Tsukahara Bokuden

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Tsukahara Bokuden

Tsukahara Bokuden (?? ?? 1489 - 1571) was a famous swordsman of the early Sengoku period

Sengoku period

The was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict in Japan that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century....
. He was widely regarded as a kensei
Kensei

In ancient Japan, a was an honorary title given to a warrior of legendary skill in swordsmanship. The literal translation of "kensei" is "sword saint"....
(sword saint). He was the founder of a new Kashima

Kashima

Kashima is the name of several places in Japan:* Kashima, Ibaraki, a city in Ibaraki Prefecture* Kashima, Saga, a city in Saga Prefecture* Kashima District, Ibaraki, a district in Ibaraki Prefecture...
style of fencing

Fencing

Fencing is a family of sports and activities that feature armed combat involving cutting, stabbing, or slapping Club ing weapons that are directly manipulated by hand, rather than shot, thrown or positioned....
, and served as an instructor of Shogun

Shogun

is a military rank and historical title for Hereditary Commanders in Chief of the Armed Forces of Japan. The Japanese word for "general", it is made up of two kanji characters: sho, meaning "commander", "general", or "admiral", and gun meaning military troops or warriors....
Yoshiteru Ashikaga and Ise

Ise Province

or Seishu was a Provinces of Japan of Japan including most of modern Mie Prefecture. Ise bordered Iga Province, Kii Province, Mino Province, Omi Province, Owari Province, Shima Province, and Yamato Provinces....
provincial governor Tomonori Kitabatake.

Bokuden learned the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu

is one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts, and an exemplar of koryu bujutsu. The Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu was founded by Iizasa Ienao, born 1387 in Iizasa village , who was living near Katori Shrine at the time....
from his adopted father and later honed his skills by engaging in musha shugyo
Musha shugyo

is a samurai warrior's quest or pilgrimage. The concept is similar to Knight Errantry in feudal Europe. A warrior, called a shugyosha, would wander the land practicing and honing his skills without the protection of his family or school....
(warrior's ascetic training), traveling throughout Japan and training with most of the skillful and knowledgeable swordsmen of the day.

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Encyclopedia

Tsukahara Bokuden (?? ?? 1489 - 1571) was a famous swordsman of the early Sengoku period

Sengoku period

Kashima

Fencing

Shogun

Ise Province

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu

Kashima, Ibaraki

is a port cities of Japan located on the Pacific Ocean in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is sometimes considered to be part of the Greater Tokyo Area....
's local martial arts, including such approaches to combat as Kashima no tachi and Ichi no tachi. After receiving a divine inspiration from Takemikazuchi no kami, the deity

Deity

A deity is a postulated preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divinity, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by human beings....
of Kashima Shrine

Kashima Shrine

Kashima Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the Shinto kami Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto , one of the patron deity of martial arts. Dojo of kenjutsu and kendo sometimes display a kakejiku emblazoned with Kashima Taishin ....
, he named his martial system as Kashima Shinto-ryu

Kashima Shinto-ryu

is a traditional school of Japanese martial arts founded by Tsukahara Bokuden in the Muromachi period .Due to its formation during the tumultuous Sengoku Jidai, a time of feudal war, the school's techniques are based on battlefield experience and revolve around finding weak points in the opponent's armor....
. He also, for a brief period, called his system Mutekatsu-ryu ("winning without hands").

In one anecdote, Bokuden was challenged by a mannerless ruffian. When asked about his style, Bokuden replied that he studied the "Style of No Sword." The ruffian laughed and insultingly challenged Bokuden to fight him without a sword. Bokuden then agreed to fight the man without his sword but suggested they row out to a nearby island on Lake Biwa

Lake Biwa

, formerly known as Omi Lake, is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture , northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto....
to avoid disturbing others. The ruffian agreed, but when he jumped from the boat to the shore of the island, drawing his blade, Bokuden pushed the boat back out, leaving the ruffian stranded on the island. Bokuden explained, "This is my no-sword school." There is a reference to this legend

Legend

A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude ....
in the film Enter the Dragon
Enter the Dragon

Enter the Dragon aka. The Deadly Three, originally titled Blood and Steel is a Hong Kong films of 1973 United States martial arts film directed by Robert Clouse; starring martial artists Bruce Lee and Jim Kelly , as well as actor John Saxon ....
.

He died of natural causes in 1571. His grave, in Suka, Japan where Baikouji once stood, is a kind of pilgrimage

Pilgrimage

File:Supplicating Pilgrim at Masjid Al Haram. Mecca, Saudi Arabia.jpgIn religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long quest or search of great moral significance....
site for those devoted to Japanese sword-fighting arts (kenjutsu

Kenjutsu

, meaning "the art of the sword", is a term for classical Japanese sword arts , in particular those which predate the Meiji Restoration. It is sometimes used more generally to describe any martial art which makes use of the Japanese sword....
).