Though oft not widely acknowledged and/or recognised,..

THE WAY OF THE FAN

…has long been an integral part of the MARTIAL and SELF-DEFENCE knowledge… for many of the legendary HEROES of Ancient Japan.

 

Warriors renowned and notable abound of the FAN WAY;

and include Takeda Shingen (click),.. Minamoto Yoshitsune (click),..

…Kumagai Naozane (click),.. Ganryu (click),..

…even the First NARA SUMO TOURNAMENT CHAMPION,..

…KIYOBAYASHI was awarded a BATTLE FAN upon his epic victory.

 

Fans of the FAN it seems indeed.

 

 

No need to ask such LEGENDS…

ARE YOU A FAN.?.

For they know… full and well;

 

A FAN… can and could go… just about anywhere–

…whereas other WEAPON FORMS… even the o venerated SAMURAI SWORD were brushed away… and put away too it seems.

 

This fact, combined with a BUSHI Warrior’s experience of such matters and Leadership inclinations… according to the LEGENDS permitted Araki Murashige (click)…

…to survive… live some more indeed.

 

Summoned to appear before the Lord,.. DAIMYO Oda Nobunaga (click), to face charges of Treason,.. Araki M. bowed low at the door threshold… as was the custom and practice;..

…to bow… before the Lord.

 

 

 

Swords, Sticks, Spears, Knives + co.,.. customarily removed… much much earlier,..and-

…and,.. and…

…they got in the way when you bowed anyway… too.

 

Before… the Lord.

Oda.

 

(…Araki M.,.. even within this early LEGEND (version) of his Tales… seems to be regarded… as highly regarded, quite weaponry wise and so forth. Possibly what we would term a ” VETERAN ” …his Castle Call-out would have put him on his toes per se… READY.

He seems to know it was a ” Stitch Up ” etc and was on guard. Well aware of the treachery ahand, afoot, aneck and so forth. The Lord (…pic(s) below Oda,..) that issued the Summons; was on the rise in Political Power and twas known for such surprise Diplomacy and alike tactics… one of those slippery slimy character traits personified it seems indeed… e.g. no need for enemies with Oda in your family… indeed.)

 

 

 

 

A Tessen Iron Fan… was all that was… at hand per se for Araki M.

Instinctively.?. or knowingly.!.

… as he bowed and fanned low… before the Lord.

 

Before the Lord,.. he laid low his Tessen… Fan,.. too.

 

Laid low… in the floor’s door groove.

Laid low… like he.

 

Before the Lord.

Oda.

 

 

Head down, prostrated before the Lord,.. laying low…

…Araki M.,.. he heard his Tessen call and shriek and scream and carry on and so on… sort of.

 

In defiance of the usual Protocol and quickly,..somehow;

…with great force the doors were pushed along the grooves.

To close that is.

 

Not open wide… but close upon,..

… the Tessen out bearing and groove lying,..

… fanned out and now.,..

…low lying… Samurai Araki M.

 

Before the Lord.

Oda.

 

 

Aiming to trap,.. or worse… behead the head of…

…Araki M.’s,..

…that was his,.. there… tween.

 

The Tessen,.. too… in Self-defence… laid low,.. stayed low, before the Lord…

…and jammed that sliding… and pushy door… right back indeed.

Groovy,.. it seems… too.

 

A clash of Iron and Wood that echoed throughout the Summons Hall… but left Araki M.,.. and head… intact.

There was no SHTF… Fan-fare,.. this time before the Lord.

Oda.

 

 

With further great tact and iron will… and Iron Tessen too…

…Araki M. ignored all clamor and commotion,.. the sounds… he rose above,.. though,.. he stayed seated.

Still before the Lord.

Oda.

 

To declare his allegiance to BUSHIDO, Japan and his inherent innocence in these and such matters,.. for all to know… and the Lord to consider,.. thus they could all stop…

…fanning about indeed. It seems.

Araki M.

Tessen… too. LEGENDS.

 

His charges… were simply,.. fanned away.

More groovy stuff here… too.

Before the Lord. This day.

Oda. In Japan.

 

 

LEGEND and Tyrant’s Door Guillotine Stopper it seems… as well.

The TESSEN. WAY to go… Araki M.,.. too.

 

Oda… not so much.

 

 

Such stuff of LEGENDS are too, within the FAN WAYS; and this OLDEN MARTIAL ART’s links to groups of ANCIENT INSTRUCTORS, ADVISERS, Peoples and Places are such;…

…that active participation also encouraged the SHINOBI AND NINPO TRADITION in it’s infancy and training methods as well as that of the Samurai.

THE WAY OF THE FAN

combines LEGENDs and LINEAGEs of an Ancient Time indeed.

 

 

The Way of the FAN is one of those rare ARTS that few outside JAPAN or CHINA study. A rather specialised defence and combat system…

…with few specialists it seems indeed.

 

Yet, the links of this weaponry form,.. 鉄扇術

…usually referred to as a/the TESSEN JUTSU (click):

…stretch and fan all the way back to the origins and founding of the nation of JAPAN itself.

 

So.?.

ARE YOU A FAN.?.

 

 

 

 

(Video Link)

THE FAN.

Simple in design… and a breeze to use.!.

…the FAN comes with a wide range of functions, particularly in times of yore.

 

Obvious personal cooling and insect deterrent.

Kitchen aid to aerate and cool foods/ingredients.

Grain screening/sorting aid.

Sports/Game Throwing Target and Device.

Theater and Drama, Poetry and Dance prop.

Signalling and refereeing (e.g. …during Battle,..THE WAY OF THE SUMO…).

Social, business and advertising  (…greetings/advertising…)… so on and so forth.

 

A Legend of a Device indeed.

 

WHICH FAN… DO I USE TODAY.?.

The size, materials and construction etc differs to suit the application(s).

In the main. Types as follows:

 

GUNSEN 軍扇… bladed War Fan.

TESSEN 鉄扇… a/the Fan.

GUNBAI 軍配… solid open Fan.

 

 

 

 

 

TESSENJUTSU:

 

 

Within Shiro’s Training, the FAN is oft taught and discussed along with that of the JUTTE and associated Short Stick Type Weaponry. This is that, mostly contained within the KUKISHINDEN RYU (click) JUTTEJUTSU Ways/Methods etc.

Martial and defence usage to suit the occasion.

 

 

Open Fans can cool, hinder, hide, deflect articles thrown or thrust etc….

…or can be thrown and thrusted itself… too.

 

A Swimming Aid/Device… a small Paddle type per se.

Mention too, of Signals, Messages and Codes usages also.

 

 

Closed Fans have a lil’ more overall strength and support for certain applications, Methods and Techniques.

Also be thrown if req.,..

 

Fans make available a somewhat wide range of Methods/Techniques /Ways to deal with incoming attacks and thus self-defend effectively.

Deflections, Weapon or Body Strikes/Thrusts/Parries and so on.

 

 

Will also aid in Finger or Joint Locks, Choke-holds and levered Take-downs where can. Gives a lil’ extra reach vs the unarmed and matches the opponents with Knives and other Shortish Weapons… as well.

Not at all,.. necessarily… a Death dealing destructive device,!.

…to you or oppo.

 

…Can fan off and cool… both of you if need be.!.

Excellent Self-Defence Potential contained therein.

 

 

(OK… stop fanning Shiro.!. back to the Intel…):

 

Notable Authorities too, are a Fan of the FAN… tis said by such as;

… and according to the KOKUSAI NIPPON BUDO-KAI;.. (click)

 

“…Tessenjutsu is defensive in nature and especially useful for disarming and restraining opponents. The Tessen is not only a powerful weapon for Uchiwaza (hitting techniques) and Tsuki- waza (thrusting techniques) but is also very effective for applying pressure to nerve points or for Kansetsuwaza (joint-locking techniques) and Shimewaza (strangulation techniques)…“.

 

…Shiro agrees… too.

 

MAKERS OF THE FAN WAY.

Whilst obviously not overly Labour intensive and so forth;.. the FAN(s) built for WAR AND MARTIAL-ness… were treated no different. Material of good finish and substance were/are integral components for a workable product.

Forces dealt and dealt with could be still strong.

 

Iron and Bamboo the main ingredients.

Forged, Strengthened,.. …Lacquered, Strengthened;.. respectively.

 

The more… IRON + WOOD + LACQUER… the MORE STRENGTH.

Even the PAPER ONES… could be well-lacquered for a bit of sturdiness etc.

 

 

…FANNING SOME MORE OF…

…THE LEGENDs…IN HISTORY.

Ancient and Modern Lineages mentioned in LEGENDS AND such: are the aforementioned (KUKISHINDEN RYU); ECHIGO RYU; MASAKI RYU; MIYAKE SHINGAN RYU; KIRAKU RYU; SHINTO MUSO RYU; IKKAKU RYU; TAKENOUCHI SANTO RYU;  and YAGYU RYU .

Several others have associated Methods and Personnel with cross-over of Tech and Technique(s) for example; the Collection of Olden Police Methods Data-the EDOMACHIGATA JUTTE HOJO ATSUKAIYO incorporates olden historical TESSEN uses/usage and lineages therein as does the TAKEUCHI RYU.

 

 

…DEFEATING GIANTS…

…THE FAN WAY…

LEGENDS tell Tales… too,.. of The Monk Warrior;..

…the GIANT of a man SAITŌ no MUSASHIBŌ BENKEI.

 

Tall… he,… not this Tale.

 

BENKEI 武蔵坊弁慶  fanned about as he again faced this much smaller Samurai Warrior…

…holding that infernal,.. flapping… FAN.!.

 

…ON HIS BRIDGE…???… (click)

(…actually GOJO BRIDGE… but at the time… he thought twas…)

…HIS BRIDGE.!.

 

 

MINAMOTO NO YOSHITSUNE… 源 義経 … (click)

…(…the Warrior… not sure what FAN’s name was.!)

 

His,.. Benkei’s that is;.. All his Weapon and unarmed attacks were pointless… he persisted a lil’.

The FAN… breezily covered every move and then whipped back as sharply indeed. His arms, wrists and hands stung and various other,.. now tender body spots… too.

His energy sapped quickly as he fought, having to deal, defend and counter repeated strikes, pokes and thrusts each time. The FAN WARRIOR was quick and well reflexed,.. smooth. Real smooth.

 

 

Defeated and fanned out maybe,.. though not at all undeterred in Spirit……and later recovered in Body,..

…BENKEI the GIANT continued to Train and became THE WARRIOR OF THE FAN’s Personal Retainer/Assistant.

Sound like… BIG Friends… too… says Shiro.

Training included our subject matter,.. (click)…as well as other Arts, Methods and Techniques taught vis YOSHITSUNE and the TENGU…

…who also taught and mentored many SHINOBI (click).

 

MARTIAL ARTS MAYHEM indeed.

Mixed Martial Art MENTORS it seems.

Our World LEGENDS.

 

(click)

Till death did they part.

At the SIEGE OF KOROMOGAMA.

 

Still,..

LEGENDS. THE FAN WAY.

A LEGEND… too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Till next…