PUBLIC MARKS from Takwann with tags budo & japanese

By Dave Lowry Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two part article entitled "Ittosai’s Test" which is an excerpt from Dave Lowry’s new book, “Clouds In The West.” It is about the eccentric but brilliant swordsman Ito Ittosai Kagehisa, the founder of the sword tradition of Itto ryu, and his efforts to find a successor. Itto ryu eventually grew to be one of the largest and most important schools of Japanese swordmanship. It was adopted by the military authority of Japan, the Tokugawa shogun, and other lords of feudal Japan, including the Aizu from which diato ryu aikjujutsu sprang through the legendary teacher Takeda Sokaku Sensei. Itto ryu also influenced the technical curriculum of kendo (the modern Japanese art of fencing that uses mock weapons made of bamboo). Today there are several separate traditions of Itto ryu practiced. Another important variant is Onoha Itto Ryu Sokaku Den, passed down through several daito ryu and aiki budo traditions.

The following text has as its core a translation of a chapter in Nishioka Tsuneo's book Budo-teki na Mono no Kangaekata: Shu, Ha, Ri (Budo Way of Thinking: Shu, Ha, Ri). Direct translations from the Japanese are frequently problematic because of the ambiguity inherent in the traditional Japanese style of essay writing. In order to clarify the author's ideas and best present his thoughts in English, we have supplemented the original text with a series of personal conversations.[1] The result thus intentionally suggests the flavor of teachings passed down from master to disciple.