Seminar Report:
Kajitsuka Sensei Seminar 2024
July 2024
Toronto, Canada
copyright © 2024 Douglas Tong, all rights reserved.
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In July of 2024, we once again had the honour of hosting a visit from Kajitsuka Sensei, who had not been to Canada since 2016. This time, per Sensei’s request, the event was kept as a private function and restricted to only a small number of select participants. Our Study Group Leader for Thunder Bay, Kyle Kolodij, wrote a report on the seminar and recounts some of the highlights of his experiences there.
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A Meeting with our Soke
copyright © 2024 Kyle Kolodij, all rights reserved.
We were honored to host Kajitsuka Yasushi Soke during his recent visit to Canada. Kajitsuka Sensei is the Soke of the Edo branch of Yagyu Shingan Ryu Taijutsu. He is also the Headmaster of the Ohtsubo line of Yagyu Shinkage Ryu Heiho.
Yagyu Shingan Ryu originated in the early Edo period (c. 1600); Shingan Ryu translates to the ‘School of the Heart’s Eye.’ A curriculum that is initially based in armored combative techniques; it is known for its unique methods of striking, which further evolved into a sophisticated system of self defense.
Yagyu Shinkage Ryu Heiho (New Shadow School) was adopted as the official kenjutsu school of swordsmanship by the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Overall, a very elaborate and exciting curriculum to have the privilege to learn and study.
Because there is a 12 hour time zone difference between here and Japan, our first day was an opportunity for our guests to acclimatize with some relaxation in nature, and eat at some nice restaurants.
We began our training together by discussing important aspects of the Yagyu history, which has been passed down through the generations.
It has been a few years since Kajitsuka Sensei was able to visit us in Canada (with Covid changing the world, etc) so a more coterie seminar outline was devised with the intent of having as much one-on-one training as possible with our Headmaster and group leaders.
Our first dojo session was Shingan Ryu Bojutsu. There was important review, then with more advanced engagement nuances that are specific to our style and, finally, utilizing breathing and mind mechanics. Shingan Ryu is as much an internal martial art as it is external. Afterwards, we had a study session to revisit our training goals and an opportunity to have a question and answer period with Sensei.
In the afternoon, we had another valuable study session with Sensei; those who understand the ‘Koryu world’ will appreciate the significance of having access to this level of one-on-one discussion.
In the evening, Sensei went over our Kuka No Tachi.
We then finished the day at another great restaurant with live music and more group discussion.
The next afternoon we had a great Italian lunch and discussion about the Heiho Kadensho.
After lunch, we went to the dojo where we trained Shingan Ryu odachi; training that focuses on power by mastering your breathing.
After training, we had a BBQ at member Patrick’s house with his wonderful family.
The next day was focused on Shinkage Ryu, but with steel swords.
Training with real swords teaches us our true understanding of what is done in kata keiko (training) vs what is actually done in reality. Your awareness is critical as you have a zero margin for error training environment.
*Disclaimer* do not attempt this type of training without the required experience and supervision.
Our final day together was more focus on additional Shinkage-ryu training techniques and kata.
There was a lot of discussion afterwards about fundamental issues pertaining to fighting distance and how it is affected by the weapon that we hold.
In the end, we are forging friendships across great distances and bringing the world together, one person at a time.
Thank you Kajitsuka Sensei for sharing your time and wisdom with us.
It is greatly appreciated that you share your knowledge and your school with foreigners as the Yagyu School is certainly a living cultural treasure of Japan.
Closing remarks: Yagyu Munenori saw in the practice of the sword a way to forge and temper an individual into a ‘total human being’.
The way of the sword offers a path of study to this objective. “The sharp edge of which must learn to express the blossoming of flowers in the spring and the withering of the leaves in the fall”; meaning, the art of the sword encompasses all parts of life.
Kyle Kolodij
Mushin Kenjutsu
August 2024
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Reflections
Here are some highlights of the training we had with Sensei.
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Training Day #1 (Day Session): Shingan-ryu Bojutsu
This day focused on the fundamentals of bojutsu.
Training Day #1 (Evening Session): Shinkage-ryu Kenjutsu
We reviewed the kata sets our group had been practicing. Sensei spent time to correct mistakes.
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Seminar Day #1: Shingan-ryu Odachi
We focused on having a strong body, breathing, and good fundamentals on stance and stability.
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Seminar Day #2: Shinkage-ryu Kenjutsu
This was very new! Performing kata with blades. We looked at blade angle, cutting angles, and accounting for the curvature of the blade.
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Training Day #2: Shinkage-ryu Kenjutsu
Sensei went over some important key points about distance.
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In conclusion
This visit was full of both very familiar and yet, unexpected experiences.
In terms of familiar things, Sensei did review the bojutsu katas of Shingan-ryu to ensure that all things were done properly.
He reviewed and checked on our knowledge of the various katas.
In terms of new things, Sensei went over the importance of breathing and kiai.
We worked with real blades which dramatically changes how we view and execute the techniques in this style.
But the most valuable experience was the opportunity we had to ask Sensei some questions about swordsmanship and how our style approaches the many issues that come up in sword-fighting.
The answers we got were, well, quite enlightening.
It was fantastic to see Sensei after all these years and to reconnect with him. We hope that he enjoyed his time with us.
Come visit us again please!! 💚💙
