Muso Gonnosake by unknown artist

Musô Gonnosuke Katsukichi (夢想權之助勝吉) was a samurai and the traditional founder of the Koryu school of jojutsu known as Shintō Musō-ryū (神道夢想流/神道無想流). He is perhaps most famous for his duels with the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Jump to: navigation, search Japanese samurai in armour, 1860 photograph. ... Koryu (古流) is a Japanese word that translates literally as old school or old tradition. ... Jojutsu (Japanese:杖術) or Jodo is a Japanese martial art using staves (jo), similar to bojutsu, in defense against the Japanese sword. ... Jump to: navigation, search Miyamoto Musashi killing a nue, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861). ...

Sources for Muso Gonnosuke

The true origin of Gonnosuke is unknown; his traits and various "adventures" and exploits have, as with many martial artists and other famous samurai of the time, been exaggerated and/or constructed by later historians. Alot of traditional founders of ryu, school of martial art, is credited with having divine inspirations or visions, or in some cases even being taught by mythical creatures. One example is the famous samurai Minamoto no Yoshitsune who was supposedly taught by a Tengu, a magical creature in japanese mythology, some posessing vast knowledge of weapons and martial arts. Yoshitsune and Benkei Viewing Cherry Blossoms, by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka, 1885 Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源 義経) (1159 - May 17, 1189) was a late Heian and early Kamakura period general of the Minamoto clan of Japan. ... Tengu (天狗) are minor kami found in Japanese folklore. ...

The earliest known source of the first duel is the Kaijo Monogatari of 1629. Another source is the Honcho Bugei Shoden (or Honcho Bugei Koden) written in about 1716. Both sources agree on the core of the story; that Gonnosuke faced Musashi and was defeated, afterwhich he retreated and formed his jo-techniques. The notion that Musashi was defeated in a rematch can be argued to have been a later construct by later pro-Gonnosuke historians, as there is no mentioning of a defeat in the sources regarding Musashi. The same could be said, however, for Musashis followers who might have removed all mentioning of Musashis defeat as a way to preserve his reputation. A mentioning of the duel is found in the Niten-Ki which was compiled by Musashis followers years after his death. There is only one known source mentioning the rematch. It is a scroll now preserved in Tsukuba Shrine in Ibaragi prefecture, although doubts of its contens has been raised as there are no other known corroborating sources to confirm it.

Origin

Muso Gonnosake Katsukichi was born into a samurai family, and like many other famous samurai and martial art founders, was claimed to trace their lineage from a family of the classical period of samurai. His family is supposedly descendant from Kiso Kanja No Taiyu Kakumei, a retainer of the famous samurai general Minamoto Yoshinaka. Gonnosakes original family name is said to have been Hirano and that he used his given name of Gonbei in his early days. Unlike his future counterpart, Miyamoto Musashi, Gonnosake was not a ronin, or masterless samurai, but had went out on the road on a warrior pilgrimage to improve his skills in duels and by learning from different ryu (schools) on the road. This was a common tradition for samurai at the time. Musashi, however, had been a part of the losing side in the battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and had since been a ronin. Minamoto no Yoshinaka (Ja: 源義仲, 1154-1184) was a general and last shogun of the late Heian Period of Japanese history. ... Graves of 47 Ronin at Sengakuji A ronin (Japanese: 浪人 rōnin: literally, wave man - one who is tossed about, like a wave in the sea) was a masterless samurai during the feudal period of Japan that lasted from 1185 to 1868. ... The Battle of Sekigahara was a decisive battle on September 15, 1600 (on the ancient Chinese calendar, October 21 on the modern calendar) that cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu. ...

Early life on the road

One of several traditions dictates that Gonnosuke received his weapon training in the Tenshin Shôden Katori Shintô Ryû, founded by Iizasa Choisai Ienao, and in Kashima Shinto-ryu. In addition to learning the sword he learned to use the, bo (long staff), naginata (pole weapon), yari (spear) and various other weapons. Gonnosuke would eventually recieve the rank of menkyo, basically a teachers license from Katori Shinto-ryu. Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō Ryū (天真正伝香取神道流) is one of the oldest extant martial arts in Japan, a true koryu. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Bo may be: An east Asian quarterstaff, see bo (weapon) A Hindi language name for the Sacred Fig A city in Sierra Leone, see Bo, Sierra Leone ISO country code for Bolivia Bo is the UIC classification for the railroad locomotive wheel arrangement known as 0-4-0 in the... Naginata of the Edo era A samurai wielding a naginata Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a pole weapon traditionally used by Japanese samurai. ... Jump to: navigation, search different sorts of yari (Edo era): a Jumonji yari and two su yari straight yari head with saya tsuki nari yari head use of yari in mock combat Yari (槍) is the Japanese term for spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. ...

Sometime after his training, Gonnosake went out on the road. He was travelling throughout Japan with a few followers as a wandering swordsman, always looking for an opponent to fight duels with and at the same time teaching swordsmanship to a selected few. It is claimed that he never lost a duel, and that he defeated Japans finest warriors that crossed his path until he encountered Miyamoto Musashi.

His first duel with Miyamoto Musashi

The first of the two legendary duels between Musashi and Gonnosuke was supposed to have taken place in the early 1600's between 1596-1614. Scholars argue as to when and where the actual duel took place, and indeed some argue if it even took place to begin with. The essence of the story, however, tells of how Gonnosuke, by now a very famous swordsman and arrogant in his (considerable) abilities with the sword, had one day encountered Mushashi and had unceremoniously challenged him to a duel. Musashi accepted and Gonnosuke, brandishing his sword, immediately threw himself at Musashi who with ease avoided Gonnosukes strike and proceeded to lock Gonnosukes sword, using both his long and short sword, in an X-shaped block.

Again, the details of exactly what happened in the duel is debated and still unclear. In one version Gonnosuke had previously encountered Musashis father, Shinmen Munisai, who was an expert of the jitte and had defeated him. Gonnosuke, in a condescending tone of voice, asked Musashi if he was as skilled as his father and if he used similar techniques. Musashi supposedly said: "If you have seen my fathers technique you have seen mine", afterwhich Gonnosuke attacked Musashi. Shotokan Kata: Jitte (Ten Hands) Jiin, Jion and Jitte form a group of katas beginning with the same characteristic kamae, which apparently has roots in ancient Chinese boxing. ...

The weapons used are also in debate. Some claim Gonnosuke was using a long staff known as bo, other versions claim he used an exceptionally long wooden sword which was above the average length of a japanese sword,(over four shaku long), instead of the normal length bokuto. Musashis weapon of choice is also debated. One version say he was armed with only a half-finished bokuto, which Musashi was actually still carving as the duel began, and used it to overwhelm Gonnosuke without ever using the X-shaped block, instead hitting him lightly on the forehead as to demonstrate his superior stance in battle and emphasizing proper distance to an opponent, or "ma-ai". In any case, the essential part of the story is that Gonnosuke was defeated with relative ease, who in turn became disillusioned at this sudden defeat and withdrew to contemplate his loss. Bo may be: An east Asian quarterstaff, see bo (weapon) A Hindi language name for the Sacred Fig A city in Sierra Leone, see Bo, Sierra Leone ISO country code for Bolivia Bo is the UIC classification for the railroad locomotive wheel arrangement known as 0-4-0 in the... Jump to: navigation, search It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Japanese unit. ...

Reclusion and the creation of Jojutsu

Gonnosuke withdrew to a Shinto monastary or shrine, (according to some sources), where he would practice daily in perfecting his swordsmanship, praying and purifying himself for 37 days. It is also said, however, that he spent several years on the road studying other martial arts and various swordschools until he ended up in the above mentioned Shinto monastary. After one of his regular (exhausting) training sessions he collapsed from fatigue and reputably had a vison of a divine being in the form of a child, saying to Gonnosuke: "know the solar plexus [of your opponent] with a round stick". In another version he had the same vision in a regular dream. He took it upon himself to create the jo deliberatly longer than the average katana of the day, 128 cm as opposed to the swords approx. 100 cm, and use that length to his advantage in a fight. Gonnosuke, drawing on his own considerable experience with the spear and sword, also devised a set of techniques using the jo to counter and defeat swordtechniques. Jump to: navigation, search A torii at Itsukushima Shrine Shinto (神道 Shintō) (sometimes called Shintoism) is a native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. ...

Gonnosuke, now armed with the jo, would again face Musashi in a duel and defeat him through the use of the superior length of the jo to keep Musashis sword out of range of Gonnosuke and thus hinder him from using the X-shaped block. Musashi, who was said to be impressed by how Gonnosuke had learned from his earlier mistake and his new skills, made friends with Gonnosuke, and they would be each other companions during their travels.

The claim that Musashi was defeated, (at all), is still a matter of debate and is generally taken with a grain of salt.

Later life and legacy

The stories continue right after the famous second duel. Gonnosuke, spending several more years on the road, pressumingly with his new friend Musashi, eventually took up residence in Fukuoka after being asked by the Kuroda clan to teach his jo-techniques to a selected few of their warriors. As the years progressed the original set of jo-techniques, by now expanded with new techniques since the days of Gonnosukes duel with Musashi, became known as Shintô Musô Ryû. (or Shindô Musô Ryû) View of downtown Fukuoka as seen from an observation deck in Minami-ku, facing north. ...

The modern day Shintô Musô Ryû survived both the end of samurai rule in Japan and the World War II ban on martial arts and is now a major international Martial Art. For more information see the main article on Shinto Muso-ryu Shintō Musō-ryū (also Shindō Musō-ryū) is a koryu style of jojutsu. ...

External link

• European Jôdô Federation
• Koryu.com entry