​Bu Creates the Man
武は人なり

Katsuse Yoshimitsu, 15th Soke of Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo

The following text is an excerpt from a paper Katsuse Yoshimitsu​ wrote for the 8th International Seminar of Budo Culture, held in March of 1996. English translation by Antony Cundy, presented here with permission.

​IF ASKED to relate one's objective in Budo training, I think that people will offer many varied opinions. Personally, I always come back to the rather intangible conclusion that it is to attain an elevation of one's humanity. This objective is commonly embraced before beginning training. However, in my case it was only after I had begun that I was able to discover it. The founder of the Suio Ryu, Mima Yoichizaemon Kagenobu, stated that:

"The essence of our tradition, and the attainment of an unassailable position, comes from cutting down our opponents while the sword is still in the scabbard, stifling our opponent's actions and achieving victory through not drawing the sword. While engaged in combat, detach yourself from all thoughts of winning or losing, achieve a pure and unfettered mind, and reach unification with the gods."

Drawing and fighting with the sword runs contrary to the teaching of the gods. The founder's intention was to teach us to achieve harmony with the opponent and not for us to concern ourselves with winning. Through this kind of teaching the founder gathered many students and disciples.

I suspect that very few people since the founder's time have been able to achieve what his teachings propound. Only those who have endured training that defies the imagination will have been able to obtain the inner most secrets of the founder's teachings. I stated at the start of this essay that the elevation of humanity was an intangible objective. When thinking of the amount and quality of training in modern times I feel that this is truly not possible to obtain and, therefore at the same time, it has become my final goal.
​
The difference in degrees and quality of training has differed over the various generations. I wonder what we in the modern era can understand and gain from the amazing Budo that came from the world of the Warring States Period. It is not easy for the modern individual to understand the qualities that were displayed by the masters of a time when training was a matter of daily placing one's life on the line. It is because of this that I believe one must turn back to this time and travel the most difficult path. It is without doubt the most difficult path to follow. By modernizing and making the arts easier we debase what our forebears developed. It is in the midst of the most difficult of training that the true form of Budo can be discerned. Turning this the other way around of course, this is the way in which everything becomes easier. However, realistically it is very difficult to devote this amount of time to one's training.    

Our training is practice in realistic kata, always performed with an opponent. In combat, the ability to ascertain the opponent's and their weapon's movement is not easy, and it is true that in kata training both sides act in a pre-agreed manner. Thus, we cannot say that this is realistic. It is impossible to deal with an opponent desperately fighting for their life through training in kata alone. Thus the number of body movements and techniques that we can absorb wholly into ourselves becomes extremely important, because those movements and techniques are the ones that will protect us when we are faced with death.
 
Through the attainment of the techniques we are able to feel and comprehend the danger and fear that they contain. It is through this understanding that we can come to understand "winning over our opponent without fighting," and "avoiding conflict with others." Senseless conflict leads only to injury to others and inevitably injury to oneself. The true responsibility and objective of a warrior is to gain control over themselves so as not to cause injury to oneself or others.

​I do not however neglect solo training. Through attaining the form of kata we can understand the beauty of their structures and movements. I believe that the beauty of these forms permeate to our cores and work towards the elevation of our humanity. It is those movements that are natural, without extraneous strength or ostentation, that are the purest, most beautiful and have the most strength. This is the true form of the classical Bushi.

I have always been attracted to the form and spirit of the classical Bushi. Therefore, I have always tried to seek them out in the midst of Kobudo practice. The force of spirit exhibited by the Bushi of the Warring States Period, who placed themselves in harm's way and laid their lives on the line when facing an opponent, was indeed a most beautiful thing.

Japan's Idiosyncratic Reigi

​Many of Japan's reigi (礼儀, etiquette, manners) have their origins in Budo. This reigi is strongly linked to the sense of worth of the individual. We place a great deal of emphasis on manners in Budo training. However, this is not something that should be forced or coerced. We should not believe because we are practicing Budo that we should think in such a rigid manner. Reigi is something that we obtain and exhibit through our daily lives and it is important that it should naturally flow as part of our lifestyle.

​Therefore, we should not become obsessed with the outward forms of reigi. Thus, we should not launch accusations at those who do not treat us courteously or with a greeting. Rather, we should look at ourselves first to understand why we did not receive the greeting. In particular this is the case with children. It is natural that they sometimes won't or cannot do so. Forcing them to perform in such a manner is not the correct way of doing things.

A child's greeting is a smile, which for them is the highest form of greeting. It is as they mature that they become aware of words and manners to go along with this. We must allow courtesy and greetings to become enlivened through their personable spirit, based on mutual trust and recognition of one's friends and others. This spirit holds the greatest value for those of us who study Budo, which lays such emphasis on courtesy.

There is no need for academic theorizing about Budo training. One obtains a theory from a natural understanding based on experiences gained in training. When I look about me, presently there are many who propound their own theories based on some piece of literature or from listening to their teachers, without experiencing it through their own flesh. This is not a correct understanding of theory. A theory can only be born through experience. It is this "experiencing" that is the true form of Budo training and the form of man. Personally, what I have learned through my body is everything. It is belief in this which marks my path in martial training.

The Curriculum of the Suio Ryu

In our tradition, once a certain degree of ability has been developed through solo practice all techniques are practiced with an opponent. 

​The katana is so sharp that even if the tip only lightly touches something it will cut. However, the first priority is to understand whether the opponent's blade will touch us or not. And that is a very difficult problem. One's opponent is not like a standing tree rooted to the spot. They will move around frantically trying to find a way in which to defeat us. To be able to defeat such an adversary we must engage in realistic training with an opponent.

Although kata are performed with the mutual understanding of predefined movements they are still extremely dangerous. One mistake could lead to an accident. I have personally been injured by many of my students. This is rather embarrassing, but illustrates my lack of maturity and offers food for thought regarding the future course of my training.

For me the essence of iai is simply "not dying." In terms of pure survival, we see that those who live on achieve the greatest victory. I often say to my disciples "if one of your arms gets cut off, cut for the opponent's jugular." I am always personally prepared to do this.

One reason for training in martial arts may be "to prepare for death." Death is frightening for everyone, but when faced with an opponent out to take your life it is terrifying. Therefore, by taking ourselves over and over to the brink of death we come to an awareness of the abyss of death and it becomes just another everyday thing to us. At the same time we gain a real understanding of just how scary death is. It is these two states then, of recognizing and accepting death, that are the essence of true Budo. It is for me, who is in no way perfect, an endless theme.

Through actually seeing the techniques of the tradition, I think you will be able to understand everything. The simplicity of the techniques that you will see represent the characteristics of the Suio Ryu. This painful simplicity is the essence of the Suio Ryu and the essence of my path.