Ishiyama-ryū
or Ishiyama Ryu or Ishi Yama Ryu ("Stone Mountain Style") is a contemporary martial art (gendai budo) dedicated to the practice of battōjutsu and kenjutsu, and which specializes in the art of tameshigiri. It is an eclectic style which is based on the core principles of Nakamura-ryū, Toyama-ryū, and Aikido, while also drawing some influences from Tai Chi. The style is characterized by long cut lines, fluid movements between cuts, and utilization of a slightly longer and wider stance (kamae) than many traditional Japanese martial arts (koryu).
Ishiyama-ryū is currently practiced in several schools across the United States.
Background
Ishiyama-ryū was founded in the 1990s by American swordsman and Senbongiri Guinness World Record holder Russell McCartney. Prior to founding Ishiyama-ryū, McCartney began training in Japanese swordsmanship under Toshishiro Obata in Toyama-ryū and Nakamura-ryū. Under Obata Kaiso he also trained in Aikido, and later continued Aikido briefly under Steven Seagal. His other training in Japanese swordsmanship included Musō Shinden-ryū, and also Ryuseiken and Nakamura-ryū under Mitsuhiro Saruta.
Techniques
The techniques of Ishiyama-ryū are divided into sets based on the skill level of the practitioner. Unlike some style of iaido which may incorporate both kneeling (seiza and/or tatehiza) and standing forms, all techniques within the Ishiyama-ryū curriculum are performed from a standing position (tachi-waza).
Basics (kihon)
Basics include a combination of body movement (tai sabaki), footwork (ashi sabaki), repetitive swings (suburi), stance (kamae), grip (tenouchi), and breathing exercises (kokyu-ho).
Kata
Ishiyama-ryū includes a number of basic kata designed to teach safe drawing (batto) and sheathing (noto) techniques, the eight basic cuts (happogiri), and the five basic kamae. The curriculum also includes adaptations of the eight standing Toyama Ryu kata for intermediate-level students. These kata expand upon beginner techniques to include situations in which attackers are coming from different directions. Tachiyama kata are a set of eight advanced kata that utilize continuous movement of the sword and more dynamic timing (jo-ha-kyū) than beginner or intermediate-level kata with more emphasis on moving off-line and redrawing the sword mid-way through the kata.
Ishiyama Kata
The thirteen Ishiyama kata focus on responding to multiple attackers coming from multiple directions within a continuous flow of movement. In addition to the thirteen core Ishiyama kata, there are six two-sword (nitto) kata which utilize both the long sword and short sword simultaneously.
Partial Kata List
- Kairakuto
- Migi Ichi Te Harai
- Kami Nari
- Ichimonji
- Kosetsu To
- Hien No Kata
Tameshigiri
Practitioners of Ishiyama-ryū place a high degree of emphasis on tameshigiri as part of their core training. The curriculum includes both standard tameshigiri patterns, and conducting tameshigiri during kata. The performance of tameshigiri during kata is considered by practitioners to be the highest expression of the art form.
Kumitachi
Paired kata (kumitachi) in Ishiyama-ryū are choreographed sequences between two or more partners used to express combative principles, and to refine timing and distance to an attacker. In addition to a discrete set of kumitachi, all kata within the Ishiyama curriculum can be run as kumitachi. Lower-level kumitachi involve two partners, a more senior student (sempai) acting as the attacker (uchidachi) in order to safely control distance and timing, and a junior student (kohai) filling the role as a defender (shidachi) in order to apply the technique. In some circumstances the sempai will act as the shidachi during advanced kumitachi which involve multiple uchidachi.
Sparring/Gekken
The application of combative principles and strategy (heiho) is done during non-competitive sparring (jigeiko). Students utilize weighted or semi-weighted padded sparring swords to simulate the weight of a sword, and wear protective gear on the head and hands. Rules and valid strike zones follow standard Toyama Ryu Gekken guidelines.
Footnotes
While practitioners of Ishiyama-ryū have participated at US Federation of Toyama Ryu Battodo competitions, they are not an official school of Toyama Ryu.
See also
- Tameshigiri
- Battōjutsu