Gosho-ha Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū

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The Gosho Ha Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū (五所派兵法二天一流, Gosho Ha Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū^?) was one of the branches of the Niten Ichi Ryu, the Kenjutsu school created by Miyamoto Musashi, under the supervision of Gosho Motoharu, Shihan of the 9th generation^[1]. Since April 2007 was reintegrated with the seito^[1] (main line) under Yoshimoti Kiyoshi, 12th successor of Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu and 10th successor of Gosho Ha Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu.

Contents 1 About the ryu 2 Dispute 3 Lineage 3.1 Seito Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu 3.2 Gosho Ha hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu 4 Techniques 5 Grades 6 Embu 7 Places of practice 8 References 9 External links

[edit] About the ryu

After the creation by Miyamoto Musashi, it's believed that the branch "Santô-ha" of the Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu kept unchanged the techniques created by the founder. The ryu arrived the 20th century with the 8th Soke (headmaster), Aoki Kikuo.

In 1961, Aoki Kikuo named one of his closest disciples, Gosho Motoharu, as Shihan^[1] (master responsible for teaching the techniques of the ryu) and Soke Daiken^[2] (adjunct successor) of the 9th generation, and other disciple, Kiyonaga Tadanao, as 9th Soke^[1], with the goal to make sure that the techniques of the style were passed to the future generations. Before, in 1955, Gosho Motoharu had received Menkyo kaiden, the license of total transmission in Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu and Sekiguchi Ryu, the two schools that Aoki Kikuo was headmaster.

Aoki Kikuo died in 1967. In the following years, the two masters continued representing the Niten Ichi Ryu in Japan.

In 1976, Kiyonaga Tadanao died suddenly, without leaving a designed successor^[1]. As Soke Daiken, Gosho Motoharu continued to represent the ryu on this period. After eight months without a soke, the Kiyonaga family asked Gosho Motoharu to prepare Imai Massayuke, a Kendo teacher of the same town, who made contact with the style months earlier interested in learning more about the Bōjutsu of the Niten Ichi Ryu, to stay as 10th soke, while the son of the 9th Soke, Kiyonaga Fumiya, would be the 11th soke.

Gosho Motoharu taught to Imai Massayuke and Kiyonaga Fumiya all the curriculum of the ryu in the following months and years, and remained as the main responsible for the techniques teachings. Together, they represented the ryu on many occasions and countries, such as France (1983)^[2], China (1986)^[2] and Australia (1988)^[2][3].

In the end of the 1980's, the 10th Soke and the Shihan splintered their ways. At this time, Gosho Motoharu was graded as Iaido Hanshi Hachidan by the ZNIR^[2][1]

During the next 15 years, the original form of the katas were preserved by Gosho Motoharu and other students of the 8th Soke.

In November 2003, Imai Massayuke decided that the title soke would no more be used in the ryu, and that there would be three 11th generations successors^[1], who would be named as dai juichi. They were Kiyonaga Fumiya (son of the 9th Soke, Kiyonaga Tadanao) of Oita, Chin Kin (an old student of the 8th Soke, Aoki Kikuo) and Iwami Toshio from Kokura^[1].

Imai Soke put the Jisso Emman no Bokuto, the wooden sword made by Miyamoto Musashi and traditional symbol of his successor, in guard of the Usa Jingu Shrine. Any of the daijuichi or their future successors have access to it by a limited period of time.

In 2004 Kiyonaga Fumiya (dai juichi) died. Most of the ryu members in Japan were his students and decided not to continue under the others successors^[1], but to join Gosho Motoharu in order to give continuity to the original forms of the style.

So was founded the branch Gosho Ha Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu in 2004, with members in Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Hawaii and Chile.

The 10th soke Imai Massayuke, died in 2006. In may 2007 the Oita Prefecture Kendo Department requested the Kiyonaga family and the Gosho Ha Niten Ichi Ryu masters to reestablish the Seito (main line) of Kiyonaga Fumiya in Oita, where the ryu was based since the 9th generation^[1]. The Kiyonaga family granted Yoshimoti Kiyoshi, son of Gosho Motoharu and successor in Gosho Ha Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, as Junidai (12th successor) of Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu Seito under Kiyonaga Fumiya's line^[1].

The two lines were again unified under Yoshimoti Kiyoshi, 12th successor of Miyamoto Musashi, from a unbroken line in both Menkyo Kaiden transmission and recognized succession.

Others masters of the ryu under Yoshimoti Kiyoshi and Gosho Motoharu are Ishii Toyozumi^[1] and Shigematsu Isao in Japan (among others) and Jorge Kishikawa in South America.

The two remaining successors of Imai Massayuke continue to represent the ryu with their own groups.^[4].

[edit] Dispute

Iwami Toshio, one of the three daijuichi successors, disputes the sole representation of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu, not recognizing the two other seito lines. His group alleges that Imai Massayuke changed his mind of having three successors after the decision of Kiyonaga Fumiya to follow without further contact with him and Iwami Toshio.

This group also alleges that Gosho Motoharu cold not establish his family line (Gosho Ha) without the sanction of the present Soke. To this, the group of Gosho Motoharu and Yoshimoti Kyoshi responded that Gosho is Shihan of the 9th generation^[1]. They also don't recognize the status of Iwami Toshio as present Soke.

The title of soke is usually designated from one leader to the next. It's not a hereditary title in Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu. In 2003 Imai Massayuke, the 10th Soke, decided to end the use of this title in the ryu, a fact recognized by Nihon Kobudo Kyokai.

The legitimacy of succession by Yoshimoti is recognized by the Japanese budo community^[1][5]. In 2007, the year of the succession, he represented the ryu in some of the most important events of Japan, such as the Kyoto Taikai and the All Japan Naginata Championship^[1][5].

In September 2007 the Kendo Nippon, the most important publication of Japan about the Sword Arts made a extensive report covering the succession by Yoshimoti.^[1]

About the changes in the katas made by Imai Massayuke, the Iwami Toshio's groups says that Imai Massaiyuke amalgamated and simplified the techniques for technical and didactic reasons. They carry on this altered version of the katas in their demonstrations, practices and seminars.

The group of Gosho Motoharu and Yoshimoti Kyoshi practices the original form of the kata as they were taught by the 8th soke^[1]. This group emphasizes the importance of preserving the essence and form of the techniques unchanged^[1].

[edit] Lineage

^[6]

[edit] Seito Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu

Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Genshin (Miyamoto Musashi) 宮本 武蔵 藤原 玄信

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Terao Kyumanosuke Nobuyuki 寺尾 求馬助

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Terao Gouemon Katsuyuki 寺尾 郷右衛門

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Yoshida Josetsu Masahiro 吉田 如雪

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Santô Hikozaemon Kyohide 山東 彦左衛門

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Santô Hanbê Kiyoaki 山東 半兵衛

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Santô Shinjurô Kiyotake 山東 新十郎

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Aoki Kikuo Hisakatsu 青木 規矩男

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Kiyonaga Tadanao 清長 忠直

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Imai Masayuki　今井 正之

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Kiyonaga Fumiya 清長 忠直

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Yoshimoti Kyoshi (10th successor Gosho Ha Hyoho Niten ichi Ryu)

[edit] Gosho Ha hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu

Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Genshin (Miyamoto Musashi) 宮本 武蔵 藤原 玄信

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Terao Kyumanosuke Nobuyuki 寺尾 求馬助

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Terao Gouemon Katsuyuki 寺尾 郷右衛門

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Yoshida Josetsu Masahiro 吉田 如雪

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Santô Hikozaemon Kyohide 山東 彦左衛門

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Santô Hanbê Kiyoaki 山東 半兵衛

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Santô Shinjurô Kiyotake 山東 新十郎

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Aoki Kikuo Hisakatsu 青木 規矩男

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Gosho Motoharu 五所 元治

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Yoshimoti Kyoshi (12th successor Seito line)

[edit] Techniques

The ryu is famous for its two swords techniques. However, the style is composed also by techniques with single sword and short sword, and also techniques with staff.

Gosho Motoharu and Yoshimoti Kiyoshi preserves these techniques as they arrived the 20th century with the 8th Soke, Aoki Kikuo.

The Bokuto (wooden sword) used have unique attributes.^[7] They are made following the model of a Bokuto made by Miyamoto Musashi himself. Today in possession of the Usa Shrine in Oita, where the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū members annually perform embu (demonstration) at the commemoration of the new year.^[5]

The ryū has the following techniques:

Tachi Seiho 太刀勢法 – 12 techniques with long sword

• Sassen
• Hasso Hidari
• Hasso Migi
• Uke Nagashi Hidari
• Uke Nagashi Migi
• Moji Gamae
• Haritsuke
• Nagashi Uchi
• Tora Buri
• Kazuki
• Aisen Uchidome
• Amashi Uchi

Kodachi Seiho 小太刀勢法 – 7 techniques with short sword

• Sassen
• Chudan
• Uke Nagashi
• Moji Gamae
• Hari Tsuke
• Nagashi Uchi
• Aisen

Nito Seiho 二刀勢法 – 5 techniques with two swords (mentioned in the The Book of Five Rings)

• Chudan
• Jodan
• Gedan
• Hidari Waki Gamae
• Migi Waki Gamae

Bōjutsu 棒術 – 20 techniques with staff

There are also kuden teachings, known only by advanced practitioners. These teachings are not other sets of techniques, but other ways to practice the above mentioned techniques.

There are no other weapons in Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū besides tachi, kodachi, the two together and bō.^[6][7][1]

[edit] Grades

Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, as most kobudo ryu, does not use the Dan/Kyu system of graduation, but the traditional makimono (scroll) system.^[6]

Each Makimono refers to a set of technique. All the licenses must be awarded in order. I.e: One cannot receive okuden (by learning the two swords techniques) before learning the long and short swords techniques (receiving Shoden and Chuden makimono).

The transmission of Menkyo Kaiden is the assurance that the ryu has the same form and methods created by the founder. Of the three representatives of the Seito line, Yoshimoti Kiyoshi is the only one who comes from a unbroken line of Menkyo Kaiden transmission.

Currently (2007), from this unbroken line, there are a few Menkyo Kaiden holders in Japan and only two in the west, one in The United States and, one in South America.^[8].

1 - Shoden: handed down to those who learned completely the katas of the Tachi Seiho.

2 - Chuden: after Shoden, handed down to those who learned completely the katas of the Kodachi Seiho.

3 - Okuden: after Chuden, handed down to those who learned completely the katas of the Nito Seiho.

4 - Menkyo: After Okuden, handed down to those who learned completely the Bōjutsu katas.

5 - Menkyo kaiden: handed down to those who assimilated the entire content of the ryu plus have a deep philosophical knowledge of the Way and of the teachings of the founder.

[edit] Embu

Yoshimoti Kyoshi frequently represents the ryu in important embu (demonstrations).

In 2002^[9] and 2007^[10][1] represented the ryu in the Kyoto Taikai, one of the most important events of martial arts in Japan, held every year in the Kyoto Butokuden.

In 2007 Yoshimoti Kyoshi represent the ryu in other important budo events besides de Kyoto Taikai, such as the All Japan Naginata Championship^[5] and the Miyamoto Yori Taikai, in Kokura.

Another important embu, held every year and specially important for the member of the ryu, is the commemoration of the new year at the Usa Jingu Shrine^[5], where the Miyamoto Musashi's bokuto is held.

[edit] Places of practice

In Japan the ryu under Gosho Motoharu and Yoshimoti Kiyoshi is practiced mostly in Kyusho, specially in Usa, Oita, where the ryu have been based since the 1950's.

In the South America there are students in Argentina, Brazil and Chile.^{[11][12][13][14]}there are more than 800 students of the ryu in the Niten Institute,^[15] under the supervision of Jorge Kishikawa^[16] , a direct student of Gosho Motoharu. Kishikawa was awarded with Menkyo Kaiden by Gosho Motoharu^[17].

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official site of Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu Seito line under Yoshimoti Kiyoshi Junidai