Kashima Shin Ryu According to M. Sekiya

April 30, 1991

Mark J. Norton


M. Sekiya Sensei annually visited Northeast Aikikai (1987 - 1991) in the springtime. In addition to holding Rokudan in Aikido, Mr. Sekiya also holds rank in Katori Shinto Ryu and Kashima Ryu weapon techniques and is expert in throwing shuriken. He has demonstrated sword, naginata, jo, and iaido on several occations [see videotapes]. He currently practices at the Meiji Shrine Dojo with his uchi-deshi, Diane Zingale.

Last year [1990], Sekiya sensei spent a great deal of time personally training me in certain aspects of Kashima Ryu sword. This largely focused on the Kesa-giri stroke (Clothes cutting). Emphasis is on extreme flexibility letting the sword do all of the cutting. Kisa-giri starts in hanmi with the sword pointed down and to the right. The sword is swung up and around the head as a step is taken. Strike is made against the instructor holding a bokken in front of him, pointed diagonally down to the ground. The cut is made completely with out strength. The body and hips are used to impart motion to the sword which swings like a pendulum around for the cut.

On the first class of his 1991 visit, Sekiya showed two techniques of jo against the sword. In the first, the opponent assumes a hasso sword stance. The defender invites attack by fainting a thrust to the face, which is batted away by the sword. As the strike is made, jo comes back ahead of the sword and then forward again on the other side. Strike is made against the forearms. There is a lot of hip motion here. The jo is held loosely. Feet adjust slightly to come off the line to the left.

The second technique is also a fast, loose strike. Again, Uke starts in a hasso stance, and nage invites attack with a tsuki to the face. This time, the end of the jo drops towards the ground. A large circle is described out to the left side of nage, up and around to strike arms (or head) of the uke. The jo is to be weilded as if it was a piece of rope, limp if moved slowly. Hip motion and centrifugal force is the basis of the motion.

Sensei indicated that both of these techniques apply to defence with the sword as well. To accomplish these strikes requires being loose in the hips, shoulders, and arms. Tension, tight muscles, and strong grip will reduce effectiveness. When totally relaxed an loose, the defender can react and move with maximum speed.

There was some discussion of these points later by some of the yudansha students. Joe Caulfield felt that a more powerful strike could be had by adding strength to the cut. Lou Perriello pointed out that being completely relaxed did allow a very rapid response taking advantange of energy supplied by a strong attack. However (he said) this can be weak against a faint which lightly slaps the weapon away and followed by a killing blow. I suggested that a balance is what was needed. A soft, relaxed ready stance allows maximum response. Once the cut is in motion, a rapid transition from soft to hard can be made (yin to yang) adding more force and focus to the cut.