当込遁走型 Atekomi Tonsō Gata Preview

From https://www.rojodojo.com A preview of my #bujinkan video exploring 当込遁走型 Atekomi Tonsō Gata. This form comes from 戸隠流 Togakure Ryū and is part of a set of evasion and escape methods. These Ninja techniques include the use of 手鉤 shukō, 手裏剣 shuriken, and 目潰 metsubushi.

We start from 八文字の構 hachimonji no kamae. Our lead hand tracks the opponents 柄頭 tsukagashira from a distance. Then we disappear under his cut to deliver a sudden strike before using metsubushi to cover our 木遁 mokuton evasion.

You receive the attacker’s cut with your shukō. They claw and rip into his hands, causing him to drop his sword. If your timing is a little late, the shukō can receive the blade to shield against the cut.

When I studied this with Hatsumi Sensei in Japan, he said 安全第一 anzendaiichi. This means safety first, or the primary concern is your own safety. The goal is to not be cut by the sword.

He saw many students being too aggressive by leading with the strike. Soke told us to lead with our head. This seems counterintuitive under a sword strike, but the forward movement is an evasion. You move to a position below the effective range of the sword.

Another tip that Hatsumi Sensei gave us was to use the rear hand of our kamae to control the space. In hachimonji we do this with our elbow in an expression of 刀匿 tōtoku. Then as we disappear from the arc of the cut, we can shape the space inside or outside.

I wanted to emphasize this quality of hachimonji no kamae, so we did some unarmed henka. I started from shizen, and moved into hachimonji as the opponent strikes. Hatsumi Sensei used the phrase 盾でも警急く tate demo keikyū ku, which means you shield but stay alert and keep moving. The shield is only a momentary protection.

We returned to the sword, but this time we shielded ourselves with a hidden knife. Soke told us that when we assume hachimonji no kamae, we should have the feeling of holding a sword or a weapon. Imagine holding the blade up with your rear hand holding the tsuka and your front hand supporting the 棟 mune. I showed this method of shielding from both a 本手 honte and 逆手 gyakute grip.
FULL video: https://www.rojodojo.com/atekomi-tons...