User:Shisenkan
Shisenkan Kobudo Renmei
[edit]Meaning of the term Shisenkan.
[edit]Shisenkan translates to: Hall of the Mystic Warrior.
This reflects the two paths of the warriors that created the Takamatsu Den Ryu Ha.
- Bun 文, learning.
- Bu 武, fighting.
Throughout Japanese history, many famous warriors have adopted :
- bunbu-no-michi 文武の道, often referred to as the "Way of the Brush and Sword."
Kobudō 古武道 Old Martial Way.
[edit]Budō denotes the totality of a “Warrior's Martial Way”: that of technical martial proficiency, discipline, morality, sincerity, commitment, and a constant search for knowledge and self-improvement.
The first mention of the term Budō appears in a military chronicle commissioned by the first warrior (samurai) military government, in a daily entry in 1195.
Budō originally meant the "Way of the Bow and Arrow (yumiya-no-michi 弓矢之道)," knowledge of military strategy (buryaku 武略), and military history. Over the centuries it had evolved to encompass a multitude of military disciplines that have been codified and formalized as Martial Traditions (ryūha 流派).
Some martial traditions, especially those that developed within medieval domains, warrior families, and temples, include weapons specializations, unarmed fighting methods, military strategy, and more. Other martial traditions focus almost exclusively on a single martial discipline such as unarmed fighting, swordsmanship (kenjutsu 剣術, heihō 兵法), archery (kyūdō 弓道), spear (yari 槍), glaive (naginata 薙刀), bladed projectiles (shuriken 手裏剣), or chain weapons.
The absolute majority of known martial traditions were formally codified in a systemic structure within the past three and a half centuries.
They share similar traits, of which the most fundamental are:
Lineage of heads of the traditions, starting with a uniquely capable founder.
- Creation story (often, creation mythology), and history.
- A codified set of martial technique.
- A unique martial strategy and philosophy.
- Written records and documents,
- Systematic transmission.
- Tradition's secrets.
Areas of Focus:
[edit]- Taijutsu (unarmed fighting skills)
- Buki (weapons)
- Kobudō theory and history
- Spiritual training.
Taijutsu "Unarmed Fighting Skills"
- Jūtaijutsu A comprehensive utilisation of the body to apply a multitude of fighting skills,
- Jūjutsu Joints manipulations
- Dakentaijutsu Strikes and kicks
- Koppōjutsu Special power strikes and kicks
- Ninpō & Ninjutsu A unique array of techniques and world view.
Buki "Weapons"
- Bōjutsu (staff & stick fighting skills): Rokushakubō (6 feet/180cm staff), Jō (4 feet/120cm staff), Hanbō ("half a staff" 3feet/90cm stick), Tanbō ("short stick" 1 foot/30cm stick).
- Kenjutsu (sword fighting skills): Katana/Tachi (long sword), Kodachi (short sword), Tantō (knife)
- Naginata-jutsu (halbard/glaive fighting skills): Naginata is a 30~55cm wide curved blade attached to a staff.
- Sōjutsu (spear fighting skills): Yari (spear) is a 15-55cm straight blade attached to a 120cm~300+cm staff. The Yari taught in Shisenkan has a 35cm blade attached to a 180cm staff.
- Shuriken-jutsu (blade projectiles throwing skills): five typs of Bō-shuriken (short pointy iron rods) and Senban-shuriken (curved pointy diamond-shaped iron-plate).
- Kyūjutsu (bow&arrows shooting skills). Hankyū ("half a bow" 120cm-long bow)
- Special weapons: Kusarifundō (iron chain), Te-no-uchi ("within the palm"), Kakushibuki ("hidden weapons"), others.
Tenmon Chimon (astronomy, weather, and ground).Understanding the day and night sky, weather patterns, topography, etc'.
The founder of Shisenkan:
[edit]The Kanchō (Head of the Organisation) of Shisenkan is Ron Kosen.
- In late 1984 Kosen joined the newly established Genbukan World Ninpō Bugei Federation and made Japan his home in 1987, becoming an uchi-deshi (i.e., direct student) of the founder and head of Genbukan, Tanemura Tsunehisa.
- Twenty-five years later Kosen was the highest-ranking non-Japanese Shihan, Menkyo Kaiden, at the Honbu dōjō (headquarters training hall), teaching in his dōjō in Tokyo since 1990.
- Seeking to deepen his knowledge and understanding of Japanese martial history, Kosen pursued academic studies and acquired a Ph.D. in Japanese military history under Professor Jeffrey Mass of Stanford University, and Professor Paul Varley of Columbia University and University of Hawaii.
- Kosen is versed in medieval Japanese and continues to research its military history while teaching its old martial traditions. In previous years Kosen was a researcher at the Historiographical Institue, The University of Tokyo.
- In recent years Kosen is teaching Japanese history at Saitama National University, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
- In late 2022, Kosen officially resigned and parted ways with his long-time teacher Tanemura Tsunehisa, and established the Shisenkan.