point of interest (for me anyway)
Good day Mr Amdur,
I was reading your book Old School, again, and I was enjoying the chapter on Araki Ryu.
What I found of interest was the quote from Araki Muninsai "You make your practice a friend in the morning, and your discipline your pillow at night." What I find interesting about that quote is how it is very similar to a writing I received from my teacher Iwami Toshio of Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu. The writing states 朝鍛 夕錬 (chotan sekiren) "in the morning train and at night practice". I thought the nuance was very similar and even more so since it is a quote from Miyamoto Musashi.
According to Iwami sensei Musashi was just as skilled in jujutsu as he was with the sword. In Niten we have a jujutsu component and it would be interesting to see how, if at all, similar it is to Araki Ryu.
Well I thought it was interesting anyway!
sincerely Reg Sakamoto
Niten Ichi ryu & Musashi's Jujutsu
Mr. Amdur, here is link of a demonstration in France featuring Niten Ichi ryu Jujitsu.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2YbZIEI5Gg
I find it more similar to Muto-dori techniques similar to the Yagyu Shinkage ryu's, perhaps more composed and refined, than vicious and unrelenting.
However there is a note worthy anecdote in William De Lange's translation of the Bushu Denraiki, Origins of a Legend I "The Real Musashi." Referring to Musashi's bout with Takagi Umanosuke Shigesada; Holding his Tachi in a backwards grip Musashi stooped as Umanosuke lunged toward him and hit him hard in the face. Umanosuke was thrown back by the impact, but before he knew it Musashi was upon him, thrusting his thumb in Umanosuke's solar plexus and causing him to fall over backward. Umanosuke was terrified and the onlookers were dumbfounded.
However the footnotes specify that records reflect that Takagi Umanosuke wasn't likely
born until the year of Musashi's death, and it was more likely an unnamed retainer of Mori Nagatsugu. However it is apparent Musashi needed Jujitsu from time to time, as he instructs from his experience in the Gorin no Sho to break free or shake off opponents seeking to grapple. He doesn't continue to instruct beyond freeing oneself though in body to body combat, unfortunately.
Hope this helps! Also, Mr. Amdur an electronic version of Old School would be wonderful as I would regret cutting the spine off my copy to scan it!