ghp
8th September 2000, 06:59
I originally posted this message on Sword Forum International's "Japanese Sword Arts" page. Then I thought, "D'oh!" So, here it is again. Sorry if you are reading it a second time.
Cautionary note. I studied Mugai Ryu for only a couple of years from 1970. I learned the first 5 waza, but never learned the meanings of the names; nor, do I think my American teacher knew the meanings. I am not an expert in Mugai Ryu – I barely remember the first five waza. The majority of my observations below are speculative at best and are probably incorrect; however, a couple of “educated” guesses might hit close to home (e.g., Suigetsu and Ryo Sha).
I put this loose “translation” foreward in hopes that it might help others who are studying Mugai Ryu. If any reader knows the proper meanings to what I have written, PLEASE contact me so that I can make corrections. As it stands now, please consider this a work in progress.
Thank you,
Guy Power
======
Culled from various issues of Kendo Nippon magazine
MUGAI RYU WAZA
Seiza no bu. Kneeling Section
Go-Yo (Five Needs)
1. Shin. Truth, reality. When combined with “shomen” [front of dojo] it is called “ma-shomen” and means “right in front.” Probably a reference to "true, real" front as that is where the direction of attack is focused.
2. Ren. Connected. The literal meaning of ‘ren’ is “ream, set, party, company, gang, clique” – all groupings. The same kanji, using another pronunciation, means “stand in a row, be connected with, put in a row, accompanied by.” I think the “be connected with” is appropriate as the kata piviots 180 degrees to the left, “connecting” front to rear.
3. Hidari. Left, where the direction of attack is focused. I learned it as "Sa" which is same kanji, but using the Chinese pronunciation.
4. Migi. Right, where the direction of attack is focused. I learned it as "Yu" -- Chinese pronunciation.
5. Sha. Discard, throw away. The same kanji is alternately pronounced as “sute.” Some techniques are “sute-mi” – sacrifice techniques, meaning literally “discard the body.” Perhaps this waza is so called because one must attack the enemy’s leg with the secont cut, thereby presenting a head and upper torso opening to your enemy.
Go-Ko (Five Items)
1. Suigetsu. Water and Moon (or more poetically, “moon reflected in water”). Suigetsu is an old term for the solar plexus; it probably serves as a mnemonic for the highlighted waza. This kata begins with a horizontal cut to the shoulder, followed by a flat thrust to the solar plexus. Suigetsu also has a deeper “esoteric” meaning – which I do not know.
2. In Chu Yoh. In = Yin (yin-yang principle of balanced opposites); Chu = Center; Yoh = Yang. In (say “eeeen”) has a variety of meanings: negative; reproduction organs; secret; shadow – and more. Yoh can mean: positive; male; sunshine – and more. This name, In-chu-yoh, might mean “between shadow and light” – but I am only making a feeble guess. The waza doesn’t help – it is ukenagashi (deflection), followed by kesagiri to the left. Unless …. Being under the blade (ukenagashi) you are in the “shadow”, and when cutting the kesagiri you are in the sunlight. And you – you are in the middle, between both techniques. Again, this is only me thinking out loud.
3. Yoh Chu In. Same kanji as number 2 above, but in a different order. Unfortunately, the waza provides *me* no clue as to what the name might mean. Waza: strike to the enemy’s foreward leg; straight cut to the head or torso.
4. Hibiki Kaeshi. Echo Returning. ?? Waza: horizontal cut (your left leg is foreward); supported thrust (the back of your sword rests in your left palm, cutting edge skyward); straight cut to the head or torso.
5. Hazumi. Ha = break; Zu = diagram; Mi = flavor (3 kanji compound). I don’t have the Kendo Nippon issue that has this article. And I don’t have a clue! Interestingly enough, there is also a single kanji with the pronunciation “hazumi” – this single kanji means “energy; inertia; spring; bound; chance.” I wonder if the three kanji Ha Zu Mi are some sort of “cover” for energy, etc.? Probably not. Like “Shu Ha Ri,” there is probably an established meaning known to the initiates only.
Tachi Waza no bu (Standing Techniques Section)
Hashiri Kakeri. Begin Running (or begin fleeing)
1. Maegoshi. Forward Hips
2. Muso Gaeshi. Inspiration Returning. "Muso" is a kanji compound comprising "dream" and "consciousness" -- a kind of inspiration. Although Nelson's Chinese Character Dictionary defines "muso" as 'vision,' I prefer "inspiration."
3. Mawari Keri. Begin Rotation (or begin detour). Do not confuse this name for the karate “mawashi-geri” roundhouse kick; the keri kanji for “kick” is different.
4. Migi no Teki. Enemy to the right
5. Shiho. Four Directions
Go-ou. Five Responses
1. Mune Tsukushi. Chest Exhausted. Mune can also mean “mind; heart; feelings.” Sounds like you are worn out.
2. En Yo. Circular Secret. En means “circle” and “yen” – money. Yo also means “essence.” Could the name imply a roundabout method of attack?
3. Ryo Sha. Two Wheels. This is an ancient “tameshigiri” cut and refers to cutting through both hip bones – so called because the pelvic bone is reminiscent of two wheels.
4. No Okuri. Sending Off to the Field.
5. Tama Hikari. Jewel Light.
Nai Den. Internal [secret] Transmissions
1. Sangyo Icchi. Three Lines of Cooperation. “Gyo” – which means “to go” – is also a counter for lines of text. “Sangyo” is also used to mean “letter” or “memorandum” as is seen in two examples within the Nelson’s Kanji Dictionary. Therefore, I do not think it is a great leap of faith to say this name could mean “Letter of Cooperation.”
2. Jinmon. Deity Gate.
3. Banpo Ki-itsu Toh. 10,000 Methods Return from One Sword. This sounds more like a maxim instead of a kata. However, I’m sure there’s a reason for it. Could it be better rendered as "A Sword of 10,000 Methods Converge Into One" ??
=========
Remember, if you KNOW the answers, PUH-LEEZE contact me.
Regards,
Guy
Cautionary note. I studied Mugai Ryu for only a couple of years from 1970. I learned the first 5 waza, but never learned the meanings of the names; nor, do I think my American teacher knew the meanings. I am not an expert in Mugai Ryu – I barely remember the first five waza. The majority of my observations below are speculative at best and are probably incorrect; however, a couple of “educated” guesses might hit close to home (e.g., Suigetsu and Ryo Sha).
I put this loose “translation” foreward in hopes that it might help others who are studying Mugai Ryu. If any reader knows the proper meanings to what I have written, PLEASE contact me so that I can make corrections. As it stands now, please consider this a work in progress.
Thank you,
Guy Power
======
Culled from various issues of Kendo Nippon magazine
MUGAI RYU WAZA
Seiza no bu. Kneeling Section
Go-Yo (Five Needs)
1. Shin. Truth, reality. When combined with “shomen” [front of dojo] it is called “ma-shomen” and means “right in front.” Probably a reference to "true, real" front as that is where the direction of attack is focused.
2. Ren. Connected. The literal meaning of ‘ren’ is “ream, set, party, company, gang, clique” – all groupings. The same kanji, using another pronunciation, means “stand in a row, be connected with, put in a row, accompanied by.” I think the “be connected with” is appropriate as the kata piviots 180 degrees to the left, “connecting” front to rear.
3. Hidari. Left, where the direction of attack is focused. I learned it as "Sa" which is same kanji, but using the Chinese pronunciation.
4. Migi. Right, where the direction of attack is focused. I learned it as "Yu" -- Chinese pronunciation.
5. Sha. Discard, throw away. The same kanji is alternately pronounced as “sute.” Some techniques are “sute-mi” – sacrifice techniques, meaning literally “discard the body.” Perhaps this waza is so called because one must attack the enemy’s leg with the secont cut, thereby presenting a head and upper torso opening to your enemy.
Go-Ko (Five Items)
1. Suigetsu. Water and Moon (or more poetically, “moon reflected in water”). Suigetsu is an old term for the solar plexus; it probably serves as a mnemonic for the highlighted waza. This kata begins with a horizontal cut to the shoulder, followed by a flat thrust to the solar plexus. Suigetsu also has a deeper “esoteric” meaning – which I do not know.
2. In Chu Yoh. In = Yin (yin-yang principle of balanced opposites); Chu = Center; Yoh = Yang. In (say “eeeen”) has a variety of meanings: negative; reproduction organs; secret; shadow – and more. Yoh can mean: positive; male; sunshine – and more. This name, In-chu-yoh, might mean “between shadow and light” – but I am only making a feeble guess. The waza doesn’t help – it is ukenagashi (deflection), followed by kesagiri to the left. Unless …. Being under the blade (ukenagashi) you are in the “shadow”, and when cutting the kesagiri you are in the sunlight. And you – you are in the middle, between both techniques. Again, this is only me thinking out loud.
3. Yoh Chu In. Same kanji as number 2 above, but in a different order. Unfortunately, the waza provides *me* no clue as to what the name might mean. Waza: strike to the enemy’s foreward leg; straight cut to the head or torso.
4. Hibiki Kaeshi. Echo Returning. ?? Waza: horizontal cut (your left leg is foreward); supported thrust (the back of your sword rests in your left palm, cutting edge skyward); straight cut to the head or torso.
5. Hazumi. Ha = break; Zu = diagram; Mi = flavor (3 kanji compound). I don’t have the Kendo Nippon issue that has this article. And I don’t have a clue! Interestingly enough, there is also a single kanji with the pronunciation “hazumi” – this single kanji means “energy; inertia; spring; bound; chance.” I wonder if the three kanji Ha Zu Mi are some sort of “cover” for energy, etc.? Probably not. Like “Shu Ha Ri,” there is probably an established meaning known to the initiates only.
Tachi Waza no bu (Standing Techniques Section)
Hashiri Kakeri. Begin Running (or begin fleeing)
1. Maegoshi. Forward Hips
2. Muso Gaeshi. Inspiration Returning. "Muso" is a kanji compound comprising "dream" and "consciousness" -- a kind of inspiration. Although Nelson's Chinese Character Dictionary defines "muso" as 'vision,' I prefer "inspiration."
3. Mawari Keri. Begin Rotation (or begin detour). Do not confuse this name for the karate “mawashi-geri” roundhouse kick; the keri kanji for “kick” is different.
4. Migi no Teki. Enemy to the right
5. Shiho. Four Directions
Go-ou. Five Responses
1. Mune Tsukushi. Chest Exhausted. Mune can also mean “mind; heart; feelings.” Sounds like you are worn out.
2. En Yo. Circular Secret. En means “circle” and “yen” – money. Yo also means “essence.” Could the name imply a roundabout method of attack?
3. Ryo Sha. Two Wheels. This is an ancient “tameshigiri” cut and refers to cutting through both hip bones – so called because the pelvic bone is reminiscent of two wheels.
4. No Okuri. Sending Off to the Field.
5. Tama Hikari. Jewel Light.
Nai Den. Internal [secret] Transmissions
1. Sangyo Icchi. Three Lines of Cooperation. “Gyo” – which means “to go” – is also a counter for lines of text. “Sangyo” is also used to mean “letter” or “memorandum” as is seen in two examples within the Nelson’s Kanji Dictionary. Therefore, I do not think it is a great leap of faith to say this name could mean “Letter of Cooperation.”
2. Jinmon. Deity Gate.
3. Banpo Ki-itsu Toh. 10,000 Methods Return from One Sword. This sounds more like a maxim instead of a kata. However, I’m sure there’s a reason for it. Could it be better rendered as "A Sword of 10,000 Methods Converge Into One" ??
=========
Remember, if you KNOW the answers, PUH-LEEZE contact me.
Regards,
Guy