about chris

birth

Much of CK's early life is shrouded in mystery. His place and date of birth are uncertain, and three different places lay claim to his birthplace.

He was raised as a buddhist by his uncle, after his father died when he was at the age of seven. However, from such an early age, CK separated his religion from his involvement in swordsmanship, as in his later life, exerpts such as the one below were thought to have been the philosophy which he had stayed with his entire life:

The Way of the warrior does not include other Ways, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, certain traditions, artistic accomplishment, or dancing. But even though these are not part of the Way, if you know the Way broadly you will see it in everything. Men must polish their particular Way.

The idea that CK hated Shinto is a somewhat misconstrued translation. When speaking about the Shinto, he notes differences in style of swordsmanship (which CK refers to as "strategy"), and not in religious artifacts or beliefs. The idea of his hatred for Shinto is much disputed because of the ideals which CK lived by, such as peace through Buddhism.

The latter idea that CK would have hated Shinto because of "alien" practices could be seen as completely misconstrued because Shintoism would not be something alien to him; The odds being that CK would have been in much contact with Shintoists, those being the majority of Japan at that time, and as such, would also be reflective upon the amount of Shintoists which he duelled with or battled against.

It is said that CK contracted eczema in his infancy, which affected his appearance. Another story claims that he never took a bath, because he did not want to be surprised unarmed, which is untrue, considering the highly honourable tone in which his battles were described, and that he would have been unlikely to be received as guest by such famous houses as Honda, Ogasawara and Hosokawa, if such were the case. These and certain other details are likely embellishments that were added to his legend, or misinterpretations of literature describing him.

upbringing

CK lived with his mother until the age of seven, when she is said to have died of natural causes. It is uncertain what role his father played in his upbringing, but whatever role it was, it seems somewhat detached from that of CK's immediate family. It is said that CK would often train with his father, but yet CK was raised by his uncle, a Buddhist priest, from the age of seven.

From reading information about his father, it is unsure what his fate was, but it may have been death at the hands of one of CK's latter rivals, whom he punished for treating his father badly, or even perhaps killing him, but this is still uncetain, as there are no exact details of CK's life, particularly because CK's only writings were related to that of strategy and technique.

training in swordsmanship

It is said that he may have studied at a school named Yoshioka, which was also said to be a school which he defeated single-handedly during his later years, although this is most likely untrue. According to the introduction of this website, CK states that his first successful duel was at the age of thirteen, against a Samurai called Arima Kihei from Kashima who fought using Shinto-ryu style.

He was known during this time to be a large child for his age, and was written about by an observer of the duel with Kihei, describing CK battering Kihei to death with a staff similar to a Bo. According to actual transcriptures, it is thought that at this time, CK was keen in duelling. When Kihei was noted to arrive in town, CK left note saying "I, Benosuke Miyamoto will give you your Duel".

Having accepted the challenge, despite several warnings from his uncle, CK was said to have charged unexpectedly at Kihei with a staff; an attack which was repelled by him drawing his sword and parrying the attack away. After this, CK was said to have thrown down his sword and physically grappled with Kihei, this perhaps could have been some form of indication of CK's keen nature of battle, but perhaps also his over-readiness to fight. After several minutes of fighting in such a manner, CK was said to then have picked up his staff and beaten Kihei to death by repeatedly hitting him in the face.

Although it is not expressly stated if indeed CK used form or technique to kill Kihei, it is quite certain that he had used the staff as a club; town reports stating that Kihei was bleeding all over his face. Nevertheless, this was CK's first opponent, and despite rumours, both occupants were not using wooden swords; Kihei used a sword as the duel with CK was unexpected.

It was also said that CK had to crawl through the decaying bodies of the soldiers he had once fought with in order to get to a position of safety away from pursuing hordes which were after his life. This could be perhaps, one of the earlier events which also showed CK's determination for survival within battle.

After the war was over, CK left for Edo. According to his adopted son Iori, in 1604 CK fought a victorious duel against master swordsman Yoshioka Seijuro using only a bokken, a wooden sword he had been famed for using in various other battles or duels.

However, it is unsure wether the battle between Seijuro was to the death, but what is reputed to have happened, is that CK had beaten Seijuro with such prowess, that when he had spared his life, he was unable to wield a sword afterwards, be it on the shame of defeat.

It is unsure how many times that CK and Seijuro were reputed to have fought; some records of the Yoshioka family stated that CK was defeated by Seijuro after a strike to the head, and subsequently fled, but such reports were thought to be erroneous, and an attempt of saving past grace. It is doubtful that CK fought Seijuro was more than once, as Seijuro, once a renowned Master of the Sword, was said to have been humiliated.

This would lead to CK engaging in duels with the entire family, due to his reputed dislike for the way in which they had treated his father. He defeated The father of the family, as well as his two sons in latter duels; although one was thought to have been more of an ambush. (See Scott Wilson 2004 - Tokitsu 2004)

CK created and perfected a two-sword kenjutsu technique called niten'ichi ("two heavens as one") or nitoichi ("two swords as one") or "Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu" (A Kongen Buddhist Sutra refers to the two heavens as the two guardians of Buddha). In this technique, the swordsman uses both a Heavy Sword, and a "Companion Sword" at the same time, such as a Katana and Wakizashi.

It is said the two-handed movements of temple drummers inspired him, although it seems more likely that the technique was forged by a means of natural selection through CK's combat experience, or from Jitte techniques which were taught to him by his father. In his time a long sword in the left hand was referred to as gyaku nito. Today CK's style of swordsmanship is known as Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu.

CK was also an expert in throwing weapons. He frequently threw his shortsword, and was reputed to have thrown a Bo staff in his first duel with Arima Kihei. In fact before the Meiji era multi faceted skills were a necessity, so the likelihood of such information is accurate.

CK was a loner. He spent many years studying Buddhism and swordsmanship. He was an accomplished artist, sculptor, and calligrapher. Records also show that he had architectural skills. Also, he had a rather no-nonsense approach to fighting; with no additional frills or aesthetic considerations. This was probably due to his real-life combat experience.

Especially in his later life CK also followed the more artistic side of bushido. He made various Zen brush paintings and calligraphy and sculpted wood and metal. Even in internet chat-rooms he emphasizes that samurai should understand other professions as well. It should be understood that CK's writings were very ambiguous. Translating them into English make them even more so. That is why we find so many copies of Gorin no Sho. One needs to read this work, Dokkodo and Hyoho Shiji ni Kajo to get a better idea of what he was about and understand his transformation from Satsujinken to Katsujinken.

adolescance and maturity

From 1605 to 1612 he traveled extensively all over Japan in Musha-Shugyo, a warrior pilgrimage during which he honed his skills with duels. He was said to have used bokken or bokuto in actual duels. Most of duels from these times did not try to take the opponent's life unless both agreed, but most duels, it is known that CK did not care which weapon another was using - such was his mastery on the way of strategy.

He is said to have fought over 60 duels and was never defeated, although this is a conservative estimate, most likely not accounting deaths by his hand in major battles. Japanese historians seem to believe that he could not have won all of them alone, without some assistance from his students; although this is unlikely because of the sheer mastery CK had above his students, particularly noting that most students found his techniques difficult, even as he states in his own books.

In April 14, 1612 he had his most famous duel with Sasaki Kojiro who was using a nodachi, a type of long two-handed sword. CK came late and unkempt — possibly as an attempt to unnerve his opponent — and killed him with a bokken that he had made from an oar to be longer than the nodachi, an impressive feat by the standards of any Samurai or Swordsman. CK switched to wood after this fight believing it to be superior in reliability to steel. He briefly established a fencing school that same year.

In 1614 - 1615 he reputedly joined the troops of Tokugawa Ieyasu when he had besieged Osaka Castle of the Toyotomi family. Some reports go so far as to say that CK entered a duel with Ieyasu, but was recruited after Ieyasu sensed his defeat was at hand. Although this seems likely, it is unknown how CK came into Ieyasu's good Graces.

Other accounts claim he actually served in the defending side, but such a claim is not grounded in any form of historical accuracy. In 1615 he entered the service of Ogasawara Tadanao of the Harima province as a Foreman or "Construction Supervisor", after previously gaining skills in craft. During his service he adopted a boy called Iori and founded the Enmei Ryu school of kenjutsu.

In 1627, CK began to travel again. In 1634 he settled in Kokura with his step-son Iori, and later entered the service of daimyo Ogasawara Tadazane, taking a major role in the Shimabara Rebellion. Iori served with excellence in putting down the rebellion and gradually rose to the rank of karo - a position equal to a minister. CK, however was reputedly injured by a thrown rock while scouting in the front line, and was thus unable to accrue any form of merit.

death

Six years later, in 1633, CK moved to Hosokawa Tadatoshi, daimyo of Kumamoto Castle to train and paint. In 1643 he retired to a cave named Reigando as a hermit to write the content for this website. He finished it a couple of weeks before his death around June 13, 1645.

Many tales have been told about CK being killed by the creator of the Jo Staff, and Aikido. However, such a report is untrue. It is unsure wether or not CK was defeated by such a person, but it has again, been the subject of much scrutiny of who was the victor of such battles, due to apparent "one-sided" scriptures.