Tags
Ancient Japan, Bojutsu, Classic Weapons, Duel, Fujiyama, History of the Stick, Kiso, Musashi Miyamoto, Ninja, Sword Master
Legends from Japanese Martial Ways with Wood. The STICK. So Our World LEGENDS say. This is the 2nd part in the series concentrating on this rather plain and basic Weapon form that so easily and confidently… even… woodenly indeed- can help our Self-defence. A few fun facts and a Legend retold. MUSASHI MIYAMOTO finds his SWORD of lil’ use against an enigmatic WOODEN WARRIOR indeed. His lesson is hard fought and earnt… yet ALL… including a mother-in-law… lived to retell their STICKy Tales.
SOKE TAKAMATSU TOSHITSUGU…NINPO LEGEND.
ARTICLE AND BONUS STICK SLIDE-SHOW.
LEGENDS from the WAY OF THE WOOD.
WALL OF WOOD.
BRING A STICK…
TO A SWORD–FIGHT.?.
THE SMASHING LEGEND.
A STICK was one of the earliest WEAPONS.
The Rock was another.
So Our World LEGENDS say. LEGENDS of two, herein.
STICK TERMS-JAP.
Having sportified this concept with bat and ball type games and such like. Much recent production of sport + rec. Gear and Equipment has involved WOOD in some manner and function therein.
Simple in action with many strengths.(click)
WOOD is a rather versatile and practical all-round material with a great many uses.
Home essential, Tool(s), Sport equip and such as fire-starter item too. LEGEND.
FIRE-PIT = FIRE-TRAINING… LEARNING.
However… even so and thus;..
Would YOU though ?,…bring a STICK to a SWORD FIGHT..?
LEGENDS of 2 , the AWESOME + the SMASHING–
Our World Legends retold over 2 articles, (click)
2 Heroes of Japan’s Martial Traditions
who did just that…
and started a Training trend.
LEGENDS from the WAY OF THE STICK.
Njoy.
JAPANESE OAK TREE; KYOTO. WOOD…NATURALLY STYLED.
THE SMASHING LEGEND.
aka MUSASHI LEARNS-
NOTHING HE DID…
WOOD WOULD WORK.
…Some time before the AWESOME Our World LEGENDs was CARVED… near the Shiojiri Pass and the Shrine of Sengen, where,.. from the pinnacle, one can see FUJIYAMA many miles away… on a clear day; THE WAY OF THE WOOD…smashed into MUSASHI’s chest. He did not SEE OR KNOW HOW the WOODEN JO of some 4 foot in length had penetrated his SWORD laden defences… but the WOOD knew… and MUSASHI had now felt it’s inherent POWER. This DUEL… or rather TRAINING DUEL was done as far as MUSASHI was concerned. Done. NOTHING he did… wood would work. Encouraged by his opponent’s Mother as well as opponent MUSO GONNOSUKE KATSUYOSHI… the training session was not however, well thought out. Eager to see her son train… after some 10 years of SOLO… and a fellow WARRIOR arriving locally… she had sought out MUSASHI herself to get his agreement. He, MUSASHI tentatively agreeing as ALL SAMURAI MUST… replying,.. she announced it was to be then an here… NOW. Two young and eager WARRIORS OF A WAY… SWORD v WOOD … such training them days quite rare it seems. MUSASHI AND GONNOSUKE however… were now both facing the reality of COMBAT. And it’s resultant loss. Each had no reason to hate or wish death on the other. A simple friendship and camaraderie had developed even after just a week… as long as you don’t ask about the incident with the stray cow whilst both are around… but that is altogether, another LEGENDARY tail Tale indeed. THE WAY OF THE WOOD… smashed into MUSASHI’s chest… NOTHING he did WOOD WOULD WORK. gifcredit/thanks:youtube
MUSASHI’s brow creased, in concentration and frustration. The SWORD and He were working in unison, as one unit, smooth and balanced. CARVING only Air molecules the result. NOTHING he did would work. Moreover, his opponent carried NO SWORD and by all accounts had never done so. GONNOSUKE carried a STICK…a big STICK, longer even than MUSASHI’s SWORD. Little MUSASHI did was of consequence…the STICK was leading the WAY. Winning with WOOD…over STEEL. Grown somewhat used to the WAY OF THE SWORD and the cutting power required for combat, MUSASHI quickly realised this Opponent and WEAPON were different. Twas not only Death being faced in these moments for his combatant here was worthy indeed. A WARRIOR from KISO province; one whose immersion in BUDO was fuller than his at this stage. MUSASHI felt it before the fight and now… as an intense Force, another he had to contend with. NOTHING he did would work. Abandoning Fate to his beloved BUDO,.. MUSASHI relentlessly moved, attacked and struck, bringing concentration, focus and understanding into his analysis of this DUEL. The STICK had extra length and reach, was moved and manipulated faster… safer too. Both ends could be used to defend, attack and strike… consecutively… repeatedly. Polished smooth WOOD, angled defences and small movements negated his SWORD’s steel sharp edge. Counterattacks came with strong percussive force, from any angle and position… with GONNOSUKE safely staying behind a defensive wall of WOOD. MUSASHI’s SWORD-WORK was soon smashed and wrapped… in WOOD. Nothing he did would WORK with this miracle WOOD worker… the WARRIOR of WOOD from KISO. photocredit/thanks:pinterest
Thus… the WAY OF THE WOOD… smashed into his chest. GONNOSUKE’s strike and movement though had taken him past MUSASHI, who was saved only by fitness and reaction when WOOD struck, body recoiling in pain, raising his arm instinctively and reflexively, yet almost belatedly,.. SWORD swinging at the fleeting figure of the WARRIOR and WOOD … that had smashed it’s own WAY through. His SWORD,.. though moving at speed, almost whistling and cutting the air, could not find or bring it’s own killing edge to bear so easily. Angled all wrong, positioned out of place. Only the broad rear edge of the BLADE ridge, slapped rather solidly into GONNOSUKE’s back, stumbling, then spilling him somewhat untidily on the ground a ways away. MUSASHI too,.. his chest stunned and blazing in pain, lungs laboring to settle breathe,.. sword stance and balance smashed, legs struggling to upright maintain. Decided sitting on the floor… wood would indeed be a great idea. This DUEL… was done. Won over with WOOD. WOOD,… over STEEL.
MUSASHI…WON OVER…
WITH WOOD.
After reading of these AWESOME + SMASHING
LEGENDs you may well do so–
Bring a STICK to a Sword-Fight,
that is…next time.
SELF-DEFENCE…WOODENLY… THE POWER OF WOOD… OVER STEEL.
A STICKY SITUATION
OF A STALEMATE.
GONNOSUKE… the LEGEND who brings a STICK to a SWORD-FIGHT.
This Japanese epic…is quite epic…of course;
also it involves one of Japans greatest combo of martial heroes where the winner is…
not important…cos there wasn’t one really.
Both men had learnt very valuable lessons in BUDO, regarding both the WEAPON WAY they strove to perfect, each other and themselves. Still living, they were able to translate their experiences into their ART.
Warriors who went on to become MASTERS.
LEGENDS. Both.
MUSASHI…
THE WOOD WORKER.
STICK/SPEAR v SWORD… NITO RYU STYLE.
From hereon in, Musashi begins to see the immense value of alternative weaponry. As a SAMURAI steeped in the WAY OF THE SWORD, it’s failings and disadvantages were oft. overlooked. Musashi realised during this training the folly of such a stance.
A true Warrior forsakes no weapon. (click)
One’s Sword is no guarantee of survival. There are many forms.
Musashi too began WOOD-CARVING and other contemporary ART forms, as a pastime and alternative study subject, realising LIFE was more than just Combat. According to the LEGENDS many of these were fine pieces of the ART examples…eventually. (click)
IT’s A WAY TO START…
WAY OF THE SWORD… WAY OF THE WOOD.
WAY OF THE WOOD… WAY OF THE SWORD. …A STICK TO A SWORD-FIGHT… LEGEND. SMASHING. WAY OF THE WOOD… WAY OF THE SWORD.
BRING A STICK
TO A SWORD-FIGHT.?.
THE SMASHING LEGEND.
GONNOSUKE (click) and his LEGENDS…
point THE WAY OF THE WOOD, GONNOSUKE Style as being referred to as SHINTO MUSO RYU in the chronicles.
A Koryu school of JOJUTSU that continues a current Legacy. (click)
GONNOSUKE continued to appreciate the WOODEN WAY developing further Self-defence techniques and methods using a variety of STICK lengths and types.
he stuck to his guns per se…
stick at it…so should you.
THE MOTHER OF GONNOSUKE STUCK BY HER STICK WIELDING SON… another LEGEND INDEED.
THE WINNER IS… WOOD…
THE WOODEN WAY.
This training DUEL and the LEGENDS it inspires is now an essential part of the ongoing Japanese Tradition and History.
Many olden BUDO and MARTIAL WEAPONRY ARTS will, as a matter of course, expose the Student to the exploits of such as MUSASHI and GONNOSUKE + co… (click) incorporating concepts and ideas into the associated techniques and methods of Self-defence. Experience utilised.
The result was accepted eagerly, for more oft. than not,..
in a training DUEL such as this-
one or both ended their WAY… and ended their day per se too…
in a wooden box.
A martial situation/event turned LEGENDARY more as a training tool, that can work it’s way on many levels… celebration of a stalemate per se i guess where the woodenly knowledge for ALL ensures
everyone’s a winner = where they ALL learnt the value of WOOD– (click)
well…they both survived for another day and duel anyway,..
such is the WAY OF THE WOOD.
so…(click) here for THE AWESOME LEGEND or…
stay for a lil’ more-
written in… or on WOOD,..or not.
Bring a stick to a sword-fight. LEGEND.
SOKE DR.MASAAKI HATSUMI. …NINJA TRAINING AND STUDY…
DR.MASAAKI HATSUMI, current SOKE OF THE BUJINKAN
(pic above) has authored several WEAPONS themed books
(several page pics in slide-show next…)
which may be of relevant interest here incl:
FOR A LOOK AT THE MARTIAL ARTS LEGENDS SLIDE-SHOW…(click)…
or (click)…here…FOR A CLEAR LOOK AT A CRYSTAL OF A LEGEND…
or scroll up + learn again how 2 LEGENDS…
BRING A STICK
TO A SWORD-FIGHT.
TWIN SWORD… SHINOBI STYLE… Musashi also.
Till next…
Our World Legends. 