List of swordsmanship schools at the end of the Edo period! Dojos where swordsmen such as the Shinsengumi and Takasugi Shinsaku studied
What kind of swordsmanship were the Shishi and Shinsengumi practicing at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate?
A brief summary of the main schools and who studied in them.
Shindo Munen-ryu
Shindo Munen-ryu was founded by Fukui Hyoemon in the Genroku era.
"Peace" was their principle. It was forbidden to solve problems unreasonably with swords, and academics were also emphasized .
Saito Yakuro's dojo, Renpeikan, was famous as one of the three major dojos in Edo at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Who studied the Shindo Munen-ryu?
Egawa Tarozaemon: Shogunate official
Katsura Kogoro: Choshu Domain
Takasugi Shinsaku: Choshu Domain
Inoue Mita: Choshu Domain
Ito Hirobumi: Choshu Domain
Shinagawa Yajiro: Choshu Domain
Nagakura Shinpachi: Shinsengumi 2nd Squad Captain
Fujita Toko: Mito Domain, scholar
Katsura Kogoro was convinced to study this style when he heard that Shindo Munen-ryu swordsmen valued peace and used their swords as little as possible.
He served as the head instructor of the dojo for five years from Kaei 5 to Ansei 4, and his ability was also well documented.
As you can see, the Renpeikan was a dojo with many Choshu clan students.
On the other hand, Nagakura Shinpachi, who is said to have been the strongest in the Shinsengumi, also practiced the same style. However, he went to the Gekikenkan instead of the Renpeikan.
[T/N: Isn’t Serizawa also Shindo Munen-ryu? I guess he didn’t take its teachings to heart 😅]
Hokushin Itto-ryu
The Hokushin Itto-ryu was new style at that time, and was founded by Chiba Shusaku in Edo in the 5th year of Bunsei. Genbukan, one of the three major dojos in the Edo at the end of the Edo period, had more than 6000 students.
Since the Hokushin Itto-ryu was newly established, it adopted a rational tactic that was not bound by the old ways. There were no moves like exaggerated deadly sword attacks. It emphasized actual battle.
Who studied the Hokushin Itto-ryu?
Sakamoto Ryoma: Tosa dappan
Kiyokawa Hachiro: Shonai Domain
Ito Kashitaro: Shinsengumi
Todo Heisuke: Shinsengumi
Sannan Keisuke: Shinsengumi
Yoshimura Kuniichiro: Shinsengumi
Tennen Rishin-ryu
Tennen Rishin-ryu was founded by Kondo Tsukisuke during the Kansei era.
It was the Shinsengumi that made this style suddenly famous. Before, it was despised as a countryside swordsmanship style from Tama.
Most of the main members of the Shinsengumi were from this dojo, the Shieikan.
(On the other hand, I don't hear anything else about this dojo other than the Shinsengumi)
It was a sword that made enemies tremble in Kyoto at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate. The idea was to focus on actual battles and win no matter what kind of tactics you use.
The Tennen Rishin-ryu took their fights seriously even in practice, and some moves involved suddenly slashing at the opponent’s legs.
Hijikata Toshizo kicking up sand to blind the enemy? He was really strong because he was not above using any method (this is not a real move from this sword style, but lol).
At the bloody end of the Edo period, it's no wonder that the Shinsengumi was strong when they used a style that focused on winning.
Who studied the Tennen Rishin-ryu?
Kondo Isami: Commander of the Shinsengumi
Okita Souji: Shinsengumi 1st Squad Captain
Inoue Genzaburo: Shinsengumi 6th Squad Captain
Yagyu Shinkage-ryu
Yagyu Shinkage-ryu was the Tokugawa clan’s style.
It was founded by Yagyu Ishifune Munetoshi.
It’s famous for the mutō (無刀取り) technique, where you can win without having a sword.
Who studied the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu?
Takasugi Shinsaku: Choshu Domain, Licensed
Katsura Kogoro: Choshu Domain
Kyoshin Meichi-ryu
The Kyoshin Meichi-ryu was founded by Momoi Hachirozaemon. By the time his son Momoi Shunzo inherited the dojo, the Shigakukan became popular as one of the three major dojos in Edo .
In the Kyoshin Meichi-ryu, honor was especially important, and both Momoi Hachirozaemon and Shunzo were very strong swordsmen. Rather, they had strong personalities.
Who studied the Kyoshin Meichi-ryu?
Takechi Hanpeita: Tosa Domain
Okada Izo: Tosa Domain
It’s ironic that the Four Manslayers of the Edo period came out of the Kyoshin Meichi-ryu that emphasized honor.
At least, the famous ones in modern times are Takechi and Okada.
Nodachi Jigen-ryu
Nodachi Jigen-ryu was founded in 1822 by Kanetake Yakumaru as a branch of Jigen-ryu, and was also called Yakumaru-ryu.
It often appeared in the taiga drama Segodon. It’s the one with the strange battlecry, "Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” lol.
It was said to be Satsuma's one-shot deadly sword style, and it was a style that pushed hard with power and spirit.
When training using tree branches, they scream “Kyaaa!!!!!” as they hit.
Their tactic was to jump before their opponent and slash no matter what happens. Don't hold back.
In this aspect, there’s something similar to Tennen Rishin-ryu.
This school was able to play an active role at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, and had an obsession with slashing, instead of other moves.
As a side note, isn't that a little crazy to shout like that? People have also said that for a long time, and it seemed that even Shimazu Narioki, the lord of the Satsuma Domain, jolted up saying "They're like mad swordsmen".
Certainly, if you didn't know anything about them, you'd be surprised at their sudden scream lol
Who studied the Nodachi Jigen-ryu?
Nakamura Hanjiro: Satsuma Domain
Arimura Tsugusaemon: Satsuma Domain, Seichugumi
Oyama Tsunayoshi: Satsuma Domain, Seichugumi
Arimura Shunsai: Satsuma Domain, Seichugumi
Shinohara Kunimoto: Satsuma Domain
Togo Heihachiro: Satsuma Domain, Admiral
