What Martial Arts Did Famous Shoguns and Daimyo Practice?

In feudal Japan, both daimyō (provincial lords) and shōgun (supreme military leaders) were crucial figures in the country’s history and culture. Both held positions of power and authority, and many of them not only led their warriors, but were also skilled martial artists, directly influencing the consolidation and evolution of combat styles, known as ryūha. In this article, we will explore some of the most prominent daimyō and shōgun, the martial arts schools they practiced, and how they contributed to Japan’s martial legacy.

1. Takeda Shingen (1521-1573)

   • Town \ Province: Kai
   • Ryūha and Martial Arts: Famous for his military strategy, Takeda Shingen excelled in the innovative use of cavalry and infantry. Although not associated with a specific school of kenjutsu, he developed the motto Fūrinkazan ("Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain"), inspired by the Art of War by Sun Tzu. This motto guided his army with the principles of being swift, silent, destructive and firm.
   • Contribution:He transformed his province into a military power, establishing innovations in the organization and discipline of his troops, which would influence future samurai battle styles.

2. Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578)

   • Town \ Province: Echigo
   • Ryūha and Martial Arts: A practitioner of Kageryu Kenjutsu and other fencing techniques, Kenshin was known for his mastery of the sword and his tactical ability. In addition, he was a master of defensive strategy and coordinating his troops in the open field.
   • Contribution: His legendary rivalry with Takeda Shingen made him an iconic figure, cementing his reputation as one of the most important strategists of the Sengoku period.

3. Date masamune (1567-1636)

   • Town \ Province: Sendai
   • Ryūha and Martial Arts: He trained in Shinkage-ryū Kenjutsu, a school focused on sword fencing, and practiced Kyūjutsu (archery) and horse riding.
   • Contribution: Date Masamune was known for his swordsmanship and leadership skills, and he established a martial culture in his Sendai province that included the learning of various warrior arts.

4. Honda Tadakatsu (1548-1610)

   • Town \ Province: Mikawa
   • Ryūha and Martial Arts: A practitioner of Hōzōin-ryū Sojutsu (spear) and known for his skill with the yari (spear) and naginata (halberd). His skill was so renowned that he was called "the invincible warrior."
   • Contribution:His figure represented the ideal of the warrior, and was a symbol of loyalty and bravery in the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu, establishing a standard of skill with the spear that would influence other warriors.

5. Shimazu Yoshihisa (1533-1611)

   • Town \ Province: Satsuma
   • Ryūha and Martial Arts: Practice of Jigen-ryū Kenjutsu, a school that emphasized quick and decisive cuts. This unique style of swordsmanship was highly effective in actual combat.
   • Contribution:Under his leadership, the Shimazu clan integrated Jigen-ryū as part of their military training, making this school widely recognized and adopted in Satsuma and then in the rest of Japan.

1. Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616)

   • Ryūha and Martial Arts:
     • Enmei-ryū Kenjutsu: Ieyasu practiced Enmei-ryū, focusing on precise cuts and controlled sword techniques.
     • Yagyū Shinkage-ryū: He became the patron of this school, under the teaching of Yagyū Munenori. The Yagyū Shinkage-ryū was consolidated as the official school of the shogunate.
   • Contribution:As founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, Ieyasu promoted the formal teaching of kenjutsu and sojutsu, ensuring that the samurai under his command mastered these styles.

2. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598)

   • Ryūha and Martial Arts:
     • Yagyū Shinkage-ryū: He promoted this school of kenjutsu among his generals.
     • Tanegashima (riflery)):Under his leadership, Hideyoshi promoted the use of tanegashima, professionalizing the use of firearms and improving the military effectiveness of his troops.
   • Contribution: He revolutionized combat techniques by incorporating firearms into the military structure, balancing the use of kenjutsu with modern weapons.

3. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358-1408)

   • Ryūha and Martial Arts:
     • Ogasawara-ryū Reihō and Kyūjutsu: Yoshimitsu was a practitioner of the Ogasawara-ryū school, which taught samurai etiquette and kyūjutsu (archery).
   • Contribution: He established rules of etiquette and practice of kyūjutsu at court, institutionalizing the behavior and discipline of the samurai.

4. Ashikaga Yoshihisa (1465-1489)

   • Ryūha and Martial Arts:
     • Heki-ryū Kyūjutsu: He supported the expansion of Heki-ryū, one of the most advanced archery schools of its time.
   • Contribution: He encouraged the use of archery techniques in his armies, highlighting kyūjutsu as a crucial part of samurai training in his shogunate.

5. Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199)

   • Ryūha and Martial Arts:
     • Kage-ryū Kenjutsu: Although not directly associated with a specific school, it promoted the first formal kenjutsu techniques.
   • Contribution:As the first shōgun of the Kamakura shogunate, Yoritomo institutionalized military training for samurai, laying the foundation for future kenjutsu schools.

6. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (1646-1709)

   • Ryūha and Martial Arts:
     • Ogasawara-ryū: He promoted this school to strengthen reihō (etiquette) and kyūjutsu.
     • Yagyū Shinkage-ryū: He maintained his support for this school of kenjutsu.
   • Contribution: Tsunayoshi formalized the study of etiquette and martial arts, stressing the importance of balance between martial skills and ethical discipline.

7. Tokugawa Yoshimune (1684-1751)

   • Ryūha and Martial Arts:
     • Shindō Munen-ryū Kenjutsu: He promoted this school of kenjutsu, known for its practicality and effectiveness.
     • Heki-ryū Kyūjutsu: He promoted kyūjutsu through Heki-ryū to strengthen the archery tradition.
   • Contribution: He revived training in kenjutsu and kyūjutsu, encouraging samurai to maintain their skills even in times of peace.

8. Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358)

   • Ryūha and Martial Arts:
     • Chūjō-ryū Kenjutsu: Although he did not found it, Takauji is associated with combat techniques that gave rise to Chūjō-ryū, one of the first schools of kenjutsu.
     • Ogasawara-ryū Kyūjutsu: He also supported this school of kyūjutsu.
   • Contribution:As the first shōgun of the Ashikaga dynasty, he promoted martial training in kenjutsu and kyūjutsu to ensure his power in internal conflicts.

9. Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632)

   • Ryūha and Martial Arts:
     • Yagyū Shinkage-ryū Kenjutsu: Following in the footsteps of his father, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Hidetada trained in this school, consolidating the relationship between the shogunate and Yagyū Shinkage-ryū.
   • Contribution: He ensured that Yagyū Shinkage-ryū was the official style of kenjutsu, promoting its learning among the samurai of the shogunate.

10. Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651)

    • Ryūha and Martial Arts:
      • Itto-ryū Kenjutsu: He promoted Itto-ryū, a style of kenjutsu that focused on direct and fast cuts.
      • Ogasawara-ryū: He continued to support the study of etiquette and archery through this school.
    • Contribution:His rule strengthened formal education in kenjutsu and kyūjutsu, institutionalizing Itto-ryū and Yagyū Shinkage-ryū as part of the official training of the samurai class.

Both the daimyō and the shōgun of Japan contributed significantly to the development and preservation of the martial arts. Their contributions not only laid the groundwork for martial training, but also fostered a culture of discipline, ethics, and self-control that still defines Japanese budō today.