Nakayama performing Hasagawa Eishin Ryu Iai sword drawing Kata. The demonstration takes place in front of the Emperor, Showa(15) in 1940.
This shows Goro Saimura in the Seigan (Chudan) Kamae.
A group of the prominent Kendo Masten in front of the Butokuden building in Kyoto, Taisho(4) 1915. The masters are:
Front centre - Takaharu Naito
Second row centre - Sosuke Nakano
Third row, third from the right - Yuji Taima, sixth from the right -Moriji Mochida.
Back row, first from the right - Kinnosuke Ogawa, second from the right - Goro Saimura.
An early Showa period (1926-1989) picture depicting Kendo Masters.
In the centre is Dr. Kiji Tajimi. The front left to right) shows Norimasa
Kozeki, Sasaburo Takano, Hakudo Nakayama.
The back (left to right) shows Kinnosuke Ogawa, Moriji Mochida, Sohachi Shimatani, Sosuke Nakano, Goro Saimura.
The Hasso Kata taken from the Jiltishin Kage Ryu No Kata, published in 1901 by Meishin Saito.
I would like to offer from the Budo Hokan of Showa Tenran Shiai Huroku Dai Nihon Yuben Kai (kodansha press 1930 showa 5) a translation of the philosophy of the kata, and some interpretation into the meanings.
UCHIDACHI
HANSHI (SASABURO TAKANO)
SHIDACHI
HANSHI (HAKUDO NAKAYAMA)
TACHI NO KATA
Each KATA means as follows:
DAI Ippon (the first)
Kamae of AI-JODAN, having SEN-attitude both move forward to each other, and then SHIDACHI wins by means of SEN-SEN-NO-SEN.
DAI Nihon (the second)
Kamae of AI-CHUDAN, having SEN-attitude both move forward to each other, and then SHIDACHI wins by means o SEN-SEN-NO-SEN.
DAI Sanbon (the third)
Kamae of AI-GEDAN, having SEN-attitude both move forward to each other, and then SHIDACHI wins by means of SEN-SEN-NO-SEN.
DAI Yohon (the fourth)
Kamae of IN-YO-NO-KAMAE, both move forward to each other, and then SHIDACHI wins by means of GO-NO-SEN.
DAI Gohon (the fifth)
Kamae of JODAN and SEIGAN, having SEN-attitude both move forward to each other, and then SHIDACHI wins by means of SEN-SEN-NO-SEN.
DAI Roppon (the sixth)
Kamae of SEIGAN and GEDAN, having SEN-attitude both move forward to each other, and then SHIDACHI wins by means of GO-NO-SEN.
DAI Nanahon (the seventh)
Kamae of AI-SEIGAN, having SEN- attitude both move forward to each other, and then SHIDACHI wins by means of GO-NO-SEN.
Ono Ha Itto Ryu Kata, with Naritomo Tsurumi on the right and Junzo Sasamori on the left.
Another display of Ono Ha ltto Ryu Kata, with Junzo Sasamori on the right and Sasaburo Takano on the left.
Prize winners in Showa(4) 1929. Mochida Sensei is in the centre and Yokata Sensei is on the right.
Sen - Stop your opponent’s attack by first movement, forestall, attitude of taking the initiative. This does not mean speed, more subconsciously seeing the origin of every real action, or the practised ability to read a changing situation instantly. Having or assuming an advance intention of victory.
SEN SEN NO SEN - Anticipating your opponent’s intention and capitalising on this knowledge to have victory.
GO NO SEN - Responding to your opponent’s attacking movements by countering from them, without knowing your opponent’s intention beforehand.
Reaction in Sen Sen No Sen and Go No Sen must be carried out at a faster speed than the actions of the attacker. Having a sincere and pure attitude of the single mind, unwavering and of a high and delicately refined quality. This is Kigurai and should be combined with Sen attitude.
Further definitions for Sen: Initiative, advantage, first-step and ambition.
Attitude...Position of the body indicating mood or emotion. Position can also be defined as proper place.
KODACHI NO KATA
Dai Ippon
Kamae: Uchidachi, Jodan, Shidachi, Chudan. Shidachi wins by rushing in and entering Irimi Uchidachi instantly. Feeling of shin.
Dai Nihon
Kamae: Uchidachi, Gedan, Shidachi, Chudan wins by provoking uchidachi and counter cutting. Feeling of gyo.
Dai Sanbon
Kamae: Uchidachi, Chudan, Shidachi, Gedan. Shidachi wins by thwarting and controlling every attack made by uchidachi without actually cutting him. Feeling of so.
These three feelings are somewhat different to the sen attitudes due to the differing sword length, although sen is applied throughout all the kata.
Moriji Mochida, in old age, demonstrates the Jodan Kamae.
An example of Shinai Kendo with Mochida Sensei on the right and Nakano Sensei on the left. The scene is from the Showa(40) 1966.
A demonstration of Nihon Kendo Kata by Moriji Mochida and Goro Saimura at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Further
