Suiō-ryū
Suiō-ryū iai kenpō (水鷗流居合剣法) is a classical Japanese style of swordsmanship and other weapon arts, i.e. koryū bujutsu. Its spirit, techniques and teachings have been passed down as an unbroken tradition from teacher to student for over 400 years. Therefore it is one of the comprehensive and profound historical schools that the current budo arts like kendo and iaido descend from.
The current head of the tradition, the 15th generation sōke Katsuse Yoshimitsu Kagehiro, teaches at the Hekiunkan dōjō in Shizuoka city, Japan. The Turku group is a part of the official Finnish branch (shibu) of the tradition, receiving its teachings directly from the sōke, and developing together in good spirit.
The core of the Suiō-ryū is in the skills of drawing and using the sword (iai kenpō or iaijutsu), responding to unexpected combat situations. They include basic techniques from kneeling, realistic solo and paired techniques standing, as well as advanced alternatives and counters for the earlier techniques.
Although the foundation of the skills is created through iai-practice, as a comprehensive system of martial arts Suiō-ryū also includes plenty of other techniques: staff techniques (jōhō a.k.a. jōjutsu), armed close combat (kogusoku and wakizashi), battlefield sword techniques (kenpō a.k.a kenjutsu), techniques for the polearm naginata, chain weapon kusarigama, and others.
Suiō-ryū does not use the modern system of belts or ranks, as progress is instead recognized with traditional certificates (menjō). Sōke personally awards the different levels of certificates, as well as authorization to represent and teach the tradition.
Training
The training of Suiō-ryū in Turku is carried out in the manner and spirit of the dōjō our teacher, Katsuse-sōke, and in close contact with the other groups of the Finnish branch.
We do not have separate courses for beginners, but instead focus on personal teaching and individual development. Therefore it is normally possible to start at any time. Comfortable sports clothing is the only requirement for a try-out. Beginners use a wooden sword. Other gear and clothing are needed after a while.
The basis of learning and training are the tradition’s transmitted model exercises (kata). Training starts with the techniques of sword drawing, practiced from the beginning both solo and with an experienced partner. The focus is not in the external form of the techniques, but rather internalizing their intent and principles through your own training.
To learn more than the basics, it is traditionally required to join the Suiō-ryū as a member, committing to the precepts necessitated by the transmission of an old tradition. After joining, it is possible to study the other skills of the tradition comprehensively, with a focus on paired practice.
The instructor responsible for the Turku group is Arttu Junnila (Suiō-ryū shōmokuroku). If you want to know more or come to try out training, contact us!
History
According to tradition, the founder of Suiō-ryū is the samurai Mima Yoichizaemon Kagenobu (1577-1665), the son of a shrine attendant. As a young man, he learned Bokuden-ryū swordsmanship and the staff arts of the yamabushi. After being impressed by the iai of Hayashizaki-ryū and learning the gist of it, he vowed to create a style of his own.
Mima trained constantly, traveling across Japan to develop and test his skills through matches with other warriors and ascetic practices at secluded holy sites. One night he finally saw a vision of white gulls floating on water without conscious effort and realized he could use his sword in the same manner: freely and without fear.
Based on his enlightenment, Mima defined the core techniques of his own school, and named the system built around them Suiō (“water-gull”) -ryū. Even after the school’s founding he kept on traveling and honing his skill.
The founder’s son carried on his father’s tradition and added techniques for developing strong foundational skills to the curriculum. Later, the 9th head applied the chain techniques of Masaki-ryū for a chain-sickle, creating his own branch tradition that has since been inherited alongside Suiō-ryū.
The teachings of Suiō-ryū have been transmitted from the founder to the modern day, always inherited in their entirety by the most suitable successor. Suiō-ryū entered the Katsuse family with the 14th sōke Katsuse Mitsuyasu, who built the Hekiunkan dōjō to Shimizu, Shizuoka in 1930. Today, as the 15th head, Katsuse Yoshimitsu-sōke is responsible for the teaching at Hekiunkan, several groups around Japan, and e.g. USA and several European countries.
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