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Being "In", Belonging and Understanding

There are folks now selling DVDs on Shintō-ryū. Two so far. The description is so full of contradictions it baffles the mind.

Number one, did the folks putting out the DVDs ever consider their keppan and what it states? This is a violation of keppan. Or does it not matter to them in the interest of money? Does it matter, would anyone derive any benefit because someone is of "Samurai blood"? If they are of "Samurai blood", did they not consider the above stated keppan and their integrity to that?

Let's not even bring up the fact that they say Ōtake Risuke-Sensei was their "mentor" (they never had that relationship) and what Ōtake-Sensei would say about an instructional DVD (he's probably rolling over in the Plain of High Heaven). It's just a self-aggrandizing and money-making scheme. Not to mention they had been officially excommunicated from the school at least 8 years ago. But here we are. Oh, who buys DVDs anymore these days?

Then there's another person with an online "University" platform stating he'll teach Shintō-ryū online. That person, for a fact, has trained in Shintō-ryū less than 5 years, and he's now claiming to be a teacher for all of the curriculum. Interesting...

Koryū (古流) literally means "Old School". It refers to the classical Japanese martial arts schools and traditions that were founded before the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Technique, culture and tradition, and just the "way" of doing things (This is the Way); distinguish them from the Gendai or modern martial arts like Judō or Kendō. Most of these ryū today still abide by an older way of doing things. Though there are a few ryū in Japan taking advantage of online platforms and maybe even DVDs, one should be very careful about this. Investigate it properly. Ask yourself "Why?". One is "IN" a Koryū and belongs to it. One trains "FOR" the ryū, not to make money and get "Likes". These are not for pumping up one's own ego.

Here at Marishiten-Kai, we aim to further understanding of martial arts, particularly Koryū and specifically Shintō-ryū. We take advantage of some modern conveniences. We have a website, email, and chat groups. We are even following through (soon to come) with an Instagram presence. It's not meant to get "Likes', it's not meant to "attract" students and/or make money. It's to try to contribute and share our understanding. It's trying to help bring awareness and understanding of these arts and the proper way of "Being" in them. Koryū are treasures. They offer a lot, even in the modern 21st Century world. They need to be learned and treated properly.

Training in any martial art, regardless of country of origin, requires one to understand what they are embarking on. It is good to "get off the couch" and engage in biweekly martial arts training. It's certainly a healthy activity to get out of the house and engage in something like martial arts. Has one considered looking deeper? How does one stay in fighting shape and achieve a reasonable level of fitness and health? What are the standards and markers (goals) to achieve that, the benchmark one sets for oneself. Has one considered looking at the history of the country and of the martial art one is training in (be it China, Korea, Philippines, Thailand etc). Has one considered the language and the culture? Educating oneself in a basic understanding of those two.

Certainly for Japanese martial arts, Budo, in general but more specifically for Koryū; these are necessary if not mandatory. With Koryū it's like installing a new OS (Operating System) on the computer (your own self). It will probably need to be dual boot in consideration of living in two different "worlds" so to speak. How do you manage switching from one OS to the other? What is the purpose? How does the computer benefit from both (both as the computer and the user).

Koryū is a serious undertaking. It's a commitment in which there is no room for hobbyists and dabblers. It requires one to look at oneself in the mirror (mind you Budo in general should do that). Engaging in training in a Koryū will and should change you. It will and should affect your level of health and fitness, expand and broaden your horizons by understanding history, culture and at least some amount of languge. It will and should enrich your life by engaging in that manner as pointed to in the first paragraph of this post. If it doesn't, and there are plenty of "official" examples, something is wrong.

Engaging properly by diving deep and making the commitment, letting go of ego and all. Results from engaging and training properly blossom from right View, trained Attention to what one is doing, steady commitment and the courage and nerve to examine one's motivation without hesitation (looking at the mirror). Work with this View and Koryū and martial arts in general cease being a trophy hunt, a "Like" on Social Media and/or a shallow boost to ego. Then it becomes an inner and healthy "weight" that anchors you. A Center that holds with a presence that doesn't get buffeted around by the winds. One develops...

(for the record, this is NOT AI generated)