Are the ninja warriors really samurai? In this video, I
discuss the truth about the ninja and their relation to the samurai. Different
schools take a different approach when talking about this subject, because
different schools have different ryuha, which has its own unique history and
tradition.
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Within this organization (Budo Ryu Kai) the answer is
simple.Yes. The reason for that is because
the main ninjutsu training in this organization comes from the Tomo-ryu.The Tomo-ryu was in fact started as a samurai
tradition, and in the beginning, it was a sword school that focused its
techniques on the use of the short sword (kodachi). Because I am the 21st
Soke of the Tomo-ryu, it is important that my students understand the history
and tradition of the Tomo-ryu. From the Tomo-ryu kuden and densho perspective,
yes, the ninja are samurai spies who are trained in unconventional warfare
(shinobijutsu), thus the name of the tradition: Tomo-ryu Shinobijutsu.
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In the video, I used Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu (1 of the 7 warrior
traditions of the Budo Ryu Kai) as an example. Eishin-ryu is one of the most
popular forms of swordsmanship in the world. I wanted to prove my point about
the reality of what people “think” ninjutsu and bujutsu is, and how blurred
those lines really are, without being political or bias with a particular answer
or position.
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This lesson is directly for the practitioners of the ancient
Japanese koryu martial arts of the ninja and samurai, such as ninjutsu (ninpo)
and bujutsu (budo).
In this video, I teach a technique from the Tomo-ryu called:
“Yari-Yose” (Spear Catcher).This is a
technique that is passed down in the Tomo-ryu school of Shinobijutsu (戸猛流忍術) to teach
how to utilize the sageo (下げ緒) on the scabbard,
as a means to disarm a spearman, finish him, then evade.
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The Bansenshukai (萬川集海) written in
1676, also has a technique called “yari-yose”.Even though this technique has the same name, same objective and
purpose; there are slight differences between the technique “yari-yose” in the
Bansenshukai, and the “yari-yose” that is taught in the Tom-ryu.
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In the Bansenshukai it says:
“The yariyose or the ‘spear catcher’ – tie the end of the sageo
cord onto your short sword. Draw the sword out fully and hold it in your right
hand and the scabbard in your left hand, with the rope hanging between. When a
spear is stabbed at you, catch it and wrap the sageo cord around the spear and
take the enemy’s weapon.”
- Fujubayashi Yasutake – Bansenshukai (1676)
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-(1)The
Bansenshukai says to tie the rope to your sword while the other end is tied to
the saya (scabbard). In the Tomo-ryu, it says to hold one end of the saego in
your hand, with the other end tied to the scabbard.
-(2) The Bansenshukai says that the sword should be
drawn, with the sageo hanging between the sword and the saya. In the Tomo-ryu
the sword is not drawn, it stays in the scabbard, till after you disarm the
spear from the enemy.
-(3) The Bansenshukai does not mention using the saya
(scabbard) as a means to deflect or block the oncoming spear.In the Tomo-ryu this part of the transmission
is a crucial aspect towards the technique.
-(4) The Bansenshukai has no mention at all with how to
stab or position the sword when going in to finish the enemy.This aspect is covered in depth as to why the
sword needs to be drawn the way that it is, and used the way that it is, when
learning the technique.
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In the end, different ninja ryuha do similar techniques
differently. As the 21st Soke of the Tomo-ryu it is my
responsibility to teach these ancient ways and preserve those techniques that
have been passed down to me.However,
because we teach various ryuha within the Budo Ryu Kai and because I encourage
my students to research and learn as much as they can - it is also my
responsibility to explain how a technique from one ryuha is different from
another ryuha.It is also my responsibility
to explain and teach techniques from public historical sources such as the
Bansenshukai, Ninpiden and Shoninki, explain the similarities and differences
from them towards the 7 warrior traditions that we have within the Budo Ryu
Kai.This gives the students a much deeper
understanding and greater perception of the ancient ninja and samurai martial
arts, what they truly did, and how the truly did it.
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This lesson is directly for the practitioners of the ancient
Japanese koryu martial arts of the ninja and samurai, such as ninjutsu (ninpo)
and bujutsu (budo).
In this video, I teach an old Confucius lesson and explain
why everyone needs to express individually, live life outside the box, connect
to natural energy and find out who they truly are.
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In studying the old ways of the samurai, we learn the
samurai kokoro.The first philosophy
that is taught is: “Know Thyself”.One
cannot truly understand what this is, unless they truly live their own life
freely, from all outside influence.
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This lesson is directly for the practitioners of the ancient
Japanese koryu martial arts of the ninja and samurai, such as ninjutsu (ninpo)
and bujutsu (budo).
Many times people ask me why I took the title “Anshu” from
Stephen K. Hayes. The facts are; I didn’t. There are many different kanji, all
with many different meanings and interpretations.The kanji that An-shu Stephen K. Hayes uses
as a title for his martial arts teachings is not the same kanji for the warrior
name “Anshu” that was giving to me from my master.
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Stephen K. Hayes: “Title” = An-shu means: Custodian of the
Spiritual Inn / Enlightened One
Christa Jacobson: “Warrior Name” = Anshu (暗主) means:
Dark Master
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The reality is, many practitioners who study the ancient
arts cannot read or write Japanese, so the come up with their own opinions and
post incorrect information on the internet.Hopefully this will clear up the meaning of the “title” of Stephen K
Hayes (An-shu) and the warrior name giving to me by my master (Anshu).
This lesson is directly for the practitioners of the ancient
Japanese koryu martial arts of the ninja and samurai, such as ninjutsu (ninpo)
and bujutsu (budo).
In this video I teach how to train in traditional martial
arts and how to make it work for the modern world of self-defense.There are so many so called “Ninjutsu” or “Bujutsu”
schools of classical martial arts that say (claim) that they are teaching
methods of martial arts that fit in the modern day, when the facts are, they
are not.They are lying to make money,
and they know it.
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In the video you will hear me talk about “henka”. Yes many
classical dojo / koryu schools of budo/ninpo do henka.The difference is that their henka is still set
within the 15th century.They
are not applying the principals, strategies and philosophies of the kata (that
they claim to be a master of) in the modern world of self defense.Instead of mastering the arts that they claim
to be dedicated too, they study “koryu” and then do modern martial arts such as
Krav Maga or Systema for the “Self-Defense”.To all of “1st degree masters” that do this: You should be embarrassed
of yourself and you should apologize to the warrior arts that you claim to be
so dedicated to.
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The facts are, there is no martial art that is better than
another.They were all made for
different reasons at different times in history.The best thing to do is fine a martial art
that like you (regardless of what it is), find a master that will teach you,
and dedicate yourself to the mastery of that art.
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This lesson is
directly for the practitioners of the ancient Japanese koryu martial arts of
the ninja and samurai, such as ninjutsu (ninpo) and bujutsu (budo).
