This study examines the transformation of the
do-waza (techniques for striking the opponent's torso) in
kenjutsu motivated by a philosophy of physical education rooted in medical rationalism. This transformation was initiated with the goal of fostering balanced physical development. The study materials were
do-waza-related descriptions in representative
kenjutsu manuals published around 1900, and handed down from person to person. Through examination of
do-waza in modern Japan, it was concluded that
bujutsu-taisoho (martial art exercises) were introduced and endorsed by Unosuke Ozawa, Kenzo Nakajima, Tokuichiro Nakano, and others in their attempt to incorporate
kenjutsu teaching materials into regular physical education in schools. This was the point when standard
kenjutsu instruction techniques shifted from one-to-one to group-exercise instructions.
Results obtained in this study can be summarized as follows:
1. The core contents of
do-waza in representative
kenjutsu textbooks published between 1884 and 1897 only describe methods for striking the
migi-do (right
do or right torso) but not the
hidari-do (left
do). Shingoro Negishi (1884) states that it is better to strike the
migi-do in preference to the
hidari-do, while Daijo Kameyama (1895) and Minoru Yoneoka (1897) state that only
migi-do strikes are rationally acceptable from a technical perspective, whereas
hidari-do strikes are strictly unacceptable.
2. Between the late 1890s and 1900s, Unosuke Ozawa, Kenzo Nakajima, and Tokuichiro Nakano developed the
bujutsu-taisoho with the aim of implementing
bujutsu (martial arts, i.e.,
kenjutsu) as part of the regular school curriculum. This became a key opportunity to shift
kenjutsu instruction from one-on-one to group instruction. Simultaneously, the training came to present
do-waza methods for striking both the
migi-do and the
hidari-do (Ozawa, 1897; Shizuoka Prefecture Teacher's School, 1902; Nakayama and Nakano, 1906).
3. The
do-waza in the
bujutsu-taisoho as proposed by Ozawa, Nakajima, and Nakano effectively gave
hidari-do strikes, which had been previously rejected in the field of
kenjutsu, equal standing with
migi-do strikes, with the aim of achieving balanced physical development on both sides of the body. The motivation for this revised
do-waza was a physical education philosophy founded upon principles of medical rationalism.
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