Kata of Shinto Muso-ryu

神道夢想流

Omote 表

Back to Top

This is the first set of actual kata in Shinto Muso Ryu. It should be considered a tool for teaching the fundamentals (these existed before Kihon & Seitei Kata). Shimizu Takaji said these kata should be used to develop proper body movement, coordination/manipulation, and effective operation of the Jo. Timing of movements are not fast, but regular and measured with an even tempo. Keep in mind that in years past a student might reach Kage or Samidare before learning the Sword side of each kata.

Chudan 中段

Back to Top

The second set of SMR kata, Chudan seeks to take what a student has learned in Omote and build upon this with increased speed and fluidity. Time to get out of the comfort zone and challenge the ability to perform the basic movements under more dynamic conditions. This can feel/look a bit rushed, and it might be. But with this comes the potential to expose more weakness in Jo technique. Then identify those weaknesses and rectify them.  

Ran’ Ai 乱合

Back to Top

This set of kata is not found in the traditional SMR scrolls conferred to students who have earned them. But it appears to have been developed in the Bakumatsu era (1850-1867)[2]. It incorporates and synthesizes techniques from Omote and Chudan in a long, dynamic set of movements. Performed with both the long and short swords.

Kage 影合

Back to Top

This set of kata follows the same names as in Omote. The emphasis here is Accuracy. And a palpable increase in the use of zanshin, while maintaining a calmness of motion despite the changing flow of fast and slow.

Samidare 五月雨

(or Satsuki Ame)

Back to Top

This set of kata emphasizes a moving Hiki Otoshi strike, and other preemptive striking by the Jo. Continue to further develop zanshin. 

Gohon no Midare

本の乱

Back to Top

Developed by Shimizu Takaji around 1940, it is not a part of the traditional SMR kata. But seems to be practiced by most SMR groups today. It is said that Shimizu Takaji felt this set was ‘not quite finished’. Thus you may see some variations between different SMR groups, but fundamentally these kata are  the same. It is said this group of kata is a synthesis of Omote/Chudan/Ran’ Ai/Kage. [2]

Okuden 奥伝

(or Shiai Kuchi 目録仕合口)

Back to Top

An advanced set of traditional kata, this is the last set before the Gokui Hiden. Emphasis is on kiai, zanshin, and overall breath control. The order of kata may be different depending on the SMR group.  

Gokui Hiden 極意秘伝 or

Go Muso no Jo 五夢想の杖 

Back to Top

These represent the last and secret forms of Shinto Muso Ryu and are taught only to Menkyo Kaiden. 

Shinto Ryu Kenjutsu

神道流剣術

Back to Top

A Japanese sword, through Kenjutsu, is the primary weapon used against a person wielding a Jo. Thus its emphasis is paramount. The reality is that Kenjutsu skills are taught all through the regular SMR curriculum. It is said that ‘a strong swordsman will help build a good Jo exponent’. Also, Kenjutsu  is the only Fuzoku Ryuha actually listed in the SMR mokuroku.  *Some SMR groups use ‘Ai Sun’ instead of ‘Ai Suri’*. 

Uchida Ryu Tanjojutsu

内田流短杖術

(short staff/walking cane)

Back to Top

The Tanjo is a walking staff/cane-length weapon. A relatively new addition to the overall SMR curriculum is, of course, based on the movements of the longer Jo. Uchida Ryogoro incorporated these European cane techniques into SMR sometime around 1885.  [5]

Isshin Ryu Kusarigamajutsu

一心流鎖鎌術

(double-edged sickle & weighted chain)

Back to Top

The Kusarigama is sickle and chain weapon thought to have been incorporated into SMR during the 17th century. It is effective as a ‘distance’ weapon. A practical weapon for use in open areas, Kuroda Police found value and utility in this tool for law enforcement. Originally a double-edged blade, wooden handle with metal hand-guard, and a weighted chain. Today a wooden weapon and hemp rope/leather bag(fundo) is used for training.  Training is divided into three sets of kata: Omote, Ura, Okuden. [6].

_{Omote & Ura (表 & 裏)}

Ikkaku Ryu Juttejutsu

一角流十手術

(truncheon)

Back to Top

The (jutte) is a baton made of iron with a small tine or prong fitted just above the handle. The gripspace of the handle is wrapped with a cord that hangs down from underneath the handle with a tassle at the end. The jutte was mainly used by police-forces of the Edo-period of Japan and is known to have had over 200 variations.[4]

A typical tessen of the Edo-period (1603-1868). This weapon is used in tandem with the jutte in some forms of Ikkaku-ryu
Ikkaku-ryu fields a truncheon about 45 cm in length with a weight of about 550 grams.[4] It has a smooth shaft ending in a handle wrapped in a coloured cord ending with a hanging tassel. A small tine is attached just above the grip. Originally the colour of the wrapping-cord indicated the social level of the wielder.[4] The original design of the Ikkaku-ryu jutte had a hexagonal shaft cross-section with the tine attached to one of the corners instead of the flat surface.[4] The inside of the tine was also sharpened which enabled the wielder to use it for cutting if applicable.[4]

The fan (tessen) used in Ikkaku-ryu is about 30 cm in length.[4] The fan was designed to look like a regular folding-fan carried by samurai and other nobles in the samurai-era when they did not have access to their swords.[4] These special tessens were in some cases either made totally of iron or had iron-edges thus enabling it to be a small self-defence weapon if required.

The modern Ikkaku-ryu system fields 24 training-forms (kata) divided between 2 series called Omote and Ura. Some of the kata uses a war fan (Tessen)[4] in tandem with the jutte. The forms of the Omote and Ura-series share the same name but are different in application. [7]

_{Omote & Ura (表 & 裏)}