Koteki Ryoda Juppo Sessho-no-jutsu

Soke Tomo-ryu; Anshu Christa Jacobson

Photo Taken: 11.15.2011
Budo Ryu; Hombu Dojo
武道流忍術道場

(Left; wearing white kimono)
Mr. Chafin: Assistant Instructor Budo Ryu; School of the Warrior Way

(Right; wearing a fashionable bun to keep her hair up )
Christa Jacobson; Headmistress of the Budo Ryu; School of the Warrior Way

Miyamoto Musashi’s book of the five rings written in 1645 is divided into five volumes: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Void. Another, older Japanese document contains a volume entitled “Shinden Kohyo no Hikan” (Secret scroll of the divine tradition of tigers transformation), with five entries describing kamae / fighting attitudes: Crouching tiger, Raging tiger, Starving Tiger, Nursing Tiger and Thundering Tiger.

These are all collectively known as “Koteki Ryoda (dragons and tigers fighting) Juppo Sessho no jutsu” and are said to be the original forms of the kata found in Budo. The “Ryuko no Maki (dragon and tiger scrolls) are a later derivation.

The dragon scroll describes all things leading up to certain victory. The tiger scroll in contrast, describes what one needs to know about various phenomena, objects and people as well as things one needs to predict, sense, and see through. In other words the combination of the two great elements of the Dragon and Tiger having foresight and being certain of victory is seen to be an important aspect of Budo.

Martial artist who cannot develop this natural ability to predict, sense and see through things will never achieve the proverbial “100 victories in 100 fights” let alone “100 lives in 100 lights” (gaining enlightenment in each existence). This understanding of this philosophical method is found within the Tomo-ryu Hyakugata (戸猛流百型; 100 forms of death) which also takes on 5 manifestations within this collection of training.

The Tomo-ryu Hyakugata are based on the Happosabaki (8 directions + 2 ways of movement) this is also understood as 20 ways of movement as there has to be 10 ways of ura sabaki (inside movement) and 10 ways of omote sabaki (outside movement) that are influenced by the way that one feels the attack and then moves within the correct timing (taijutsu kimi ugoki).

It is important to understand that when I speak of the 100 ways of death, it is not killing the opponent (although that could very well happen); it is killing the warrior’s spirit (bushi-ki). If you can do this you can create confusion for the enemy very early in a fight, which will cause him / her to loose their confidence and thus take away the enemy’s true bushi-ki. When you apply this you will not just take away the enemy’s balance, you will take away the enemy’s heart (kokoro).

I hope that you all enjoy today’s lesson. If you look close enough within the photo you can see many IN / YO or YING / YANG contrasts within the photograph that directly go hand in hand with the lesson today of the “Koteki Ryoda (dragons and tigers fighting) Juppo Sessho no jutsu” and the understandings of Taisabaki (体捌き) found in the Tomo-ryu Hyakugata (戸猛流百型).

Thank you all for your support! Take care and be safe! ♥

Take Care, Be Safe and Good luck in your Journey of Budo!

Anshu Christa Jacobson
21st Soke of the Tomo Ryu Tradition
Headmistress of the Budo Ryu – School of the Warrior Way
Founder of the Budo Ryu Online University
Owner of the Ninjutsu Super Store
Chief Editor of the Shinobi no Mono Magazine
Founder of the Ninjutsu International Federation
Professional Model and Artist

November 17, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Anshu Christa Jacobson, Authentic, Budo, Bujutsu, grandmaster, Koga, Koka, Koteki Ryoda Juppo Sessho-no-jutsu, Ninja, Ninjutsu, Real, Ryu, Shinobi, shinobijutsu, soke, Tomo, Tradition | Leave a comment