Following a discussion on Ho Jutsu (Art of the Firearm), Tanigawa sensei, took myself and Sugasawa Sensei to visit an old friend of his in Naha that had collected many weapons including firearms.

As we entered the house it was as if stepping back in time and I was immediately in awe of the weapons all presented on the walls. Tanigawa Sensei introduced us and we were soon enjoying good conversation which as would you expect focused around the collection of his weapons which was his life long pursuit.

Following tea and the kind offer of a dried fish on a stick Ogimi San invited me to look more closely at the collection, however when handling the weapons I noticed how dangerously he was handling them and found myself looking down the barrel of a pistol or musket a number of times.

He then proceeded to clean and polish a number of his weapons which was executed with great pride and vigour. This spectacle was accompanied by a lecture on the history and terminology of the firearms and swords within his collection. However, when I questioned him about using the musket in combat he knew nothing of value and the true fact was that all the firearms looked impressive and the narrative he provided engaging, but any knowledge and experience in actually using the weapons was merely an poorly performed illusion.

Tanigawa Sensei had once again as he often did, provided me with a lesson through experience and not lectures and I recalled how he had always warned of those people who deceive themselves and become martial art collectors polishing their art and memorising the history yet their swords were blunt and the firing pins missing.

Tanigawa sensei gave stern advice that one should not polish the sword but sharpen it, not display the sword, but hide it, not talk of the sword but use it.

Martial arts are not things of grace and elegance, Geisha are for this purpose true budo is fiercely aggressive and contains the intent to kill. It is here the paradox is found.

Following the lesson on the way of the collector I came to understand and recognise these martial art enthusiasts and how proud they were of their kata and knowledge of the arts.

How schools claiming to be of a Bubishi lineage were unable to answer simple questions on the text, were unable to explain simple principles such as Kaikyu (Way of pulling arrows), Konso (Bundle and send), San Ko To (Crossing the three pagodas), Haitoku (Place a shield in your cloak),  etc and I would counsel you, that if you are currently studying within a proclaimed bubishi lineage ask these questions or possibly for a treatment  of shiatsu (Japanese Massage) or Hari (Accupuncture) and reveal the person who is collecting or is studying.

If they are studying the living text this will be a pleasure but the collector can not use, only hang it on the wall as one would hang a decoration. It is said that when you are all alone in a dark room the truth will shine, please ask yourself are you studying the martial arts or collecting them?

"The way of the Bubishi is to see yourself, many will run and hide" Sugasawa Sensei Ku Dan(9th Level)
 

Written by Daniel Tennent - 5th Dan Tanigawa Ha Inyo Karate Do Bubishi Kenkyukai

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