Hatakeyama Katori Shinto-ryu

Katori Shinto-ryu (originally Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū, 天真正伝香取神道流) comes from the 15th century and belongs to the oldest Japanese martial arts still practiced today. The variety of different weapons being taught is quite large, including sword, wooden staff and the Naginata among others.

We follow the interpretation of Hatakeyama Goro sensei (1928 - 2009), who taught Katori Shinto-ryu as senior teacher under Sugino Yoshio sensei. Together, they were mainly responsible for propagating the Shinto-ryu throughout Europe. In Germany, we are the only group following his line.

Line:

Hatakeyama Goro (1928-2009)
Menkyo Kaiden, 9. Dan


Organisational structure

Hatakeyama Goro sensei did not designate a successor to follow after his death in 2009 - i.e. no Menkyo Kaiden. Since then, most groups work more or less independently of each other, although from time to time, shared seminars are held to compare techniques and have an exchange of opinions.

Officially, the Shinto-ryu knows the ranks of kirigami, mokuroku and menkyo. However, Sugino Yoshio sensei introduced the dan-system during the 80s, probably because he had joined the Kokusai Budo Remmei (also known as International Martial Arts Federation).
After Sugino Yoshio sensei’s death and after splitting from the Sugino dojo, Hatakeyama sensei revived the traditional ranking system, but differentiated among these to make them comparable to the dan-grades.

Hatakeyama sensei used the following grading-system:

  • menkyo kaiden (8th dan and higher)
  • menkyo okuden (7th dan)
  • menkyo chuden (6th dan)
  • menkyo mokuroku (5th dan)
  • mokuroku chuden (4th dan)
  • mokuroku shoden (3rd dan)
  • kirikami chuden (2nr dan)
  • kirikami shoden (1st dan)

Curriculum

The curriculum of the Katori Shinto-ryu teaches the use of different weapons and thus falls under the category of sogo bujutsu - a martial art that combines different weapon systems. During earlier times, the range of different weapons was probably larger, while most schools nowadays teach only the use of long and short swords, staff (bo) sword lance (naginata) and spear (yari). Some lines - especially those led by Otake sensei - also teach techniques of jujutsu and shurikenjutsu.

Shinto-ryu is trained through kata - predefined choreographies, where every action is strictly predetermined. This practice is supposed to help the practitioner act instinctively during combat, while not having to think about his actions during the heat of battle.

Beginners start with practicing the sword; the other weapons are introduced one by one during the progress.

The following list includes most of the kata being practiced:

Tachi-jutsu (Ken-jutsu)
太刀術 (剣術) - Techniques of the sword

Omote-no-tachi, 4 kajo
表之太刀 四ヶ條
  1. Itsutsu-no-tachi
    五津之太刀
  2. Nanatsu-no-tachi
    七津之太刀
  3. Kasumi-no-tachi
    神集之太刀
  4. Hakka-no-tachi
    八神之太刀
Gogyo-no-tachi, 5 kajo
五行之太刀 五ヶ條
  1. Mittsu-no-tachi
    三津之太刀
  2. Yottsu-no-tachi
    四津之太刀
  3. In-no-tachi
    陰之太刀
  4. Sha-no-tachi
    捨之太刀
  5. Hotsu-no-tachi
    発之太刀
Gokui-shichijo-no-tachi, 3 kajo
極意七條之太刀 三ヶ條
  1. Toyama-no-tachi (Ukifune no kurai)
    遠山之太刀 (浮舟之位)
  2. Katanami-no-tachi (Yosui no kurai)
    片浪之太刀 (葉水之位)
  3. Agenami-no-tachi (Sangetsu no kurai)
    揚波之太刀 (山月之位)
Ryoto, 4 kajo
兩刀 四ヶ條 - Two swords
  1. Eigetsu-no-tachi (Nio no kurai)
    永月之太刀 (二王之位)
  2. Suigetsu-no-tachi (Tenchi no kurai)
    水月之太刀 (天地之位)
  3. Isonami-no-tachi (Huyo no kurai)
    磯浪之太刀 (風葉之位)
  4. Murakumo-no-tachi (Sasu no kurai)
    村雲之太刀 (佐壽之位)
Gokui-kodachi, 3 kajo
極意小太刀 三ヶ條 - Shortsword
  1. Hangetsu-no-kodachi
    半月之小太刀
  2. Suigetsu-no-kodachi
    水月之小太刀
  3. Seigan-no-kodachi
    清眼之小太刀

Bo-jutsu
棒術 - Techniques of bo

Omote-no-bo, 6 kajo
表之棒 六ヶ條
  1. Seriai-no-bo
    迫合之棒
  2. Sune-hishigi-no-bo
    脛挫之棒
  3. Saiyu-no-bo
    左右之棒
  4. Kasahazushi-no-bo
    笠斫之棒
  5. Hanetsurube-no-bo
    刎釣瓶之棒
  6. Tatenami-no-bo
    立浪之棒
Gokui-no-bo, 6 kajo
五行之棒 六ヶ條
  1. Gedan-no-kamae-no-bo
    下段構之棒
  2. Kasumigake-no-bo
    霞掛之棒
  3. Denko-kamae-no-bo
    雷光構之棒
  4. In-kamae-no-bo
    陰構之棒
  5. Hikizue-kamae-no-bo
    引杖構之棒
  6. Tatezue-kamae-no-bo
    立杖構之棒

Naginata-jutsu
薙刀術 - Techniques of naginata

Omote-no-naginata, 4 kajo
表之薙刀 四ヶ條
  1. Itsutsu-no-naginata
    五津之長刀
  2. Nanatsu-no-naginata
    七津之長刀
  3. Kasumi-no-naginata
    霞之長刀
  4. Hakka-no-naginata
    八箇之長刀

So-jutsu
槍術 - Techniques of the spear

6 kajo
六ヶ條
  1. Hiryu-no-yari
    飛龍之槍
  2. Koryu-no-yari
    去龍之槍
  3. Tsukidome-no-yari
    突留之槍
  4. Anya-no-yari
    揚矢之槍
  5. Denko-no-yari
    電光之槍
  6. Yorunoya-yari
    夜之矢槍

Iai-jutsu
居合術

Iai-jutsu, 6 kajo
居合術 六ヶ條
  1. Kusanagi-no-ken
    草薙之剣
  2. Nukitsuke-no-ken
    拔附之剣
  3. Nukiuchi-no-ken
    拔討之剣
  4. Uken
    右剣
  5. Saken
    左剣
  6. Happoken
    八方剣
Tachi-iai-jutsu, 5 kajo
立居合術 五ヶ條
  1. Yukiai-gyakunuki-no-tachi
    行合逆拔之太刀
  2. Zengo-chidori-no-tachi
    前後千鳥之太刀
  3. Yukiai-migichidori-no-tachi
    行合右千鳥之太刀
  4. Gyakunuki-no-tachi
    逆拔之太刀
  5. Nukiuchi-no-tachi
    拔討之太刀
Gokui-no-iai, 5 kajo
極意之居合 五ヶ條
  1. Kumokiri-no ken
    雲切之剣
  2. Hangetsu-no-ken
    半月之剣
  3. Muitsu-no-ken
    無一之剣
  4. Muni-no-ken
    無二之剣
  5. Seigan-no-tachi
    清眼之太刀