One of coolest things about translating older documents that are related to martial arts is being able to decipher techniques, and compare them with what I’m learning. Some are more descriptive than others, so this is a case by case situation. One document I’ve been working on for some time now is a manual on the techniques from Chūjō ryū (中條流). Known for its swordplay, this manual covers the movements and ideology behind them through kata, accompanied with pretty detailed notes.
Example of 2 Pages from the Chūjō ryū manual.
This article will cover 2 of them, which coincide with techniques associated with Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his claimed short sword skills¹. What is provided here are interpretations of the description for the two kata. Sticking with the methodology associated with Chūjō ryū, I use a short sword liken to a kodachi, and an even shorter sword like a wakizashi.
The first kata is Ko Rannyū (虎乱入). In the manual there are several variations. The one presented here uses 2 swords.
DESCRIPTIONS
- Stand with swords in jūmonji formation (low)
- Enemy strikes for the face
- Block with both swords in jumonji formation
- Pull one sword back and stab enemy’s face, then cut down on right hand
- Step back and lower swords
- Enemy strikes with kesa giri to left shoulder, receive with right hand sword
- Direct enemy’s sword down to the side (ukenagashi)
- Step to enemy’s left while performing horizontal cut with right hand sword
- Circle behind enemy and finish with left hand cut
This is a pretty aggressive kata with 2 swords, which takes dexterity to use simultaneously. Some things to take from it includes the following:
- Knowing when to block and when to redirect (ukenagashi)
- Understanding how to create advantageous moments in order to use a free sword
The next kata is Hichō no Kakeri (飛鳥翔). Using a single sword, one moves quickly with agility through the use of an improvised attack.
DESCRIPTIONS
- Stand in a normal posture
- Draw sword and assume jōdan posture
- While maintaining distance, left hand pulls out a small towel from jacket
- Throw the towel at the enemy’s face
- Leap in and cut down the enemy with followup strike
The movements in kata particularly remind me of popular tales featuring Yoshitsune when he was young, and his use of throwing objects such as his sensu (扇子, fan) to distract his opponents in conjunction with his swordplay. A few words about this particular kata:
- Make use of any item at hand
- Followup strike is dependent on the enemy’s reaction to thrown object
From a research perspective, there are always something to take away from old martial arts documentations, and the manual for Chūjō ryū is no different. For myself, who is engaged in kenjutsu training regularly, I find these 2 kata quite informative, especially in the idea of wielding a shorter sword. It’s a shame that I currently could not present both kata with a partner, but I hope that the images, along with the descriptions, are clear enough to follow along.
1) This is in relations to the 2-part discussion on Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his combative knowledge found on this blog. Mention of the 2 kata can be read here.