Yamanni ryu


Yamanni-ryū is a form of Okinawan kobudō whose main weapon is the bo, a non-tapered, cylindrical staff. In recent years the smaller buki, such as sai, tunfa, nunchaku, and kama are studied as secondary weapons.

Lineage

Tradition maintains that Sakugawa Kanga, entrusted with the protection of prominent Ryūkyū families, had studied the art in China. Later he lived in Akata village in Shuri, Okinawa. Sakugawa developed the style in the late 18th century. He passed it on to the Chinen family, beginning with Chinen Umikana. Sanda Chinen, also known as Yamani USUMEI and Yamane TANMEI, introduced the "bouncing" motion of the staff which is the style's hallmark. His grandson, Masami Chinen, named the style after him. Masami Chinen's grandnephew Teruo Chinen was the last family member to practice the style.

Bugeikan Yamane-ryu

Higa Seitoku started to train in Yamane-ryu in 1956 after completing his study of karate under Kishimoto Soko. He was the only person to receive an official license in bōjutsu by the founder of Yamane-ryu, Chinen Masami.
To this day the same kata and techniques are transmitted in the Bugeikan dojo founded by Higa Seitoku in Okinawa and currently run by his son and nephews. While at the Bugeikan a variety of weapons are practiced the Yamane-ryu curriculum only encompasses bō Kata.

Ryūkyū Bujutsu Kenkyu Doyukai / Kishaba-Ha Yamanni-Ryu

In 1979 Chogi Kishaba, a student of Masami Chinen, sent his students, Toshihiro Oshiro and Kiyoshi Nishime, to the United States. In 1985 they founded the Ryūkyū Bujutsu Kenkyu Doyukai or RBKD for the purpose of bringing Yamanni-ryū to the West. Kishaba is the head of the RBKD. Shihan Oshiro was the Chief Instructor of RBKD USA and its West Coast Director, he returned to Okinawa to live and teaches out of the Naha Budokan. The Midwest Director is Kiyoshi Nishime. Oshiro and Nishime give seminars in Yamanni-ryū in the U.S. and around the world. This branch of the style is referred too as Yamane-Kishaba-Ryu or Kishaba-ha Yamanni-Ryu. The RBKD Yamanni-ryū patch is based on an Okinawan mon. It is similar to the mon of the Takeda clan.
Kata of RBKD:
  • Donyukon Ichi,
  • Donyukon Ni,
  • Choun No Kun Sho,
  • Choun No Kun Dai,
  • Shuji no Kun Sho,
  • Shuji no Kun Dai,
  • Ryubi no kon,
  • Sakugawa No Kun
  • Shirataru no Kun,
  • Tomari Shirataru no Kun,
  • Yunigawa no Kun / Yonegawa no Kun / Hidari Bo,
  • Shinakachi no Kun / Sunakake no Kun,
  • Chikin Bo / Tsuken Bo

    Maeda Dojo

Maeda Kiyomasa was a senior student of Kishaba Chogi and was promoted to 9th Dan in Yamane-Ryu by Kishaba. The Kanbun for the Yamane-Ryu Hombu dojo was gifted to Maeda by Kishaba upon his passing.
Kata of Maeda Dojo:
  • Choun No Kon Ichi,
  • Choun No Kon Ni,
  • Shushi No Kon,
  • Sunakake No Kon,
  • Shirotaro No Kon,
  • Tomari Shirotaro No Kon

    Oshiro-ha Yamane Ryu (大城派山根流)

Oshiro-ha Yamane-ryu Kobudo/大城派山根流古武道]
By definition, the contemporary interpretation of classical tradition, described as Oshiro-ha Yamane-ryu Kobudo , can be best described as either Sogo Budo or Gendai Budo. The principal source, under which Patrick McCarthy's Okinawan instructor studied, was Oshiro Chojo/大城朝恕 . In addition to his passion for Karate, Oshiro is best remembered for his incredible skill with the Rokushaku bo/六尺棒. Deeply inspired by Oshiro's far-reaching legacy, and with the blessings of Kinjo Sensei, the name Oshiro-ha Yamane-ryu Kobudo, examples Patrick McCarthy's desire to pay tribute and homage to this wonderfully unique lineage.
A Personal Journey 
Patrick McCarthy's personal Kobudo journey had been inspired by the teachings of his esteemed Okinawan instructor, Kinjo Hiroshi , and key figures under whom he studied; Chinen Sandā , Ōshiro Chōjo , and Maeshiro Chōtoku . Amidst other pioneers, these people were pivotal figures before the style gained official recognition as "Yamane Ryu/山根流棒術" by Chinen's grandson, Masami .
Chinen-ha Yamanni Ryu
Although McCarthy Sensei had met and practiced, back in the mid-1980s, with both Prof. Shinzato Katsuhiko and Kishaba sensei, along with being influenced by a pantheon of other wonderfully skillful instructors, including the very popular Oshiro Toshihiro and Nishime Kiyoshi , he has no connection to, nor purport to be associated with, in any way, the Chinen Masami Yamane Ryu Bojutsu lineage. McCarthy's Yamane Ryu Kobudo practice, extends beyond just bojutsu and into an entire range of traditional weapons, not originally known within Masami's practice; i.e. Eku, Nicho-gama, Nunchaku, Sai, Suruchin, Tanbo, Tanto, Tekko/Techu, Tinbe and Tonfa-jutsu, etc.
The practical, technical and pedagogical approach to learning, practice and teaching McCarthy Sensei established stemmed from; #1. A strong foundation in Okinawan Kobudo gained under the tutelage of Grandmaster Richard Kim and #2. Years of historical study and cross-training opportunities in related arts, and often with the most senior authorities of various Kobudo traditions; i.e. Having studied directly under Richard Kim , Inoue Motokatsu and Kinjo Hiroshi , McCarthy's study was further influenced by lengthy research, extensive cross-training, and his informal association with a pantheon of other notable instructors; i.e. Sakagami Ryusho , Matayoshi Shinpo , Akamine Eisuke , Kuniba Shogo , Shimabuku Eizo , Hayashi Teruo ,  Nakamoto Masahiro and Inoue Motokatsu , et al.
Iemoto
Contrary to popular belief, the iemoto system is not Okinawan! It was established by the Japanese and has long served as a method for preserving Koryu-based Japanese arts through recognized authorities known as sōke or Iemoto. Such individuals inherit and pass down preserved knowledge through generations, upholding family-based practices and guiding students in various arts such as tea ceremonies, flower arrangements, chess, and martial arts. It is important to note that such a system was not historically used during the Ryukyu Kingdom nor as an Okinawan practice. Until the time of Yabiku Mōden, and Taira Shinken, Kobudo as we know it today was never a systematized tradition nor based upon the iemoto system.
The mention about only those with licensed authorization from Iemoto ~ Gendai Budo Sogo Budo is a term which refers to integrated or comprehensive fighting art. While carrying a similar meaning, Gendai Budo is a term which refers to modern or contemporary fighting art. By collectively bringing together his many years of experience to establish an integrated and contemporary practice, which better suited McCarthy Sensei's personal preferences, the practice was intended to pay homage to his instructor, under whom he was empowered, along with paying homage to both the tradition and culture from which it comes.
Oshiro-ha Yamane Ryu Kobudo Curriculum
As previously mentioned; Oshiro-ha Yamane Ryu Kobudo includes the following practices: Bo, Eku, Nicho-gama, Nunchaku, Sai, Suruchin, Tanbo, Tanto, Tekko/Techu, Tinbe and Tonfa-jutsu, etc.
Bō Kata of Oshiro-ha Yamane-ryu:
  • Shuji No Kun
  • Sakugawa No Kun
  • Yonegawa No Kun
  • Shirotaru No Kun
  • Chinen Shikiyanaka No Kun
  • Koryu No Kun