Ni Ten Ichi Ryu

[Bob Hubbard]

Anyone know of a source of relieable info on this style? All I know if its a 2 sword style.

Thanks.:asian:

[arnisador]

It's a song by Photek (http://www.caroline.com/astralwerks/photek/default.html), and a phrase that appears early in the Book of Five Rings (go here (http://www.socialfiction.org/5rings.htm) and search for "Ni Ten"). It appears to be an old swordsmanship (and possibly more) school referred to as The Way of Strategy. I didn't find it at www.koryu.com however.

[Matt Stone]

Ni Ten Ichi Ryu is still practiced in Southern Japan, and has an active following in Kumamoto City, Kyushu. Musashi spent the last few years of his life living in and around Kumamoto, and died in that city after having remained as a guest of the local warlord for the last 5 years of his life.

There are replicas of his swords (which were very large and heavy), writings, and paintings on display at a private gallery in Kumamoto, as well as at Musashi-zuka (his public grave and shrine) and at the cave where he wrote the Go Rin No Sho.

Been there, done that. Tried to attach pics of the trip to this reply, but they are too large. Very interesting trip.

:samurai: :samurai:

[SifuAnderson]

hey Matt can you put the pics up on the yili website.

[Siegfried]

This style was created by Musashi Miyamoto, he wrote a book on it called Gorin no sho,or a Book of Five Rings. Anyway, a relieable source for Niten Ichi ryu would be "A Way to Victory, the Annotated Book of Five Rings". The translator is Hidy Ochiai.

[Matt Stone]

Originally posted by SifuAnderson

hey Matt can you put the pics up on the yili website.

I will do what I can tonight...

For those not in the know, the "Yili Website" is just the Yahoo Groups site for our school/system/association until we can get a proper website up and running...

Just point your browser to www.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan, and look for the photos pages...

Gambarimasu.

[Bob Hubbard]

I got a page not found error just now. Might be my connection though..its been flaky the last few days.

Is there a reliable source of information on the style itself? video, etc? possibly?

All my web searched keep turning up music videos...they are cool, but, not what I'm after. :)

:asian:

[arnisador]

See:
http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=71234#post71234

[ThuNder_FoOt]

Originally posted by arnisador
It's a song by Photek (http://www.caroline.com/astralwerks/photek/default.html), and a phrase that appears early in the Book of Five Rings (go here (http://www.socialfiction.org/5rings.htm) and search for "Ni Ten"). It appears to be an old swordsmanship (and possibly more) school referred to as The Way of Strategy. I didn't find it at www.koryu.com however.

I like that song, the video was great! I have the CD too.

[Matt Stone]

Originally posted by arnisador
I didn't find it at www.koryu.com however.

I'm not sure it is practiced outside of Japan... I am sure there are gaijin that have learned it, but I have never heard (in my "vast" experience :rolleyes: ) of any schools of it outside of Kyushu...

Gambarimasu.
:asian:

[Matt Stone]

Kumamoto City from on high (http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/vwp?.dir=/Kumamoto+Japan&.src=gr&.dnm=Kumamoto+City+and+Castle.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/lst%3f%26.dir=/Kumamoto%2bJapan%26.src=gr%26.view=t)

[Matt Stone]

Musashi's bokuto at a public attraction - probably not the real thing... (http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/vwp?.dir=/Kumamoto+Japan&.src=gr&.dnm=Musashi%27s+Bokuto+-+Again.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/lst%3f%26.dir=/Kumamoto%2bJapan%26.src=gr%26.view=t)

[Matt Stone]

Musashi's bokuto at a private collection showing (http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/vwp?.dir=/Kumamoto+Japan&.src=gr&.dnm=Musashi%27s+Bokuto.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/lst%3f%26.dir=/Kumamoto%2bJapan%26.src=gr%26.view=t)

[Matt Stone]

Musashi's sword at a private collection showing - likely a recreation, live blade and all... (http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/vwp?.dir=/Kumamoto+Japan&.src=gr&.dnm=Musashi%27s+Sword.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/lst%3f%26.dir=/Kumamoto%2bJapan%26.src=gr%26.view=t)

[Matt Stone]

Looking into Reigando Cave, where Musashi wrote the Book of Five Rings (http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/vwp?.dir=/Kumamoto+Japan&.src=gr&.dnm=Reigando+Shrine.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/lst%3f%26.dir=/Kumamoto%2bJapan%26.src=gr%26.view=t)

[Matt Stone]

Looking out of Reigando Cave - the view Musashi may well have had every morning... Beautiful! (http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/vwp?.dir=/Kumamoto+Japan&.src=gr&.dnm=View+from+Reigando.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/lst%3f%26.dir=/Kumamoto%2bJapan%26.src=gr%26.view=t)

[Matt Stone]

The exterior entrance to Reigando Cave (http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/vwp?.dir=/Kumamoto+Japan&.src=gr&.dnm=The+Entrance+to+Reigando+Cave.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/lst%3f%26.dir=/Kumamoto%2bJapan%26.src=gr%26.view=t)

[Matt Stone]

Shinto Shrine for peace located several hundred meters from the entrance to Reigando Cave (http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/vwp?.dir=/Kumamoto+Japan&.src=gr&.dnm=Shinto+Peace+Shrine.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/yilichuan/lst%3f%26.dir=/Kumamoto%2bJapan%26.src=gr%26.view=t)

[Rich Parsons]

All the links seem to be broke for me.

Is it IE or ???

[Matt Stone]

They work fine for me... But I'm using MSN 8.0... :confused:

[arnisador]

Do you have to be a member of a certain Yahoo! group?

[Matt Stone]

That is the Yiliquan Yahoo group site, but when I checked the link, I wasn't signed in (and I don't have my browser configured to sign me in automatically...)...

Not sure what the problem is. I don't have Photoshop or any other photo editor, so I don't know how to resize the photos to make them fit the 500x500 requirement for MT attachments (they are all about 600x480 or so).

Sorry!

Gambarimasu.
:asian:

[RyuShiKan]

Kaith,

You have picked one of the most “copied” and often falsly imitated swords school around.

NiTenIchi Ryu has more than a few folks in Japan that claim connection to or to be the “true” line of this school founded by Miyamoto Musashi. (we get a lot of nut cases in Japan just like in the west)
There is a group that practices this style out of Kyushu (the real deal guys) that attend the Nihon Kobudo Taikai, which I might be going to this Feb…..and if I do will be snapping some pic to put up here if you’re interested.
It is a rather boring event……watch the mpges below and imagine 7 hrs of that over and over and over……..I am getting sleepy just thinking about it.

This website has photo plus Quicktime/mpegs
http://member.nifty.ne.jp/MAIC/japanese/niten/niten-1.html

another:
http://www.hakudoh.com/musasi/

To be honest I don’t know which of these schools if either are the true line but they might give you an idea of what it’s like.

Here are 2 email address that might be of help:
This is a good friend of mine and he might be able to help you find just about anything in the way of sword schools

antony@kendo-world.com

This one is for another style of sword that was used in the "Baby Cart" series.

SuioRyuUSA@AOL.COM

[Bob Hubbard]

Thank you.

I checked out the 2 sites. Interesting vidoes....I agree, not terribly exciting. I'll nose around em a bit more later on. The second site had a very annoying toolbar, wanted to stay centered on my screen, even though it meant cutting off the last few options. heh.

For some reason, seeing those clips, the art makes sence. Its not flashy. That means its boring (to western eyes, or at least mine). But I often wonder if a real combat art would be 'exciting'?

Would definately be interested in seeing pics of the event.

Thank you. :)

[Will Schutt]

Colin Hyakutake's website contains some pages about Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu -- http://www.bunbun.ne.jp/~sword/Hyoho1.html

[ZenYuchia]

Are there any dojos in America that teach Niten Ichi Ryu or am i going to have to study harder in Japanese class and move to Kyushu?

[membru]

well i'm sure on one thing .. that i saw one day my sensei in a fight in dojo... and was super, i have no word to describe..

he won in a this way coz at that time we didn't know what he really did..

just my two cents..

:asian:

[Matt Stone]

Originally posted by ZenYuchia
Are there any dojos in America that teach Niten Ichi Ryu or am i going to have to study harder in Japanese class and move to Kyushu?

I'm not sure, but moving to Kyushu might be a good idea...

Gambarimasu.
:asian:

[ryansaunders]

Does anybody know where in the UK that teachs NiTen Ichi Ryu?

Cheers:asian:

[Randy Strausbaugh]

Originally posted by Kaith Rustaz
Is there a reliable source of information on the style itself? video, etc? possibly? www.buyubooks.com/product_details.cfm?id=10001

Trying to avoid life's potholes,
Randy Strausbaugh

[Saitama Steve]

The hereditary head of Hyoho Niten Ichi ryu kenjutsu is Imai Masayuki sensei and I believe he's in his late seventies, if not early eighties. He operates mainly out of Oita prefecture.

There is another individual that claims to be Soke of Niten Ichi ryu in Kumamoto, but I don't know all of the details. It could be a different line of HNIR.

There are two links to check out;Here (http://www.koryu.com/guide/niten.html)
And here (http://www.bunbun.ne.jp/~sword/Hyoho1.html)

Regards

[arnisador]

A legitimate Soke!

[Saitama Steve]

I'll say, I see him demonstrate HNIR every year at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. He's great at what he does.

[arnisador]

Originally posted by Saitama Steve
I'll say, I see him demonstrate HNIR every year at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.

Ah, to be at the source! Who else do you get to see there? Probably it's a long list!

[Saitama Steve]

Yup, quite a long list. I'm into the classical side of budo, so I generally attend most of the Kobudo demonstrations in eastern Japan.

After you get to see these demos for the umpteenth time, they do start getting a bit lacklustre. Like Ryushikan said, they can put you to sleep if you see them more than once.

Regards

[RyuShiKan]

Originally posted by Saitama Steve
After you get to see these demos for the umpteenth time, they do start getting a bit lacklustre. Like Ryushikan said, they can put you to sleep if you see them more than once.

Regards

Which is why I always make sure I have some Awamori to sip on and give commentary..........it's amkes for a more intresting demo.:D


Seriously.....I feel fortunate to have seen some really great folks do demos here in Japan......once you see "real" masters who are some of the top people in their field do demos the "Amerrrrikan Soke" is a damn joke.

[Saitama Steve]

Oh God! I remember the last time you gave me awamori. I couldn't see straight for a week. :rofl:

And yeah I do agree seeing the real practicioners and masters over here does make you very weary of the Sokey dokeys in the US & UK.

[ScottUK]

Sokey Dokies in the UK? Who claims to teach NIR over here? Got any names?

This could be interesting.... :mad:

Scott

[Saitama Steve]

Scott,

I wasn't just referring to NIR with the Sokey Dokeys. In the UK, there are a few "ninjers" claiming to be legit. You have that and a few guys here and there who are teching some form of JSA without certification. It's usually in the London area and there abouts.

Respect.