Kan ou-kan

 

 

 

Shibukawa Ichi Ryu Jujutsu 澁川一流柔術

 

 

 

The Shibukawa Ichi Ryu Jujutsu（澁川一流柔術) is a style that was born and developed in the Edo era in rural areas of the Hiroshima domain, Japan. It was founded by Shuto Kuranoshin Mitsutoki in the last days of Tokugawa shogunate. He moved to Saka village, Aki county, Hiroshima domain with his uncle Miyazaki Giemon Mitsuyoshi from Uwajima domain. Shuto Kuranoshin learned Shibukawa-ryu（渋川流）and Namba Ippo-ryu（難波一甫流）from his master

 

Miyazaki Giemon, and he practiced Asayama Ichiden-ryu（浅山一伝流）elsewhere before he founded Shibukawa Ichi Ryu jujutsu. Therefore the name Shibukawa Ichi Ryu means Shibukawa Ippo Ichiden-Ryu.

 

 

 

One day Kuranoshin fought against six Hiroshima domain clansmen to keep his honor in the Hiroshima castle town. He won the fight with relative ease using his Shibukawa Ichi Ryu techniques. It happened that a Matsuyama domain clansman witnessed this fight and recommended that the Matsuyama domain samurai clan train with Kuranoshin (1839). After that, Kuranoshin started to teach Shibukawa Ichi Ryu in Matsuyama, Shikoku.

 

 

 

After the Meiji Restoration the townspeople of Saka village and other areas in Hiroshima prefecture had serious problems with ronin (unemployed/masterless samurai) who would often commit robberies in order to survive. The townspeople sought help from the military and local athorities but in many cases were told to fend for themselves.

 

 

 

It so happened that Shuto Kuranoshin often came back to Hiroshima prefecture because he had relatives who lived there, in Saka village. Kuranoshin passed on Shibukawa Ichi Ryu Jujutsu to his disciples in Hiroshima and it was often used as a means of self-defence. So Shibukawa Ichi Ryu was used by the townspeople of Hiroshima prefecture as well as the samurai of the Matsuyama clan in Shikoku.

 

 

 

In 1879 Shuto Kuranoshin died at the age of eighty-nine in Matsuyama.

 

Shibukawa Ichi Ryu Jujutsu is different from modern schools of jujutsu. In the Edo period samurai carried swords in their waists and crimes such as robberies were committed using knives. So jujutsu in the Edo period was not intended for competing with bare hands like the modern sport of judo. Instead, the basis of Shibukawa Ichi Ryu Jujutsu is self-defence. As practitioners progress they learn to protect themselves against a wide variety of weapons with their bare hands, including the sword, knives, staffs, short sticks and chains. Naturally, these techniques can be adapted to defend against unarmed opponents in modern situations. The style even has an unarmed sparring element called iji keiko, which is similar to judo's randori but it is important to remember that sporting contests are not the main focus of the style.

 

 

 

Shibukawa Ichi Ryu has over 400 techniques including weapon techniques. The style is officially recognised as a legitimate koryu (old-style pre 1867) of ancient Japan by the two main organisations for ancient budo in Japan, the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai and the Nihon Kobudo Shinkoukai.

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Muso Shinden Eishin Ryu Iai Heiho - 無雙神傳英信流抜刀兵法

 

 

Iai is the art of drawing the sword from the saya (scabbard). At the moment the sword is drown, the opponents are cut

 

down. Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu Iai Heiho was founded by Hayashizaki Jinsuke in the late 1500s. The art was first

 

taught by Hayashi Rokudayu in Tosa domain during the Tokugawa period. At the beginning, the school was called Muso-

 

ryu in Tosa domain. Then, after a while, our Iai school was called Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu Iai Heiho and the art was

 

practiced among the samurai of the Tosa domain. At the end of Edo era, Yamakawa Kyuzou was the most excellent

 

swordsman in Tosa domain. He became the prime Iai instructor at a domain school named Chido-kan of the Tosa

 

domain. Of his pupils, Shimomura Moichi was the most excellent swordsman. So he became the prime Iai instructor at

 

the school as Yamakawa’s successor.

 

 

After the Meiji restoration, the Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu was taught by Hosokawa Yoshimasa. At the end of the Tokugawa period, he was a samurai in Tosa domain. He also practiced Mugai Ryu kenjutsu, Takenouchi Ryu jujutu (Kogusoku koshinomawari), Senshin-ryu sojutu and Koushu-ryu Tactics-strategy. Ueda Heitaro, who was a pupil of Hosokawa Yoshimasa, taught the art in Kagawa prefecture during Taisho and early Showa era. He was also an instructor of Shinto-ryu. Then Ogata Gouichi, the pupil of Ueda Heitaro, taught the art in Tokushima prefecture. He was also an instructor of Kanshin Ryu Kenjutsu. Later Umemoto Mitsuo, the pupil of Ogata Gouichi, taught the art in Hiroshima prefecture. Now, Morimoto Kunio, the pupil of Umemoto Mitsuo, teaches the Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu Iai Heiho.

 

 

Morimoto Kunio, the representative of the Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu Iai Heiho, started to practice at the age of 13 years old. And by the order of Umemoto Mitsuo, he founded Kan ou-kan in 1996. In 1997 Umemoto Mitsuo left a will to continue protecting a school to him. He followed the will of the instructor. In 2005, he decided to convey the techniques widely. In the same year, Morimoto was recognized by the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Traditional Martial Arts (Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai) as the legitimate successor to and head of Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu Iai Heiho. He has been following his instructor's will.

 

※ NOTE ※

 

Muso Shinden Ryu (夢想神伝流）which was founded by Nakayama Hakudo is a different school from Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu (無雙神傳英信流). Nakayama Hakudo was taught Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu by Hosokawa Yoshimasa and made his own school. So Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu (無雙神傳英信流) is the predecessor to the popular style of Muso Shinden Ryu (夢想神伝流）.

 

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Oishi Shinkage Ryu Kenjutsu - 大石神影流剱術

 

 

 

Kenjutsu is sword fighting skills or simply, swordsmanship.

 

Oishi Shinkage Ryu（大石神影流）is a style of kenjutsu which was founded by Oishi Susumu Tanetugu in the early 1800s. He was taught Aisu Kage Ryu kenjutsu and Oshima Ryu Soujutsu (spearmanship) by his grandfather and his father. They are instructors of Yanagawa domain.

 

 

Oishi Susumu Tanetugu changed the method of training and founded Oishi Shinkage Ryu. He improved the protective equipment used which eventually became popular around Japan. In addition, he improved the fukuro shinai (bamboo sword covered with a bag) toto the one that is currently used. He devised unique stabbing techniques, and

 

1. technique of striking the opponent's breastplate. He taught with a sword that was longer than those of most other schools.

 

 

In 1832, by the order of his feudal lord he went to the capital city, Edo. Over the next year, he did kenjutsu matches with many famous instructors in Edo. But no one could beat him and he became very famous all over Japan. After this many samurai from all over Japan became his students.

 

His son inherited his school and he also went to Edo by the order of his feudal lord to do kenjutsu matches like his father. He had also excellent techniques and his name became very famous all over Japan like his father. His younger brother, Oishi Yukie inherited his school.

 

 

 

After the Meiji Restoration, Kenjutsu declined temporarily, but the practice in Oishi's dojo was prosperous. When Oishi Yukie died, his son Oishi Hajime was young, so his pupil Itai Masumi temporarily took over Oishi Shinkage Ryu. After Oishi Hajime grew up enough he instructed Oishi Shinkage-ryu. He was the principal of the high school, a village mayor and a city council member. Oishi Hajime taught Oishi Shinkage Ryu to his grandson, Oishi Eiichi and Oishi Eiichi taught Oishi Shinkage-ryu to Morimoto Kunio.

 

Morimoto Kunio, the pupil of Oishi Eiichi, was given Menkyo-Kaiden (a teaching licence ). Now he teaches Oishi Shinkage-ryu Kenjutu to many students. Now only Kanoukan is open to teach the Oishi Shinkage Ryu Kenjutsu.

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About Kunio Morimoto and Kan ou-kan

 

Morimoto Kunio, the president of Kan ou -Kan, is a grandmaster of the Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu Iai Heiho, Oishi Shinkage-ryu kenjutsu and Shibukawa Ichi-ryu jujutsu .

 

Since he was an officer of the Japanese Self-Defence Air Force, he has 7th dan of Jukendo (Japanese style bayonet fighting) and 7th dan of Tankendo (Japanese style short sword fighting: the short sword is a detached bayonet from the rifle).

 

He started to practice Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu Iai Heiho at the age of 13 under Umemoto Mitsuo Sensei. In 1997 Umemoto Mitsuo left a will that indicated that Morimoto is to continue protecting the school. He followed the will of the instructor.

 

Oishi Shinkage-ryu kenjutsu has been taught by the Oishi family. Mr.Morimoto is the best pupil of Oishi EiichiSensei. So, Oishi Eiichi Sensei granted all the secrets to him.

 

Regarding Shibukawa Ichi-ryu jujustu, Morimoto Kunio is the best pupil of Une Shigemi Sensei. And he was initiated into all secrets of the Shibukawa Ich-ryu Jyujyutsu. He was appointed as a legitimate successor by his master, Une Shigemi. Mr. Morimoto also served Une Shigemi Sensei untill his death. The attendance to Une shigemi's funeral service was permitted only him and his pupils.

 

 

In 1995, Mr.Morimoto decided to convey the techniques widely and founded Kan ou -Kan.

 

 

Mr. Morimoto is recognized by the Association of Japanese Traditional Martial Arts (Nihon Kobudo Kyokai) and the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Traditional Martial Arts (Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai) as the legitimate successor to and head of Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu Iai Heiho and Shibukawa Ichi-ryu jujutsu.

 

Only his pupils can perform the katas of the Muso Shinden Eishin-ryu Iai Heiho and Shibukawa Ichi-ryu jujutsu at the Nippon Budokan and the Meiji Shrine. No other person is recognized as an official successor.

 

 

Morimoto is a executive board of member of the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Traditional Martial Arts (Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai).

 

Not only does he teach the traditional Japanese martial arts, but he also studies the history of Budo (Japanese martial arts). He is a member of the Japanese Academy of Budo. He is a director of Chugoku and Shikoku Branch of the Japanese Academy of Budo. Mr. Morimoto is very knowledgable on the history and the philosophy of Budo as well.