Maniwa Nen-ryū explained

Nationality:Traditional Japanese martial art
School:Maniwa Nen-ryū
(馬庭念流)
Founder:Higuchi Matashichirō
Founder Dates:c.16th century
Period Founded:Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568 - 1603)
Date Founded:1591
Headmaster:Higuchi Sadahito
Headmaster Dates:25th headmaster
Art1:Kenjutsu - ōdachi
Description1:Sword art - long sword
Art2:Naginatajutsu
Description2:Glaive art
Art3:Sōjutsu
Description3:Spear art
Art4:Yadomejutsu
Description4:Arrow deflection art
Ancestors:Nen-ryū
Descendants:Honma Nen Ryu

Maniwa Nen-ryū (馬庭念流) is a traditional school (koryū) of Japanese martial arts founded in 1591 by Higuchi Matashichirō Sadatsugu (c. 16th century). Matashichirō was a student of Nen-ryū (a style taught by Jion Nennami), and he founded Maniwa Nen-ryū after receiving inka (stamp or seal) from Akamatsu Gion. It is currently headed by the 25th headmaster, Higuchi Sadahito.

Maniwa Nen-ryū is significant in that it is one of the oldest surviving Japanese battlefield traditions today and is unusual in that throughout its history, it has been promoted and preserved by the members of a particular village.

Said to have been brought to Maniwa by Higuchi Kaneshige in 1494, during its history this sword style earned a reputation for creating strong exponents as many engaged in bouts against members of other noted sword schools.

The style is characterized by its use of fukuro shinai, or mock bamboo swords, quilted gloves, and headgear to engage in what it calls kiriwara jiai, which are competitions in which exponents can test their skills without suffering serious injury. It is not historically verified when this tradition became an intrinsic part of this school's training, but along with the Shinkage and Yagyū Shinkage schools, it was of the first schools of Japanese bujutsu to have employed the use of the bamboo training weapon. This training device was further developed by Nakanishi Chuto of the Nakanishi-ha Ittō-ryū and later became an important element in the establishing of the modern sport of kendo.

In execution, the techniques of this school sometimes appear to be awkward and lacking the stylistic polish which characterize other schools of classical Japanese sword. However, the Maniwa Nen-ryū system is said to be deceptively subtle in its technique and has proved its effectiveness in both battlefield and duels throughout its long history.

References and further reading