The Arts of Japanese Swordsmanship
By D. A. Lucas ©
No object has captured man’s imagination like the sword. In the West and the East the sword represents justice, honor, and nobility. All around the world, societies, schools and clubs have dedicated themselves to studying the arts of forging and the use of this weapon. In these societies debates have raged in defining the expression of true swordsmanship. From generation to generation the outcomes of these debates can be seen in the blades of the swords.
Western swordsmanship has debated and dueled for centuries over which is better: a thrusting sword or a slashing sword. This has created blades such as the short sword, the two-handed sword, the saber, and the pinnacle of the western swords the rapier. The ideas and secrets of the Western swordsman can still be seen in modern day. Western fencing consists of three types of swords: the foil, the saber, and the epee. Each of these swords has different rules and different target areas of the body. Western style swordsmen believe that swordsmanship is more of a science than an art. Swordsmanship, to them, is a formulation of precise moves, countermoves, and gambits. To practice Western swordsmanship or fencing, the swordsman develops footwork like a boxer, balance like a gymnast, and tactics like a chess master.
Japanese swordsmanship has developed differently from that of China, Korea, and most especially the West. A basic difference between the Western swordsmanship and Japanese swordsmanship is best seen when the swords are put in play. For the Western swordsman the battle begins when the first thrust or slash is made. Fencing is a cat and mouse game played out until one of the fencers is defeated. This defeat is either by points in competition or by the drawing of blood in a duel. However, for the Japanese style swordsman, the battle begins and often ends before the blade ever leaves the scabbard.
The difference between the Japanese swordsmen and Western swordsmen is the belief that the art of the sword is forever developing. To the Japanese swordsman the art form changes over time and with each person. A person studying the Japanese sword style can spend his or her entire life exploring and never fully understand it all.
The sword has had more influence over Japan’s history than perhaps any other nation. Only those of the bushi (Samurai) class were allowed by law to wear the katana and the wakizashi. These swords became a symbol of status and power. When you look at the history of the rise of the Samurai in Japan you see hundreds of differing styles of swordsmanship. After the Meiji revolution, the bloodiest civil war in Japan’s history, the differing schools were placed into common styles.
Kendo
Kendo is the foundation of the other sword styles and began in the middle of the Heian period (784-1160 AD). The use of the katana became widespread. To the Samurai, mastery of the sword was the most important goal of his life. Every Japanese sword style includes blocks, thrusts, and slashing motions. However, basically everything that happens when the sword is out of the scabbard is considered to be Kendo. The study of Kendo was not just as a means to defeat an enemy. It was used educate the warriors of feudal Japan to be helpful to society. The concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character. This is achieved through the study of the katana in motion. Kendo is one of the most rigorous and precise sword styles. It is based on the warrior’s code. It uses set rules in all the phases of swordplay. In a duel, the Kendo swordsman was required to introduce himself and state their reason for the fight. This was done even in the heat of pitched battle between armies.
Today Kendo has become an international style of fencing and has even been a demonstrative Olympic sport.
Iaido
The idea of Iaido is to slay the opponent with one stroke of the sword upon the draw of the blade. In the days of civil war and intrigue between the lords of Japan, Iaido was a perfectly justifiable style of swordplay. It is used as a counterattack. The style focuses upon defending against an opponent who was about to or actually in the act of unsheathing his sword. A fraction of a second or a millimeter’s difference in positioning could prove to be fatal. It is important to remember that the katana is a razor sharp weapon. It was critical to the survival of the swordsman that he could draw the sword as if it sprang into his hand. In the blink of an eye he had to have the sword drawn and positioned correctly to strike or block the attack.
Today, most schools use Iaido to supplement Kendo. Iaido’s focus has become one of katas and holding to the past traditions.Niten Ichi Ryu
Niten Ichi Ryu (Two Heavens into One School) is the sword style created by the most famous kensai (sword saint) of Japan, Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi lived from 1584 –1645 AD. His sword style can be best understood by reading his book Go Rin No Sho (Book of the Five Rings). It has become a classic on tactics and strategy regardless if it is used for the sword or karate. This sword style, unlike the others mentioned above, focused on the use of two swords.
While the Samurai wore two swords they often only used one in battle. Musashi wrote in the Go Rin No Sho that the basic reason for using two swords was simple to understand. If a swordsman uses one sword he can defend himself against one opponent at a time. If a swordsman used both swords he could defend himself against four opponents.
Niten Ichi Ryu is immensely complex and difficult. It is based upon the displacement of the opponent’s weapon. Circular movements in the form of gliding pivots and spins do this. These are performed either standing or moving through the ring created by the opponents. Thus the swordsman delivers circular cuts while zigzagging. He is then able to defend and attack all eight directions at once. Most of the forms or katas of this style were developed from the specialties of other fencing schools that were only practiced by the highest-ranking members.
Despite the differences in the styles, one thing is shared: the study of the Japanese sword is not simply one of preset attacks, counterattacks, defenses, and gambits. It is the study of the swordsman, the study of his or her spirit and its cultivation.