I recently obtained the Seigō-ryū Kuden-sho makimono (制剛流 口伝書 巻物 - oral transmission document) Jūjutsu (柔術) scroll (see picture above) It is dated Kyōhō 12-nen (1727), was written by Murakami Yoshifuki (村上義浮) and transmitted to Katō Youemon (加藤与右衛門). The cursive style characters make it very difficult to read, but it’s subjects headings include: • Shoji […]

It is interesting that Shinohara describes the randori of Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流 柔術) as including body-striking and stomping techniques. In Ryōi Shintō-ryū 'randori' is written 乱捕 (random, chaos or war - capture) and in Jūdō it is written 乱取 (random, chaos or war - take or fetch). In essence 'war, or chaos capture' is […]

Part of another interesting article. This one describes the implementation of contests elements into later Edo period Jūjutsu practice and how this may have changed the nature of those practices: 幕末における柔術試合の台頭とその実態：天神真楊流・磯道場『他流試合姓名控』を手がかり に Emergence of jujutsu match and its fact at the end of the Tokugawa period: Analysis of Tenjin Shinyo-ryu’s record ‘Taryu Shiai Seimei Hikae’ […]