Kashima Shin-ryu
鹿島神流Versatile old school from Kashima, founded per dictionaries by Matsumoto Bizen-no-kami. Besides the sword it teaches jujutsu, naginata and spear.
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About Kashima Shin-ryu
Kashima Shin-ryu is an old martial arts school from Kashima in Hitachi province. The Daijisen Plus dictionary says it was founded in the Warring States period by Matsumoto Bizen-no-kami, a priest of the Kashima shrine, and that it developed into a versatile martial art that works with the naginata and the cross spear alongside the sword. The Jinmei daijiten dictionary writes that Matsumoto was born in 1468 and learned the sword from Iizasa Choisai. The year of origin differs between sources. The guide koryu.com gives around 1450, English Wikipedia around 1500. According to Japanese Wikipedia the school has two lines, the Kunii family and a line derived from Matsumoto, which merged in the twelfth generation. The guide koryu.com lists kenjutsu, naginatajutsu, sojutsu, battojutsu, jujutsu and bojutsu in the curriculum. According to Japanese Wikipedia the core of the school is the sword and jujutsu, and the other weapons follow the same logic as the sword. In the 20th century, according to English Wikipedia, the school was made famous by Kunii Zen'ya (1894–1966). The guide koryu.com names Seki Fumitake as the current holder of the 19th generation, English Wikipedia names Kunii Masakatsu as the current holder of the Kunii family. Neither the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai nor the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai includes the school in its lists.
History
The Daijisen Plus dictionary says Kashima Shin-ryu arose in the Warring States period and was founded by Matsumoto Bizen-no-kami, a priest of the Kashima shrine in Hitachi province. The Jinmei daijiten dictionary writes that Matsumoto was born in 1468, was one of the four senior retainers of the Kashima clan and a shrine priest, learned the sword from Iizasa Choisai and became the founder of Kashima Shin-ryu. Sources write his name with different characters. The guide koryu.com gives the time of origin as around 1450, English Wikipedia as around 1500. According to English Wikipedia, the oldest elements of the school come from the Kashima sword technique passed down by the priests of the Kashima shrine. Japanese Wikipedia states that the school has two lines, the Kunii family and a line derived from Matsumoto, which merged in the twelfth generation. In the 20th century, according to English Wikipedia, the school was made famous in Japan by the 18th holder, Kunii Zen'ya (1894–1966).
How it differs
English Wikipedia states that Kashima Shin-ryu has only a marginal relationship with Tsukahara Bokuden's Kashima Shinto-ryu. The guide koryu.com lists Kashima Shin-ryu, Kashima Shinto-ryu and Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryu as three separate schools. What links it to Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryu is that both refer to Matsumoto Bizen-no-kami. According to Japanese Wikipedia, the head of one of the lines of Kashima Shin-ryu claims that the tradition of the Kunii family and Jikishinkage-ryu are not separate, because their lines merged.
Technique
The guide koryu.com lists kenjutsu with the odachi, naginatajutsu, sojutsu, battojutsu, jujutsu and bojutsu in the curriculum. English Wikipedia also names jojutsu, kaikenjutsu, hobakujutsu and shurikenjutsu. Japanese Wikipedia states that the core of the school is the sword and jujutsu and that jujutsu and the other weapons follow the same logic as the sword. It also names several groups of forms with the sword and jujutsu and states that a swordsman of the Jikishinkage-ryu added some elements.
Training
According to Japanese Wikipedia, teaching has three levels of goals: first to align the body, then to refine the mind and relations with people, and finally to grasp cosmic principles. The Kashima Shinryu Budo Renmei states on its website that students sign a document to past holders before joining, teaching is allowed only with the current head's permission, and no admission or monthly fees are charged.
Ranks and progression
English Wikipedia lists the grades kirigami, shomokuroku, shoden, chuden, okuden, kaiden and menkyo kaiden. The Kashima Shinryu Budo Renmei writes about itself that it alone issues dan and kyu grades and licenses.
Today
Neither the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai nor the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai includes the school in its lists. The guide koryu.com names Seki Fumitake, based in Ibaraki prefecture, as the current holder of the 19th generation. According to J-STAGE, in 2001 Seki gave a special lecture on Kashima Shin-ryu as a member of the University of Tsukuba. Information on the current leadership differs. The Kashima Shinryu Budo Renmei states that the 18th holder, Kunii Zen'ya, passed the line to Seki, English Wikipedia names Kunii Masakatsu as the current holder of the Kunii family and counts him as the 21st, Japanese Wikipedia as the 19th.
Did you know
Japanese Wikipedia gives a tradition that Matsumoto Bizen-no-kami received the tengusho scroll after praying to the god Kashima, and he is credited with creating the technique ichi no tachi. According to the same Wikipedia, Kunii Zen'ya trained Nen-ryu for three years, from 1926 to 1928.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Kashima Shin-ryu?
The Daijisen Plus dictionary names Matsumoto Bizen-no-kami, a priest of the Kashima shrine from the Warring States period. Sources give the year of origin differently, koryu.com around 1450, English Wikipedia around 1500.
What is the difference between Kashima Shin-ryu and Kashima Shinto-ryu?
They are two different schools. Kashima Shinto-ryu was founded by Tsukahara Bokuden, Kashima Shin-ryu traces itself to Matsumoto Bizen-no-kami, and English Wikipedia states that the two schools have only a marginal relationship.
What is taught in Kashima Shin-ryu?
The guide koryu.com lists kenjutsu, naginatajutsu, sojutsu, battojutsu, jujutsu and bojutsu. According to Japanese Wikipedia, the core of the school is the sword and jujutsu.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.