Oishi Shinkage-ryū Kenjutsu


Oishi Shinkage-ryū is a traditional school of Japanese martial arts, founded by Oishi Susumu Tanetsugu in the early 1800s.

History

The origin of Oishi Shinkage-ryū was Aizu Kage-ryū kenjutsu, which was founded by Aizu Ikōsai Hisatada. Aizu Kage-ryū was transmitted to founder by Murakami Ittō. He came to Yanagawa domain from Ōoka domain. He taught Aizu Kage-ryū kenjutsu, Oshima-ryū sōjutsu and Okuyama Shinkan-ryū jujutsu. One of his student was Oishi Yuken who was a grandfather of Oishi Susumu. Oishi Yuken taught Oishi Susumu his kenjutsu and sōjutsu arts. Both Susumu's grandfather and his father were instructors of Yanagawa domain.
Oishi Susumu improved the protective gear used during practice. In addition, he improved fukuro shinai to a modern bamboo sword. He devised stab technique, and a technique of striking one's opponent's breastplate. He was said to be five foot eleven inches tall, a great height for a Japanese of his day. Therefore, his style of swordsmanship uses longer bamboo practice swords than most other styles. There are stories of him engaging in combat around Japan using his four shaku shinai.
By the order of his feudal lord, he went to the capital city, Edo in 1832. In the next year, he did kenjutsu matches with many famous instructors. After Oishi Susumu, his son, also named Oishi Susume, inherited the school. Because the latter didn’t have a son, his younger brother, Oishi Yukie was placed as the headmaster of the ryū. After the Meiji Restoration, they didn’t practice swordsmanship for some time, but the school survived still. When Oishi Yukie died, his son, Oishi Hajime was young, so Itai Masumi, the pupil of Oishi Yukie protected the Oishi Shinkage-ryū. After Oishi Hajime grew up, he inherited his father's martial art. He taught the ryū to his grandson, Oishi Eiichi. And Oishi Eiichi taught the Oishi Shinkage-ryū to Morimoto Kunio. Morimoto Kunio was given menkyo kaiden and is currently teaching the Oishi Shinkage-ryū.

Lineage

Early history pre-dating Oishi Shinkage-ryū:
  1. Aizu Ikōsai
  2. Okuyama Saemondayu
  3. Kamiizumi Musashinokami
  4. Masunaga HakuenNyudo
  5. Yoshida Masuemon
  6. Ishihara Denjizaemon
  7. Murakami Ittou
  8. Oishi Yuken
  9. Oishi Tarobei
After founding of the school:
  1. Oishi Susumu Tanetugu
  2. Oishi Susumu Tanemasa
  3. Oishi Yukie
  4. Itai Masumi
  5. Oishi Hajime
  6. Oishi Eiichi
  7. Morimoto Kunio

    Technical characteristics

Oishi Shinkage-ryu is a traditional school of swordsmanship. The features of the Oishi Shinkage-ryū are techniques called morotezuki, katatezuki and dōgiri. These techniques were used by Oishi Susumu for the first time in swordsmanship matches with the protective gear. Oishi Susumu made 79 kata, which are called tekazu in Oishi Shinkage-ryū.
Techniques of the Oishi Shinkage-ryu kenjutsu include use of one sword with both hands, techniques to use two swords, saya-no-uchi and naginata. The first three groups of kata is the basis of the ryū.

Shiaiguchi （試合口）

  1. Isshin
  2. Mumyouittou
  3. Suigetsu
  4. Suken
  5. Ichimi

    Youno omote （陽之表：表拾本）

  6. Youken
  7. Gekken
  8. Muniken
  9. Nishou
  10. Inazuma
  11. Taiyouken
  12. Seitouken
  13. Muiken
  14. Norimi
  15. Chidori

    Younoura （陽之裏）

  16. Seiryu
  17. Sachin
  18. Jumonji
  19. Harimi
  20. Yoyami
  21. Rankyoku
  22. Kurai
  23. Kyokuman
  24. Ootoshi
  25. Byako

    Sangakuen-no-tachi （三學圓之太刀）

  26. Ittouryoudan
  27. Santan
  28. Saitetsu
  29. Hankai
  30. Hankou
  31. Usen
  32. Saten
  33. Choutan
  34. Ichimi

    [Yari] awase （槍合）

  35. Irikake
  36. Uchikomi

    [Naginata] awase （長刀合）

  37. Koran
  38. Hiryu

    [Bō] awase （棒合）

  39. Uchiawase
  40. Uchiiri
  41. Enzan

    Saya">Saya (scabbard)">Saya-no-uchi （鞘之内）

  42. Nukiuchi
  43. Koteotoshi
  44. Uken
  45. Saken
  46. Kabutowari

    Nitō （二刀）

  47. Seifu
  48. Ayanochoushi
  49. Momijigasane
  50. Kasumi
  51. Ariake

    [Tengu]-no-shou （天狗抄）

  52. Hishou
  53. Gyakufu
  54. Ransetsu
  55. Takanami
  56. Jyoboku
  57. Sasetsudan
  58. Sasetsudan
  59. Enki
  60. Marubashi
  61. Orihakou

    [Kodachi] （小太刀）

  62. Mouko
  63. Kotsubogaeshi
  64. Engetu
  65. Jyushi
  66. Kyoujyaku

    Shindensaiso （神傳截相）

  67. Enpi
  68. Enkai
  69. Yamagata
  70. Tsuikage
  71. Ukifune
  72. Uranami
  73. Rangyou
  74. Matsukaze
  75. Kasha
  76. Chotan
  77. Tettei
  78. Isononami
  79. seigan