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Yamanni
Chinen Ryu has been described in the past as an "unknown" style,
whereas it is in fact more correctly a hidden style. As it is technically
very demanding, its membership has never numbered more than a handful of senior
teachers. It is, however, much respected-even revered-in Okinawa, and considered
the root from which much of modern bojutsu springs. For example, Chinen Sanda,
the man responsible for systemizing the style, taught the bo to Yabiku Moden,
who taught Taira Shinken who taught Motokatsu Inoue, Fumio Demura, etc., etc.
Although its teachings were thus widely disseminated, the essence of Yamanni
Ryu still resides exclusively with the current senior instructors of the style,
Chogi Kishaba and his premier student, the author of this video. We can speculate
that they held back much of the style, and this is why it does not manifest
itself in other schools that have a technical obligation to Yamanni Chinen
Ryu. Or, perhaps, practitioners of those schools did not spend sufficient
time training to reach a point where the inner techniques of the style where
made known to them.
What
is sure is that Yamanni Chinen Ryu is completely unique, stunning in its performance,
and, as demonstrated by T. Oshiro, an unrivalled visual experience. From the
interview that appears in this edition of Dragon Times, you will gather that
T. Oshiro teaches both karate and kobudo with an unusual amount of talent.
He is a student of the much respected Okinawan karate teacher Shoshin Nagamine,
and a former instructor at the latter's dojo. He is also the student of Chogi
Kishaba, himself a student of Chojun Miyagi the founder of Goju Ryu karate.
It is safe to say that no one could hope for a better martial arts pedigree.
This
is the first public appearance of Yamanni Ryu, nothing has been published
in any language in the past, and nothing formally recorded on film. This is,
therefore, a completely unique product and as such has had a great deal of
time and care lavished upon it from the design of the graphics, to the choice
of music. Even the most ardent fans of the Tsunami range of videos might be
a little surprised, but also delighted at the way in which the subject is
introduced. The images are wonderful, the music exquisite, and the performance
of traditional Okinawan dance by Tomoku Oshiro, wife of the author and herself
a much sought after and highly respected teacher, enchanting!
Yamanni
Ryu -- Okinawan Bo-Jutsuby Toshihiro Oshiro. Running time: 55 minutes. Includes:
Basic techniques-grips, handling, exercises, static and moving techniques,
striking & blocking techniques, combination techniques, footwork, wachi
sugui, kata Suuji no Kun, Choun no Kun Sho & Dai, Ryubi no Kun, kumi bo
combat techniques, genealogy of Yamanni Ryu Bojutsu.
Available
in the following formats:
DVD
Running time approx. 55 minutes. $39.95
(we
ship within 24hrs.) |
