An interesting article (translated from the original French), which describes the contribution of Ryōi Shintō-ryū 良移心当流 founder Fukuno Shichirouemon Masakatsu (福野七郎右衛門正勝) to the Mutō Dori 無刀捕 of the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū 柳生新陰流:

Mutodori, bare hands facing the sword
Posted January 8, 2017 by Eric Grousilliat under Koryu bujutsu

"If there is a combat situation that I consider extreme, to see almost desperate, it is to face a slasher while one finds oneself disarmed.

Of course, this is a classical context of aikido but I was rarely convinced by this type of demonstration, because often the attack (and this is unfortunately not the only example in aikido) n is not up to what we can expect from such a situation. Added to this is that there is almost no diversity of attack, as proposed for example kenjutsu schools. It is almost always in front of a shomen uchi of the most classic, that one sees executing the techniques of Tachi dori (太 刀 取 り).

In the school Shinkage Ryu, which some 400 years before the aikido already preached a comparable spirit of peace, non-combat, seize the sword opposing shows in the early stages of learning. First in a flow chart; the simple cut becomes imbalance of the adversary, allowing the choice to complete it or to seize its weapon, then quickly one approaches situations, where the sword in the hand, one takes advantage of an advantageous situation to neutralize the weapon of the opponent with one hand and reduce it to our thank you. Then comes the study of the short sword, facing a long sword, reducing the distance is often the only way of salvation, from there, past the danger zone, take the sword of the hands of the opponent becomes much more timely.

Finally, at the higher levels, the adept learns to deal disarmed with an attacker armed with a sword.

In the December 1996 issue of Japanese magazine Hidden, Watanabe Tadashige (渡 辺 忠 成) provides some details on this particular aspect of martial practice.

SHINKAGE RYU DATTO HO
In general, the method of taking the sword (datto ho, 奪 刀法) of Shinkage ryu is known as Muto dori (無 刀 取 り, to take without saber ) and Shinken shiraha dori (真 剣 白刃 捕 り, to seize the bare blade true sword).

Watanabe soshu

The sword taking techniques (Datto ho) invented by Yagyu Sekishusai are well known as Muto dori, but in Shinkage ryu, as a school secret, inherited from generation to generation, limited to a small group of children. Initiates, this was never made public. While in cinema and on television, naming the act of seizing the naked two-handed blade " Shinken shiraha dori ", we contributed to more misunderstanding about the representation we had, an image contrary to common sense.

The technique for seizing the enemy's sword in full attack was introduced at the time of Kamiizumi ryuso (founder of Shinkage Ryu). It comes in many forms within the saber techniques of Shinkage Ryu. In a broad sense, we speak of Datto ho, in a narrower (specific) way, we call this Muto dori.

Idea and improvement of the sword method
At the origin of the idea of Muto dori, we find the founder of the school (Ryuso), Kamiizumi Isenokami Nobutsuna. Several anecdotes reached us via the Yagyu family.

In 1563, Kamiizumi, who had stopped at Myokoji Temple (妙 興 寺, in present-day Aichi Prefecture) during a tour of the country, while drawing on the sand, sitting in the garden, was attacked by a disturbed person. He slammed it to the ground, pulling the back of the sword with both hands. He later confided to having perfected the technique used that day, during his meeting with Yagyu Sekishusai (source: Ryugi Yurai sho Yagyu Toshinobu)

: Regarding the meeting between Kamiizumi and Yagyu refer to the article Shinkage Ryu, the origins (a bit of history) .

On another occasion, while trying to reach the Ise road from Kiyosu, he noticed commotion in a village near Myokoji. Inquiring about the origin of this din, he learned that a madman had kidnapped a child and held him in a temple barn. Kamiizumi shaved his head, disguised himself as a monk and entered the building carrying two balls of Onigiri rice. He gave one to the child, and handed the other to the madman. When Kamiizumi caught it, Kamiizumi grabbed it and nailed it to the ground (source: Shoden shinkage ryu by Yagyu Toshinaga)

Regardless of any of these stories, it is clear that Kamiizumi entrusted Yagyu Sekishusai with the completion of Datto ho (Muto dori). In addition, the second anecdote was made famous by being included in the works of many authors, as in Kurozawa's films. ( We'll have in mind the almost identical scene of the Seven Samurai )

In 1565, Yagyu Sekishusai was entrusted by Kamiizumi with the finalization, the completion of Muto dori, and in April of the following year, again, the founder of Shinkage Ryu visited him. There, Yagyu Sekishusai showed him the three forms of Muto dori he had accomplished with the spirit of invention. He received the Inka Soden (Seal of Hereditary Transmission) and became the second heir to Shinkage Ryu.

In mentioning the Muto dori, we must not forget Fukuno Shichiroemon (student of Sekishusai, he was one of the precursors of Jujutsu and the founder of Ryoi Shinto ryu) even if we can say that he is a follower of the sword, rather someone who knew the Taisabaki of Ryoi shinto ryu yawara jutsu koshimawari (良移心当流和術腰廻)

The three forms of the Muto dori of the old Shinkage Ryu transmission

Later, Yagyu Renya Toshikane created the three forms Za Datto ho, increasing the content of Muto dori.

The state of mind of Yagyu Sekishusai when he invented Mutodori survives in Sekishusai Heiho Hyakushu (石 舟 斎 兵法 百 首). See the article The One Hundred Heiho Poems
• The adept accomplished in Muto, no longer needs sword (無刀にて　きわまるならば　兵法者　こしのかたなは　むよう成りけり)
• By the practice of Muto, I know the form of the strategy (無刀にて　けいこたんれん　取えては　わが兵法の　くらゐをぞじる)
• Even in Muto, I wonder if I can be cut by the other (無刀さえ　きりかねたらん　其人のかたなにあびて　いかがしてまし)
•

Ichi-en teaching. It is important to slightly round the body when preparing for Muto

Also in the book Motsuji Mijishudan Kudensho by Yagyu Sekishusai, Ichi-en (一 円, a circle), which concerns the posture to adopt against the opponent in Muto. The importance of rounding up the body when preparing for Muto is indicated. This teaching is also addressed in the practice of the short sword."