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Spear (Yari) in Hozoin Ryu 宝蔵院流 (Jumonjiyari)


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.

The reader will gradually note that the addition of a cross piece of some kind seems to be quite a common theme.  To my mind the need for many of the existing Koryu kata is to learn the use of this cross piece, where again the employment of the plain spear is somewhat underdone (or taken for granted).

Low guard.  Wide stance.
            

Beating the spear upward.            


Cross-stepping.


Catching the weakness.                


Levering from the weakness.       


Thrusting counter.


Countering with the butt.

The above stills were taken from a Kendo World video (below):

Hozoin-Ryu Takada-Ha Spear Kata

The homepage for the Takada-Ha can be found here.

Omote(outer) Set of Fourteen.
１　Toyo 到用　　　　（とうよう）
２　Ichijitsu 一挽　　　　（いちぢつ）
３　Nenge 粘花　　　　（ねんげ）
４　Goka 五個　　　　（ごか）
５　Hankamuri 半冠　　　　（はんかむり）
６　Jikka 十箇　　　　（じっか）
７　Makiyari 巻槍　　　　（まきやり）
８　Aikurai 相位　　　　（あいくらい）
９　Hiki-otoshi 引落　　　　（ひきおとし）
10    Kuda 管　　 　　　（くだ）
11    Tsuki-nuke 突抜け　　 （つきぬけ）
12    Uroko 鱗　　　　　 （うろこ）
13    Aizu-yobi 合図呼び　（あいずよび）
14    Tohme 遠目　　　　（とほめ）

Ura(inner/reverse) Set of Fourteen.
１　Toyo 　　　　　到用　　　　（とうよう）
２　Ichijitsu 　　　一挽　　　　（いちぢつ）
３　Nenge 　　　　粘花　　　　（ねんげ）
４　Goka 　　　　　五個　　　　（ごか）
５　Hankamuri 　 半冠　　　　（はんかむり）
６　Jikka 　　　　　十箇　　　　（じっか）
７　Makiyari 　　　巻槍　　　　（まきやり）
８　Aikurai 　　　　相位　　　　（あいくらい）
９　Hiki-otoshi 　引落　　　　（ひきおとし）
10    Kuda 　　　　　管　　 　　　（くだ）
11    Tsuki-nuke 　突抜け　　 （つきぬけ）
12    Uroko 　　　　 鱗　　　　　 （うろこ）
13    Aizu-yobi 　　合図呼び　（あいずよび）
14    Tohme 　　 　遠目　　　　（とほめ）


New Set of Seven.
１　Gyaku-Surikomi　　　逆摺込み　（ぎゃくすりこみ）
２　Nuke-Tsuki　　　　　　抜け突き　（ぬけつき）
３　Ire-Chigai　　　　　　　入れ違い　（いれちがい）
４　Ute-tsuki　　　　　　　右手突き　（うてつき）
５　E-gawshi　　　　　　　柄返し 　　（えがえし）
６　Haya-Uma　　　　　　　早馬 　　　（はやうま）
７　Hi-Cho　　　　　 　　　飛鳥　 　　（ひちょう）
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