Fusen-ryū

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fusen-ryū
(不遷流)
Ko-ryū
Foundation
FounderMotsugai Takeda
Date foundedUnknown; early 1800s
Period foundedBakumatsu
(1853–1869)
Current information
Current headmasterKazutoshi Inoue
Arts taught
ArtDescription
JujutsuUnarmed or with minor weapons
BōjutsuStaff art
JōjutsuShort staff art
KenjutsuSword art
IaijutsuSword drawing art
NaginatajutsuGlaive art
KusarigamajutsuScythe and chain art
NagikamajutsuScythe art
JittejutsuJitte art
Ancestor schools
, Yoshin-ryū, Takenouchi-ryū, Sekiguchi-ryū, Shibukawa-ryū, Kito-ryū, Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, Hōzōin-ryū, Otsubo-ryū, Yamada-ryū
Descendant schools

Shorinji Kempo

Fusen-ryū (不遷流, Fusen-ryū) is a Japanese martial arts koryū founded by Motsugai Takeda. It contains a complete system of martial arts, including unarmed fighting (jujutsu), staff (bōjutsu), short staff (jojutsu), sword (kenjutsu), sword drawing (iaijutsu), glaive (naginatajutsu), scythe (nagikamajutsu), scythe and chain (kusarigamajutsu) and jitte (jittejutsu).[1][2]

While young compared to other koryu, Fusen-ryū is well known in martial arts circles due to one of its masters, Mataemon Tanabe, and its rivalry with the Kodokan school.[3] Posterior Fusen-ryū practitioners would be Tanabe's students Taro Miyake and Yukio Tani. Also, according to popular belief, Doshin So, the founder of Shorinji Kempo, was trained in Fusen-ryū jujutsu.

Although its jujutsu style is popularly believed to be highly specialized in newaza or groundfighting, as Tanabe himself was, it actually focused rather on gyaku-waza or stand-up grappling, specially wrist locks.[3] Tanabe described his ground strategy as created from his personal experience in jujutsu contests.[3] Otherwise, the Fusen-ryū school featured a complete curriculum of atemi-waza (striking techniques), nage-waza (throwing techniques) and shime-waza (choking techniques).[1]

History[]

The founder of Fusen-ryū was Motsugai Takeda, also known by the name of Fusen.[4] He was a part of the Takeda family, and after becoming a monk started training Namba Ippo-ryū jujutsu with Takahasi Inobei Mitsumasa. After receiving his menkyo kaiden, he travelled around many parts of Japan in a form of musha shugyo, learning in the schools of Yoshin-ryū, Takenouchi-ryū, Sekiguchi-ryū, Kito-ryū and Shibukawa-ryū, as well as the armed styles of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, Hōzōin-ryū, Otsubo-ryū and Yamada-ryū. By adopting the strong points of each style, he created his Fusen-ryū curriculum.[1][4] After being appointed priest of the Saihoji temple in Kyoto in 1830, he built a dojo in the nearby grounds and started teaching his style. Many martial artists heard his reputation and came to challenge him, but nobody could beat him. It was said Motsugai's students reached the number of 3000.[5] Motsugai died in 1867, after which his school moved its influence field to Okayama.[4]

The school rose to fame again in 1891, when its headmaster Mataemon Tanabe defeated the Kodokan judoka Takisaburo Tobari in a challenge match. At the time, most jujutsu schools in Tokyo were losing place to the growing Kodokan, and the victory was shocking not only for coming from one of them, but also for how easily it happened thanks to Tanabe's personal advantage at newaza. The victory was followed by many others, and Tanabe capitalized on them to promote himself and his style by claiming his wins demonstrated the superiority of Fusen-ryū over judo and not any skill on his part.[6] He taught his art at the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai and at Yataro Handa's Daito-ryū dojo, which went to specialize in newaza,[7] and also shared his knowledge with judokas Yuji Hirooka and Soji Kimotsuki.[6] Despite this, the Fusen-ryū school itself never grew to significant levels, with Tanabe remaining as its only renowned exponent. Eventually his son Teruo and his most known apprentices, Taro Miyake and Yukio Tani, became members of the Kodokan.[7]

Australia: Jim Robinson was born in England and went to Shanghai in China with the British Civil Service in 1920.During this time he began training with William Fairbairn a British marine who was instructing in jujitsu to the police. At this time there were over 30,000 Japanese living in Shanghai and he was able to get instruction in various schools of jujutsu and also judo. In 1927 Jim Robinson was transferred to Japan. While in Japan he gained his Black Belt at the Kodokan. Following the 2nd World War he went back to Japan as part of the British Occupation force. Eddie Livingstone was with this group and was instructed in Fusen Ryu jujutsu and he came back to Lismore in New South Wales where he commenced teaching this art. In 1956 Mike Jeans began learning this art and used it in wrestling competitions at regional country town agricultural shows. Mike Jeans also met up with Jim Robinson at his dojo at 14 Australia Street Hurstville, New South Wales doing Judo but also refining his groundwork skills. Sensei Jim Robinson graded Mike Jeans to 1st kyu brown belt in 1971. In 1966 Sensei Seiichi Sugano a live in student of Shihan Morihie Uyeshiba founder of Aikido came from Japan to visit Mike and later opened up Aikido Dojo at North Ryde where Mike started training. Mike Jeans opened dojos in Mudgee, Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour, Brisbane. While in Brisbane at the Inala PCYC he met Mark Haseman who began training with him, and a few years later Mark started his own School which he called Tohkon Ryu Jujitsu. Mark Haseman has several dojos around Brisbane and the Northern Territory. Mike Jeans and Mark Haseman formed the Australian Jujitsu Association.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c 不遷流柔術
  2. ^ Jisen Koryu Jujutsu Shinmei Fusen taki hon ha Yawara Taijutsu, Tetsuo Sakuma
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Tanabe Mataemon talks about his Fusen-Ryu Jiujutsu" (PDF). Syd Hoare. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c Fumon Tanaka, Atsumi Nakashima, Serge Mol. Classical Fighting Arts of Japan: A Complete Guide to Koryu Jujutsu
  5. ^ "Aikido Center of Los Angeles newsletter" (PDF). ACLA. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 5, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b 外編２−古流と講道館流
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Original BJJ: New Discoveries and Speculations re. the Submission Grappling of British Jiu-Jitsu". Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2017-03-25.

External links[]

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