Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū (鹿島神傳直心影流)
Ko-ryū
Foundation
Founder	Matsumoto (Sugimoto) Bizen-no-Kami Naokatsu (松本 備前守 尚勝)
Date founded	c. 1570
Period founded	LateMuromachi period (1336–1573)
Location founded	Kashima (鹿嶋市), Japan (日本)
Current information
Current headmaster	Various lineages are still extant and taught
Arts taught
Art	Description
Kenjutsu –ōdachi andkodachi	Sword art – long and short sword
Ancestor schools
Kage-ryū (Aizu) Shinkage-ryū Kashima Shinryu
Descendant schools
Daitō-ryū Shindō Yōshin-ryū Shintō Musō-ryū

Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū (鹿島神傳直心影流, かしましんでんじきしんかげりゅう),^[1] often referred to simply as Jikishinkage-ryū or Kashima Shinden, is a traditional school (koryū) of theJapanese martial art ofswordsmanship (kenjutsu). The school was founded in the mid-16th century, based upon older styles of swordsmanship, and is one of the few ancient Japanese martial arts schools still existing today.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]}

Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū can be translated as the "divinely transmitted, honest reflection of the heart, school ofKashima".

By repetitive practice, one maintains a constant connection with the cosmos by aspiring to jikishin (直心) unwavering intention and seimeishin (生命心) perfect clarity of mind, just like a cloudless sky on a brilliant sunny day. A practitioner who has attained heightened jikishin and seimeishin is said to havefudōshin (不動心) immovable heart.^[10]

The Jikishinkage-ryū style descends from thekenjutsu styles developed in the lateMuromachi period which overlaps the earlySengoku period, or better dated as late 15th or early 16th century, at theKashima Shrine by the founder, Matsumoto Bizen-no-Kami Naokatsu (松本 備前守 尚勝, 1467–1524).^[2] The direct predecessors of the Jikishinkage-ryū style are theShinkage-ryū and theKage-ryū (Aizu) styles.

The Jikishin Kage-ryū Kenjutsu comes from a previous school, Kage-ryū Kenjutsu. Asamurai (侍) calledAisu Iko founded Kage-ryū in 1490.^[5] He perfected and taught his style around Japan. There is evidence from 1525 that another samurai namedKamiizumi Ise-no-Kami Nobutsuna (1508–1548) was teaching his own style, a form of Kage-ryū kenjutsu. He called it Shinkage-ryū (the school of the new shadow). Jikishin Kage-ryū means 'the newest school of the ancient shadow'. He was denoting with the name, to the ancestors, and expressing respect to his former masters. Matsumoto Bizen no Kami Naokatsu was a famous master of this school. He also founded his own school first calledKashima Shin-ryū, then Kashima Shinden Jiki Shinkage-ryū. These schools can be found even today all around the world. There are more variations like Jikishin Kage-ryū, Seito Shinkage-ryū, etc.

During the 19th century, Jiki Shinkage-ryū was one of the most popular schools of combative swordsmanship (kenjutsu) in eastern Japan, especially in the Edo area. The 14th headmaster orsōke (宗家) of Jikishin Kage-ryū Kenjutsu—Sakakibara Kenkichi—was one of the most well-known swordsmen of his time, and the personal bodyguard of the Shōgun.^[11]

Sakakibara had hundreds of students during his lifetime, many of them rising to the "rank" ofmenkyo kaiden (免許皆伝) andshihan (師範), thus able to pass on the full tradition. At least 20 menkyo kaiden can be found in official listing of successors.^[12] Some of them derived their own branch lines. His most talented disciple wasYamada Jirokichi (山田 次朗) from whom the Seito-ha (正統派), which means main line system or traditional school.

A less well-known, but highly skilled, menkyo kaiden ranked student was Matsudaira Yasutoshi, who, like Yamada Jirokichi, studied the more traditional ways of Jikishin Kage-ryū. The best apprentice of Yasutoshi was Makita Shigekatsu, a young man from a samurai family from Hokkaidō. His name and Jikishin Kage-ryū became famous on the northern island in the times of the Japanese civil war in 1868.^{[citation needed]} By sword fighting, he was an expert inkyūdō (弓道), Japanese archery.^{[citation needed]} He was the heir of the title of shihan of Jikishinkage-ryū, but unfortunately, he was fighting a losing battle against the Emperor in the revolution. The cast of the samurai was disbanded, and he had to run. Later, he returned toHokkaidō, and opened his owndōjō, called Jikishin Kan Dōjō. He was teaching various martial arts, not just kenjutsu. His dōjō was popular, in spite of the prohibition of thekatana in 1876.^[13]

After Shigekatsu's death, the village of Atsuta raised a black granite obelisk in his memory.^[14] This memorial can be seen today. The family tradition has been taken by his grandson,Kimiyoshi Suzuki. Suzuki sensei is also a master ofGōjū-ryūkarate and Jikishin Kage-ryū Kenjutsu. Suzuki Kimiyoshi earned his menkyo kaiden at the Naganuma-ha. But he regards his work as a teacher as the continuation of his grandfather’s, Makita Shigekatsu legacy, so he named his school "Makita-ha". This is why he shows up twice. His school, founded in 1992, Hungary is named Shinbukan Dojo.^[13][15]

Suzuki Kimiyoshi received the state award Hungarian Bronze Cross of Merit, acknowledging his activity in popularizing the Far-Eastern martial arts and introducing the Japanese kenjutsu fencing in Hungary. The award, proposed by Prime Minister, Mr. Viktor Orbán, on the occasion of state holiday 20 August was granted to sensei Suzuki at the end of July by the President of Republic, Mr. János Áder. The award was presented on the 18th of August, 2017 by the Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Zoltán Balog in the great hall of the Budapest Vigadó.^{[16][17][18][19]}

There were many other famous practitioners of Jiki Shinkage-ryū under Sakakibara who did not reach the highest levels of the system and consequently were not named as successors. Perhaps the most famous of these wasSōkaku Takeda, founder ofDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu. In contrast, some writers have claimed that other famous historical personages such asMusō Gonnosuke were in the line of transmission of Jiki Shinkage-ryū. However, Gonnosuke was never in the direct lineage of Jiki Shinkage-ryū.

The Jikishinkage-ryū style has many differences when compared to modernkendō, especially in its footwork and breathing techniques.

Theunpō (運法) is the footwork used in the Jikishinkage-ryū style and can be translated aslaw, rule or method (for) transporting, conveying or carrying ('walking'). Unlike thesuriashi of modern kendo, it is stressed that both feet stay firmly planted on the ground at all times. Thekiai (気合) consists not only of the shouting, like most martial arts, but of the proper way of inhaling and state of mind as well. This is even more reflected in the synchronous deep breathing calledAum (唵) (or a-un) with one's partner which accompanies most movements.^[10]

Everykata (形) has two distinct roles calleduchidachi (打太刀) the striking/attacking sword andshidachi (受太刀) the doing/receiving sword. Some parts of the kata are identical for both roles, like the kamihanen (上半円) uppersemicircle and shimohanen (下半円) lower semicircle (also calledjohanen andgehanen). These are unconventional waza (技) techniques and characteristic for this style. Roughly, the swordsman draws a semicircle (upwards or downwards) with both hisright hand (holding the sword), and hisleft hand (free). He finishes the movement with his arms extended, the sword pointing upwards, and the free hand's index finger pointing downwards. These movements can be considered as a greeting and a form of meditation, and are usually executed in the beginning and end of a kata orsuburi (素振り) session. They represent all the things in heaven and all the things in earth, and the practitioner in the center of everything.

Another typical technique is the morōde (両腕) both arms movement in which uchidachi raises with both arms the sword of shidachi to jōdan and receives the subsequent uchikomi with the side of the blade. This results in thrusting the left arm forwards and turning both arms outwards to allow to absorb shidachi's cut which is in kiritsuki style like performed by akaishakunin (介錯人).

Jikishinkage-ryū exponents train with bothōdachi (大太刀) andkodachi (小太刀) (but not both at once).

Kenjutsu was practiced in a thickkimono (keikogi) in the old times. It was needed for protection, though it was sometimes still not enough. Practices are far less dangerous nowadays, the standard clothes in kenjutsu are normalkeikogi (稽古着) andhakama (袴). Preferably all pieces are in the same colour of dark blue or, when one seriously dedicates the practice to thekami (神), in white. To prevent treading on the hakama when moving in a low position, the hakama is raised a bit by neatly folding the left and right outside front pleats up under the straps which are tied around the waist, before training commences.^[5] It is possible to weartabi (足袋) when necessary.

For outdoor practice,jika-tabi (地下足袋) are worn. As uchidachi always faces sun, this role can be very blinding, but it is not allowed to wear sunglasses or hats. However, in extremely cold conditions one can wear a hat (without sun reflector) and other extra protective clothing. When one has not enough hair or eyebrows or in extreme hot conditions, one can wear atenugui (手拭い) orhachimaki (鉢巻) to prevent sweat irritating the eyes or to keep hair out of the face. Note that tabi and jiki-tabi should preferably match the colour of the hakama.

It is prohibited to wear jewellery and the like as is custom in many martial arts. This rule is to prevent injuries to oneself and practicing partner as it is to prevent excessive display of ego and unneeded distractions.

Some practitioners wearaikidogi (合気道着) orkarategi (空手着). In some groups beginners wear whiteobi (帯), intermediates wear blue and brown obi and advanced wear black obi with hakama. Others practice in hakama without colored obi.

The following licenses exist the Seito-ha (main line recognized by Kashima Shrine).

Over the years the trainee should begin showing competence in leading/teaching the system. Consequently, usually, but not always, the student receiving kyuri-no-maki is at the level of kyoshi (assistant instructor); the student receiving goku-i is at the level of shihandai (associate instructor); and the recipient of menkyo is at the level of shihan (master instructor). However, according to Yoshida Hijime (吉田基), the current (20th) headmaster of the Seito-ha, only a shihan may teach independently of the headmaster. A restriction not necessarily followed in other lines.

For Shinbukan, the following applies:

There wasn't anything like exams or ranks in the early Japan. When the master found his apprentice ready, he ordered him to show his knowledge. There were four levels in Jikishinkage-ryū. The reiken, the normal trainee level, the mokuroku and the kirkgami, the advanced level, and the highest menkyo kaiden, was the masters' level, and gave the owner the right to start teaching. The diplomas were hand-written, and contained every technique the examinees showed before the master. If the exam was successful, the new master could wear the hakama. This represented today's black belt. These things have changed nowadays, we use the samekyū (級) –dan (段) method as in most of the martial arts.

In some groups, hakama can only be worn by those who successfully completed their 1st dan exam. This is mainly done for practical reasons. One is that the teacher can see how the student positions his or her legs and feet. Another reason is that the teacher and students can quickly see whom to call upon for assistance. In more traditional groups, everyone wears hakama.^[13]

Basic technique and movements are shown in the table below.

The following five classical or orthodox kata are the only ones practiced in Japan today and were established in this order by the time of Yamada Heizaemon Ippusai in the late 17th century.^[6][20] Instead of the extension 'no kata', the kata in Yamada's book have the extension 'no bu' (之部), which meanssection (of this book).Kimiyoshi Suzuki's students inJikishinkan also practice these classical katas and this lineage practises its own set of katas preparing for the classical ones.^[13]

Thehōjō no kata (法定之形) is the first classic kata of the Jikishinkage-ryū style and can be translated aslaws, rules or methods ('principals') (which are) definitive, crucial or stable ('fundamental') or fundamental principals, i.e. the basics. Both the shidachi and the uchidachi usually use wooden swords,bokken (木剣) orbokutō (木刀), although real swords,shinken (真剣), can be used as well.^[5][10][13]

The hōjō no kata is composed of four stages which are named after the four seasons, namely haru (春) spring, natsu (夏) summer, aki (秋) autumn and fuyu (冬) winter in order of execution. Each season contains from six to eightwaza (movement). Before each season is executed the kamihanen, and after each season, the shimohanen.^[5][10][21]

Each season has a respective pace,kōan (公案) theme, footwork, breathing, kiai, and other features reminiscent of the perceived characteristics of that season.Spring has waza which are executed in a smooth and fast manner, accompanied by loud kiai. The kōan of spring iseight-directions explosive-blast which can be translated asall directions.Summer has movements that are explosive and intense. The kōan of summer isone-sword both-cut which can be translated ascutting your ego.Autumn has a varied pace, symbolizing change. The kōan of autumn isright-turn left-turn which can be translated astimes of change.Winter movements are slow, reserved but firm and efficient. This is even more accentuated on the footwork of each season. The kōan of winter islong-short one-body. The following example is an illustration of this principle. Imagine a situation where one person has ayari (槍) ornaginata (長刀 or 薙刀), which stands for long, and the other a has sword, which stands for short, but the situation is as such that there is no more discussion, any discussion at this point would be superfluous. This metaphor tries to explain the meaning behind this kōan that in this seasonlife and death are one.^[6]

The themes of the four seasons refer to universal principles which also express themselves in other manifestations.^[6] Some of these are listed in the table below.

Both uchidachi and shidachi take on a stance in spring and autumn which is callednio dachi. This refers to the pair of guardian deities ofBuddhism calledniō (仁王), which can be found as large statues at entrances of some of the ancient Japanese temples and shrines. The right statue is calledMisshaku Kongō (密迹金剛) who has his mouth opened, this represents vocalization of "a." The left statue is calledNaraen Kongō (那羅延金剛) who has his mouth closed, represents the vocalization of "um."

It is said that these two characters together symbolize the birth and death of all things, like we are born with "a" and our mouth open (inhale) and we die with "um" and our mouth closed (exhale). This is similar to "Alpha and Omega" or "A to Z" signifying "beginning and end", "everything" or "all creation." The contraction of both isAum (Devanagariॐ), which is an important concept in Sanskrit. The stances and expressions of the statues, the sounds "a" and "um" and the symbolism behind this are very import in the hōjō no kata.^[6]

The 15th headmaster wrote this on the meaning of the hōjō no kata:

As you live your life, you become hindered by all manner of impurities. Through the act continuously discarding these pollutants you must try to return to your original nature just as it was when you were a baby.

Thefukuro shinai no kata (韜之形), ortō no kata as it is also named, is the second kata of the Jikishinkage-ryū style. The kanji 韜 is rare and old and is able to read as "tō" but has the meaning of fukuro (袋).^[8]

This kata is composed of fourteen stages, divided in six groups. Each stage has about four movements. This kata is characterized by very fast waza. Both the uchidachi and the shidachi usefukuro shinai (袋竹刀) which explains the origin on the name.^[5][6]

The third kata in the ryū, thekodachi no kata (小太刀之形) has six stages. Shidachi uses a large heavy wooden kodachi (like the name of the kata), and uchidachi uses a standard kendo style bokuto or a fukuro shinai. All the three stages of this kata have shidachi running into "combat" with uchidachi. Jikishinkage-ryū is unique because the kodachi is used with two hands on the tsuka.^[5][6][13]

The fourth kata is calledhabiki no kata (刃挽之形) orKoryū (古流)^[13] kata and it is a blend of concepts from hōjō no kata and fukuro shinai no kata. Both shidachi and uchidachi use habiki (a sword without a sharp edge) in this kata set. In several places both shidachi and uchidachi end up on one foot after cutting. There are four kata (the second and the third stages are in one block) in habiki no kata, and they are the old version of hōjō no kata.^[5][6][13]

Themarubashi no kata (丸橋之形) is the most advanced kata, it focuses on very difficult kiai and subtle movement. To the casual observer it looks as though nothing is happening in the kata at all. Shidachi uses kodachi and uchidachi uses odachi. Like the last set of kata both use shinken.^[13]

This kata used to be a secret. It is not clear when the secrecy was lifted but the kata is, like the other five, described with text and photographs in the book of Yamada Jirokichi that was published in the early 20th century (1927).

The table below depicts the Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū kenjutsu lineage which spans over five centuries.

The table below lists places where groups currently are practicing Jikishinkage-ryū Kenjutsu can be found.

continent	country	city	kata	lineage
Asia	Japan	Tōkyō (東京)	all classical[22]	Yoshida Hijime
Asia	Japan	Tōkyō (東京)	Naganuma curriculum	Shinbukai - Tokyo (Sakai Kazuya)
Asia	Japan	Kōbe (神戸市)	all classical[22]
Asia	Japan	Yokohama (横浜市)	all classical[22]
Europe	Czech Republic	Prague	Hōjō[23][24]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Germany	Berlin[25]	classical and Shinbukan katas[26]	Shinbukan
Europe	Germany	Friedberg, Hesse	classical and Shinbukan katas[26]	Shinbukan
Europe	Germany	Schraplau, Saxony-Anhalt[25]	classical and Shinbukan katas[26]	Shinbukan
Europe	Germany	Reutlingen, Baden Wurttemberg[25]	classical and Shinbukan katas[26]	Shinbukan
Europe	Hungary	Budapest[25]	classical and Shinbukan katas[26]	Shinbukan
Europe	Hungary	Gödöllő[25]	classical and Shinbukan katas[26]	Shinbukan
Europe	Hungary	Pécs[25]	classical and Shinbukan katas[26]	Shinbukan
Europe	Hungary	Kecskemét	Naganuma curriculum	Shinbukai - Tokyo
Europe	Italy	Turin	Hōjō, Tō[27]	Namiki Yasushi via Hideki Hosokawa
Europe	Italy	Imperia	Hōjō[28]	Namiki Yasushi via Hideki Hosokawa
Europe	Italy	La Spezia	Hōjō[29]	Namiki Yasushi via Hideki Hosokawa
Europe	Macedonia	Skopje	Hōjō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Netherlands	Utrecht	Hōjō, Tō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Netherlands	Amsterdam	Hōjō[30]	Namiki Yasushi via Hideki Hosokawa
Europe	Serbia	Beograd	Hōjō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Serbia	Novi Sad	Hōjō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Serbia	Vršac	Hōjō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Serbia	Niš	Hōjō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Slovakia	Sereď[25]	classical and Shinbukan katas[26]	Shinbukan
Europe	Slovakia	Bratislava	Hōjō	Namiki Yasush viaMasatomi Ikeda[31]
Europe	Switzerland	Aarau	Hōjō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Switzerland	Basel	Hōjō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Switzerland	La Chaux-de-Fonds	Hōjō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Switzerland	Neuchâtel	Hōjō, Tō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Switzerland	Zürich[23]	Hōjō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Switzerland	Winterthur[23]	Hōjō[23]	Namiki Yasushi viaMasatomi Ikeda
Europe	Poland	Gryfice	classical and Shinbukan katas[26]	Shinbukan
Europe	Poland	Toruń	classical and Shinbukan katas[26]	Shinbukan
North America	USA	Rockville, Maryland	classical[22]	Namiki Yasushi
North America	USA	Chicago, Illinois	Hōjō[32][33]	Ōmori Sōgen
Central Pacific	USA	Honolulu, Hawaii	Hōjō[34][35]	Ōmori Sōgen
continent	country	city	kata	lineage

• Japanese martial arts terms
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• (in Japanese)鹿島神傳直心影流Archived January 18, 2018, at theWayback Machine Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryu, Naganuma-ha – Shinbukai
• (in English)鹿島神傳直心影流 Makita-ha Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryu Kenjutsu

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