Video Review
Hidden Secrets of Japanese Swordsmanship: Muso Shinden
Ryu - Omori ryu
Video by Roger Wehrhahn.
Hawley, PA: Mountain Teachings
Review by Deborah Klens-Bigman, Ph.D.
I hate watching swordsmanship videos. Leaving aside that I have trouble
finding up to two hours to sit still in front of the VCR or DVD player,
the videos very often are of poor quality and present dubious information,
and even worse technique, which means my time is usually wasted. If you
put two hours of tape-watching against two hours of actual practice,
I think the time is much better spent practicing. Therefore, when I was
asked to look at Hidden Secrets of Japanese Swordsmanship, I considered
the redundant title (if they weren't hidden they wouldn't be secrets)
and thought, oh no here we go again.
I was pleasantly surprised. Though I still think the title is poorly
chosen, the content of Hidden Secrets is surprisingly good. The video
is exactly what it claims to be: a survey of the twelve kata of the shoden
set of Muso Shinden ryu iaido, the Omori ryu. Roger Wehrhahn spends no
time whatsoever on the origin or background of iaido or Muso Shinden
ryu; given the dearth of real information in English out there, it's
too bad, but at least the tape avoids romantic hyperbole common to some
other efforts in the field. After a few preliminary points about sayabiki
(pulling the saya (sheath) back with the left hand during drawing and
resheathing), proper grip of the sword, and the various noto (methods
of sheathing), Wehrhahn proceeds to the business at hand with no further
digression. The kata are clearly presented from both front and side views,
followed by the bunkai (application) for each one.
The best part is that the technique is very well done. Finally we see
a tape created by someone with some real experience in iaido (Wehrhahn
commenced studies with Mitsuzuka Takeshi in 1984), and it shows. The "Mitsuzuka
line" has some variations from other major teachers; however, the
variations are minimal in the context of the style as a whole. Wehrhahn
does not crowd the audio track with his own assumptions; what we see
are the actual forms, simply and elegantly presented, with commentary
confined to technical aspects.
The video is both clear and well-audible. The backdrop is the Anshin
Cultural Center in Massachussetts, and it is suitably austere. My only
quibble is that the bright lamp in the tokonoma provides some distraction
from the business at hand. Maybe subsequent video installments could
replace the lamp with a suitable flower arrangement, or nothing at all.
As always with martial arts media (books included) I like to consider
who the intended audience is. Though people keep trying, anyone who knows
anything will tell you it is impossible to learn martial arts from a
book or video, no matter how clear or well done. Nuances are lost, and
especially, any philosophical or meditative aspect is nonexistent, not
to mention the possibility for any growth on the part of the video "instructor" or
practitioner. Therefore, the tape is suitable for anyone with an interest
in swordsmanship and wishes to become better acquainted with the subject
rather than as a guide to starting one's own practice. Beginning students
of Muso Shinden ryu iaido, under the guidance of a teacher, would find
it a valuable reference as to what the shoden forms should look like,
even with minor stylistic variations. Muso Shinden Ryu is not practiced
as much as other styles of Japanese swordsmanship in the U.S. Therefore,
practitioners who don't have the benefit of a regular teacher would also
find Hidden Secrets a valuable resource. I look forward to the rest of
Wehrhahn's tapes on Muso Shinden ryu.
This video is available from the FightingArts Estore:
Hidden Secrets of Japanese Swordsmanship:
Muso Shinden Ryu - Omori ryu
Video by Roger Wehrhahn.
Hawley, PA: Mountain Teachings
60 minutes
RW-V-5001
US$49.95.
(+$5 shipping within US
|
