niten ichi ryu
 

Is their any good videos on niten ichi ryu or books.Also is their any web pages I could search for dojos on.
Brandon Mahoney

Unfortunately, there isn't much Niten Ichi Ryu to be had (that I know of :)). If you're in Canada, you can contact Kim Taylor (pm me for contact info if you don't have it), he has practiced under Haruna Matsuo, who was the head instructor of Musashi dojo in Okayama-ken. He also recently put together a seminar with Imai Masayuki (10th soke of Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu), Iwami Toshio (menkyo kaiden) and Hyakutake Colin (senior student). I think he is doing the same this year, perhaps in August or September. All this is in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Otherwise, there's Imai soke's group in Japan, but I have no details about where/when they study. I've heard of some groups in Sweden and I think South America. It's certainly hard to find. I think Hyakutake Colin is a member here, perhaps he could put you in contact with someone who can help.

As far as books and videos, I don't know of much. Kim Taylor, again, has a small training manual out, but that's no replacement for actual training, probably more useful as a reference and for quick reminders. I've seen a video of Imai Soke on www.budogu.com, but haven't checked it out. It's expensive, and I already have a video of him and Iwami sensei performing what I think is the shoden of the style (itto, techniques with the long sword).

Hyakutake Colin has a web page on www.hyoho.com but I don't think there are dojo listings there. Quite a lot to read though, including his ongoing translation of Imai Soke's book on the Book of Five rings and Niten Ichi Ryu seiho.

I've had the privilege of attending Kim's seminar and studying for a few days under Imai soke and his students, and it really is worth it. Of course, no replacement for going to Japan and actually practicing the style, which I hope to do someday, but it's a good introduction to the style. Maybe it will spread more, we will learn more, and form a good community of Niten Ichi Ryu folks on this continent :).

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Sebastien Leclair

you may want to look at this book.. and if you can, buy one.. is one of the best, and was written by Myamoto Musashi, i'm sure that you know already.. :)

the book of five rings

Niten Ichi reconstruction
 

I've been working on this style for the past thirty years, based on what I read in Musashi (of whose Five Rings I have three translations, for clearer understanding) and what I could glean from other Japanese sword forms. I don't know if you're close enough to California to make it worth your while to come see what we're up to, but it's been working for me and my students quite nicely for some years now. (Anyone with more tradition to add to the reconstruction, I'd love to hear from you.) But if you pay close attention to the main stream of Japanese kenjutsu styles, and read the points in Musashi that differ from that main stream (most obvious being his yin-yang or complementary footing), you can do quite a lot to work it out for yourself. Musashi set the example when he spoke of "studying all things with no teacher."
Gereg Jones Muller, Master-at-Arms
The Silk Road School of Sword and Self-Defense

There's no "reconstruction" necessary, there's a clear line of transmission AFAIK and the current head is Imai-sensei. I'd steer clear of people trying to make this stuff up out of books.

Mr. Muller,

Miyamoto Musashi's sword school, Niten Ichi ryu has been taught in the Kyushu area of Japan for generations. It still exists in Oita prefecture and is headed by the current soke (headmaster), Imai Masayuki. It is a member of the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai.

If you seek the proper instruction, I suggest you correspond with Mr. Colin Hyakutake, who is a direct student of Imai sensei. Hyoho Website

Regards,

Hello Mr Muller yes he did set an example and founded a rather unique ryu. But He said "he" did not have a particular teacher. he did not mean we should do it that way. We as mere humans can only hope to scrape the edges and get a feel for what he did by constant training in the dojo with Soke and reading Musashi's words.

He also says in most of his chapters after each explanation "This is an oral tradition" I am interested as to how you might have figured that bit out and do the 99% he does "not" mention in the book.

Hyakutake Colin Student of Japanese Sword Arts (Master of Nothing)