmGnFXtWV_Y_KEF03cR12Y/s640/Kendo+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><em>Kyoshi Rob Watson explains to members of the Utah Shorin Kai about kenjutsu and kendo while wearing bōgu and men of kendo and showing katana of kenjutsu. To the right, Renshi Todd Stoneking hands shinai to Kyoshi Watson.</em><span style="background-color: white; background: white; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Iaijutsu (iaid<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō </span></b><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">居合</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">道</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">) and
Batt<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span>jutsu (</b><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";">抜刀</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">術</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">)
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iaijutsu</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iaid<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">batt<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span>jutsu</i> are fast draw arts
designed to develop fast draw with follow-up attacks with the sword. These arts
are similar and generally only differ in training methods. For instance, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">batt<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span>jutsu</i> incorporates
multiple cuts following the draw of the sword; while <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iaid<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i> emphasizes reaction to unknown
scenarios, or a reaction to a sudden and swift attacks. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iaid<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i>, the student begins training
with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bokken</i> (wooden practice sword)
and later switches to a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iait<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i> (dull-edged practice sword).
Only very experienced practitioners use <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shinken</i> (live blade) because of the
extreme danger to oneself. Because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iaid<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">is practiced with a weapon, whether it is a
dull or live, nearly all training is by <i>kata</i> that includes drawing the
weapon followed by cuts and finishing with ceremonial de-blooding of the blade
and replacing the weapon back into the <i>saya</i>. Sparring is not part of
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iaid<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, but is instead restricted to <i>kendo</i>.
Another art that is similar to </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iaid<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, is that of <i>j<span style="color: black;">ō</span>jutsu</i> (training with a 4-foot staff).<span style="background-color: white; background: white;"> </span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktgQwfyVGviVUBGyecES99a-KG79ltVHgRq46W__XzNVWAEv9NatAtNFXLNbFujE_MSCClxyzJfborKLii_dySgkjLZFixMNPoTl270yiU6vvtupO7jijkI_nOTlT6IHcUkiOqIr8pPchUIdii5g158Z8rXMiskzcH3IKUOUQ8p8bvQNeqAtkAmjC2A/s1588/Sojutsu,%20Seiyo%20Shorin-Ryu%20(SOke%20Hausel).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1077" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktgQwfyVGviVUBGyecES99a-KG79ltVHgRq46W__XzNVWAEv9NatAtNFXLNbFujE_MSCClxyzJfborKLii_dySgkjLZFixMNPoTl270yiU6vvtupO7jijkI_nOTlT6IHcUkiOqIr8pPchUIdii5g158Z8rXMiskzcH3IKUOUQ8p8bvQNeqAtkAmjC2A/w271-h400/Sojutsu,%20Seiyo%20Shorin-Ryu%20(SOke%20Hausel).JPG" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sojutsu (art of the spear), just one of<br />many martial arts taught at the Seiyo<br />no Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai <br />Hombu dojo in Arizona.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iaido">Wikipedia</a>, some styles of
<i>iaidō</i> include Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu, Muso Shinden Ryu, Mugai-Ryu,
Jikyo-Ryu, Suio-Ryu, <span class="apple-style-span">Motobu Udundi
(Okinawan), Shindō Munen-ryu, <span style="background-color: #66ff66; background: rgb(102, 255, 102);"> </span>Shinkage-ryū,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Hōki-ryū<span class="apple-style-span">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Tatsumi-ryū<span class="apple-style-span">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Tamiya-ryū<span class="apple-style-span">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Tenshin
Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū<span class="apple-style-span">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Takenouchi-ryū<span class="apple-style-span">,</span>Eishin-ryū</div>
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Sword testing, known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tameshigiri">tameshigiri</a></i> was designed
to test the blade’s sharpness and the practitioner’s abilities to cut a variety
of materials. Today, we often see cuts on straw on a vertical pole. In the past, it was not uncommon for some Japanese
to test on cadavers of executed criminals. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Few </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">iaid<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ō </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">schools practice <i>tameshigiri</i>.<span style="background-color: #66ff66; background: rgb(102, 255, 102);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Samurai arts are also part of <i>Seiyo
Shorin-Ryu Karate</i> and <i>Kobudo</i>. In addition to <i>iaido</i>, our
members train in <i>jujutsu</i>, <i>hojojutsu</i>, <i>hanbojutsu,
naginatajutsu</i> and <i>yarijutsu. </i></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Some Books On <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nihonto</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span">Craig, Darrell, 1981, Iai – the art
of Drawing the Sword: Lotus Press, Tokyo, Japan, 257 p</span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span">Yumoto, J, M., 1958, The Samurai Sword – A Handbook:
Charles E. Tuttle Co, Tokyo, Japan, 191 p</span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span">Warner, G. and Draeger, D.F., 1982, Japanese
Swordsmanship – Technique and Practice: Weatherhill, Boston, 296 p</span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span">Zier, Don, J., 2000, Japanese Sword
Drawing: Unique Publications, Burbank, CA, 317 p</span></div>
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Kyoju of Budohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100625487961987538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6172271114488562828.post-1309968906976592432012-03-19T09:03:00.007-07:002022-03-15T08:57:54.130-07:00Hanbo - weapon of self defense<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">T</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">he principal focus is </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i><strong><a href="https://seiyoshorinryu.blogspot.com">Shorin-Ryu</a></strong><strong> Karate & Kobudo</strong></i> in Mesa and for members of <strong><em>Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai</em></strong> worldwide, is karate & kobudo (Okinawan Weapons). But in addition to these traditional Okinawan martial arts, students train in self-defense and learn to defend against a variety of attacks including assailants with guns, knives, clubs, rifles etc. Many of the students also train in Samurai Arts including <i>iaido</i> (samurai sword), <i>kenjutsu</i> (samurai sword techniques), <i>naginata</i> (halberd), <i>yari</i> (spear), <a href="https://okinawabo.blogspot.com/ "><i>bo</i></a> (staff), <a href="http://hbjutsu.blogspot.com/"><i>hanbo</i></a> (half-staff), <i>jo</i> (4-foot staff), <i>hojo</i> (rope), <i>kobuton</i> (short stick), and <a href="http://ski-jujutsu.blogspot.com/"><i>jujutsu</i></a>.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHj-WquWySqlUu9V52KQGrKf5hLOAXCqZRxD1TV6DR0qtOxcX3a9NUDDyYhk65oEGpdC9rdTus10YBSPIxqKccFjqgAgDEENJSbX0_SB97SOw4djc4OeVtnFi5JTnI7TTkUOU1JdCwTaC8/s640/2010+MA+clinic+at+the+University+of+Wyoming+(seiyo-shorinryu.com).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Group photo at Corbett Gym, University of Wyoming</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHj-WquWySqlUu9V52KQGrKf5hLOAXCqZRxD1TV6DR0qtOxcX3a9NUDDyYhk65oEGpdC9rdTus10YBSPIxqKccFjqgAgDEENJSbX0_SB97SOw4djc4OeVtnFi5JTnI7TTkUOU1JdCwTaC8/s1600/2010+MA+clinic+at+the+University+of+Wyoming+(seiyo-shorinryu.com).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"></span></a></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Many students also train with weapons of the Japanese Samurai including <em><strong>hanbo</strong></em> (or short staff). Similar weapons to the hanbo include <em>kioga (or kebo) better known as </em>the expandable baton (Asp), <em>tsune</em> (cane), <em>kobuton</em> (short stick) and <em>manrikigusari</em> (chain or rope). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHbZUZ95TtRALbnNe6udjM6Qu582FUFYYWttwvzlvUxtoa-74aRZCgby6Lspu8FsljvMbnRjBQ0rI21Fo-904bWHoMyaIOXbr0_SYog6hK79BBWc4aqRCas_LINMZD_xZNdT2Bj9l_E_5/s1600/Luis+applies+ago+senage+on+Todd+at+the+Arizona+Hombu+(Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com)+during+Utah-Arizona+clinic+in+Mesa+and+Gilbert.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHbZUZ95TtRALbnNe6udjM6Qu582FUFYYWttwvzlvUxtoa-74aRZCgby6Lspu8FsljvMbnRjBQ0rI21Fo-904bWHoMyaIOXbr0_SYog6hK79BBWc4aqRCas_LINMZD_xZNdT2Bj9l_E_5/s400/Luis+applies+ago+senage+on+Todd+at+the+Arizona+Hombu+(Seiyo-ShorinRyu.com)+during+Utah-Arizona+clinic+in+Mesa+and+Gilbert.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<em><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Hanbo training at the Hombu, East Valley Phoenix</span></em><em><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">, Arizona</span></em></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Members of <strong>Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa</strong>, learn how to use the hanbo in dozens of different situations for the street. But they also practice against an uke (partner) with a samurai sword as is tradition (as well as against an attacker with other weapons such as tanto [knife]). As they progress, they work up to juji-kumite to develop spontaneity and accuracy of action - in other words, to learn how to react <a href="http://az-mushin.blogspot.com/">without thinking</a>. Restraints are important so that the hanbo can be used as a pragmatic instrument for law enforcement.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The <strong>Hanbo and Kioga</strong> are common weapons used by police departments around the world. As a <em>Kyoju</em> of <em>Budo</em> (professor of martial arts) at the University of Wyoming, Soke Hausel taught many law enforcement officials in these arts. But, you don't need to law enforcement officer to learn to use these valuable weapons. <br /></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The <em><strong>hanbo</strong></em> (<span lang="JA"><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA">半棒</span></span></span>) is considered to be a ‘half-bo’ and is taught in several traditional <em>jujutsu</em> and <em>ninjutsu</em> styles in addition to Seiyo Shorin-Ryu karate. This weapon was added to the <em><a href="http://az-kobudo.blogspot.com/">kobudo</a></em> curriculum of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu because it is such a practical weapon and is an extension of many of our empty hand self-defense techniques. <em>Hanbo</em> also goes well with <em>kioga</em> and cane and many techniques are similar between these weapons - so when you learn one, you are essentially learning all three. </span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In <em>Seiyo <a href="https://seiyoshorinryu.blogspot.com ">Shorin-Ryu</a></em>, to progress in hanbojutsu, students demonstrate basic strikes, blocks and stances and several self-defense <em>ippon</em> <em>kumite</em> against unarmed and armed assailants. They also learn very restrictive <em>juji-kumite</em> or sparring with the weapon. The <em>kumite</em> must be controlled and done with safety in mind. </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The origin of the <strong>hanbo</strong> is uncertain. Some researchers suggest it originated quite by accident. According to a summary on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukishin-ry%C5%AB">Kukishin Ryu</a>, legend suggests that during battle between <em>Kuriyama Ukon</em> and General <em>Suzuki Tangonokami Katsuhisa</em> in 1575, <em>Kuriyama</em> was armed with <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yari">yari</a></em> (spear) and <em>Suzuki</em> with <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katana">katana</a></em> (sword). During the battle, <em>Suzuki</em> sliced through <em>Kuriyama’s</em> spear cutting it in half, but <em>Kuriyama</em> was still able to overwhelm <em>Suzuki</em> with the remaining spear handle. </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><em>Kuriyama</em> realized the importance of the short staff for self-defense and developed <em>hanbo-jutsu</em>. Our members also train in <em>katana</em> and <em>yari</em> and learn these weapons along with many traditional Okinawan kobudo weapons such as <i><a href="http://nunchuku.blogspot.com/">nunchaku</a>, <a href="http://sai-kobudo.blogspot.com/">sai</a>, <a href="http://seiyo-tonfa.blogspot.com/">tonfa</a>, <a href="http://kamajutsu.blogspot.com/">kama</a>, bo</i>, and others.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Hanbo has been incorporated into several martial arts including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taijutsu"><i>taijutsu</i></a> (<span lang="JA"><span lang="JA"><span lang="JA">体術</span></span></span>). Taijutsu is a term used interchangeably with <em>jujutsu</em>. Most <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kory%C5%AB">koryu</a></em> (old style) jujutsu styles use arresting techniques for law enforcement. In particular, <em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/sokeshodai#p/u/4/aUOD8bQNeCU">munadori</a> waza</em> (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkN7Q2mGqF0">lapel grab</a> techniques) are the focus of many of these arts. </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><em><strong>Hanbo</strong></em> is a half <em>bo</em> and is traditionally three shaku (35.8 inches) long, or essentially half the length of a traditional <em>bo</em>. A <em>bo</em> can be referred to as <em>roku-shakubo</em>, or a stick of 6 <em>shaku</em>. </span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><em>Shaku</em> is the archaic unit of measure used until the Japanese adopted the metric system in 1961. Prior to 1961, <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaku_(unit)">shaku</a></em> was a common unit of measure equal to 11.93 inches, or nearly one-foot. The <em>shaku</em> was derived from nature and is the average length between mature bamboo nodes. </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">But the Japanese also had a second <em>shaku</em> - to make things confusing. This latter <em>shaku</em> was equal to 14.9 inches or the length of an average whale’s whisker which was adopted in 1881 to measuring cloth. To distinguish between these two, the cloth <em>shaku</em> was referred to as <em>kujirajaka</em> (<em>kujira</em> meaning whale); and the bamboo <em>shaku</em> was referred to as <em>kanejaku</em>. For me, I was surprised to find out that whale's had whiskers. </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> The hanbo is still used in training by many Japanese law enforcement agents. And it became very promintent during the late 19th Century during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_period"><em>Edo</em> Period</a>, when some law enforcement officers were armed with wooden staffs and were responsible for disarming <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai">samurai</a></em>. These people worked in teams and attacked criminals simultaneously to disarm and restrain them with a rope - another art taught at our dojo - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoj%C5%8Djutsu">hojojutsu</a>. </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Following the Edo period, the <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2130.html">Meiji Restoration</a> began in 1868, known as the beginning of the modern era of Japan. During the Edo period, <em>samurai</em> were still important and privileged individuals. But a chain of events led major changes in the political and social system in Japan resulting in opening their door to <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaijin">gaijin</a></em> of the Western World. During the Meiji, members of the samurai class were eliminated and the honor of wearing swords was prohibited. This was followed by all Japanese males being required to serve in the military for 4 years. </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">These events caused considerable unrest with <em>samurai</em>, who prior to this event, were allowed to bear arms – unlike peasants. A samurai rebellion resulted and many hanbo <em>waza</em> were developed at this time to evade strikes by katana followed with follow-up strikes to head or sword hand, or thrusts to the attacker's body. Included in this were many take downs followed by restraints.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Our classes at the <strong>Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa</strong>, Arizona at 60 W. baseline Road, across the street from SunDevil Auto and learn this and other weapons.</span></div>
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<tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><i>Osensei Bill Borea applies yubi uchi (toe strike).</i></span></td></tr>
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Kyoju of Budohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100625487961987538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6172271114488562828.post-25614397440298239522012-03-17T14:02:00.004-07:002022-03-14T11:37:33.052-07:00Jujutsu - Fighting Art of the Samurai<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Soke Hausel teaches pressure point defense followed by nage waza (throw) to stop</em><br />
<em> a grabbing attacker. Soke is assisted by Laramie Police officer and <br />University of Wyoming alumni.</em></td></tr>
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Jujutsu is a combat art developed by samurai centuries ago (both armed and unarmed). Karate, which focuses on kicks and punches is indigenous to Okinawa and became a combat form and later an art for peasants and Okinawan royalty. Jujutsu, was indigenous to the Japanese empire separate from Okinawa and had a different purpose. It was designed primarily as hand to hand combat to defend against heavily armed samurai with armor. Punching an enemy wearing armor with bare hands and feet does not seem like a bright idea, thus samurai developed throwing techniques (<em>nage waza</em>), foot sweeps and trips to defend against other armored and armed samurai.</div>
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Along with throws, the jujutsuka (practitioner of jujutsu) learned unique strikes (<em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atemi">atemi</a></em>) to disturb the balance of the samurai. These <em>atemi</em> were designed to unbalance an opponent and generate a shock wave that propagated through armor. </div>
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<strong><span style="color: orange;">FORMS OF JUJUTSU</span></strong></div>
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Today we recognized two general categories of jujutsu: (1) <strong><em>Koryu (ancient)</em></strong> traditional jujutsu which was designed to defend against armed samurai with or without armor, and (2) <strong><em>modern Gendai jujutsu</em></strong> that favors self-defense applications used in sport and modern self-defense. Most Gendai schools lack lineage and traditions (i.e., Brazilian jujutsu). </div>
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In both old style and modern jujutsu, atemi is important. Before one can effectively throw an attacker, the aggressor’s balance should be disturbed. In Arizona we find people sweat more than in any other state (now did we need Federal Grants from the Obama Adminstration to discover this?). To grab and throw someone in Arizona is more difficult than in Wyoming (where it is dry and cold), simply because sweaty people are slippery and difficult to grasp. In Wyoming, throwing someone while standing on ice or snow may not be a very good idea either.</div>
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According to the Overlook Martial Arts Dictionary, atemi translates as <em>"body strikes".</em> It refers to <em>"…a method of attacking the opponents pressure points".</em> In <em><strong>A Dictionary of the Martial Arts</strong></em> there is a more detailed description. It states that an atemi is... <em>"…aimed at the vital or weak points of an opponent's body in order to paralyze by means of intense pain. Such blows can produce loss of consciousness, severe trauma and even death…the smaller the striking surface used in atemi, the greater the power of penetration and thus the greater the effectiveness of the blow".</em> This may be true in modern jujutsu, but in the ancient styles of jujutsu, pressure points for armored samurai were not important on a battlefield. A samurai covered with armor, had few if any exposed pressure points. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kris applies wrist lock (te kubi) to Logan at Arizona Hombu clinic</td></tr>
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Today, <em><strong>atemi</strong></em> is used to provide a distraction leading to a throw, joint lock, or choke. This is done by redirecting an opponent into a throw through attacking vital points to cause pain or loss of consciousness. In other words, it is easier to throw an unconscious or disoriented aggressor and one who is moving in the direction of the throw. One common atemi is a palm strike along the jaw line, ear (<em><strong>mimi</strong></em>) or neck (<em><strong>kubi</strong></em>). This also was likely used against armored samurai. Even with a helmet, a powerful open hand <em>"<strong>teisho uchi"</strong></em> strike to the side of a helmet would ring one’s bell.</div>
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The term <em>‘<strong>jūjutsu’</strong></em> was coined in the 17th century, after it became a blanket term for a wide variety of grappling combat forms. Jujutsu (柔術) translates as the <em>"art of softness"</em> or <em>"way of yielding".</em> </div>
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The oldest forms of jujutsu are referred to as Sengoku jujutsu or Nihon Koryu Jujutsu. These were developed during the Muromachi period (1333–1573 AD) and focused on techniques that assisted samurai in defeating unarmed, lightly armed, and heavily armed and armored samurai – thus a greater emphasis was placed on joint locks and throws. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Daughter and father train in jujutsu at the Hombu<br />dojo in Mesa.</i></td></tr>
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Later in history, other <em>koryu</em> developed that are similar to many modern styles. Many of these are classified as <em>Edo</em> <em>jūjutsu</em> and were founded in the <em>Edo</em> Period (1625-1868 AD) of Japan. Most are designed to deal with opponents without armor. <strong><em>Edo jujutsu</em></strong> commonly emphasized use of <strong><em>atemi waza</em></strong>. Inconspicuous weapons such as a <strong><em>tantō </em></strong>(knife) and <em><strong>tessen</strong></em> (iron fans) were included in <em>Edo jūjutsu</em> curriculum. </div>
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Another interesting art taught in <strong>Sengoku</strong> and <em>Edo jujutsu</em> systems is known as <strong><em>hojojutsu</em></strong>. This discplined involve using a cord to restrain or strangle an attacker. Such techniques have faded from most modern <em>jujutsu</em> styles, although Tokyo police units still train in <em>hojojutsu</em> and carry <em>hojo</em> in addition to handcuffs. </div>
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Weapons training were extremely important to Samurai. Koryu schools included the <strong><em>bo</em></strong> (six-foot staff), <strong><em>hanbo</em></strong> (three-foot staff), <strong><em>jo</em></strong> (4-foot staff), <strong><em>tachi</em></strong> (sword), <strong><em>wakizashi</em></strong> (short sword), <strong><em>tanto</em></strong> (knife), <strong><em>jitte</em></strong> (short one hook truncheon), <strong><em>yari</em></strong> (spear), <strong><em>naginata</em></strong> (halberd), <strong><em>ryofundo kusari</em></strong> (weighted chain) and <strong><em>bankokuchoki</em></strong> (knuckle-duster). </div>
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<em>Edo jujutsu</em> was followed by development of <em>Gendai Jujutsu</em> at the end of the <em>Edo</em> Period. <em>Gendai</em>, or modern Japanese <em>jujutsu</em> shows influence of traditional <em>jujutsu</em>. <em>Goshin Jujutsu</em> styles developed at about the same time, but the Goshin styles are only partially influenced by traditional <em>jujutsu</em> and have mostly been developed outside of Japan. <br />
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Today, many <em>Gendai jujutsu</em> styles have been embraced by law enforcement officials and continue to provide foundations for specialized systems by police officials. The best known of these is <em>Keisatsujutsu</em> (police art) or <em>Taihojutsu</em> (arresting art) formulated by the Tokyo Police.</div>
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<em>Jujutsu</em> is the basis for many military unarmed combat training programs for many years and there are many forms of sport (non-traditional) <em>jujutsu</em>, the most popular being <em><a href="http://judo-ka.blogspot.com/">judo</a></em>, now an Olympic sport. </div>
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Some examples of martial arts that have been influenced by <em>jujutsu</em> include <em>Aikido, Hapkido, Judo, Sambo, Kajukenbo, Kudo, Kapap, Kempo</em> and <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninjutsu">Ninjutsu</a></em> as well as some styles of Japanese <em>Karate</em>, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wad%C5%8D-ry%C5%AB"><em>Wado-ryu</em> <em>Karate</em></a>, which is considered a branch of <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shind%C5%8D_Y%C5%8Dshin-ry%C5%AB">Shindō Yōshin-ryū Jujutsu</a></em>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><i>Special training in kiogajutsu. This is an example of modern jujutsu using an expandable police baton for </i></span><br />
<span><i>self-defense training. The kioga can be used very effectively similar to a hanbo and kobuton all rolled</i></span><br />
<span><i> into one weapon. Many police departments carry this weapon but unfortunately, few officers are properly</i></span><br />
<span><i> trained in its use. Sensei Brett Philbrick of the Laramie Police department applies joint lock on Shihan-Dai </i></span><br />
<span><i>Kyle Gewecke from the Gillette, Wyoming dojo.</i></span></td></tr>
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The training uniform (<strong><em>keikogi</em></strong>) provides an excellent indicator of traditions in a <em>jujutsu dojo</em>. Traditional schools wear plain white gi often with a dark <em>hakama</em> (the most colorful uniform might be plain black</div>
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or the traditional blue of quilted <em>keikogi</em>. Lack of ostentatious display, with an attempt to achieve or express the sense of rustic simplicity is common in traditional arts. The use of the traditional (<strong><em>Shoden, Chuden, Okuden, Kirigami and Menkyo Kaiden</em></strong>) ranking system is also a good indicator of traditional jujutsu. These are parallel to the common <strong><em>dan-i</em></strong> (kyu/dan) ranking used in traditional karate.</div>
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<span><i>Ryan Harden applies yubi waza on Neal Adam</i></span></div>
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<span><i>Melinda applies choke on Dr. Neal Adam</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Soke restrains Todd Stoneking (8th dan) after dropping him to the<br />ground.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Soke demonstrates wrist throw on Josh at a Wyoming clinic held in Casper, Wyoming</i></td></tr>
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Kyoju of Budohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16100625487961987538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6172271114488562828.post-29249041578100710742011-03-29T09:59:00.004-07:002022-03-15T09:02:30.835-07:00Hojojutsu - the art of restraining<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hojojutsu, the art of restraining prisoners with a rope<br /></i></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Feudal samurai were well-known for their variety of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">koryu</i> (old) weapons which evolved into a number of modern (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gendai</i>) martial arts that are practiced today such as <i>iaido</i>, <i>iaijutsu</i>, <i>sojutsu</i>, </span><a href="http://hbjutsu.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><u><i>hanbojutsu</i></u></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, <i>naginatajutsu</i>, </span><a href="http://ski-jujutsu.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><u><i>jujutsu</i></u></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, </span><a href="http://judo-ka.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><u><i>judo</i></u></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, <i>kendo</i>, <i>kenjutsu</i>, </span><a href="http://japanesekyudo.blogspot.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><u><i>kyudo</i></u></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, and others. One of the stranger disciplines was that of <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hojōjutsu</i></b></span> (<span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman";">捕縄術</span>), known as the skill of restraining prisoners. No other culture in the world placed so much emphasis on restraining prisoners in this complex skill. </div>
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Since the samurai regarded restraining prisoners to be beneath their social status they apparently relied on servants or local constables to apply ropes to restrain an individual: all which had to be done properly. So complex was this discipline that entire books have been written in Japanese about the skill. </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">When we examine the</span> Japanese word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hojojutsu</i>, we will have a better understanding of this skill. The character <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ho</i> (also pronounced <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tori</i>) means to catch, seize and restrain. The character for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">jo </i>(also pronounced <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nawa</i>) means rope. And the character for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">jutsu</i> means skill, or martial skill. Thus <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hojojutsu</i> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">torinawajutsu, </i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nawajutsu</i>) is the skill of catching and restraining a prisoner with a rope. For those in Montana and Wyoming, I guess this could even extend to cattle roping (just kidding).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span>Soke introduces members of </span><span>the Casper <br /></span><span>Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate Club in Wyoming to hojojutsu.</span></i></td></tr>
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In modern times, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hojojutsu</i> is taught as part of a various <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bugei</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">budo</i> (traditional martial arts) curriculum during advanced training on many Japanese <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">jujutsu</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ninjutsu</i> schools. It is still taught to some Japanese law enforcement officials. </div>
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Historically, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hojo</i> techniques were developed during the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sengoku</i> (warring states) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">period</i> of Japan (15<sup>th</sup> to 17<sup>th</sup> centuries) which was known as a time in history when Japanese society was in upheaval and various factions were at war with one another. The discipline continued during the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Edo period</i> (1600-1868) when <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hojo</i> was a tool of law-enforcement under the Tokugawa Shogunate. However, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hojojutsu</i> began to decline with the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Meiji</i> restoration (modern Japan) following the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Edo Period</i>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hojojutsu</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> consists of three parts. The first part was the capture of the person. This sometimes was accomplished using a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kaginawa</i> rope that had a barbed hook at one end used to ensnare clothing. The second part was the initial tie used to restrain the individual after capture. The third part was the use of elaborate and intricate ties before a prisoner was transported or executed. These had to respect the person’s social status.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Following capture, a constable would use capture cords known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hayanawa</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">torinawa</i>. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hayanawa</i> was a strong, thin, cord used with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sageo</i> cord attached to the sheath (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">saya</i>) of the sword (katana) The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sageo</i> passed through the hole in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kurigata</i> of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">saya</i> for a katana (sword). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This was used with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">torinawa</i> which was a much longer rope carried in a bundle on one’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hakama</i>. This rope fed from one end and was passed around the prisoner’s body, neck and arms. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">After the prisoner was secured, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">honnawa</i> cords were employed for transportation or execution. More than one constable worked with others to secure the prisoner. This allowed the officers time to tie intricate and ornate rope patterns with ropes. The constable had to learn a variety of knots and understand which rope colors were required to bind prisoners based on social status.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">For example, an accused prisoner yet to be convicted had to be tied with no visible knots. This was to save embarrassment from being publicly bound. Instead of securing with knots, the constable held on one end of the rope and walked behind the prisoner. Sometimes this involved securing one’s ankles so that if the prisoner tried to escape, the constable would simply jerk the prisoner’s feet out. Ties also were designed to restrict mobility of limbs and placed the ropes to discourage any kind of struggle by activating various pressure points, by numbing extremities<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="h1"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="h2"></a>, or simply by choking the struggling prisoner.</span></div>
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According to rank and social status, each method of tying required a constable denote the social class of the person. If a person had been found guilty of a particular offense, he was tied in a manner that indicated the offense committed. Because the style of tying varied with both crime and status of a prisoner, the length of rope varied considerably. Various experts report that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">honnawa</i> was measured in lengths of 78, 66, 54, 42 and 30 feet. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hayanawa</i> was typically 15 feet. The length of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kaginawa</i> was around 13 feet. In cases, prisoners were restrained facing distinct compass directions, depending on the season of the year.</div>
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During the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Edo period</i> colored ropes became popular. A white rope was used on someone who committed a minor crime and a blue rope was used to secure offenders who had committed serious crimes. If a person was of high social rank, a violet rope was sometimes used: if of low social rank, a black rope was used.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><i>Hanshi Finley from Casper, Wyoming is all tied up.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="h3"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="h4"></a>The prisoner was subjected to an intricate web of rope to make him completely immobile. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="h5"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="t1"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="t2"></a>Unlike the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kaginawa</i>, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hayanawa</i> had a small loop at one end or a small metal ring that functioned similar to handcuffs and allowed the constable to pass the other end of the rope through this loop. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="t3"></a>In addition to all of the above ropes, another short rope of 14 inches long (one <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shaku</i>) was sometimes used on a suspect as they sat in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">seiza</i> while both arms were pulled behind the person and the thumbs and big toes were tied together. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Two books on this subject: (1) Nawa, Yumio, 1964, Studies in jitte and torinawa: Yuzakaku Shuppan, Tokyo, and (2) Nawa, Yamio, 1985, An illustrated encyclopedia for historical studies: constables’ tools: Shinjinbutsu Orai-sha, Tokyo.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
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