SEKIGUCHIRYU IAIJUTSU

(Swordsmanship)

Grand Master: Yonehara Kameo

Kumamotoshi, Japan.

History

Sekiguchiryu Iaijutsu, is widely practised in Higo Kumamato area, and goes back to the Sekiguchiryu Jujutsu in Wakayama. The original founder was Sekiguchi Yarokuemon Ujishin, he learned Iai Swordsmanship from Hayashizaki Jinsuke and Jujutsu from Miura Yojiuemon who had been practising Kenpo from master Chin Genpin (from China). Sekiguchi integrated all these martial arts and established Sekiguchiryu Jujutsu. His first-born son Ujinari (Original founder of Sekiguchi Battohjutsu) had a leading student called Shibukawa Bangoro who opened a training centre in Edo (Tokyo) during the Genroku Era (1688-1703). A Higo province vassal, Izawa Banryu Osahide under-took the training in these arts from Yamazaki Ansai. Osahide was an excellent swordsman and took the style back home to Higo and taught it there, here it has been handed down as Higoryu Iai and is still widely practised. The fifth grand master (of Higoryu Iai) Aoki Kikuo, worked as the 14th grand master of this school.

Characteristics

Jump and slash, a fierce slash attack technique, while slashing the sword, the swordsman swiftly changes the position of his feet back and front, at the same time. All cutting is carried out by the right hand, the left hand is only there to assist in the stopping of the sword. Shouting is high and persistent, this done to threaten an enemy. For the grade of Shodan (first grading ) "Kai-shakunomaki" (the disciplines of assisting in Seppuku) is given, which instructs the student in the way of samurai, how to get ready for Seppuku whenever one has to take the responsibility to do so.

Weapons

Tachi (formal long sword), Kotachi (formal short sword), Kaiken (dagger)

LINEAGE OF SEKIGUCHIRYU IAIJUTSU

Sekiguchi Hachirozaemon Ujinari

Shibukawa Hangoro Yoshikata

Izawa Jurozaemon Osahide

Izawa Jurozaemaon Osakatsu

Izawa Masauemon Nagaaki

Osatou Kingo Korefumi

Izawa Jurozaemon Nagayasu

Izawa Kanbei Nagatsune

Tani Kyuzaemon Nagakatsu

Nioizaka Heiemon Masatune

Tani Juzaburo Nagashitsu

Noda Jinnai Ujitane

Oishi Nagakatsu

Aoki Kikuo

Yonehara Kameo

Participants

Grand Master: Yonehara Kameo

Assistant: Nambu Shuichi

This information is provided courtesy of Goho Wonho Chong,
Suseki Shihan, Hokushin Shinoh Ryu Heiho Iaido of Nagoya, Japan.

Email : hokushin email