Kobukan Bonn

Hoki-ryu (Hōki-ryū, 伯耆流) is a traditional sword school from the 17th century. It focuses on rapidly drawing the sword (iai) as a reaction to an attack. This is trained both in single and partnered practice with wooden and metal swords.

“Nakazono-ha” was added to the name of the school by Kumai sensei in 2012 to show respect for his own teacher, Nakazono Yoshio, on the one hand, and to specify our style of Hoki-ryu, on the other, since it differs from that of other groups in some aspects. For more information on these differences, please refer to the following paragraphs on “Organisation” and “Curriculum”.

• History

Due to its history, the Hoki-ryu does not have a single leader. Most of the groups still practicing nowadays derive from the tradition passed on by the Hoshino family from Kumamoto, and are more or less independent from each other. A common foundation, however, are the 15 basic forms, which are practiced similarly across all groups.

The line of Hoki-ryu which we follow is headed by Kumai Kazuhiko sensei, with whom we maintain frequent contact. The training for the Kobukan Bonn is led by Dr. Andrea Raccanelli - one of the seven Shihan who have been appointed by Kumai sensei.

When Kumai Sensei left the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, where he was a member of the Senior Standing Board of Directors, holding the title Hanshi and the 8th Dan, he decided in 2012 to reorder the organisation of his students. He introduced the title of shihan - for those who are officially allowed to teach the art - and simplified the former Dan-system into three ranks, each representing different steps in the study.