Gassankan
The characters 月山館 are read as Gassankan in Japanese.
The Gassankan maintains an independent practice of traditional Japanese sword methods and strategies conducted in a manner that is compatible with internal martial arts principles. This includes a practice of traditional kenjutsu kata of Kashima-shinden Jiki Shinkage-ryū, the analysis and deconstruction those kata in a process called kuzushi, and free practice of pressure testing called tameshi-ai.
The Gassankan is not an official line of Kashima-shinden Jiki Shinkage-ryū, but we attempt to train in a traditional manner as handed down to us in the line of Kawashima Takashi, Onishi Hidetaka, Namiki Yasushi, and Ito Masayuki, through the training I received at the Hobyokan from Dr. David Hall.
Practice at the Seattle Budokan, 2021
I work with the minimal number of people needed to preserve my practice. I am not teaching publicly at this time. The purpose of this ongoing training activity is to maintain an offering of these teachings in the hopes they will continue to serve as a mechanism for purification (misogi) through mindful austerity (shugyo). I have worked with the following people, to the following levels of practice:
- Jake Harlin, shoden
- Nicky Sayah Sina, shoden
- Anthony Nehls-Smith, nyumon
- Ryan Baisden, nyumon
Jake Harlin and Nicky Sayah Sina lead an ongoing introductory practice of Jikishinkage-ryu kata at Lonin League in Seattle. Training is by invitation only; interested parties can make an appointment with them to observe a class and discuss what is required to begin training. A general level of physical fitness and knowledge of traditional Japanese martial culture is required.
The art of war prohibits violence, eliminates chaos, calms the people and defends the country. It is also the way to create virtue and ward off evil spirits. It is a precious weapon for protecting the body. The sword is used to remove limitations. In its use, reason is not the decisive factor. If you practice and act carefully, you will be able to penetrate your original nature. That is the origin of the flowing spirit sword. Otherwise, it will be difficult to be wise and courageous, and practice will not yield benefit.
reikenden densho from Yamada Jirokichi, 1927.
The level of nyumon (入門) means "entering the gate" and refers to a person who has made a formal pledge called a kisshomon and is an official member of the training group. Shoden (初傳) or "introductory level" corresponds to my recognizing a level of skill at the first two sets of kata we practice, called hojo and to no kata. These levels denote progress or standing with respect only to the Gassankan, and are not classical licenses associated to Jikishinkage-ryū in Japan.