About Nodachi Jigen-ryu (Yakumaru Lineage) – Part 2
Takamasa Miyamoto
Here, I would like to record in brief some of the detailed technical principles that I learned from Masao Ito Sensei.
The foundation of Jigen-ryu is learned through Tachiki-uchi (horizontal log striking).
Behind the horizontal log, a pole representing a human opponent is erected, and a white cloth is tied slightly above eye level.
The strike stick (made of Isunoki wood) is held unsheathed and lowered in the right hand in a lower guard.
From there, one walks calmly toward the log.
Upon reaching the front, one performs a squatting bow in a low posture (sonkyo gedan rei).
(In this posture, the thighs are opened at equal angles without tilting to either side.
The inner side of the right forearm is placed close to the base of the left thumb.
The line from the tip of the left elbow to the tip of the strike stick is kept straight.
This posture alone is extremely difficult to maintain.)
The gaze is lowered to a point approximately three sun from the guard, while naturally sensing the presence in front and behind.
This principle has been largely lost among the various Jigen-ryu organizations today, due to historical divisions.
Next, maintaining the same angle of the strike stick from the squatting posture, one smoothly transitions into the right Tonbo stance (approximately five degrees from the body’s central axis) and strikes the log without hesitation.
This cutting line should feel as though it is being drawn into the base of the opponent’s neck.
(According to Ito Sensei:
“The sword should slide in smoothly, as if being absorbed into the base of the neck.”)
Today, it is often seen that practitioners pause for several seconds in the Tonbo stance before striking.
This is incorrect and should never be done.
One then transitions into the left Tonbo stance, again keeping a straight line from the left elbow tip to the strike stick.
The wrist must not bend excessively to the left, nor should the stick tilt.
This point, too, is frequently neglected in modern practice and demonstrations, regardless of age.
The striking kiai is voiced as “Yei,” and each call accompanies three to five strikes.
Afterward, each practitioner continues for a suitable number of strikes at their own discretion.
When finished, one rises again from the squatting bow, lowers the strike stick, retreats calmly, lowers it to the right side, and bows to conclude the sequence.
If the ground has not been dug with hoes or shovels, the motion of erasing footprints while holding the stick in the right hand is omitted.
There are many other detailed principles, including the precise height of the log, subtle control of the torso, legs, and feet, and advanced techniques of extended strikes.
However, these are omitted in this article.
野太刀自顕流（薬丸流）について 2
宮本隆正
伊藤政夫先生に学んだ、細かい技の要領について、少し記しておきます。
自顕流の基礎は、立木打ち（横木打ち）から学びます。
横木の後方には、人に見立てた棒を立て、目線より少し上に白い布を結びます。
打棒（イスの木）を抜き身で右手に下げ、下段に取り、横木の前まで静かに歩みます。
そこで蹲踞下段礼を行います。
（大腿は同角度に開き、左右に傾かないようにする。右前腕内側は左手親指の付け根付近に密着させる。左肘尖から打棒先までを一直線に保つ。これだけでも、かなり難しい体勢となります。）
鍔元三寸の位置に視線を落とし、横木の後方・前方の気配を自然に察します。
この要領は、現在、稽古団体が分裂してしまった自顕流各団体において、失われつつあるものです。
続いて、蹲踞下段の打棒角度のまま、右トンボ（頭部正中線から約五度の角度）に素早く取り、間髪を入れずに横木へ打ち込みます。
この太刀筋は、相手の首の付け根に吸い込まれるように打ちます。
（伊藤師談：「スーッと太刀が吸い込まれるように、首の付け根に入るように打つこと」）
現在では、各自顕流団体において、数秒間トンボのまま停止してから打つ人を見かけますが、これは行ってはいけません。
続いて左トンボに取り、左肘尖から打棒先までを一直線に保ちます。
打棒は、手首が左に曲がりすぎたり、左に傾いたりしないように取ります。
この点も、現在の自顕流の稽古・演武を見ると、若者から壮年まで、多くの稽古者が疎かにしている要領です。
打ちの発声は「イェイ」とし、一声につき三打から五打とします。
その後は各人の判断により一定回数を打ち、再び蹲踞下段礼から立ち上がります。
打棒を下段に取り、静かに後退し、右横に打棒を下げて礼をして一区切りとなります。
足場の地面を鍬やスコップで掘らない場合は、打棒を右手に下げて足跡を消す動作は省略します。
ほかにも、横木の正確な高さ、上体・脚・足の細かな要領、長棒出しの詳細な要領などがありますが、本稿では割愛します。
