Yagyu Shingan Ryu Taijutsu

Yagyu Shingan Ryu originated in Japan's Tohoku region in the early Edo period (c. 1600). It is a comprehensive koryu martial art tradition, with an extensive curriculum based in armored combat. At it's inception, the tradition was taught mostly to foot soldiers on battlefield front lines. Yagyu Shingan Ryu is known for its unique methods of striking. Throughout the Edo period, the style further evolved into a sophisticated system of self-defence, focusing on direct engangement, simplicity, efficiency and overall economy of motion. The name Shingan Ryu, literally translates as School of the Heart's Eye. Alternative readings could be Mind's Eye or Spirit's Eye, which in Japanese philoshophy are all considered one and the same. Permission to affix the Yagyu family name was given to the founder, Araki Mataemon by his teacher, Yagyu Jubei. Yagyu Shingan Ryu could be described as both an internal martial art (mind, breath, spirit, energy) and an external martial art (strength, agility, posture, mechanics). Training begins with jujutsu (hand-to-hand combat) and bojutsu (staff fighting). From there, various forms of sword fighting are introduced, such as odachi-jutsu (great sword), kodachi-jutsu (short sword), ken-jutsu (swordsmanship), iai-jutsu (quick draw sword techniques) and naginata-jutsu (glaive fighting).