Oishi Susumu
大石進種次
Japanese swordsman (1798–1863), a retainer of the Tachibana clan and founder of the Oishi Shinkage-ryu school, known for thrusting techniques with a shinai up to 1.6 m long.
Quick Facts
JapanBiography
Oishi Susumu, by his full name Oishi Susumu Tanetsugu, lived from 1798 to 1863. The English Wikipedia's article on him is titled Oishi Susumu, but its text gives the name as Oishi Susumi Tanetsugu. He was a retainer of the Tachibana clan and was active in the Tenpo period, the first half of the 19th century. According to the source, he stood 210 cm tall.
He trained in the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu school and then founded his own school, Oishi Shinkage-ryu. He specialized in powerful thrusting techniques and used exceptionally long swords or shinai, up to 1.6 metres. He modified his armor with elaborate deflecting ridges and flaps meant to confuse the opponent's attacks.
According to the source, his school attracted many students and made Oishi fairly wealthy. He also earned from the so-called dojo arashi: he challenged masters of rival schools and accepted payments in exchange for refraining from a public duel. According to the source, he suffered a quick, humiliating defeat by Otani Nobutomo of the Jikishinkage-ryu school.