Mekugi
02-18-2012, 07:42
Here we go....I am playing devil's advocate...just so you all know.:devil:
My argument is that Kodokan Judo is a Koryu. This is why:
1) Several schools of Koryu Jujutsu went into the forming of the Judo kata.
2) Several Koryu Schools have undergone facelifts and have received additional kata, perhaps the majority of their current curriculum.
3) Kodokan Judo contains the kata of two Koryu Jujutsu: Kito Ryu and Tenjin Shinyo Ryu. Both of these are bonafide Koryu Jujutsu and Kano sensei had a full license in each.
More specifically:
The Kito Ryu that exists in the Kodokan looks pretty much identical to the school that is still active in Central Japan.
Examples:
My video...HQ...sorry this is in Kyoto, Shinkokai event....ignore the studs for the roof:
Kito Ryu May 4th Shimogamo Jinja - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wml1vC4fgIE)
This is the film from which are the stills are taken from in the book "Kodokan Judo" published by Kodansha:
Jigoro Kano Kito Ryu no Kata koshiki omote full version - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot5z7viZhqc)
On ranking and transmission:
Kodokan Judo and Kito Ryu are the same school in many regards. Within their respective systems they have the same kata and a shared idealogy so therefor, they could be considered one in the same. It is fathomable to see how one school is just called "Kodokan Judo" while the other is named "Kito Ryu." The differences are in the name, the additional kata in the beginning levels of the Kodokan syllabus, along with the Kodokan's systematic and pragmatic approach. Kodokan Judo contains far more material to get through than it's partnered school of Kito Ryu because generally, only upper level teachers get to study the true kata of the ryu (something that many martial arts call "hiden" or "oku" etc.). Both the Kodokan and Kito ryu have direct links in lineage, tradition, techniques and are therefore equal in authenticity. In the Kodokan, regardless of the enormous field of study that is before the Kito Ryu kata, the true secrets are a Koryu Jujutsu tradition. As for proper and traditional ranking in Koryu Jujutsu schools not corresponding with Kodokan Judo's dan system, it is important to remember that the number of ranking systems used for all the existing Koryu Jujutsu schools at the time were too varied to account for. Generally the old fashioned schools have their own ranking systems that may or may not correspond to one another. This is the case today for Koryu Jujutsu and it was most doubly so in Jigoro Kano's time. There were so many variables that make up the ranking systems within the individual schools, it seemed logical for Dr. Kano to standardize his method of promotion and rank in a way that would assure it could be passed to the students properly. Dr. Kano therefore adapted a dan-i system for his Judo. It was his prerogative and it was his answer to the Koryu Jujutsu system for the 19th century and the modern world.
OK...tell me what you think. Insane? Probably...but surely fun!
My argument is that Kodokan Judo is a Koryu. This is why:
1) Several schools of Koryu Jujutsu went into the forming of the Judo kata.
2) Several Koryu Schools have undergone facelifts and have received additional kata, perhaps the majority of their current curriculum.
3) Kodokan Judo contains the kata of two Koryu Jujutsu: Kito Ryu and Tenjin Shinyo Ryu. Both of these are bonafide Koryu Jujutsu and Kano sensei had a full license in each.
More specifically:
The Kito Ryu that exists in the Kodokan looks pretty much identical to the school that is still active in Central Japan.
Examples:
My video...HQ...sorry this is in Kyoto, Shinkokai event....ignore the studs for the roof:
Kito Ryu May 4th Shimogamo Jinja - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wml1vC4fgIE)
This is the film from which are the stills are taken from in the book "Kodokan Judo" published by Kodansha:
Jigoro Kano Kito Ryu no Kata koshiki omote full version - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot5z7viZhqc)
On ranking and transmission:
Kodokan Judo and Kito Ryu are the same school in many regards. Within their respective systems they have the same kata and a shared idealogy so therefor, they could be considered one in the same. It is fathomable to see how one school is just called "Kodokan Judo" while the other is named "Kito Ryu." The differences are in the name, the additional kata in the beginning levels of the Kodokan syllabus, along with the Kodokan's systematic and pragmatic approach. Kodokan Judo contains far more material to get through than it's partnered school of Kito Ryu because generally, only upper level teachers get to study the true kata of the ryu (something that many martial arts call "hiden" or "oku" etc.). Both the Kodokan and Kito ryu have direct links in lineage, tradition, techniques and are therefore equal in authenticity. In the Kodokan, regardless of the enormous field of study that is before the Kito Ryu kata, the true secrets are a Koryu Jujutsu tradition. As for proper and traditional ranking in Koryu Jujutsu schools not corresponding with Kodokan Judo's dan system, it is important to remember that the number of ranking systems used for all the existing Koryu Jujutsu schools at the time were too varied to account for. Generally the old fashioned schools have their own ranking systems that may or may not correspond to one another. This is the case today for Koryu Jujutsu and it was most doubly so in Jigoro Kano's time. There were so many variables that make up the ranking systems within the individual schools, it seemed logical for Dr. Kano to standardize his method of promotion and rank in a way that would assure it could be passed to the students properly. Dr. Kano therefore adapted a dan-i system for his Judo. It was his prerogative and it was his answer to the Koryu Jujutsu system for the 19th century and the modern world.
OK...tell me what you think. Insane? Probably...but surely fun!