<font size=1>image lifted from TSKSR home page at www.katorishintoryu.com/English/index2.htm</font>
I'd like to re-start a thread regarding the (rather tired) issue of "who is ligitimately qualified to teach TSKSR", since there are some new developments worth considering. One is the passing of Sugino Yoshio sensei, and the other is an official statment posted by the TSKSR honbu dojo, referenced at the bottom of this post. If we can keep focused and productive, perhaps this thread will be an easy place to refer people to in the future who are unclear on this issue.
BTW, I should start by clarifying that I'm in no way an authority of involved at all with TSKSR. I'm simply interested in clearing the air, since the subject is constantly brought up on all the BBS. The information presented in this post is from my own recollection or from reasonably credible sources on the internet, and may or may not be entirely correct currently.
Those qualified to offer corrections please feel free!
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Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto ryu currently has an administrative structure that consists of a split transmission line; the so-ke and the shihan-ke.
The soke line is currently headed by Iizasa Shuri no Suke Yasusada (20th generation headmaster). Iizasa soke does not actually practice the tradition for health reasons, so the art is actually taught through a seperate (but associated) shihan line (shihan-ke) by Otake Risuke shihan, under the soke's authority and supervision. This kind of structure is not all that uncommon (split transmission line), and allows the art to be passed down accurately while retaining a tradition of blood transmission/ownership through basically family inheritance.
Iizasa soke represents the blood line of transmission, and TSKSR is technically his personal property.
Otake shihan represents the instrucional/performance aspect of the tradition, and while accountable to Iizasa soke, he is singly charged and responsible for the proper instruction of the art.
Confusion in this regard has risen do to the use of the Katori Shinto ryu name most notably Sugino Yoshio sensei and Sugawara Tetsutaka sensei.
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Sugino Yoshio sensei
Sugino sensei began training in TSKSR under several senior exonents (ca.1930-1940), named Shiina, Tamai and Ito, and was later licensed by Iizasa Kinjiro soke himself - 19th generation headmaster - after about ten years of training.
Iizasa Kinjiro soke wrote the following preface to a book written by Sugino sensei:
<font size=2>Sugino Yoshio sensei passed away in 1998, and his son, Sugino Yukihiro, is now the head of his KSR organization. While Yoshio sensei was specifically licensed to teach, I don't believe his son has a license to teach under the TSKSR honbu, or for that matter, any license from the TSKSR honbu (that I've heard of). I imagine that now puts the "Sugino-ha KSR" group in a very awkward position politically in regards to the use of the TSKSR/KSR name."...The social situation here no longer allows us to keep the secrets of the Katori Shinto Ryu doctrine within the school. Since the appearance, in the spring of 1935, of the association for the revival of martial arts in Japan, I feel guilty that I have allowed some of our founders' arts to die out, therefore, I have chosen, as a service to our nation, to show the general public, through the handling of the sword, certain parts of Shinto Ryu. At the right moment, Master Sugino suggested publishing, with Mr. ITTO KIKOUE's assistance, the existing techniques in order to guide the youngest amongst us. I gave him my support and hence this book has come to see the light of day.
It contains the wealth of the author's experiences, conveys the essential spirit of the martial [art] and explains in detail the Omote Waza techniques. It may be used as a manual for beginners or for those wishing to perfect their knowledge. Being published, at this time when, attempts are being made to popularize the martial arts, I feel certain that this book will be of service to future society.
Lastely I must express my admiration for the authors and the efforts that they have made.
Signed at Katori, Mid-Autumn 1941.
IIZASA SHURI NO SUKE KINJIRO, 19th descendant of the founder."
Sugino Yoshio sensei was licensed (Menkyo Kaiden?) by the previous soke originally, and as such his permission to teach under the TSKSR name was tollerated during Sugino's life time. However, the current soke and Otake sensei himself did not seem to appreciate Sugino sensei instructing outside their honbu while using the TSKSR/KSR name.
In one statement Otake sensei stated that Sugino Yoshio sensei was allowed to use the license considering the circumstances. Then in another statment, Otake sensei would clearly say that there is no TSKSR outside that of the honbu dojo in Narita.
This pattern of contradiction, combined with discussions from those associated with the TSKSR dojo, seems to indicate that the permission was granted reluctantly, and that Otake S. and Iizasa S. have been anxious to regain full "ownership" of their art.
Online sources:
<font size=1>http://www.aikibudo.com/akbd/akbdgb/...ons/sugino.htm
http://www.furyu.com/onlinearticles/Iizasa.html
http://koryu.com/library/dlowry4.html
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~kataylor/97tin98.htm
http://www3.sympatico.ca/apc/en-tabg.htm
</font>
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Sugawara Tetsutaka sensei
Sugawara sensei began training under Otake Risuke shihan in 1975, and received a Kyoshi license in TSKSR from Otake sensei in 1986.
He has since apparently fallen out of good graces with Otake sensei/TSKSR honbu dojo, but continues to use the TSKSR/KSR name while teaching swordsmanship.
Online sources:
<font size=1>http://www.stanford.edu/group/aiki-w.../sugawara.html</font>
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Katori Official Notice
Despite conveyed public statements originating from the TSKSR honbu, there still seems to be confusion over whether Sugino sensei's group and Sugawara sensei's group are permitted to teaching and/or rank in TSKSR/KSR. Technically, in TSKSR, it would seem that only Otake shihan is licensed to teach/rank in TSKSR.
An official notice issued by TSKSR honbu confirms this:
<font size=2>This notice was posted by Mr. Francisco Comeron, TSKSR Mokuroku. Though there is no date, it appears to have been written within the last year judging by the date of issuance of Mr. Comeron's mokuroku award.I must say that there are only four people [outside] of Japan with titulation from the school, but it only allows them to inform, transmit and write about it. They are not authorized to teach or practice with anyone who does not belong to the Ryu.
Please find the entire annoncment at the following authorized TSKSR web site:
http://www.katorishintoryu.com/Engli...ments/new4.htm
Personally, I think the confusion lies partly in the terms "teach" and "instructor" as used within the TSKSR system.
If I understand correctly, the honbu shihan (Otake Risuke in this case) may or may not allow certain disciples of his to train with and/or teach students outside the honbu dojo as long as:
1) the students have taken the keppan blood oath and be considered current students of TSKSR as recognized by Otake sensei
2) said teacher only transmits those methods of which they have been authorized and licensed to convey (not to exceed their level of initiation).
Since no other student of TSKSR would receive the full teachings of the tradition except for the honbu shihan, it would be impossible for there to be another "instructor" of the art. Only authorized teachers of certain sections.
At least, that's the best I can make of all this.
Looking forward to corrections and discussion,