ARTICLE AND BONUS SLIDE-SHOW.

WEAPON INTEL #6.

 

 

Along with the BOW+ARROW and SWORD,

 

 THE SPEAR,..

has long been a major part of the JAPANESE MARTIAL

TRADITIONS AND WAYS.

As a general WEAPONRY TYPE,..(click)

referred to as THE YARI.

 

This LONG-POLE or STICK upgrade is also an invaluable

asset to your ARTS OF SELF-DEFENCE.

 

 YARI …=…  槍

 

 

The SPEAR is a (oft long) stick or pole with a sharp point

or edge. This gives it an advantage in close combat even

over THE SWORD. During many of the pre-gunnery battles,

after the ARCHERS have darkened the heavens,..

 

come the SPEARMEN.

Swordsmen were oft dominated and decimated

at the end of a SPEAR. A well practiced team

of such Warriors become formidable opponents

on the field. A defensive yet offensive spiky hedgehog

WALL OF SPEARS effect,.. effective indeed.

 

 

The modern MOVIE version of such ANCIENT Battles

is very dramatically epitomised in THE 300 series of films,..

(a Shiro fav.btw ) for those interested in seeing over-dramatic

and cinematic MARTIAL MAYHEM melodramatica,

 

even pointed SPARTAN SPEAR Techniques. Indeed.

 

 

 

 

The SPEAR has length, more than sufficient to scatter

opponents, deflect and parry other weapons as well

as the applicable thrusting, snaring, striking,

cutting and slashing type capabilities.

 

The nature of this ANCIENT Weaponry Form,

when combined with Tempered Blade Steel

and relatively overall lightweight construction;

ensures extreme maneuverability and versatility

for the proficient and practiced (click).

 

Creating space and open distance which allows

SELF-DEFENCE essentials, easier and further applied.

 

 

Ancient Japanese MASTER BLACKSMITHS AND WEAPON MAKERS

worked on SPEARS with the same renowned care and precision

they put into the iconic SAMURAI SWORD

and other BLADED WEAPONRY (click).

 

The SPEAR SHAFT was in no way disregarded,

being constructed from sound + solid wood,

of appropriate hardness, thickness and type.

 

Japanese EVERGREEN OAK  ( akagashi  赤樫 )

was predominantly used, valued for it’s natural

uniform tight grain structure.

 

 

This was then prepped, seasoned and treated

before being reinforced with binding, strips,

wire and/or metal rings.

 

 

Usually at all the strategic areas, of contact and impact

as well as the joins and stress absorption sections too. These

could in turn, be finely and ornately decorated, to add

to the overall awesome aesthetic quality also.

 

Several methods were also developed of securely

attaching SHAFT + SPEAR-HEAD dependent on such

as BLADE-TANG length, width and type.

 

No point… in losing the point here.

 

 

The YARI/SPEAR SHAFT, in general,..

comes in one of three cross-section/profile shapes.

 

• ROUND : common/basic spear.

 

• OVAL : bladed/naginata type.

 

• SQUARE FACED : specialist type… facet number varies.

 

 

 THE POINT,

 

 

A large variety of SHEATHS protected the pointed

end of SPEAR business.

Many were personalised,.. some  ” standard issue type ” .

 

In fact,.. the LEGENDS of the YARI WAYS indicate that;

for long periods of HISTORY, IT WAS CLAN/MILITARY LAW:

to carry SHEATHED,.. a SPEAR’s-

naked SHINY SHARP STEEL bits…

presumably to cover up any accidental pointed intrusion…

 

into other people’s… business.

 

Point taken here… indeed.

COVER… THEN CARRY it seems.

 

So the LEGENDS say…

about this SPEAR OF A MARTIAL WAY.

 

 

The SPEAR’s POINT too,

came in a variety of SHAPE TYPE(s).

In general terms;

1. THE STRAIGHT TYPE.
2. THE SHAPED TYPE.
3. THE CURVED TYPE.

 

 

 

 

 

SIDETRACKED AND SPOTLIGHT ON :

 THE SASUMATA… 刺股

 THE SHAPED SPEAR + co.

…cos… they got,..

NO POINT… AT ALL. Indeed.

 

A SHORT AND SHARP :

 SLIDE-SHOW… by Shiro.

Main Article continues… down under…indeed.

 

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This WEAPON Type was used for much more

than just making it’s point or clearing out and cutting thru,

crowds of belligerent Samurai foe. Many variations…

 

had NO POINT at all.

 

Or many. Designs are oft unique. To snag and snare,..

hook and tear… push and pull and so forth.

The concept of maximum SELF-DEFENCE,

with minimal offensive damage, combine to present

a LENGTHY WEAPONRY TYPE more than capable

of defending and saving lives. Including your own.

 

 

All at more than arms length indeed.

Such SHAPED SPEARS were oft employed

by POLICE FORCES,.. CASTLE GUARDS,..

FIRE MEN and others with a urgent need for crowd control. (click)

Each… had a WAY… of their own.

 

 THE WAYS,..

 OF THE JAPANESE

 SPEAR WAY.

 

  

• THE SPEAR.

THE YARI :   槍

THE WAY OF THE YARI:

YARI JUTSU : 槍術

 

• THE CURVED SPEAR.

THE NAGINATA :  薙刀

THE WAYS OF THE NAGINATA:

NAGINATA JUTSU :  薙刀術

NAGINATA DO :  長刀道

 

 

The WAYS OF THE SPEAR + co. involve a WEAPON Type

that evolved with and from, several others. Input

from stick and sword Arts in particular. This produced

a very wide range of practitioners, who in turn,

produced a vast array of methods and techniques

into the various styles…

of which there were many too. (click)

 

Martial WAR ideas and concepts

were also incorporated, particularly

in regards to new designs and so forth.

 

 

This also meant, many

LIVE BLADE DUELS AND CHALLENGES…

between BUSHI MASTERS and such like,..

oft meant incapacitation and death for one or both.

 

Usually both.

 

 

Over such time and the associated mounting loss of…

quite a few MASTERS…

 

whose body and aspirations had both been pointedly

pierced,..

the WAY found another way…

 

A WAY WITH WOOD.

 

 

Many such events,..

and the SPEAR loving peeps involved in such…

saw the simple life enhancing profit; of the

SOFT WOOD BAMBOO and PADDED SPEAR WEAPONRY

approach. They could still make their point…

with their technique per se…

ON… but NOT IN the opponent’s body.

 

A great pointed idea indeed. Saves lives too…

thus great for one’s SELF-DEFENCE SPEAR WAYS.

Get that point across,.. woodenly indeed.

 

 

Several related RYU such as the TENDO, HOZO

and SHINKAGE continue to promote SPEAR TRADITIONS

evolved from such as the BUSHI SPEAR WAYS.

This has consistently produced a high quality

of SPEAR SYSTEM AND TECHNIQUES… to suit the times.

 

In the days of yore… and challenge galore…

yet, many of the experienced olden SWORDSMEN too,..

studiously AVOIDED any unnecessary point

of confrontation with such students of the SPEAR WAYS.

 

SPEAR + SELF-DEFENCE it seems.

A fine pointed pair indeed.

 

 

 A WAY OF WARRIOR WOMEN.

 

 

Tis not the mere male here who deserves

the credit for continuing a LEGENDARY WAY.

This WAY, this ART,.. of NAGINATA JUTSU/DO

is one indeed where the WARRIOR WOMEN excel. Now

and in days of old. Long has the nickname

THE WOMENS SPEAR applied.

 

Many SAMURAI WOMEN, MILITARY

AND COURT NOBLES too, took this bladed point

to heart per se.

For long periods of HISTORY, all such femininity…

by the time they were 18, were fully trained

in all the basic WEAPON WAYS.

 

(… as a side-note,.. if all such womanhood were still

similarly trained now…  SELF-DEFENCE would be

needed less against the crims…

cos the gals would… know a lot more indeed.?.

so Shiro sayeth it seems. )

 

 

Usually now only referred to within NAGINATA DO;

the WEAPON was also oft taught and trained with,

in combo with the TRADITIONAL JAP. DAGGER aka TANTO.

This type of approach ensures thus,..

a good immersion in the aspects of both short

and long WEAPONRY… at the same time.!.

 

presumably just in case your first point misses the target.

Feminine wiles indeed. Point taken,.. first and last.

 

 

A discipline whereby appropriate fundamental

and balanced postures smoothly flow into movements

akin to martial dance, yet fully coordinating weapon

and warrior into hopefully impenetrable SELF-DEFENCE.

 

The basic displacements and positions involve both

physical and mental concentration and integration

to fully utilise the BLADED aspects of such LONG

WEAPONRY appropriately,.. and not…

 

fall on your own pointed ends.

 

 

Training LIVE BLADED, now replaced

with BAMBOO and OAK replicas;

such warrior women of the martial arts continue

to link to the past by integrating such old

and new concepts and ideas. Thus keeping

a LEGENDARY WAY… traditionally alive.

 

WARRIORS OF THE WAY indeed.

WARRIORS OF SELF-DEFENCE.

Pointing the WAY forward too, it seems.

 

 

槍…薙刀

 THE LEGEND

 OF THE WAY OF THE SPEAR.

 A LEGENDARY POINTED TALE retold.

槍術

 

The rich and long heritage of THE WAY OF THE SPEAR

harkens back to the ORIGIN LEGEND of JAPAN itself.

Included in such HISTORICAL collections

as THE CHRONICLES OF JAPAN,..

 

(compiled circa 1286 though…)

dating back at least to the 8th century,

when such as the KOJIKI and NIHON SHOKI

Records were first written down and kept

as official documents (click).

 

A tale which combines LEGENDARY WEAPONS, T

HE GODS, DIVINE BEINGS and the MANKIND CREATION EVENT.

THE HEAVENLY WEAPON of legendary choice here, is THE SPEAR.

 

THE WAY OF THIS SPEAR OF LEGEND was to use

a Technique of a ” dripping ” SPEAR…

a SPEAR dripping with LIFE that is. Creative indeed.

 

By the Gods.

 

 

THE LEGENDS SAY;

The 12 Gods born in seven generations were stirring

with creative energy.

A place to play with such,.. was soon so decreed.

The drifting Lands were to be made a Home… in fact…

indeed.

 

Creation summoned,..

a divine pair appeared,.. in this LEGENDARY tale-

Male divine IZANAGI,.. divine IZANAMI, female.

 

The Gods summoned once more…

with a flourish; and many more than just one GEM,..

the somewhat phallic symbol of  天沼矛 AMENONUHOKO…

THE HEAVENLY JEWELED SPEAR… did appear… to all them.

 

 

Stretching out from THE FLOATING BRIDGE BETWEEN HEAVEN

AND EARTH ( …the AMENOUKIHASHI… )

the divine pair lowered the SPEAR OF HEAVEN

and let it penetrate the churning waters below (click).

 

Mysterious actions such as these,..

soon had the desired effect it seems.

 

By simply withdrawing the now soaked SPEAR…

as drips oozed, cascaded and fell back,.. to land below;

THE ISLANDS OF JAPAN… did appear and… grow.

 

Tis so… these of Our World LEGENDS do say,..

 

and now you too…

do know.

 

 

 

 

 THE 槍 POINTED

 MISCELLANY END NOTES

 AND GLOSSARY. A–Z.

ARTS OF PEACE : BU

ART OF THE SPEAR WAY : SOJUTSU

ANCIENT BRONZE SPEAR : TSUKUSHI BOKO

ANCIENT NAGINATA : NAKAMAKI

BAMBOO-LEAF SHAPED : SASAHO

BAMBOO SPEAR : TAKE YARI

BED-SIDE/PILLOW SPEAR : MAKURA

BUTT END-CAP POMMEL : ISHIZUKI

CATCH/SNAG POINT SPEAR : SODE GARAMI

CROSS SHAPED : JUMONJI, TSUKUBO

DIAMOND SHAPE X-SECTIONAL : RYO SHINOGI

GRAPPLING HOOK : KUMADE

FLEUR-DE-LIS SHAPED : BISHAMON

FOLLOWERS OF BUSHIDO : BUSHI

FORKED : FUTAMATA

HOOKED : KAGI

HAND SPEAR : TE YARI

HALBERD TYPE : HOKO, NAKAMAKI

JAVELIN : UCHI NE, NAGE

AN L-SHAPED SPEAR : KATA KAMA

LONG HAND SPEAR : MOCHI

MARTIAL WAY OF PEACE : BUDO

MARTIAL INSPIRED PEACE : BUFU

MARTIAL CODE OF PEACE : BUSHIDO

METAL BIND RING : SUJIGAU

METAL BIND WIRE : DOGANE

MOON SHAPED : TSUKI NARI

PADDED TRNG.SPEAR : TAMPO

PRIEST (hidden) SPEAR : SHAKUJO YARI

RESTRAINING : SASUMATA

SICKLE-SPEAR : KAMA YARI

SINGLE EDGE SPEAR : KIKUCHI

SOCKET CONNECT TYPE : FUKURO

SPADE SHAPED : YAJIRI NARI

SPEAR : YARI

SPEAR RACK : YARI KAKE

SPEAR SHAFT : NAKAE

SPEAR SHAFT EX.LONG : NAGAE, NAGAYE, EBU

SPEAR SHEATH : SAYA

SWORD-SPEAR : NAGINATA

SPEAR REST-PIECE (on horse) : YARI SASHI, HARAMI

STRAIGHT, SPECIAL SHAPED : OMI YARI, SUGU YARI

SHIP HOLDER HOOK-SPEAR : UCHI KAGI

TANG OF BLADE/SPEAR : NAKAGO

TANG BLADE STEEL : TAMAHAGANE

TO STRIKE : KIRI

TO THRUST : TSUKI

TRIANGULAR : SANKAKU

TRIDENT FORK : MAGARI

TUBE SPEAR : KUDA YARI

WAY OF THE (4ft) STICK : JOJUTSU

 

 

THE YARI :   槍

THE TENGU : 天狗

NINPO : 忍法

SHINOBI : 忍び

NINJA : 忍者

女 KUNOICHI : くノ一

 

 

For those with an interest…

the ORIGIN LEGENDS OF JAPAN resonate

in some ways with many other OLDEN TALES

from diverse regions of the globe.

The Gods are usually a group

or council of twelve (like ZODIAC.?.)…

the divine tech used is o so mysterious…

or presented that way…

 

and the very name of AMEN.?.

from HEAVEN in the SPEAR’s  and BRIDGE’s

nomenclature. At the time of writing…

i have yet to determine whether this name is

a western christianized adoption

or originally scribed that way etc.

 

 

AMEN of course, being directly related

to the Ancient EGYPTIAN Gods and Watchers (click).

Other items of pointed interest: The TENGU,

pictured 2nd photo above, training in red with wings…

taught the early SHINOBI in many WAYS…

 

including THE SPEAR…

were also said to be divine beings generated

by the Gods. Western Traditions simply refer

to them as THE FALLEN ANGELS. These Gods

and/or divine beings per se show

up in some far away places at times

it seems indeed.

 

 

For example, a previous research article found

one of the original GODDESSES OF SUMER;

which was also a gaggle of 12 Gods,

by the name of IN-ANNA (click),.. refer photo above…

was the same as the LEGENDARY

HEROINE founder of IN-DIA .

 

A goddess with many fine points it seems.

 

LEGEND indeed.

 

Just like… THE WAY OF THE SPEAR.

 

 

Till next…