Maniwa Nen-ryu
Encyclopedia
Maniwa Nen-ryū is a traditional school (koryū
) of Japanese martial arts
founded in 1591 by Higuchi Matashichirō (c. 16th century). Matashichirō was a student of Nen-ryū
, and founded Maniwa Nen-ryū after receiving inka (stamp or seal) from Akamatsu Gion. It is currently headed by the 25th headmaster, Higuchi Sadahito.
Maniwa Nen-ryū is significant in that it is one of the oldest surviving Japanese battlefield traditions today and is unusual in that throughout its history it has been promoted and preserved by the members of a particular village. Maniwa Nen-ryū is also one of the very few schools that teach yadomejutsu; techniques for deflecting incoming arrows with a sword.
Said to have been brought to Maniwa by Higuchi Kaneshige in 1494, during its history this sword style earned a reputation for creating strong exponents as many engaged in bouts against members of other noted sword schools.
The style is characterized by its use of fukuro shinai
, or mock bamboo swords, quilted gloves and headgear to engage in what it calls kiriwara jiai, which are competitions in which exponents can test their skills without suffering serious injury. It is not historically verified when this tradition became an intrinsic part of this school's training but along with the Shinkage
and Yagyū Shinkage schools
it was of the first schools of Japanese bujutsu to have employed the use of the bamboo training weapon. This training device was further developed by Nakanishi Chuto of the Nakanishi-ha Ittō-ryū
and later became an important element in the establishing of the modern sport of kendo
.
In execution, the techniques of this school sometimes appear to be awkward and lacking the stylistic polish which characterize other schools of classical Japanese sword. However the Maniwa Nen-ryū system is said to be deceptively subtle in its technique and has proved its effectiveness in both battlefield and duels throughout its long history.
Koryu
is a Japanese word that is used in association with the ancient Japanese martial arts. This word literally translates as "old school" or "traditional school"...
) of Japanese martial arts
Japanese martial arts
Japanese martial arts refers to the enormous variety of martial arts native to Japan. At least three Japanese terms are often used interchangeably with the English phrase "Japanese martial arts": , literally meaning "martial way", , which has no perfect translation but means something like science,...
founded in 1591 by Higuchi Matashichirō (c. 16th century). Matashichirō was a student of Nen-ryū
Nen-ryu
is a traditional school of Japanese martial arts founded in 1368 CE by the samurai Sōma Shiro Yoshimoto in modern day Nagano Prefecture, where Yoshimoto is said to have taught only fourteen students until his death.-Teachings:...
, and founded Maniwa Nen-ryū after receiving inka (stamp or seal) from Akamatsu Gion. It is currently headed by the 25th headmaster, Higuchi Sadahito.
Maniwa Nen-ryū is significant in that it is one of the oldest surviving Japanese battlefield traditions today and is unusual in that throughout its history it has been promoted and preserved by the members of a particular village. Maniwa Nen-ryū is also one of the very few schools that teach yadomejutsu; techniques for deflecting incoming arrows with a sword.
Said to have been brought to Maniwa by Higuchi Kaneshige in 1494, during its history this sword style earned a reputation for creating strong exponents as many engaged in bouts against members of other noted sword schools.
The style is characterized by its use of fukuro shinai
Shinai
is a weapon used for practice and competition in kendo representing a Japanese sword. Shinai are also used in other martial arts, but may be styled differently from kendo shinai, and represented with different characters....
, or mock bamboo swords, quilted gloves and headgear to engage in what it calls kiriwara jiai, which are competitions in which exponents can test their skills without suffering serious injury. It is not historically verified when this tradition became an intrinsic part of this school's training but along with the Shinkage
Shinkage-ryu
' meaning "new shadow school", is a traditional school of Japanese martial arts, founded by Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami Nobutsuna in the mid-sixteenth century...
and Yagyū Shinkage schools
Yagyu Shinkage-ryu
is one of the oldest Japanese schools of swordsmanship . Its primary founder was Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, who called the school Shinkage-ryū. In 1565, Nobutsuna bequeathed the school to his greatest student, Yagyū Munetoshi, who added his own name to the school. Today, the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū remains...
it was of the first schools of Japanese bujutsu to have employed the use of the bamboo training weapon. This training device was further developed by Nakanishi Chuto of the Nakanishi-ha Ittō-ryū
Itto-ryu
, meaning "one-sword school", is the ancestor school of several Japanese Koryū kenjutsu styles, including Ono-ha, Mizoguchi-ha, Nakanishi-ha, Kogen, Hokushin, and Itto Shoden. The style was developed by Ittōsai Kagehisa.-Ono-ha Ittō-ryū:...
and later became an important element in the establishing of the modern sport of kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
.
In execution, the techniques of this school sometimes appear to be awkward and lacking the stylistic polish which characterize other schools of classical Japanese sword. However the Maniwa Nen-ryū system is said to be deceptively subtle in its technique and has proved its effectiveness in both battlefield and duels throughout its long history.