Learn about Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
BRYANSTON – The secretive martial art of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is practised at Shobukan Dojo in Bryanston.
The only martial art regarded as a national treasure in Japan is also practised at a dojo nestled away in the heart of Bryanston.
While it is no secret that Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū is practised at Shobukan Dojo, 700-year-old traditions of nondisclosure to the public and non-trained eyes mean that when visitors come the practitioners of the art ensure that certain techniques and movements are not performed.
Only a handful of senior students (there are no belts or dans in this martial art) in Bryanston and Durban have been granted access to the intricacies of the sword, short sword, knife, halberd, staff and shuriken. And this only after travelling to Japan to learn directly from the head instructor.
“There are traditions we have to keep,” said Richard Allen, owner of the dojo.
“If you were asked to maintain a painting of the same age you would not just touch it up with new colours. The syllabus is 700 years old so if someone from the past came here they would fit right in.”
Allen described the martial art as more focused on maintaining battle fighting techniques, rather than straying toward hosting tournaments and scoring points against opponents such as other martial arts do. Killing blows are therefore only scored when hitting an area with little or no armour on the body.
Learning the full syllabus can take 40 years and is measured by the receiving of scrolls containing secrets to new aspects of the martial art. This can involve fighting, medicine, divinity, astronomy, horse riding, the aspects of a home and battle tactics.
Every year or two, the students at Shobukan take a trip to Japan to demonstrate their techniques and receive more instruction if they are deemed worthy. Taking up the martial art also requires travelling to Japan to sign a special agreement.
However, Allen said if any community members are interested in taking up the martial art, dignitaries of the martial art will be traveling to South Africa, and to the Bryanston dojo, in July. They can sign the agreement then.
Details: 082 337 5008; 082 577 6414.
Also check out:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/210948/gold-medals-for-martial-arts-students/
