The Mystery of … Kote Giri?
I know what your thinking. What could possibly be mysterious about a kendo strike to the wrist?
I thought the same thing until I dusted off my copies of The Sword and the Mind (Heiho Kaiden Sho) compiled by Yagyu Muneyoshi, Kamaizumi Hidetsuna (Nobutsuna) and Yagu Munenori and the Sword of No Sword by Yamoka Tesshu. I then saw this comparatively innocuous waza (technique) in a whole different light.
The first thing I noticed was a lot of wrist cuts, fist cuts, arms etc. Of course, there are many other techniques and far deeper strategies in these ryu, but these are a few simple observations. I noticed that both these masterful works were written after the “warring eras.” even though Nobutsuna had lived at that time (1508-1578). Heiho Kaiden Sho was written in the beginning of the Edo period (1603-1868) and Tesshus in the later part. Both these books were also very Buddhist influenced. Hidetsuna, Muneyoshi, Munenori and Tesshu were all master swordsman. Kamizumi was of the Shinkage Ryu, Muneyoshi and Munenori of theYagyu Shinkage ryu and Tesshu the Nakanishi Itto ryu the Ono–Ha Itto ryu and the Itto Shoden Muto-Ryu
At the beginning of the Itto Ryu, thefounder Ito Ittosai Kagahisha (1555-1645) was known for a total practical approach to swordsmanship. The only concern was ”not to lose” and “One Cut, One Kill.” Now in a time of warring states and dueling, especially when armor was worn, this philosophy could not work all the time. Even in today’s martial arts contests this usually will not be the case either. However, he may have thought, that this, as an ideal, might keep you alive in battle or single combat. So try and make every cut count and don’t leave someone alive to cut you from behind while you move to other opponents on the battlefield. In the few works I read by Ito Sai there is no mention of kote giri just various strategies to win. Swordsmanship was a matter of technique.
Kamizumi had battle expertise and experience. He lived during volatile times. In the Kurosawa film The Seven Samurai an incident where Nobutsuna shaved his head posing as a monk and rescues a young boy is portrayed. His main drive was to promote his style of fencing. The Shin Kage Ryu came from the Kage Ryu and was connected with Zen Buddhism. Some practitioners believe this was the first time a ryu considered mental concepts as part of swordsmanship. In volume one of the Kaiden Sho the “First 5” and the “Second 9” deal with both killing waza and non-leathel strikes. He also calls postures (kamae) as yin posture or yang posture. On the battlefield had he employed these? Or were they added later to round out his style in changing times?
Now Buddhism is a religion of compassion. Could this be part of the explanation for a “ life-giving sword”? There were no wars to speak of at this time so was this an evolution? Yagu had spent a lot of time discussing and learning about Buddhism with Takuan a famous monk. His son Munenori who also had battle expertise later felt swordsmanship was based on Zen Buddhism. While training Shogun Hidatada he felt that a swordsman should develop his inner self. Tesshu was a devout Buddhist, prodigious calligrapher and practiced kendo on a regular basis. He never took a life unlike Ito Sai, both Yagyu and Kamizumi who had. Also, the times were now peaceful and perhaps they wanted to tone down the aggressiveness in a more peaceful society. Funakoshi (karate) and Kano (judo) were both educators who brought these arts to the public and the Kodokan or “lecture hall” was the main judo training hall. It was not called “Budokan.” Could this have been the next step?
I‘ve wondered a few times why we even do this cut at all. Some call it a” cheap shot” others say all “cuts should be full cuts.” Some even say, “I’ll take what I can get”
The Itto –Ryu had a very
large set of kote (padded gloves) to receive full strikes to the wrist.
These were modified to the kote you find in kendo dojo today. If I were
to cut with kiri oroshi (cutting downward) as you went to jo dan (upper
level) not only would the wrist be cut but the collarbone etc. But if the
blade passed below to chu dan level (middle) only the wrist would go. Could
this be an act of compassion on one level? A quick score or perhaps a strategy
to a more lethal strike? I guess intent and timing go a long way in understanding
this waza.
- - Start slowly
- Breath as one
- Seniors, wait until ukes weapon is starting to fall before you pivot or step thus you will not be “tracked”
- Practice, practice, practice!