Tatsumi-ryū Hyōhō (立身流兵法)
About the ryū
Tatsumi-ryū Hyōhō (立身流兵法) was founded in the mid-sixteenth century by Tatsumi Sankyō. The tradition of the ryū holds that he secluded himself in prayer to the deity Tsumayama Dai Myojin and, as a result, gained enlightenment in swordsmanship. Two techniques, Muko and Marui, form the foundation of the ryū. As one of the older surviving koryu, Tatsumi-ryū has a number of unique features, including the way it draws and cuts with the sword.
Tatsumi-ryū is based in Sakura City in Chiba, Japan. This association has existed since the 1670s when Tatsumi-ryū became an official style (otome-ryu) of the Sakura han. Tatsumi-ryū is currently under the guidance of Kato Hiroshi, the 22nd Soke.
Curriculum
Tatsumi-ryū’s curriculum is large and encompases a number of weapons. The main focus of the tradition is the use of the Japanese sword (tachi), but Tatsumi-ryū also includes spearmanship (sōjutsu) and grappling (yawara) as well as instruction in the use of the bō, hanbō, naginata, and various other weapons.
Below is an outline of the main parts of the curriculum, although there are a number of other areas of study in addition to these.
| Kata | Number | |
| Iai | Omote (jo, ha, kyu) and kage (shoden, honden, betsuden) | 8 each |
| Kenjutsu | Omote (jo, ha, kyu) | 6 each |
| Kage | 3 | |
| Gogo and gogo tsumiai | 5 each | |
| Bo – tachi awase | 5 | |
| Hanbo – tachi awase | 5 | |
| Naginata – tachi awase | 5 | |
| Sōjutsu | Yari awase | 9 |
| Tachi awase | 4 | |
| Kodachi awase | 4 | |
| Yawara | Igumi | 6 |
| Tach-ai | 6 | |
| Tachi-ai soto | 17 | |
| Kumi-ai | 16 |
Grades
Tatsumi-ryū’s grading system consists of both dan grades and mokuroku. Students are able to receive grades up to godan (5th dan), after which time they are eligible to be awarded various mokuroku.
立身流の級、段、称号その他の資格や伝書を授与できるのは、
加藤紘立身流第22代宗家のみです。
宗家より直接授与されたのでない級や段は一切無効です。
The only person who can issue ranking in Tatsumi-ryū is the present Headmaster, Kato Hiroshi, 22nd sōke of Tatsumi-ryū. Rankings in Tatsumi-ryū issued by any other teachers or organisations are invalid and will not be recognised by the Headmaster. All ranking must come directly from the Headmaster.