Kukishinden Ryu Bisento Jutsu BISENTÔJUTSU............................................................................................................................................2 OUSHIN or OBURI (Deep and Broad Swinging)...............................................................................................3 KAKU GYAKU (Parting Reversal).....................................................................................................................4 CHI KUSHA (Cutting Bamboo Diagonally).......................................................................................................5 NAMI BA (Wave Blade).....................................................................................................................................6 BATTÔ (Drawing a Sword)................................................................................................................................7 GISEN (Sunlight Tip)..........................................................................................................................................8 SHINTÔ (Stretching Sword)...............................................................................................................................9 SEITÔ (Clean Sword).......................................................................................................................................10 MIKEN (Bewitched Blade)...............................................................................................................................11
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Mahoutsukai Dojo
Kukishinden Ryu Bisento Jutsu BISENTÔJUTSU
“On the whole the bisentô is a very heavy weapon. In Japan the lower class warriors were armed with it. When used in a way to break, smash, and strike, it was a very effective weapon indeed. Therefore being a heavy weapon don’t think that you can use physical strength to wield it. Wield it so that it’s within the kukan. Then when it’s used, it’ll emit an effective power. Firstly because it’s heavy, take it in a big movement with the legs. Or, moving like this, turning with the body. Then step in to cut to the body. Next take it in a big arc, around like this. Again take it around in a big movement with the body, dropping the shoulder. The reason why I wield it openly is that heavy weapons are used in such a manner. In wielding it openly you gain greater balance. Don’t put your physical strength behind it… wielding it in the kukan so that the movement will emit a strong “power”.
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Mahoutsukai Dojo
Kukishinden Ryu Bisento Jutsu OUSHIN or OBURI (Deep and Broad Swinging)
Three (U) armed with daitô in Seigan No Kamae In Seigan with the bisentô on your left side, step back with the right foot into Hasso. Step forward with the right foot to cut yokomen uchi to the middle (U). Koho tobi, step forward with the left foot turning the bisentô on your right side to strike. Yokomen uchi to (U) on the right side (your arms should be crossed). Step forward with your right leg; unwind your arms to strike tento uchi to the third (U). “This is a technique which cuts down to the opponents shoulder (kiri sageru). Not putting power or anything else into it. Holding it like this, with the elbow here (tucked into the side of his body). As we did with the naginata. Which is a very necessary thing to do with the bisentô. Or you can take it like this (in front). Then freely changing position with it. Keeping the blade edge towards your opponent. Centering around this elbow shifting yourself like this in an important point… Any kamae is ok. Hasso, Seigan, Naka Seigan, even Heitô; any kamae is ok. First of all, cut down to the opponent’s shoulder. Hold it like this, as you’re pushing down, kiri sageru (cut down). Again as you’re taking it bring it to here (in front). Take it below (with the left hand). Then take it here (to the left side) and dropping to cut. It isn’t physical strength. When you strike down form above he won’t be able to receive it, because of the danger. So please step back from it. Like I just said, you can start from any kamae. Raise the lower end. As you’re moving in, cut down to the opponent’s shoulder. He evades. Then again moving like this (changing hands), dropping to cut. You should maneuver it in this manner against your opponent. Moving to support it then letting it drop. You’re not just dropping it but lowering the weight. Therefore in this way I can take control without holding on to it. Even though I’m taking it like this to drop it, doing it like this is ok. When you take it to the extreme.” Quote from Hatsumi Sensei’s video
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Mahoutsukai Dojo
Kukishinden Ryu Bisento Jutsu KAKU GYAKU (Parting Reversal)
This is a technique that cuts down to (U) (kiri sageru). Any kamae is okay to start from. Start with the bisentô on your right side. Step forward with the right foot, bringing your right hand to jaw level (with the elbow tucked in). The right hand acts as a fulcrum. With the left hand pushing the other end down, the blade drops to cut Raise the bisentô into a vertical position, change hands, step forward with the left leg and drop to cut again.
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Mahoutsukai Dojo
Kukishinden Ryu Bisento Jutsu CHI KUSHA (Cutting Bamboo Diagonally)
The meaning of this technique is the movement of cutting bamboo diagonally. Start in Hasso with the left foot forward. Step forward cutting diagonally against (U) body. Using the right hand as a fulcrum push the bottom end of the bisentô with the left hand. At the same time, use the body by stepping into Shizen. Change hands and cut the other side. Repeat this many times. “The meaning of this technique is the movement of cutting bamboo diagonally. Starting from here (Hasso like kamae), I let it fall and raise like this. Raise it like this, again letting it fall. Again I push with the right hand like this to raise it. And then like this, I’m not grabbing hold of it. Push up with the left hand and let it drop. Raise it like this and let it fall. Don’t hold on to it. You should cut by leaving it in the kukan. Step in with the body. Cutting diagonally against the body. But rather than cutting diagonally, letting it fall diagonally. I won’t cut down too excessively, as it’s dangerous. “ Quote from Hatsumi Sensei’s video
5
Mahoutsukai Dojo
Kukishinden Ryu Bisento Jutsu NAMI BA (Wave Blade)
This technique is similar to Chi Kusha, but this time you maneuver in the manner of a wave. You yourself don’t make the wave; it is as though something is being carried by or being pressed on by the sudden changes of a wave. It has a rhythmic feel. Also, the strength of waves can differ. “Budô is beyond description. It’s difficult to pinpoint and the way of expressing it is very difficult. The technique we are about to do is similar to the diagonal cutting of bamboo as we’ve just done. But maneuvering it like the action of a wave. Basically, you, yourself don’t make the wave. It’s as though something is being carried or pressed on by the sudden changes of a wave. It’s the same with the bisentô. With this technique, the same feeling of something being carried with the motion of the waves is the difference in the nuance of this technique when compared with the technique of cutting diagonally against bamboo. Just like a wave. With the body, with the heart. And, with this feeling attack your opponent. This is it’s characteristic… I’ve just mentioned about going in like a wave. Like this, for example. Letting it fly out like a wave. But when talking of waves, there are quiet calm ones and ones that are powerful, crashing in, using your body. There are times when you go in like the angry waves of a high sea. This feeling you must take hold of, even though it’s the same technique, and “attack” with it. Therefore you must add importance to the “feeling.” You can start as a gentle wave then explode into a cold fearless wave. And then naturally back into a gentle wave.” Quote from Hatsumi Sensei’s video
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Mahoutsukai Dojo
Kukishinden Ryu Bisento Jutsu BATTÔ (Drawing a Sword)
Hasso with the blade on your right side The top of the bisentô rests on your right shoulder Strike to toko using the bottom end of the bisentô 1-3 times, then step forward with the right foot and cut diagonally at (U) neck
“Next, the feeling behind the name “batto.” Standing like this is ok. Dropping it like this (at the opponent’s feet). Then cut down. Or, advancing in and cutting down. Meaning you go in and attack your opponent. This is how you should be doing it… That time I was dropping it on to the opponent. In the case where you can cut the opponent, before you open the arm out, use it as a pivot point and drop it with the body. Pull it up with the left hand so that it drops. It’s a heavy weapon. In doing this, your body keeps its balance. When holding heavy weapons please remember techniques where you use your own balance to collide with the opponent… Your opponent comes in to cut. There are circumstances where you can drop the low end (at the opponent’s feet) one-handedly. And then drop it using the shoulder, in a case where you’re close in. He comes in to cut. Drop it at his feet, then let it fall like this. This is one way to do it. With the first step I capture his foot. And the second, I push and he falls. Then just drop it on him. Drop it anywhere on the foot. After he’s fallen down, move around so that the blade cuts into his neck.
7
Mahoutsukai Dojo
Kukishinden Ryu Bisento Jutsu GISEN (Sunlight Tip)
Chudan No Kamae (right foot forward) Push the left elbow down so the blade of the bisentô rises. (U) parries Step out to the left with the left foot, turn your body to cut with the bisentô (gyaku kesa giri to (U) wrists). Turn your body counter-clockwise, stepping back and around in an arc with the left foot and cut (U) right leg. “The meaning of the technique gisen (prejudgement), is as the characters read. Basically, you stand in Chudan No Kamae. With the bisentô, step in so as to scoop the bisentô upward to a point above the opponent’s head. Swing it as though it were Sanshin No Kata. I’m parried. Then take it with the body up to the opponent’s kote. Not forgetting the importance of the fulcrum against the body. Without moving it you can then step to cut the leg. I’d like you to not forget that the knack of this technique is to make a heavy weapon like this move lightly and naturally. We’ll try it once more. Stand in Chudan No Kamae. Scoop the bisentô out and upward. I’m parried. I cut upward with the body. And then take it so that I’m always the fulcrum. I’m not holding it with the left hand. I hold it as though I’m posing with it. Go in with the body against the kote. Going in with the body and then take it like this to sweep the leg. It’s gisen (prejudging the situation).”
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Mahoutsukai Dojo
Kukishinden Ryu Bisento Jutsu SHINTÔ (Stretching Sword)
Chudan No Kamae with the right foot forward Swing the bisentô up (using the legs). (U) tries to parry Step out to the left with the left foot and cut do uchi from left to right. “Standing in a usual stance. The importance is the sanshin swing. And then the use of the legs. Don’t cut with the arms. Swing to lift the bisentô up. When cutting back, take it like this against the body (resting on the left thigh). I’m not gripping it. If you’re gripping it then the blade won’t cut back. Being able to swing the body is important… Enter with the body... With the legs. You can enter with either leg. It’s ok to thrust it out in front. He parries. Then you move like this (stepping to side).”
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Mahoutsukai Dojo
Kukishinden Ryu Bisento Jutsu SEITÔ (Clean Sword)
Chudan No Kamae with the right foot forward (U) goes to cut Step back and to the right with the left foot in an arc, at the same time push down with the left hand to raise the end of the bisentô. Let bisentô drop (using both hands) onto (U) wrists. “Standing in Yoko Ichimonji, we have either way. Whichever way you prefer is ok. Your opponent comes in to cut down. Ten do this (press down with the left hand to raise the blade). I’ve kept it against the body. Then just drop it. More than just saying “drop it,” you drop it using both arms like this. I drop it with both arms. It may look as though the front arm is dropping it, but the rear arm is applying the technique tsuki otosu (push down). Seitou is the application of using both arms together to wield the weapon. So as to crush all before you. If possible, draw the leg back to raise the bisentô. Then of course you should use the whole body to drop the bisentô. In doing this you’ll break the sword at the guard and everything in your path will be defeated.” Quote from Hatsumi Sensei’s video
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Mahoutsukai Dojo
Kukishinden Ryu Bisento Jutsu MIKEN (Bewitched Blade)
Hasso No Kamae with the left foot forward Drop your right shoulder so the blade drops, and turn so that the blade cuts up. This should be done with a leap so you end up with the right foot forward. “This is a ghostly chaotic technique. In this technique you drop the shoulder. Taking on something in the form of a “ghostly seduction.” Be aware of this (the bottom end of the bisentô coming back). Before that happens turn with it. Together while turning, leap in. With a heavy weapon like this let your whole body jump in together with it. Again it returns back to this point. Drop the shoulder, turn the body and jump. More than just the form of the technique Miken, it’s a substance which appears within the kukan. You may say it’s a natural thing. Well, it’s this kind of thing that is found in life; the substance that we live on. Breathing this life force is of great importance to the budoka… The problem is at the point where you drop your shoulder. Therefore, when I drop my shoulder, you can hit it. Then the bisentô will enter in. On the return, you enter in using the opponent’s strength. When you drop the shoulder and he hits, then you enter from your position cutting up. In this way, you’re making the most use of natural strength.” Quote from Hatsumi Sensei’s video
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Mahoutsukai Dojo
