Kuden: The use of oral transmission in a traditional martial artAnna SeabourneBritish Association for Japanese Studies, Annual Conference 2015SOAS, University of London10-11 September 2015

Please note that photographs are deliberately of lower

quality for the web. Do contact me if you would like to see the higher quality version which

was shown at the conference.

古流 武術　‘ old flow martial arts’

• Recognised as koryū by other koryū• Pre-Meiji Restoration• Secretive• Few members • Lineage• System is passed from teacher to

student• Traditional training methods• Do not compete• Formal curriculum of techniques

• Founded in 1532• Comprehensive system• Known for kogusoku and bo• Forerunner of Judo

Learning: Western and Japanese models (Slawson, 1987, p. 55)

Spiral curriculum - kihon

kihon

Spiral curriculum - kata

Bo – shin no kata

kata

kata geiko

Spiral curriculum - embu

enbu

embu

Spiral curriculum - kuden

Literally, Kuden ( 口 傳 ) means oral transmission, i. e., the transmission of teachings, rites, practices, etc., by word of mouth from master to disciple. The primary meaning of Kuden was that these matters were not to be written down but were to be handed down face to face from master to disciple.

(Tamura, 1962, p 743)

Kuden in Takenouchi-ryū Bitchūden

• Hints for learning (names)• Strategies and tactics• Broader principles• Ways of thinking

忽離たちまち はなれる

Take the example of tachimachi hanareru from kogusoku, it’s a method of first contact. Create a long distance, then look well.

Hayashi, 40s restauranteur, M

Tachimachi hanareru, sumashi miru: these are very deep. For example, in meeting situations. When you meet something, when something happens, it’s very important to step back and think. This is important even in everyday life. For example, if you’re being criticised, if someone is angry with you, it usually gets very negative. So if this is happening, think, ‘What are they trying to communicate? What’s their hidden demand? Their motivation?’ Then you can think how to respond.The names of the kata also have meaning.”

Matsumoto, 40s, therapist, M

Tachi-machi

忽

Tea and talk

[MARTS]Research on martial arts and combat sportsThe new MARTS Jiscmail group aims to provide an academic forum for discussion on research into martial arts and combat sports; opportunities for collaboration; and announcements of conferences, publications and research projects.

www.jiscmail.ac.uk/MARTS

School of Arts, Languages

anna.seabourne@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk @lucubrathttp://lucubrat.wordpress.com

School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

Thank you…