Jikishinkage-ryū Naginatajutsu
直心影流薙刀術An old naginata school, one of the two main surviving ones according to Heibonsha. It claims Jikishinkage-ryu, while Ellis Amdur considers it the work of Satake Yoshinori.
Quick Facts
JapanCharacter & Origin
Training
Organisation & Competition
What the style is built from
Editorial rating on a 0–3 scale, based on how much room each area gets in ordinary training.
About Jikishinkage-ryū Naginatajutsu
Jikishinkage-ryu naginatajutsu is an old Japanese naginata school. The Heibonsha encyclopedia lists it together with Tendo-ryu as one of the two main naginata schools still practised today. Nihon Kobudo Kyokai lists it as member number 059. Sources differ on its origin. Nihon Kobudo Kyokai derives the school from Matsumoto Bizen-no-kami of the late Muromachi period and regards as its founder the seventh holder, Yamada Heizaemon Mitsunori, who renamed the school Jikishinkage-ryu. In the lineage after him it lists the Satake couple. Ellis Amdur writes on koryu.com that Satake Yoshinori developed a new naginata school and that it has no recognisable relation to Jikishinkage-ryu kenjutsu. In 1895, according to Nihon Kobudo Kyokai, Sonobe Hideo became the 15th holder and worked for naginata instruction for women and the training of teachers. The Nipponica encyclopedia lists her as a representative of Jikishinkage-ryu. After the war the school is, according to the association, closely linked with Zen Nihon Naginata Renmei. Today, according to Nihon Kobudo Kyokai and Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai, the school is led by the 20th holder, and the Shutokukai group has, according to the association, 21 branches in Japan and branches in Hawaii, Finland and Belgium.
History
Nihon Kobudo Kyokai states that the school derives from Kashima Shinden Shinkage-ryu, founded by Matsumoto Bizen-no-kami at the end of the Muromachi period, and that the seventh holder, Yamada Heizaemon Mitsunori, changed the name to Jikishinkage-ryu and has been regarded as the founder ever since. In the lineage after him the association lists the Satake couple, Sonobe Hideo and further holders down to today's 20th holder. Ellis Amdur writes on koryu.com that the school claims roots in the sword technique of Jikishinkage-ryu, but that the new naginata school was developed by Satake Yoshinori, a student of Jikishin-ryu and Yanagi Kage-ryu. According to Amdur his work is innovative and has no recognisable relation to Jikishinkage-ryu kenjutsu. English Wikipedia places its origin in the sixties of the 19th century. In 1895, according to Nihon Kobudo Kyokai, Sonobe Hideo became the 15th holder and worked for naginata instruction for women. The Nipponica encyclopedia lists her as a representative of Jikishinkage-ryu.
How it differs
The Heibonsha encyclopedia lists Jikishinkage-ryu and Tendo-ryu as the two main surviving naginata schools. English Wikipedia writes that modern atarashii naginata derives from both. Ellis Amdur states that over the past hundred years the school has been more successful than any other martial system in appealing to Japanese women, and has the most students of all traditional naginata schools. Japanese Wikipedia, in its article on the naginata school, says it shares a lineage with the sword school Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryu. Japanese Wikipedia, in its article on the sword school, says by contrast that it is not directly related to the naginata school, and Amdur sees no recognisable relation.
Technique
English Wikipedia states that the school has 25 kata with the naginata, 10 kata with the tanto dagger, five secret gokui techniques and four reiken-shiho-kiri kata, taught alongside ten kata with the kusarigama. According to it the school is known for attacks on the lower legs, and the naginata grip resembles a sword grip. Japanese Wikipedia writes that the school uses a smaller, lighter naginata without a tsuba and that its user always carries a tanto dagger, switching to it when the naginata is knocked away. According to it the system also includes a punch and disarming.
Training
According to Nihon Kobudo Kyokai, training takes place two to three times a week for two to three hours. Each year there are refresher sessions, a camp and an instructors' seminar, and at the end of September a memorial day for deceased masters. Ellis Amdur writes that the emphasis seems to be more on correct execution than on developing fighting skills, and that almost all forms focus on the naginata, while the sword merely receives attacks. Japanese Wikipedia lists differences from Tendo-ryu: the hakama is tied with a simple knot, the sleeves are not tied back, and when kneeling the right knee touches the floor.
Competition
Ellis Amdur states that Jikishinkage-ryu first made a name in bouts against kendoka and that Satake Shigeo and Sonobe Hideo became famous for many victories. The Heibonsha encyclopedia states that after Zen Nihon Naginata Renmei was founded in 1954 the naginata developed again, has been an official national games sport since 1983, and that the first world championship was held in Tokyo in 1995. Nipponica places the federation's founding in 1955.
Today
Nihon Kobudo Kyokai and Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai list the 20th holder as the representative. According to the association, the Shutokukai group has its secretariat in Chofu, Tokyo, 21 branches in Japan and branches in Hawaii, Finland and Belgium. We have not found a cultural-property listing in the sources.
Did you know
According to Ellis Amdur, Satake Shigeo studied martial arts from age six and was known for her strength with the naginata. English Wikipedia says the compilation Bugei ryuha daijiten also writes the school's name with other characters.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Jikishinkage-ryu naginatajutsu?
Sources differ. Nihon Kobudo Kyokai regards Yamada Heizaemon Mitsunori as the founder and lists the Satake couple in the lineage, while Ellis Amdur on koryu.com attributes the new school to Satake Yoshinori.
What is the difference between Jikishinkage-ryu and Tendo-ryu?
According to the Heibonsha encyclopedia, both are main surviving naginata schools. Japanese Wikipedia states that Jikishinkage-ryu uses a smaller and lighter naginata and also differs in clothing and kneeling.
Who was Sonobe Hideo?
According to Nihon Kobudo Kyokai, the 15th holder of the school from 1895, who worked for naginata instruction for women. Ellis Amdur states she became famous for many victories in bouts against kendoka.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.