Shinkage Heihō
The following is a high-level description of the curriculum of kenjutsu practiced at the Gassankan. We are an independent practice of sword methods (kenpō) stemming from Shinkage-ryū.
Preparatory Practices
Training begins with instruction on traditional walking methods called unpō, a-un kokyū breathing methods, static cutting practice called suburi, and walking cutting methods utilizing unpō from raito. Postural guidelines drawn from internal martial arts is explicitly taught at this point.
Formal kata practice centers around Hōjō (fundamental law) modeled on Taoist five element theory called inyo gogyō setsu organized around the four seasons of the year. Each season has a characteristic tempo and kiai. Wood corresponds to spring, fire to summer, metal to autumn, and water to winter. Each also corresponds to inwardly and outwardly either yin (quiet, shadow, solid, receptive) vs yang (loud, bright, moving, active). The Taoist fifth element of Earth in this arrangement is representing the change between seasons, indicated by a shift of kiai and the practice of unpō with zanshin.
By the time a student has learned the shidachi role of Hōjō, they are expected to join the school as a formal member, making a written pledge called a kishomon.
Introductory Curriculum
Members then learn the teaching (uchidachi or uchi) role for Hōjō and progress to learning tactical methods called to-no-kata. This practice is arranged into eight sections and are performed with leather wrapped shinai called fukuro shinai.
In our practice, we utilize shinai from Maniwa Nen-ryū that are used by arts like Kashima Shinryū, which are sturdy and readily available. This is different from orthodox Jiki Shinkage-ryū.
Once proficiency at to-no-kata is demonstrated, free practice called jigeiko is introduced where the student can engage in combative pressure testing of increasing intensity. Analysis of kata called kuzushi is conducted, and applications of kata are expored in free practice.
At this point a student may be awarded a Gassankan shoden license that recognizes proficiency in our school's fundamental practices and tactics.
Intermediate Curriculum
The middle-level curriculum of our school includes several practices collated from related lines of Shinkage-ryū practice, including classical kodachi (small sword) from Jiki Shinkage-ryū and analysis of kuzushi with kodachi leading to skill at kogusoku (armed grappling). In addition the classical Shinkage-ryū kata of sangaku-en no tachi, related to Hōjō, and nana-tachi, related to to-no-kata, are introducted.
At this point a student may be awarded a Gassankan chuden license.
Advanced Curriculum
Training continues with material that relates to the core of our practice, including an older arrangement of Hōjō called habiki, practiced first with bokuto and later metal swords, and the classical kata of kuka, empi, and tengu-sho that had been part of Jiki Shinkage-ryū during the time of Ogasawara Genshinsai.
The issuing of an okuden license certifies technical mastery of the Gassankan kenpō curriculum, including the combative and philosophical concept of marubashi [