Weaponry
Kobudo training in Kosho Ryu, although containing traditional Japanese weaponry such as the katana, wakizashi and tachi (swords), naginata (halberd), yari (spear), tanto (knife), bo (long staff), jo (short staff), tanjo (stick), and yubibo (finger-stick), is not limited to or by these things. The Kosho Ryu practitioner may look at any object and adapt to it.
Kosho Ryu philosophy and the study of the mon are the basis for all that is taught, in Kosho Ryu weaponry and elsewhere. Swordsmanship and other weaponry training are used to specifically aid the student in the study of many things. Not just movement of the self and the adversaries, but relationships between body and weapon. It is said by many martial arts teachers that a weapon represents an extension of the hand. In fact, it represents an extension of one's essence. The hand never guides the weapon. The essence guides the weapon and the hand.
For those interested specifically in swordsmanship, Kosho Shorei Ryu offers a great deal. Kenjutsu, the art of fencing with the sword, is seen as no different than empty-handed arts of the ryu. Of course, certain constants concerning swordsmanship are considered, such as the fact that all drawing takes place in a left-to-right motion, but our study of natural law, and the recognition that all things happen in motion still apply. Koga Ken Keiko, or study of re-positioning an opponent with the sword, as complicated as it first appears to 2-year students, is simply an extension of what they learned on day one.
Students study many forms of Iaido popular today, both to learn basics, and to learn to look for similarities. Iaido and Iaijutsu styles currently studied in the Kosho Shorei Ryu curriculum include but are not limited to Keshi Ryu, Shindo Munen Ryu, Muso Shinden Ryu (Shoden, Chuden, and Okuden), and the Seitei Gata of the Dai Nippon Kendo Kai, both suwari (kneeling) and tachi (standing) waza.
Kosho Ryu philosophy and the study of the mon are the basis for all that is taught, in Kosho Ryu weaponry and elsewhere. Swordsmanship and other weaponry training are used to specifically aid the student in the study of many things. Not just movement of the self and the adversaries, but relationships between body and weapon. It is said by many martial arts teachers that a weapon represents an extension of the hand. In fact, it represents an extension of one's essence. The hand never guides the weapon. The essence guides the weapon and the hand.
For those interested specifically in swordsmanship, Kosho Shorei Ryu offers a great deal. Kenjutsu, the art of fencing with the sword, is seen as no different than empty-handed arts of the ryu. Of course, certain constants concerning swordsmanship are considered, such as the fact that all drawing takes place in a left-to-right motion, but our study of natural law, and the recognition that all things happen in motion still apply. Koga Ken Keiko, or study of re-positioning an opponent with the sword, as complicated as it first appears to 2-year students, is simply an extension of what they learned on day one.
Students study many forms of Iaido popular today, both to learn basics, and to learn to look for similarities. Iaido and Iaijutsu styles currently studied in the Kosho Shorei Ryu curriculum include but are not limited to Keshi Ryu, Shindo Munen Ryu, Muso Shinden Ryu (Shoden, Chuden, and Okuden), and the Seitei Gata of the Dai Nippon Kendo Kai, both suwari (kneeling) and tachi (standing) waza.