Ikkaku Ryu by Neil Horton

 Ikkaku Ryu by Neil Horton 

 

The Ikkaku Ryu is a Japanese martial art that originated in the seventeenth century. The school concerns the defensive applications and attacking techniques of the ‘jutte' or ‘forked truncheon'. Matsuzaki Kinu'emon Tsunekatsu founded the Ikkaku Ryu and the objective was to defend successfully against a sword-wielding attacker. 


Precision and a great knowledge were required to perform such a dangerous task, bearing in mind the average forked truncheon in this school was between 40 and 50cm in length. 


The ‘jutte' can be used to capture a sword and in some instances snap the sword completely depending on the technique used. The basic design was of a hexagonal shape. The training package came in a series of ‘kata' or ‘pre-arranged sequences' that contained the ‘jutte' and sometimes with a ‘tessen' or ‘war fan'. Unarmed combat was taught to compliment the studies of the ‘jutte'. 


The Ikkaku Ryu was a highly respected school that was initiated in times of war and hostilities. Students were educated on how to apply balance and stance and also to use fast and precise footwork to evade the danger of a sword, for example. The ‘jutte' was a much smaller weapon and could be carried easily and concealed from view. Giving the student unarmed combat skills too in addition to their general training, greatly increased the students survival chances. The ‘jutte' can be used singular or in pairs with the prongs of the weapon being used to strike the vulnerable or pressure points of the opponent. 


The Ikkakyu introduced other small arms too, but it is best known for its usage of the ‘jutte'. The Ikkakyu Ryu gave the samurai another combat skill apart from that of the sword or longer constructed weapons. 


The modern Ikkaku-ryū system contains  24 training-forms (kata) divided between two series called Omote and Ura. Some of the kata uses a war fan in tandem with the jutte. 


Modern exponents of Ikkaku-ryū employ wooden weaponry for safety motives in most schools. The wooden version is replaced by the metal variant once the student has enough knowledge and skill. 





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