curriculum-tantoujutsuchuuden
Tantoujutsu Chuuden
Although the tantou shares the same mechanics as the daitou and shoutou, it's use and doctrine focuses on ambush and opportunity. Unlike the daitou or shoutou, it cannot be used defensively to receive attacks and can only be used to attack or counter attack. Taijutsu (体術) is a critical aspect of tantoujutsu.
The fundamentals of tantoujutsu are split into three levels; shoden, chuuden and jouden or beginner, intermediate and advanced.
Tantoujutsu chuuden is made up of 18 forms split into three categories; drills [keiko] (稽古), capturing [mutoudori] (無刀捕) and concepts [gainen] (概念). These three areas are called Tantou Roppou Keiko, Tantou Roppou Mutoudori and Tantou Roppou Gainen respectively.
These forms are designed to reinforce muscle memory and practice good martial habits.
Prerequisites for Tantoujutsu Shoden are:
- Taihenjutsu Shoden
- Tantoujutsu Shoden
- Koppoujutsu Shoden
Keiko (稽古) are drills designed to practice postures, receiving and attacking. Keiko should be fluid and practiced with intent. Keiko can be practiced continuously up and down the dojo, switching partners when reaching the end of the dojo. The purpose of keiko is to develop muscle memory and instinct.
[三] Mi no Keiko - 三の稽古 (Third Drill): Shizen no kamae. Opponent attacks with migi or hidari tsuki ichimonji from shizen no kamae. Receive with seigan geigeki.
Tantoujutsu Chuuden Gainen - 短刀中初概念
[三] Mi no Gainen - 三の概念 (Third Concept): From tsuyoki no kamae. The opponent slashes with tsuki ichimonji. Evade, then thrust into the opponents neck while intercepting the elbow or wrist of the opponent's weapon arm.
[四] Yo no Gainen - 四の概念 (Fourth Concept): From kenkyo no kamae. The opponent thrusts or slashes in with tsuki jouhou. Evade the first thrust or slash then shift forward slashing to the opponent's neck.
The tantou is extremely dangerous at close range and can do fatal damage to someone who is not wearing armour. The tantou is a single handed weapon, so one arm is always available to capture the opponent's arm or attack. This is important when considering a counter attack or close combat with someone holding a dagger. The purpose of these concepts is to learn how dangerous daggers are and how difficult it is to engage someone at close range using a dagger themselves.
Tantoujutsu chuuden is an intermediate continuation to the mechanics of a dagger. The tantou is similar to the daitou, but the doctrine and purpose of both these weapons is very different. The daitou is a weapon of war, the tantou is a weapon of peace. This makes the tantou all the more dangerous, because attack is not expected. These techniques are designed to teach students how to attack ruthlessly and efficiently, not for violence, but to understand the danger a dagger can pose at close range. Tantou techniques should not be taken lightly and the lessons in this module should be considered seriously.
The fundamentals of tantoujutsu are split into three levels; shoden, chuuden and jouden or beginner, intermediate and advanced.
Tantoujutsu chuuden is made up of 18 forms split into three categories; drills [keiko] (稽古), capturing [mutoudori] (無刀捕) and concepts [gainen] (概念). These three areas are called Tantou Roppou Keiko, Tantou Roppou Mutoudori and Tantou Roppou Gainen respectively.
These forms are designed to reinforce muscle memory and practice good martial habits.
Prerequisites for Tantoujutsu Shoden are:
- Taihenjutsu Shoden
- Tantoujutsu Shoden
- Koppoujutsu Shoden
Tantoujutsu Chuuden Keiko - 短刀中初稽古
Keiko (稽古) are drills designed to practice postures, receiving and attacking. Keiko should be fluid and practiced with intent. Keiko can be practiced continuously up and down the dojo, switching partners when reaching the end of the dojo. The purpose of keiko is to develop muscle memory and instinct.
[一] Hi no Keiko - 一の稽古 (First Drill): Shizen no kamae. Opponent attacks with tsuki age from shizen no kamae. Receive with ichimonji geigeki to the opponent's wrist.
[二] Fu no Keiko - 二の稽古 (Second Drill): Shizen no kamae. Opponent attacks with migi or hidari tsuki jouhou from shizen no kamae. Evade to the right or left and receive with geidan geigeki.
[二] Fu no Keiko - 二の稽古 (Second Drill): Shizen no kamae. Opponent attacks with migi or hidari tsuki jouhou from shizen no kamae. Evade to the right or left and receive with geidan geigeki.
[四] Yo no Keiko - 四の稽古 (Fourth Drill): Shizen no kamae. Opponent attacks with migi or hidari tsuki kesa from shizen no kamae. Receive with joudan geigeki.
[五] I no Keiko - 五の稽古 (Fifth Drill): Shizen no kamae. Opponent attacks with tsuki sage. Receive with age geigeki.
[六] Mu no Keiko - 六の稽古 (Sixth Drill): Shizen no kamae. Opponent feints with tsuki and follows up with a sokugyaku kick to the sai. Receive with kerisage geigeki.
Opponents attacks should be done from a hidden position and the receiver should receive from a hidden position. These techniques are designed to reinforce the lessons taught in tantoujutsu shoden including postures (kamae), tsuki (thrusting) and geigeki (counter-attacking).
[五] I no Mutoudori - 五の無刀捕 (Fifth Capture): Shizen no kamae. Opponent thrusts in with tsuki sage from seishi no kamae. Jump back to evade. The opponent slashes down with tsuki age, evade to the side and lock down the arm from the outside controlling the wrist at the same time.
[六] Mu no Mutoudori - 六の無刀捕 (Sixth Capture): Shizen no kamae. The opponent thrusts in with tsuki from rishi no kamae. Evade to the side and intercept the elbow and wrist, shift both hands to the wrist to control the tantou.
These techniques are high risk and dangerous, but they teach valuable lessons to both the attacker and receiver. Remember that these are not combat techniques, rather they are lessons in distance, timing and angling to improve the use and understanding of the tantou.
[六] Mu no Keiko - 六の稽古 (Sixth Drill): Shizen no kamae. Opponent feints with tsuki and follows up with a sokugyaku kick to the sai. Receive with kerisage geigeki.
Opponents attacks should be done from a hidden position and the receiver should receive from a hidden position. These techniques are designed to reinforce the lessons taught in tantoujutsu shoden including postures (kamae), tsuki (thrusting) and geigeki (counter-attacking).
Tantoujutsu Chuuden Mutoudori - 大刀中初無刀捕
Mutoudori (無刀捕) are techniques designed to capture or disarm the opponent unarmed. These techniques are very difficult, but their purpose is to reinforce distance, angling and timing to hone these areas. Mutoudori also highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the tantou or dagger. These techniques are a vehicle for learning, rather then purely for practical application in combat.
Chuuden mutoudori focuses on entry rather than capturing. Don't concern yourself with the capture, which will be covered in the Tanoutjutsu Jouden series.
Chuuden mutoudori focuses on entry rather than capturing. Don't concern yourself with the capture, which will be covered in the Tanoutjutsu Jouden series.
[一] Hi no Mutoudori - 一の無刀捕 (First Capture): Shizen no kamae. The opponent slashes in with tsuki sage from shizen no kamae. Shift forward and lock down the opponent's foot with your own foot, at the same time grab the opponent's elbow and wrist.
[二] Fu no Mutoudori - 二の無刀捕 (Second Capture): Shizen no kamae. The opponent thrusts in with tsuki kesa from shusei no kamae. Evade the thrust and shift in to catch the opponent's elbow and wrist.
[三] Mi no Mutoudori - 三の無刀捕 (Third Capture): Shizen no kamae. Opponent thrusts in with tsuki ichimonji from tsuyoki no kamae. Evade the thrust and intercept the wrist with both hands.
[四] Yo no Mutoudori - 四の無刀捕 (Fourth Capture): Shizen no kamae. Opponent thrusts in with tsuki jouhou from kenkyo no kamae. Evade the slash, then intercept the opponent's arm then locking it with your arm, at the same time intercept the wrist.
[二] Fu no Mutoudori - 二の無刀捕 (Second Capture): Shizen no kamae. The opponent thrusts in with tsuki kesa from shusei no kamae. Evade the thrust and shift in to catch the opponent's elbow and wrist.
[三] Mi no Mutoudori - 三の無刀捕 (Third Capture): Shizen no kamae. Opponent thrusts in with tsuki ichimonji from tsuyoki no kamae. Evade the thrust and intercept the wrist with both hands.
[四] Yo no Mutoudori - 四の無刀捕 (Fourth Capture): Shizen no kamae. Opponent thrusts in with tsuki jouhou from kenkyo no kamae. Evade the slash, then intercept the opponent's arm then locking it with your arm, at the same time intercept the wrist.
[五] I no Mutoudori - 五の無刀捕 (Fifth Capture): Shizen no kamae. Opponent thrusts in with tsuki sage from seishi no kamae. Jump back to evade. The opponent slashes down with tsuki age, evade to the side and lock down the arm from the outside controlling the wrist at the same time.
[六] Mu no Mutoudori - 六の無刀捕 (Sixth Capture): Shizen no kamae. The opponent thrusts in with tsuki from rishi no kamae. Evade to the side and intercept the elbow and wrist, shift both hands to the wrist to control the tantou.
These techniques are high risk and dangerous, but they teach valuable lessons to both the attacker and receiver. Remember that these are not combat techniques, rather they are lessons in distance, timing and angling to improve the use and understanding of the tantou.
Gainen (概念) are core combat concepts for the Japanese dagger. These are basic engaging techniques from a hidden position against an attacking opponent.
[一] Hi no Gainen - 一の概念 (First Concept): From shizen no kamae. Opponent slashes in with tsuki age, shift forward to control the elbow, then thrust to the throat.
[二] Fu no Gainen - 二の概念 (Second Concept): From shusei no kamae. The opponent slashes down with tsuki kesa. Evade the slash to the right or left and then shift forward to find a weak point with the tantou.
[三] Mi no Gainen - 三の概念 (Third Concept): From tsuyoki no kamae. The opponent slashes with tsuki ichimonji. Evade, then thrust into the opponents neck while intercepting the elbow or wrist of the opponent's weapon arm.
[四] Yo no Gainen - 四の概念 (Fourth Concept): From kenkyo no kamae. The opponent thrusts or slashes in with tsuki jouhou. Evade the first thrust or slash then shift forward slashing to the opponent's neck.
[五] I no Gainen - 五の概念 (Fifth Concept): From seishi no kamae. The opponent thrusts with tsuki to the weapon arm. Evade the thrust and intercept the wrist, applying omote gyaku and counter-thrusting to the throat at the same time.
[六] Mu no Gainen - 六の概念 (Sixth Concept): From rishi no kamae. The opponent thrusts or slashes in with tsuki ichimonji. Evade the first thrust or slash and as the opponent thrusts or slashes again with tsuki age, jump in and thrust to the opponent's throat or other weak point.
Review and Conclusion
Tantoujutsu chuuden is an intermediate continuation to the mechanics of a dagger. The tantou is similar to the daitou, but the doctrine and purpose of both these weapons is very different. The daitou is a weapon of war, the tantou is a weapon of peace. This makes the tantou all the more dangerous, because attack is not expected. These techniques are designed to teach students how to attack ruthlessly and efficiently, not for violence, but to understand the danger a dagger can pose at close range. Tantou techniques should not be taken lightly and the lessons in this module should be considered seriously.