Practical Martial Arts Association

Believed to be a combination of the Katori and Nen Ryu styles, Kashima Shin Ryu is a comprehensive martial art that includes a portion of spear. Low guards.                                 Catching the weakness.               Cross-stepping vs retreat. Thrusting counter vs retreat.       Beating the spear.                       Thrust, lunge vs retreat. Full length thrust vs retreat. The demonstration from which these stills were taken is here:

Owari Kan ryū is known for its use of the kuda-yari (tube spear). The e (shaft) is run through a kuda (metal pipe) that’s in the front hand of the practitioner.  Interestingly the school’s students start training by doing shiai (competition) and only after considerable training they learn the school's kata (forms). Most classical schools that practice shiai do so after learning kata. Thrusting using the kuda. Cross-stepping.                           Thrusting attack with kuda. Wide stance.   Shiai. Shiai using a spear with a cross piece. The original demonstration from which these stills were taken is here:

Said to be founded by Tsukahara Bokuden although a sword tradition there dates back a long time.  Much like the Katori system Bokuden was member of, this is a complete school of which spear is a minor part. A famous Japanese folk tale tells of the young Miyamoto Musashi challenging Bokuden to a duel during a meal. When Musashi struck first, Bokuden parried the sword with the lid of the iron pot he was eating from. In reality the story has no basis in fact, Bokuden had died 13 years before Musashi was born. Cross-stepping.                               Wide stance.                                Low guard taken to face spear. Thrusting attack levered up.             Half-sword counter. The above stills were taken from the following demonstration:

Probably the most well known spear school, not in the least because of their friendly crossing of paths with Miyomoto Musashi this school focus’s on the use of the spear with a cross piece.  Legend has it the founder, on seeing the reflection of the crescent moon shining on Sarusawa pond, was inspired to create a spear with a cross-shaped spearhead. Hōzōin-ryū was founded by Hōzōin Kakuzenbō In'ei (宝蔵院 覚禅房 胤栄, 1521–1607) in c. 1560. In'ei was a Buddhist monk of Kōfuku-ji Temple in Nara, Japan.... At the same time, he was coached and mentored by Daizendayū Moritada (大膳太夫盛忠), a master of the spear. Under this master's guidance, In'ei honed his spearmanship. It is said that one evening, on seeing the reflection of the crescent moon shining on Sarusawa pond, he was inspired to create a spear with a cross-shaped spearhead. He imagined this style of spear would be more effective in fighting. With this new type of spear (known as jumonji-yari 十文字槍), he founded the Hōzōin-ryū.

There are 6 Forms: Basics of the Spear (表之槍 Omote no Yari), and 2 Forms: Secret forms (Hiden no Yari).  I would again make the observation that when comparing schools, the spear found in complete schools tends to be of the garden variety, where as the spear of specialised schools tends to have a cross piece or be unusual in some way. As this school is of particular interest I have included a detailed look at the first 6 Kata (I have not found any material on the other two).  My preference is to use the Hombu players for such things however with the limited material available the breakdowns have been taken from another source, which I will link at the bottom, and so should not be taken as definitive (although I have made an effort to compare to Otake’s book and would say it more or less matches except in Denko no Yari the spear arises on the first thrust in the book).  Reference should be made to one of Otake’s works for further information. Hiryu no yari Koryu no yari Tsukidome no yari

In his Katori Shinto Ryu: Warrior Tradition book Otake highlights the Hashikakaru movement in the halberd and spear sections as a key play.  In this movement the sword initiates a bind at the end of the long weapon and then uses that bind to pass the tip and close in.  This sequence encapsulates the essence of the sword and spear in the Katori spear kata. Kamae

It is important to note that for the most part Fiore de'i Liberi concentrates on Sword Fighting and Dagger.  The author himself notes in the spear section We are three masters using spear guards that are closely related to the sword guards.  Here the use of the spear is really designed for a swordsman and the tactics can be used with both sword or spear against the spear. Here begins the art of the noble weapon called Lance; in the beginning of battle, on horse and on foot, it is used. And whoever watches it with its dashing pennant should be frightened with great dread. And it makes great thrusts which are dangerously strong, and with a single one it can give death. And if in the first blow it makes its due, then axe, sword, and dagger will all be upset.  In Fiore de'i Liberi all of the spear tactics are essentially counters.   I wait in this guard with my lance shortened:   My method is to beat and to exchange thrusts. I wait in this guard with my lance shortened:  My method

There are several key ideas to cover by looking at this single situation - the spear vs the sword through a doorway.  In this post, this simple situation leads us to the following 4 broad points: Obviously, the tactics of the spear vs the sword through the doorway. The often overlooked importance of terrain and how it plays a part in fighting more than one person. Understanding large-scale engagements from small-scale encounters, and vice-versa. Why a syllabus is often only a starting point, so you need to keep looking at the 'other side' in training. A Victorian Account of The Spear and the Doorway The following account relates to what is known as the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and is taken from here . Hodson refers to the well known Brevet Major William Stephen Raikes Hodson (19 March 1821 – 11 March 1858). Colonel Sir Edward Thackeray, V.C., who was attached to Seaton's column, gives a vivid picture of Hodson thoroughly enjoying himself as a Paladin of the olden time.  It wa

It is interesting to think about the decisions we make to record and pass on some pieces of information and relegate others.  There are small habits and 'rules' that people formulate through experience - even in today's workplaces this type of knowledge is difficult to capture.  The following is hardly a is a thorough collection of spear anecdotes.  Some of them are quite interesting in terms of the sort of information that was recorded and passed on - I presume they were based on experience.  Perhaps in any later version I will capture more, but don’t hold your breath. Heike Jodan No Maki - Natori Ryu The following are taken from The Book of Samurai . KEEPING PRIMARY WEAPONS IN THE LIVING ROOM In your main room of use, when positioning your katana, wakizashi, spear, halberd or any other weapon you excel in, long weapons should be placed to the rear and on your right, while your katana, wakizashi and other things should be placed on the left.  Also, position spears and hal

In keeping with a similar section I did on Kusarigama, it may be useful to define common types of spear.  It is interesting to me that those Ryuha who concentrate mainly on spear tend to use spears with some type of addition, such as a cross-piece, whereas the unadulterated spear is mostly seen in comprehensive styles. Type 1 - Suyari a common spear. Type 2 - Kamayari (Including Jumonjiyari) a spear with bladed (often curved) cross pieces. T ype 3 - Kagiyari a spear with hooking devices. Type 4 - Kudayari a spear with a cylindrical handpiece through which the spear is thrust. Type 5 - Tanken a bayonet (when mounted to a rifle). Schools That Once Contained Spear The following is translated from a Japanese source by me, so it is not reliable and is probably not comprehensive, although the kanji will be more reliable than the translation. 素槍（直槍）を遣う流派  Ryuha using Suyari         • 大島流 Oshima Ryu • 種田流 Taneda Ryu (also Jumonjiyari & Kagiyari) • 竹内流 Takenouchi Ryu • 風伝流 Fuden Ryu