Historical Gekiken Pictures
|
This is a collection of historical Gekiken pictures and information about them.
New pictures will be added to this page whenever possible.
Hokusai Manga
This picture is taken from the "Hokusai Manga", and depicts a typical Gekiken Keiko (Gekiken sparring training), drawn around 1812. As you can see, they're not wearing any Dou body armour, just like the Naganuma style of Jikishinkage Ryu. Interesting to note, is how the Hakama worn, which shows the extreme foot techniques which is not found in modern Kendo today. The technique being shown, is also a more realistic and unique technique which can't be found in modern Kendo too.
(This technique is being used in real-time free-response in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2mVbLLDEnQ.)
|
Translated and taken from: Tennen Rishin Ryu Kenjutsu
|
Meiji Bujutsu-sho
From the pages of a Meiji Bujutsu-sho (Martial arts book from the Meiji era), this is a Gekiken technique explanation picture. Even though the stances look closer to modern Kendo style, the footwork and stances are actually based on historical techniques if you look closely. This is a time where swordsmen from different styles were still allowed to use their own unique techniques and stances in sparring.The parts of the armour closely resemble modern Kendo armour, but if you look closely, you can see a unique skull pattern on the the Hakama (back-leg of the left swordsman).
The Butokukai standardized the system, and later evolved into sports Kendo after WWII, where many historical techniques from traditional Gekiken were lost and not put into practice.
|
Translated and taken from: Tennen Rishin Ryu Kenjutsu
|
|
|
