Talk:Shintō Musō-ryū/Archive 1

"Kurod-period" Description

I added the "kurod-period" description, the years between Gonnosuke and the start of Meiji-period for lack of a better term. I know the japanese like to use periods, like "showa"-period or "meiji"-period so I figured it wouldnt be totally inaproperiate.Fred26 12:49, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

"...used in several seitei (modern) martial arts such as bujinkan..."

Some bujinkan practitioners might take issue with the bujinkan being labeled as a modern art. As a combined curriculum it may be new, but each of the nine schools of the bujinkan are about as old, if not older than SMR. I've removed reference to the bujinkan here since the correctness of this statement could be argued either way. Surely there are other modern jō staff arts which could serve as an example?--63.193.241.64 22:43, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Fine by me. The many controversial issues regarding Ninjitsu & Bujinkan shouldn't be discussed here in any case and as you said, there are better examples of jo-usage in other martial arts. This whole ninjitsu-thing is enough explosive as it is. I recommend the E-budo.com/forums for anyone interested in serious discussions regarding bujinkan. :) Fred26 07:53, 19 April 2006 (UTC)

Creating a seperate History section soon

I just went over the total size for this article with and without the History section. 53 kb with and 34 kb without. I'm gonna make preparations to split the History section into a new sub-article. Fred26 17:25, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

Fred (and all)

Please make sure that any information you place here is referenced properly, and put through a spelling and grammar checker. It also a good idea to throw it to someone else and have it checked for readability. I just went through and edited some of the writing and the "reiho" being related to the samurai. Honestly speaking, the reiho in SMR is more modern than anything else- taking on a flavor of Kendo at times and "Educational System/Military" budo (the barking commands, etc.). Truly, this stuff exists outside the ryu itself and in the society. The reiho that would exist inside the budo would be something different, as seen in other martial arts using special ceremonial bowing- those are truly "bushi" specific methods of etiquette. Kudos! -Russ Mekugi 11:40, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

Well I'm doing my best with what I have. English isnt my first langauge and I have no formal education aside from what I learned in high-school. Yer point about "reiho", (which I had to look up in a dictionary by the way), is well taken. Fred26 13:14, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

No worries! Good job really! 221.30.246.207 07:29, 27 February 2007 (UTC)

Just a heads-up; the Organisations

In my humble opinion...well almost humble anyways..is that this articles only weak point is the information on the organisations. I'm preparing right now to revamp it all and put some more meat on it and reorganise it. After that I'll head to the sub-articles for the final push.

• edit*

By "weak" I mean it is severly lacking information in comparison to other sections. This article is far from perfect.Fred26 13:48, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

GA-status

I submitted the article to GA status since I think it covers the criteria but points might be raised. Since I didn't edit the article I suppose I could promote it myself but a second uninvolved opinion is always worthwhile. Pass or fail the next step would be peer review. I also think History of Shinto Muso-ryu Jodo should undergo the same process but I suggest we wait and see how this main article progresses or at least wait until on GA review is complete before nominating the second article. This way points made for this article may also be pre-emptively taken care of for the second. My feeling generally is that GA status followed by incorporating the changes suggested by peer review makes an article A-class and both the articles are good candidates.Peter Rehse 03:36, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Good Article Review

• Support No surprise there I nominated the article but I do have one point I would like to see addressed although it does not affect my vote. In the References section there are only three citations that are incorporated as inline references (multiple times) but eight further tacked on to the end of those. I think it would help alot if those latter references were incorporated into the text at least once per each.Peter Rehse 08:24, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Hm..I see what you mean. I'd forgotten bout that. Those were my main sources until I found better material. In most cases those other sources were based in the two main works: "Matsui, Kenji . 1993. The History of Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu") and ("Pascal Krieger Jodô - la voie du bâton"). I think I can remove a few sources as they are reduntant and doesn't offer anything not already said in the above works. I'll get right on it as soon as I get back home from work. Fred26 12:39, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

I'm happy - I now Strongly support.Peter Rehse 02:24, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

• Comment It's very close to GA, but I would like to see the following things addressed:
  • Consistency with WP:MOS-JP for terms and names of people.
  • Less use of Japanese terms in discussion (Japanese terms should be indicated parenthetically, and used as little as possible - this overlaps with the previous issue)
  • The whole page needs to be moved to Shintō Musō-ryū or Shindō Musō-ryū, depending on which one is more widely used. So moved including the related articles - the old names of course are kept as redirects.Peter Rehse 02:20, 13 March 2007 (UTC)
  • It would be nice if the citations used the "ref" form, but I guess that's not mandatory as long as all references are consistent.

I would be inclined to support if these are addressed, and I'll do some copyediting myself to help out. Bradford44 16:07, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

• I agree fully. I'm lacking in those areas (japanese names and terms). I'd apreciate any help.
• A move to Shintō Musō-ryū sounds good. I recommend we choose "Shinto" instead of "Shindo" as the former gets more results in google/altavista. MovedPeter Rehse 02:21, 13 March 2007 (UTC)
• Here I must admitt my lacking again. "Ref", not sure exactly what you mean I should do instead of the current reference-code. ~

Give the word and I'll fix the stuff I'm able. (naming might be trickier) Oh, please keep in mind that "History of SMR" sub-acticle is still not synched with my latest Shinto Muso-ryu article revamp & sourcing. I still haven't started as I wished to finish here first. I would ask it isnt recommended for peer review until I get the source-tags and other things in order.Fred26 16:26, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

You can also nominate "History of SMR" for GA-status yourself - in fact why don't we just leave that to you since you seem on top of things. I would still wait until the GA process is complete for this article to see what other comments pop up. I would also not forget Shintō Musō-ryū Jo Kata - the third article in the series - which has similar problems. Fix those problems there and add a pici and it is at least a good B.Peter Rehse 02:42, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

• Update. I've finished with the restructoring of the references section. I also removed the extended information in each of the "ref". I used to use this box for every ref-tag:

"ref name="CWTJ">Matsui, Kenji . 1993. The History of Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu, translated by Hunter Armstrong (Kamuela, HI: International Hoplological Society)</ref".

But now instead I use the buttoned down version:

"ref name="CWTJ">#1</ref" ("<" and ">" removed for show). I honestly didn't know bout the short version until a few weeks ago hehe :). Fred26 17:58, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

In the Notable Shinto Muso-ryu practitioners subsection the inline links should be converted to in line references.Peter Rehse 02:44, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

I also played a few games with the note and references to avoid external link pointers in the reference list and also that the numbers should come behind punctuation.Peter Rehse 09:48, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

• Comment The infobox (and to a lesser extent, related parts of the article) is extremely confusing to someone like myself, with no independant knowledge of SMR. Are the ryu listed in the infobox practiced by SMR, or just the arts originally taught by those ryu? At class, does the SMR instructor say, "today we're practicing Isshin-ryu", or does he say, "today, we're practicing kusarigamajutsu"? Finally, how is the odachi listed as a weapon practiced under the umbrella of jojutsu, tanjojutsu, kusarigamajutsu, and juttejutsu? The infobox should be an extremely direct and simplified way of summarizing information - this is very confusing. Check out the box at Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, it is a good example of how it should be done. Bradford44 14:57, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Well..my teacher usually say: "Lets train some tanjo" or "lets train some kenjutsu". The main point I was trying to make in the info-box entry on "isshin-ryu" (and so on), was the name of the assimilated ryu which is trained. Katori Shinto-ryus different arts, kenjutsu, iaijutsu and so on, are not "auxiliary arts", they are not a "ryu". All of the auxiliary arts of Shinto Muso-ryu were independant ryu that were adopted into SMR and that is, I believe an important piece of info to add, though I obviously didnt want to make it more confusing than informative. That was the point I was trying to make in the info-box: "SMR teaches kusarigamajutsu, specifically the Isshin-ryu school of kusarigamajutsu" .I failed obviously to make it clear. :-). I also wanted to describe what weapons are used. Example: a spear is used against the kusarigama in some kata so I added the yari as weapon. But anyways, I can see how it is confusing. I'll get right on it.

Oh, by the way, I'm the original developer of this type of info-box as found in the SMR, Katori, Jikishinkage-ryu, Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu, Kashima Shinto-ryu, Kashima Shinryu and prolly some others. :-).Fred26 21:50, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

• Comment I've never seen the term "shihanke" used before. The article uses it very frequently but never defines it. This should be corrected, and a suitable English word should be used instead, if practical. Also, what kanji does it use? 師範家? Like an amalgam of Shihan and Soke, meaning the "model/expert teacher of the house"? Bradford44 19:50, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Shihanke was a term I picked up from a fellow Jodoka over a year back and he and his jo-group used that definition to describe Shimizu and Shiraishi, and it stuck on me since it was a bit of taboo to call either "headmaster". Soke is out of the question as well. Shihanke does exist though: [1]. In any case, I used it until I could find better (english) word which doesn't mean headmaster but still a senior position. Fred26 21:50, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

• Comment Also, the article needs to be internally consistent as to the use of jodo and jojutsu. First, which one does Shinto Muso-ryu practice? If it used to practice jodo, but now practices jojutsu, this should be made clear. Right now, the terms are used nearly interchangably. If the terms are in fact interchangable, that's fine, but then that should be made clear, and whichever is used the most should be used thereafter.

Bradford44 19:56, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Ah..Yeh, jodo and jojutsu are used interchangeably and I'll take steps to make i clear in the article(s). To be honest even within the SMR community it is a bit tricky since SMR-Jo has no single leader or org. That means every org has their own definition. I believe the Kyushu Jo-groups frequently referrs to the art as "jojutsu", while Shimizu-lines usually referrs to it as "jodo" as it was Shimizu Takaji who first named the art "Jodo" from the old "Jojutsu".Kinda like how Iaido, Judo and Aikido came to be. It was in the spirit of the times: A new age with more "do" than "jutsu". I was diplomatic when I named "Shintō Musō-ryū Jo Kata", (instead of Jodo or Jojutsu just "jo"). Anyways, I'll make this issue more clear in the article. Thanks for your input, I apreciate any help I can get to make this a good article. Fred26 21:50, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

My impression is that all the concerns have been addressed. Please take another look and add any further or unaddressed concerns.Peter Rehse 01:10, 17 March 2007 (UTC)

I still have to fix the info-box and the concerns voiced by Bradford44. Fred26 07:53, 17 March 2007 (UTC)

I've made some modifications on the info-box. Hopefully it makes more sense now. Fred26 08:19, 18 March 2007 (UTC)

Right, besides the stuff I mentioned I'd fix even before the GA-nomination I'm pleased with the current version of the SMR main-article. The info-box looks acceptable. Fred26 16:03, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

• Comment It's still too listy for my taste. I think some of the lists should be rewritten in prose form (such as pretty much every list under the "Grades - new and classical" section). Also, maybe the lists of techniques, stances, and organizations. Consider that if you don't have enough to say about the stuff in the list to be able to rewrite it in prose form, then perhaps the information isn't interesting or notable enough for inclusion in the article. On the other hand, I invite you to convince me that I'm wrong - I'm otherwise very close to supporting GA status. Bradford44 18:43, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

Regarding organisations My first reaction, in accord with what I mentioned earlier bout the Organisations section lacking, is to delete that section from the article until I can (off-site) put together enough material to MAKE it interesting.

Regarding stances

. I've been wondering bout the value meself after going through the article these past weeks with more scrutiny. The sword-kamae is fairly general and not very unique. The Jo-kamae is of course unique, but prolly meaningless to the average reader with no knowledge of the system since no descriptions are included..And I see no reason to include descriptions of the kamae itself. I'll delete that paragraph.

Regarding the gradings. I think I have an idea of what you mean with writing it in "prose". I'll get on it.

Regarding techniques The list of techniques I see no reason to remove. Kamae, yes. Techniques, no. The kihon is a pillar of the Shinto Muso-ryu system. No it wasnt part of the original densho, but it is used to teach valueble lessons in distance, timing and not to forget the opportunity to train techniques before performing them in a complex kata. If I remove the list of techniques then whats the point in having an article with the list of Jo-kata? I have no intention of removing that one either. If this costs the article your GA-vote then thats the way it is. If you feel a description is necessary for each of the kihon then all I can say is that I cannot create individual descriptions of the kata and kihon in the allowed time. Fred26 19:12, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

I'm going to promote. I think there has been good discussion and the points addressed. I am sure that the main author will address the few outstanding issues shortly but a) the nomination has been out there long enough and b) the article is well within the GA-criterea. The next step of course is peer review in I would say at least a months time (longer if the article changes significantly) before promotion to A-class or higher. With respect to the related articles the authors are encouraged to self-nominate when they are ready.Peter Rehse 12:03, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

The "notable practitioners"

I just had a thought. One of the main (original) reasons for having a notable practitioners section was to simply point a finger at individuals who practiced Jodo and were in one case or another, "noticable". Nakayama Hakudo is definietly a noticable person in the world of Budo. Donn Draeger likewise. But along the way I have (inadvertedly) modified it as to include high-rankers within the SMR with their own organisations. I think that perhaps I should infuse those entries into the lack-luster "Organisations"-section of the SMR-article and thus kill two birds in one stone. I still dont have a working idea since I still havent got all the materials I've been putting together for the expansion I promised earlier. But that is just a matter of time.

And as a continuation of that thought: I could put together sort of lineage chart for the organisations as they are today. It would be a version of the lineage-chart found in the History of SMR-article but would include how all these modern orgs trace their lineage back to Shiraishi Hanjiro, Uchida Ryogoro and so on. That may be overkill though, but I'll check to see if it is practical. Fred26 16:56, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

I havent forgotten the improvment

Sorry if things have moved slow but I've been taking a mini-break from wiki after the latest push I made. I'll get right on the finshing touches on this article (the issues we have discussed so far) as soon as possible. Fred26 20:28, 29 March 2007 (UTC)

Hello all. As you may have noticed I have started with the total revamp of the organisations section. As of the date of this message I have only completed the first of several additions. I removed the old entry entirely but the information contained there WILL be incorporated once I get the material in order. So all the info found there earlier will be reinstated shortly. Fred26 10:02, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Improvement to bowing and formalities

Hi Peter! Thanks for your input. Currently I am working on section that is perplexing to many - the reiho of Shinto Muso Ryu (i.e. bowing and formalities). There are basically three ways to do this stuff, one is "Modern-era formal"- the other is "19th-century-era formal" and then "Old-school formal." These don't necissarily follow set patterns from group to group, but I am hoping that an overview will be broad enough to make some things clearer. It's hard not to make it confusing to the average reader, so when I am finished I am thinking of sending a copy out to each of you before submitting it online. Tell me what you think.... -Russ (Mekugi 04:01, 10 April 2007 (UTC))

Dont forget Kasari :) Fred26 10:03, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Correct Kanji

I think you should check again the kanji for go-mokuroku. In most cases I use this kanji 後 'go' as meaning 'after'. The current kanji you used 極 has a different meaning. For reference Nishioka's Japanese website lists his gomokuroku as 神道夢想流杖の「後目録」This usage fits in with shomokuro 初目録 meaning before. I have checked this with the IJA and they use 後目録. Ynambu 19:13, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

I wasn't sure so I took a guess at it. Thanks for clearing it up, I'll fix it right away. Bradford44 19:50, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

I am currently reading through Kuroda Ichitaro's SMR papers. I am checking the Kanji he used for all the SMR techniques and kata. I am (slowly) transferring those to a database and cross checking them with the National Diet library. I added Kanji for the Kihon techniques today. Ynambu 16:09, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

Can we please check the translation and meaning of 丸木を以て、水月を司令 - The term Motte shown does not have the meaning of 'to hold' although it sounds the same (and has been used by some Jodo groups as 'to hold') The Kanji shown 以 imparts the meaning of 'to use' or 'to control' and also 'because of' I have confirmed this disparity with the notes of Kuroda Ichitaro. Ynambu 13:37, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

Hm..this is beyond me I'm afraid. I didnt add the kanji for that, not sure who did. The reference to Matsui Kenji source is about hte actual story about Muso Gonnosukes dream/vision, cant remember seeing the kanji in his text though. Fred26 14:35, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

Ok. I'll take this up at the National Diet Library on Friday. I'm meeting a professor in Japanese language studies. Ynambu 15:04, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

Well, I added the kanji, but the Japanese phrasing predated my involvement. It originally said (with original translation in parentheses):

• maruki o motte, suigetsu o shire ("Holding a round stick, know the suigetsu")

Just to confirm: "maruki o motte, suigetsu o shirei" is the exact quote from Matsui Kenjis text in english. Of course there is always the possibility of a japanese-english translation error, but we should assume there isn't. Fred26 16:02, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

Are you sure about the "i" on the end of "shire"? Bradford44 17:14, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

It's not. That little "i" is a sneaky little letter that just came along for the ride. Fred26 18:56, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

First, because I couldn't find a verb meaning "to know" with any conjugation coming anywhere close to "shire", I assumed this was a typo, and added the "i" on the end, which means to "command" or "control", rather than "know", which still made sense to me. Second, I added the kanji, and although I'm no Japanese expert, and I could only find two kanji that could be pronounced motte. One was 以, and being used in the verb "mottesuru", meaning "to do by the use of", I thought it was probably more accurate. Admittedly however, the other I found: 持, carries the meaning of "hold", or "have", so obviously it is also quite accurate.

Does anyone have an original source for the kanji, and was I wrong to change it from "shire" to "shirei" in the first place? Bradford44 15:17, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

It's confusing indeed. Here is one site that has it written with some differences. 丸木を以て水月を知れ - I must admit this version seems to be more in line with what I would expect to see after hearing the sentence. http://www1.linkclub.or.jp/~yukos/dazaifu/d11jodo.htm Ynambu 15:53, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

I agree - that makes much more sense, being written as "maruki o motte, suigetsu o shire", as it did before I added the "i" to the end of "shire". Bradford44 17:14, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

Kihon techniques

Thanks Ynambu, for the fantastic Japanese language work! I had a question for you, though. What determines whether a technique such as Gyakute Uchi should be written as 逆手打, or 逆手打ち ?

Second question: I think the WP:MOS prefers more English-centrism for English language articles, and as such, the list of kihon should take the form of:

• English translation (kanji romanized Japanese)

Can you provide the translations? Bradford44 16:55, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

Well, my plan is to catalog all the kanji being currently used for all the techniques, kata and other such things. There are many variances that have come up. I've send my first datalist to Matsui Kenji (SMR) and Hibara Kenichi (National Diet librarian) Once I get feedback from them and correlate it all I'll start going through the article and adding the Kanji as per the WP:MOS. Yes, your point about Gyakute Uchi (and others) is well taken. Matsui uses 逆手打 but other instructors use 逆手打ち Ynambu 20:48, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

I'm no kanji-expert so I cant provide anything useful from my part, and I got no sources for it anyways. If you can provide a verified Matsui Kenji list of kanji along with his translation from his own hands then I think that will be fine. Fred26 06:31, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

Well Matsui is only one instructor. He has an excellent reputation. I not planning on relying on just one source. Ynambu 07:46, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

No arguments here about his reputation :-). Fred26 09:22, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

Photos of related arts

I have added a juttejutsu photo. I have also uploaded a hojojutsu photograph - hojo2.jpg. If anyone wants to put that photo in the article - go ahead. I'm still working on the Kanji.Ynambu 16:50, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

Excellent pic. I'll put it on the Ikkaku-ryu-article as well. Fred26 05:56, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

Phrasing

"These designated levels are not standard but prone to the organisations individual preference."

I think this sentence does not mean what you think it means. I do not understand the use of 'prone to' here.

How about "These designated levels are not standard but vary according to each organizations preference."Ynambu

I need my coffee before I can put together fully logical sentences. Be my guest. Fred26 16:13, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

I'll re-read it first. Everything else is ok it was just that one thing that seemed out of place.Ynambu 16:52, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

assimilated arts

While we are on the subject of the assimilated arts. I wonder if we can clarify the status of some of the arts. For example these days Isshin Ryu Kusarigama jutsu is being taught completely independent of SMR. They have their own Dojo, teachers, students and actual competitions etc. On the other hand Tanjo jutsu is so minor a ryu nobody is going to specialize in that. Also Kaminoda is identified as the headmaster of the two schools of Kusarigamajutsu and Kenjutsu. That reads confusingly. Which arts are completely sublimated and which arts are significant enough to actual have their own license issued. It all reads a bit murky.Ynambu 23:55, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

I'll check my sources again. I added Kaminodas entry a long time ago, need to double-check. I havent heard personally that Isshin-ryu is today taught as a separate art with "own dojo, teachers, students". Is it Kaminoda?

What I do know is that Isshin-ryu originally was created outside the SMR and later brought in. Shinto-ryu kenjutsu lineage points it to Muso Gonnosukes Katori-teacher, (The whole "Kasumi Shinto-ryu"), and it seems to make sense. It is however the oldest ryu within SMR as it is mentioned quite early in the documents. The Kusarigama came into the SMR-system via Shiraishi who learned it from a Isshin-ryu Menkyo. The Jutte/Hojo has some indications as being creations of previous SMR-Shihans, and of course Uchida-ryu prolly has the most well-documented lineage of them all. I'll go through my sources again. Fred26 04:11, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

I went to Kaminoda dojo in shibuya. There was a small newsletter pinned up which had photos of several Isshin ryu groups and results of some sort of Kusarigama competition. It also had the address of a dojo in Yotsuya. I went there last week. It's only for Kusarigama practice. The teacher had a license from Kaminoda on the wall. He gave me the address of another dojo in Kawasaki for Kusarigama but it's a bit far for me to go right now. That' what I know so far. Ynambu 10:35, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

Interesting. So you are saying, if what you say is true, that Kaminoda Sensei has given non-SMR practitioners a license in Isshin-ryu, and those practitioners has started their own dojos dedicated entirely to Isshin-ryu and also introduced competitions? Fred26 11:42, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

Well I didn't see them doing Jo and they didn't have any Jo or bokuto available. Maybe they were just a Kusarigama 'interest group' within SMR. There was a website in the newsletter http://homepage3.nifty.com/-samidare-/yurai5.html Some of the photos there have some of the Dojo people in it with Kusarigama in hand. Anyway maybe you can get more info on the status of the assimilated arts. I just wanted to follow up on you saying Kaminoda was 'headmaster' of Isshin ryu and Shinto Ryu. Ynambu 12:06, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

Yes I'm still working on it. I think in all likely hood I typed in the Kaminoda entry using questionable sources sometime last year. I didnt get my hands on really good material until recently. I'm gonna double-check to see if Kaminoda really has been referred to as a Headmaster of the two systems. I should get a reply by tomorrow. I'm gonna check the whole Isshin-ryu thing as well. Maybe its a localized thing and not heard of in the west. Fred26 12:53, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

Thanks. More info would be helpful. I'm sort of into this now because I wanted to clean up the Kanji on each of the related articles. Right now there is only Ikkaku ryu 一角流十手術 that has it's complete name entered. Kusarigama, Kenjutsu, Hojo, Tanjo are either incomplete or missing all together.Ynambu 13:26, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

I did a brief inquiry yesterday evening about the Isshin-ryu. That Kaminoda Sensei has given out licenses to non-SMR practitioners seemed a bit far out according to my inquries. However, I did learn to my amazement that the original Isshin-ryu, (which Shiraishi got a Menkyo in), is still active today as a seperate entity. This was news to me, though of course I havent specifically read anywhere that the ryu had ceased to exist.

This here is just my own specualtion, but perhaps what you saw were some sort of joint sessions with the existing independant Isshin-ryu community and with Kaminodas SMR Isshin-ryu. Assuming for a moment that the original Isshin-ryu and the SMR-Isshin-ryu are "compatible", then perhaps there have been joint-sessions and perhaps (emphasize on "perhaps") Kaminoda has given an Isshin-ryu license to students of the original Isshin-ryu. (thats assuming it was an actualy proper license of Isshin-ryu given to a non-jodoka you saw). That would make alot of sense actually since I've never heard of a SMR-teacher willing to teach the assimilated arts as a seperate entity.

The whole "Kaminoda recognised headmaster of Isshin-ryu & kenjutsu" issue is still mudded however. I do remember reading it somewhere, and my sensei has heard of Kaminoda being referenced this way on some occassion but haven't got a proper source. Since I cant actually find a source for that statement (now anyways) I'm gonna remove it from the article, at least until I can find a proper source. Fred26 05:56, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

Kihon translation

Here is something that might help. Its taken from Pascal Kriegers book and describes the meaning of the kihon-names. It might help yer translation further if you feel it's necessary.

Each of the Kihon in order 1-12.

• Hon:basic, normal; Te: hand ; Uchi : strike

Striking with the hand in a basic position

• Gyaku:opposite, reverse ; Te:hand ; uchi: strike

Striking with the hand in reverse position

• Hiki: draw back; Otoshi: drop down ;Uchi: strike

Draw the jo back and strike down

• Kaeshi: change, turn around.; Tsuki: Thrust

Reverse the weapon and thrust

• Gyaku:opposite, reverse ; Te:hand ; Tsuki: thrust.

Thrusting with the hand in reverse position.

• Maki : envelop, wrap ; Otoshi: drop down.

To drop down with an enveloping movement.

• Kuri: guide; Tsuke: stick, glue

To guide and stick the weapon against the body

• Kuri: guide; Hanashi: Let go

To guide and let go

• Tai:body ; Atari:hit, crush in

To crush in the body

• Tsuki: thrust; Hazushi: evade, deflect; Uchi: strike

deflect a thrust and strike.

• Do: Torso; Barai (or harai): sweep; Uchi:strike.

Strike on a sweeping action to the torso.

• Tai:body; Hazushi:evade, deflect; Uchi:Strike

To evade with the body and strike Fred26 19:29, 10 June 2007 (UTC)

Shimizu Takaji now redirects here

After consideration I decided to do a redirect of the Shimizu Takaji article to the main SMR article. I have extremely little material on him in english and not even the SMR material I have in english go into enough depth as to warrant having a seperate article. Of course if anyone wishes to greatly expand the Shimizu Takaji article then by all means go ahead. Fred26 07:53, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

Modern Japanese names

You have added a REALLY strange name to the captions 'Katsuhi ko Arai' - It's a mistake - In modern Japan Japanese can have only two names in their family resiter- family and first name. I deeply suspect the name is Katsuhiko Arai - Unless this guy is very very weird and has split his first name into two (it would be a first in Japan) Please double check it. Ynambu 15:57, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

Tis was a mistake. An extra space accidentaly sneaked into it. Yes its Katsuhiko Arai, a student of Nishioka Tsuneo. It's fixed. (edit) He is also shown here [2] Fred26 16:34, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

I'm still confused and I don't want to edit without checking. In one photo you have it as Katsuhiko Arai and in the other it's Katsuhi ko Arai. Ynambu 17:12, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

No need to be confused mate :-), I used copy & paste earlier to enter the names quickly. I forgot to fix the second photo. Fred26 17:31, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

ok thanks. BTW did you note the photo of Shiraiishi. Nice to have that one. Really adds to the lineage.Ynambu 17:38, 13 June 2007 (UTC)

Yes, it was a good find. Fred26 04:28, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

Grades in the Nihon Jodokai

Does the NJK use 面 or 表 for "omote", and does it use "kage" (影, meaning "shadow) or some homophone for "kage"? Let me know and I (or anyone else) can fill in the rest of the rank translations and kanji. Bradford44 18:23, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

They use 表 for "omote" and 影 for "kage" - See listing on NJK website here. http://homepage3.nifty.com/-samidare-/kensyuu1.html Ynambu 15:15, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the reply - you don't happen to also know what kanji are used for the term "shihanke", do you? Bradford44 15:50, 15 June 2007 (UTC)

Shihanke - 師範家 Ynambu 18:04, 15 June 2007 (UTC)