Founded in the middle of the 16th century by the Buddhist monk Hôzôin Kakuzenbô Hôin In’ei the Hôzôinryû is the oldest school specializing solely in the use of the spear that has survived until today.

The Hôzôinryû Takadaha (Takada branch of the Hôzôin school) was founded by Takada Matabê, a bushi (member of the warrior class), who had been a direct student of In’ei. Some 50 to 60 members of the art are still active worldwide practicing the art of fencing with the jûmonji kamayari (cross-shaped sickle-spear) at least once a week.

In 1976 the headquarters of the school returned to the city of Nara where it was originally founded. In addition to the Nara dojo there are dôjôs in Nagoya, Higashi-Ôsaka and in Hamburg, Germany (officially the Hamburg dôjô is a training facility of the Higashi-Ôsaka dôjô).

Today 35 kata (forms) are taught, learned and practiced in Hôzôinryû Takadaha Sôjutsu. In these kata the suyari (straight spear) always confronts a kamayari (sickle spear), the weapon that has made Hôzôin spearmen famous.

With the kamayari one can do much more than just thrust. Thanks to the sickles (kama), the two side blades of the spear head, the opponent’s spear can be controlled, dominated and manipulated in a number of ways. It can be struck down, or thrown to the side, the sickle also allows the blade to slide along the shaft of the opponent’s spear targeting the opponent's leading hand. An old poem illustrates this versatility:

Of course there is no ‘enemy’ or ‘adversary’ nowadays. And although some jiyugeiko in armour has recently been permitted kata training remains the core of the school. Katageiko is not antagonistic with suyari and kamayari cooperating to perform with the highest precision filling the forms with life. Spear training is physically demanding due to the low stance and the weight of the weapons. And it does develop a deep understanding of distance and timing, due to the different length of the spears used in Hôzôinryû Takadaha Sôjutsu.

You can access more detailed information on the history of the school, the equipment used, its curriculum, events and more via the appropriate links in the main menu to the left.

Presentation of the certificates

Daietsugen

Thank you very, very much! This presents a strong stimulus for all Hamburg dôjô members to train even harder in 2011.

Mr. Mima, Kagita Sôke and Nishio Sensei (from left to right)

Instead Maeda Sensei now told me that Kagita Chûbê Sôke , the 20th headmaster of the Hôzôinryû, had time and would like to visit us in his place in September together with a couple of other members of the school.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of city partnership between Osaka and Hamburg the Alster Dojo e.V. gave demonstrations of all disciplines practiced in the club (Iaidô, Kendô, Kyûdô and Hôzôinryû Takadaha Sôjutsu) at the Japanese Tea Pavilion on the grounds of Planten un Blomen in Hamburg.

© 2009 Vladimir Gajic

The video of the complete Hôzôinryû Takadaha Sôjutsu demonstration performed at this event can be found here. (Registered and logged in members only!)

On Saturday, May 31th 2008 two of the oldest bujutsu ryûha of Japan met at the Alster Dojo e.V. in Hamburg, Germany: the Tenshin Shôden Katori Shintôryû, perhaps the oldest style overall, and the Hôzôinryû Takadaha which ist the oldest style of spear-fencing still existing. Of course the meeting was not antagonistic but had the purpose of learning from each other.

The best of course would be to train in Japan. There are three dôjôs, one in Nara, one in Higashiôsaka and one in Nagoya, where training is held regularly. Addresses, training hours and contact data can be found at the Japanese site of the Hôzôinryu.

Outside Japan the only place offering Hôzôinryû Takadaha Sôjutsu training on a regular base is located in Hamburg/Germany:

Perspiration has been worthwhile!

All five new graduates

The shokyu, chûkyû und jôkyû diplomas issued by Kagita Sôke have arrived in Hamburg and were handed to the graduates on Monday, November 26th 2007 after training at the Alster-Dojo e.V.

Omedetô gozaimasu! (Congratulations!)

Shokyû exam

There were two candidates for shokyû, two for chûkyû and one for jôkyû. All five of them passed their exams.

Including these newly graduated spearmen the list of graduates in Hôzôinryû Takadaha Sôjutsu in Europe is as follows:

• 1 mokuroku (Romania)
• 2 jôkyû (England 1/Germany 1)
• 2 chûkyû (Germany)
• 2 shokyû (Germany)

In the future exams up to at least jôkyû shall be held in Hamburg during seminars led by japanese teachers on a regular basis.

Chûkyû exam

Registered users who are logged in would find links to videos of the shokyû und jôkyû exams held at the Alster Dojo e.V. in Hamburg, Germany during the Hôzôinryû Takadaha Sôjutsu seminar led by Maeda Shigenori Sensei in September 2007.

One more reason to become a member of Sôjutsu.de.