is one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts and an exemplar of bujutsu. It was founded by Iizasa Ienao, who lived near Katori Shrine (Sawara City, Chiba Prefecture) at the time. The ryū is purported to have been founded in 1447, but some scholars state that it was about 1480.

History

Foundation

thumb|220px|right|Katori Shinto Ryu Dojo training hall in [[Katori, Chiba|Katori city, Japan]]

thumb|[[Iizasa Chōisai Ienao|Iizasa Ienao founded Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū in 1447]]

Iizasa Ienao (飯篠 長威斎 家直 Iizasa Chōi-sai Ienao, 1387 – c. 1488) was a respected spearman and swordsman whose daimyō was deposed, which encouraged him to relinquish control of his household to conduct purification rituals and study martial arts in isolation.

Iizasa was born in the village of Iizasa in Shimōsa Province. When he was young, he moved to the vicinity of the famous Katori Shrine, northeast of Tokyo in modern-day Chiba Prefecture. The shrine's kami, Futsunushi () is revered as a spirit of swordsmanship and martial arts.

Recent history

thumb|[[Risuke Otake (Pic. M. Stokhof 2007)]]On 6 March 1960, the school received the first ever "Intangible Cultural Asset" designation given to a martial art by the Japanese government, naming Hayashi Yazaemon, Ōtake Risuke, and Iizasa Yasusada as its guardians. The Iizasa family dojo was also designated a Cultural Asset. The designation of Cultural Asset status shifted to the Chiba Prefectural Government in 1985 and the art was recertified, again naming Ōtake Risuke and Iizasa Yasusada as guardians. Ōtake Nobutoshi and Kyōsō Shigetoshi were also certified as guardians on 30 March 2004.

Iizasa Yasusada has publicly recognised the Otake and Sugino dojo. Both dojo represent the school annually at the Meiji Jingu embu.

Kyōsō Shigetoshi was appointed shihan in September 2017, and Ōtake Nobutoshi was issued hamon (excommunicated) on 9 December 2018. However, both Otake Risuke, Otake Nobutoshi and Kyōsō Shigetoshi are still recognised as guardians of the school, by the Chiba Prefecture Board of Cultural Affairs.

<gallery>

Kenjyutsu-2.jpg|Meiji Shrine annual festival dedication Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu (3 November 2011)

Kenjyutsu-2a.jpg|Same as left, Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu (3 November 2011)

Kenjyutsu-2b.jpg|Same as left, Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu (3 November 2011)

</gallery>

Curriculum

The Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is a comprehensive martial system. Unlike modern martial arts such as kendo or iaido, which concentrate on one specific area of training, a broad range of martial skills is studied.

The main emphasis of the school is kenjutsu. A wide range of other weapons are taught as part of the curriculum, but the sword remains the central weapon.

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

! colspan = "2" style = "background:#ddf;" | Arts

! style = "background:#ddf;" | Forms

|-

| rowspan = "8" style = "background:#ddf;" | Sword arts<br/>(tachijutsu)

| rowspan = "3" style = "background:#AAAEEE" | Sword combat<br/>(kenjutsu)

| 4 Forms:

|-

| 5 Forms:

|-

| 3 Forms:

|-

| rowspan = "3" style = "background:#AAAEEE" | Sword drawing<br/>(battōjutsu)

| 6 Forms:

|-

| 5 Forms:

|-

| 5 Forms:

|-

| style = "background:#AAAEEE" | Two swords<br/>(両刀術 ryōtōjutsu)

| 4 Forms:

|-

| style = "background:#AAAEEE" | Short sword<br/>(kodachi)

| 4 Forms:

|-

| rowspan = "2" colspan = "2" style = "background:#AAAEEE" | Staff art<br/>(bōjutsu)

| 6 Forms:

|-

| 6 Forms:

|-

| rowspan = "2" colspan = "2" style = "background:#AAAEEE" | Glaive art<br/>(naginatajutsu)

| 4 Forms:

|-

| 3 Forms:

|-

| rowspan = "2" colspan = "2" style = "background:#AAAEEE" | Spear art<br/>(sōjutsu)

| 6 Forms:

|-

| 2 Forms:

|-

| rowspan = "3" colspan = "2" style = "background:#AAAEEE" | Spike-throwing<br/>(shurikenjutsu)

| 7 Forms:

|-

| 8 Forms:

|-

| 9 Forms:

|-

| colspan = "2" style = "background:#AAAEEE" | Jujutsu

| 36 Forms:

|}

The Gogyo and Gokui kata are only taught to advanced practitioners after years of fundamental practice.

<blockquote>

On becoming a member of the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū which has been transmitted by the Great Deity of the Katori Shrine, I herewith affirm my pledge that:

  1. I will not have the impertinence to discuss or demonstrate details of the ryū to either non-members or members, even if they are relatives;
  2. I will not engage in altercations or misuse the art against others;
  3. I will never engage in any kind of gambling nor frequent disreputable places.
  4. I will not cross swords with any followers of other martial traditions without authorization.

I hereby pledge to firmly adhere to each of the above articles. Should I break any of these articles I will submit to the punishment of the Great Deity of Katori and the Great Deity Marishiten. Herewith I solemnly swear and affix my blood seal to this oath to these Great Deities.

</blockquote>

Branches

Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is currently represented by the Kyōsō Shibu led by Kyōsō Shigetoshi, Several branches have existed alongside or split from the mainline with varying ties to the Iizasa family, such as Noda, Yoseikan, Shinbukan, Sugino, Hatakeyama, Sugawara.

Ōtake

Ranks

  • Mokuroku (目録, "catalog")
  • Menkyo (免許, "license, certificate")
  • Gokui Kaiden (極意皆伝, "deepest transmission")

Appointments

  • Shidōsha (指導者, "mentor, coach"; given as license to teach outside of Shinbukan dojo)
  • Shihan (師範, 'instructor'; head-teacher)

Sugino Dojo

The Sugino line uses the modern dan system, out of respect for Yoshio Sugino's (10th dan) judo teacher Kanō Jigorō, who was a pioneer of the dan-i ranking system.

Sugino dojo members also receive densho/makimono.

Hatakeyama-ha

The Hatakeyama line (which has no current headmaster) uses the modern dan system alongside the traditional menkyo system, issuing ranks in both with shōden/chūden/okuden gradations to create equivalent ranks from the menkyo system.