My lockdown training partner modelling two different versions of the new embroidered Ryōi Shintō-ryū (良移心当流) keiko-gi (稽古着 - training uniform). (My thanks to Stephen Grayston for the calligraphy and to Simon Yeo for arranging the embroidery)

The Nagahama line (長浜派) of the Ryōi Shintō-ryū (良移心当流) would use a number of different written permutations of Shintō-ryū (as an abbreviated term instead of Ryōi Shintō-ryū). Amongst these were the: Shintō Yawara 神当和, Shintō-ryū Yawara 心當流和, Shintō Yawara 心當和, Shintō Yawara 神富柔, & Shintō-ryū 心當流. In the 'Kenpō Gokui Atemi Sappô Kappō Meikai' by […]

I was interested to read in Eric Shahan’s translation of various mokuroku in his excellent book: ‘A Collection of Curious Jujutsu Manuals’ (2018). Included within this is a work written by Kimura Sentaro (written in 1907) concerning the Shingen Shinto ryu. This is described as being a derivation of the Yagyū-ryū and the Shinto-ryū . […]

The picture (above) shows how Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流 柔術) and Kōdōkan Jūdō (講道館柔道) divide the body up for Nage-waza (投技 throwing techniques) in Tachi-waza (立ち技standing techniques), or Tachi-shō (立相 ). One may surmise that the rationale for the division of Jūdō Nage-waza was based on the older schools (Ryūha 流派). In addition, both Ryōi Shintō-ryū […]

Maai 間合 (distance), is a ‘double edged sword’ in that it can be used by you to provide an advantage in your attack, or it can be used against you. The Go maai (五 間合– the 5 ranges of combat) are: 発射体- Hassha-tai (Range of projectiles) 武器 Buki (Range of hand held weapons) 脚 Ashi […]

An understanding of Tai Sabaki (体捌き - body handling) is essential. Many will practice it at the beginning of their training and then hopefully, as they progress they will understand how fundamental it is to the application of technique. In Tachi (立ち Standing) there is: 進退 Shintai (advance and retreat): 次ぎ足 Tsugi Ashi - Foot […]

Godai (五大 - Five Elements) pagoda of: Ku (空), Fu (風), Ka (火), Sui (水), Chi (地) (courtesy of Logan (JT) Weymouth)http://jtweymo.angelfire.com/COVER_PAGE_T-T.html

This is part of a lecture by the late Murata Naoki, who was an 8th dan in Jūdō, an author (who wrote many books on Jūdō) and curator of the Kōdōkan Jūdō Museum. He mentions that the full name that Kano Jigoro (嘉納治五郎) gave to his art was 'Nihon-den Kōdōkan Jūdō' (日本伝 講道館 柔道 - […]

This group was formed earlier this year under the auspices of the Ryōi Shintō-ryū Kenkyukai (Ryōi Shintō-ryū Research Society - 良移心当流 研究会) and aims to both study and promote the practice of Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu in the Canadian / North American region. After a brief input on Ryōi Shintō-ryū history and rational, we covered waza […]

Building on the previous weekend’s seminar, we continued with the theme of techniques from the ‘Sho mokuroku’ (初目録) level, and we worked with: Katamune Dori (片胸捕 - single lapel grab) and Ryōmune Dori (両胸捕 - double lapel grab) With emphasis on altering the alignment of gripping attacks, so as to neutralise their effect and to […]

From the book:'Nihon no Budō (日本の武道)Jūjutsu jūnōseigō no michi (柔術 柔能制剛の道)'(Showa 58) 1983 (publ. Kodansha) This sequence of pictures (above) shows Takashi Matsushita 松下敬 (Jikishin-ryū 16th Sōke) demonstrating: 先所作 一本 天投 - Sen Shosa Ippon Ten-nage(First ahead movement - Heaven throw)

Kitō-ryū Jūjutsu (起倒流柔術) came from Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流 柔術). Jikishin-ryū Jūdō (直心流柔道) was founded as an 'off shoot' from Kitō-ryū in (approx) 1673. So, in effect Ryōi Shintō-ryū is the grandparent style of Jikishin-ryū. Jikishin-ryū was the first school to use the term Jūdō and this term was later adopted by Kanō Jigorō (嘉納 […]

Ise Jitoku Tenshin-ryū Jūjutsu (為勢自得天眞流柔術) is an offshoot from the Kasahara (笠原) Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流 柔術). This clip shows 16th generation Sōke (宗家) Mifune Toichiro (三舟統一郎) demonstrating techniques.

These pictures provide a good illustration of two of the Ryōi Shintō-ryū (良移心当流) principles from the Kō Mokuroku (後目録 - following on catalogue): "Kyokyo Jitsujitsu no Ri" (虚々実々之利) - Used when two opponents are equally matched and one wins by shrewdly avoiding the other’s strong points and exploiting their weak points. “Kyojitsu no Kurai” (虚実之位) […]

A quote from 'The Sword Techniques of Musashi and Other Samurai Masters' - by Fumon Tanaka (p.130) ".. Furthermore, the taijutsu (体術) techniques of Daito-ryu (大東流 ) are very similar to the techniques of Asayama Ichiden-ryu (浅山一伝流). There is another opinion that the roots of the Daito-ryu actually lie in the Ryoi Shinto-ryu (良移心当流)." There is […]

The illustrations above is the old 'Hontai no Maki' (本體之巻) document of the Kitō-ryū Jūjutsu showing Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流) founder Fukuno Shichirouemon Tomoyoshi (福野七郎右衛門友善 ) as being the 'Shoryū sho Nagare kaiso' (諸流開祖 - various ryū founder) and Terada kanuemon masashige (寺田勘右衛門 正重) as 'Atari-ryū ganzo' (當流元祖 - head ryū originator). On reflection this […]

Mutō Dori (無刀捕) of the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū (柳生新陰流) from an article (in Japanese) by Watanabe Tadashige (渡 辺 忠 成) published in 'Hiden' magazine December 1996 (translated by Eric Grousilliat, 2017). 無刀勢 "MUTOSEI (form of the empty sword) I stand in Muto. The opponent advances to Gedan position. At a distance from the sword, he […]

Mutō Dori (無刀捕) of the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū (柳生新陰流) from an article (in Japanese) by Watanabe Tadashige (渡 辺 忠 成) published in 'Hiden' magazine December 1996 (translated by Eric Grousilliat, 2017). 無手勢 “MUSHUSEI (form of the empty hand) I stand in Muto position, advance in Raito position (sword raised above the head) and hit the […]

Mutō Dori (無刀捕) of the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū (柳生新陰流) from an article (in Japanese) by Watanabe Tadashige (渡 辺 忠 成) published in 'Hiden' magazine December 1996 (translated by Eric Grousilliat, 2017). 手刀勢 "SHUTOSEI (form of the sword hand) I stand in Muto and the opponent advances in chudan, then attack my head (photo 1). I […]

Ryōi Shintō-ryū (良移心当流) Kaiso (開祖 - Founder) - Fukuno Shichirouemon Masakatsu (福野七郎右衛門正勝) studied Yagyū Shinkage-ryū (柳生新陰流) Heihō (兵法 - martial strategy) under Yagyū Sekishūsai Taira-no-Munetoshi (柳生石舟斎平宗厳 ). Fukuno was a ‘Meishu’ (名手 – master) of Sumo (相撲) and a ‘Tatsujin’ (達人 – master expert) of the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū. In the December 1996 issue of Japanese […]