Tsubame gaeshi in Judo

Sourced from World Heritage Encyclopedia

Tsubame gaeshi
Tsubame Gaeshi (?) is a Judo throw that falls within the seventeen techniques
of the Shimmeisho no waza, officially recognised by the Kodokan in 1982.[1] Literally
translated as "Swallow Counter", Tsubame gaeshi is the countering of an ashi waza
with Deashi harai from the opposite leg. A right-handed Deashi-harai executed by uke,
for instance, would be avoided by tori bending his right knee, followed by a lefthanded Deashi-harai. Tsubame gaeshi as a counter against uke's Deashi harai is the
opening move of the Kaeshi-no-kata. As a counter against Okuriashi harai, it forms the
sixth technique of the Nage-Waza-Ura-no-kata.

Kukishin Bikenjutsu
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Tsuke Komi
Sayu Gyaku
Tsuki Kake
Kiri Age
Kiri Age Sayu Gyaku
Kiri Sage
Kiri Sage Sayu Gyaku
Kinshi
Kinshi Sayu Gyaku

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Kocho Gaeshi
Kocho Gaeshi Sayu Gyaku
Shiho Giri
Shiho Giri Sayu Gyaku
Happo Giri
Happo Giri Sayu Gyaku
Tsuki no Wa
Tsuki no Wa Sayu Gyaku

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Fudo no Ken
Engeki Buchi
Himyo Ken
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24.
I borrowed a friend's book the other day titled "Kenjutsu
Shoden" by Fredrick J. Lovret. In the book he dedicates it to
Kurasawa Sasaki. Is he any relation to Kurosawa Kojiro the founder
of the ryu? Also the book is about the Itto Tenshin Katori Shinto
style. Is this the same as Tenshin Ryu or has a new style been
developed based upon the Itto Tenshin Katori Shinto Ryu?
25.
One last question. In the back of the book under Nito Waza the
author mentions a Kenjutsu Chuden. Has this book been published?
If so do you know where I can get a copy? I tried to buy my friend's
copy of Kenjutsu Shoden but he would not part with it and I have
had no luck finding a copy anywhere.
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Thanks.
Bill Simpson
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Mr. Simpson,

28.
I believe I can answer your questions. Kenjutsu Shoden is out
of print and the only way you can get one is to convince someone to
let go of their copy.
29.

Kenjutsu Chuden was never published.

30.
Kurosawa Kojiro and Kurosawa Sasaki are the same person. An
explanation is in order for this. Mr. Wolfe has written that the
Tenshin ryu deals primarily with the long sword. One of the waza we
have is called tsubame gaeshi. This cut was made famous by a man
named Kojiro Sasaki. He was the man defeated by Musashi
Miyamoto. Kurosawa Kojiro was said to be very adept at this cut and
his fellow students gave him the nickname of Sasaki.
31.
Itto Tenshin Katori Shinto ryu is the official name of the ryu. It
has been this way for the 19+ years I have been a member. We
normally use the Tenshin ryu or the Itto Tenshin ryu as a short form.
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I hope this clarifies things for you.

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Joe McVey

34.
There is some influence from the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto
ryu, but it has to do primarily with the method of nuki dashi in our

iaijutsu. The main influence comes from the Itto ryu and has to do
with the method of cutting (kiri oroshi). Our concept of heiho is said
to derive from the Niten Ichi ryu and has to do with timing. Only
Lovret Sensei can tell you if he plans to publish in the future.
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Hope this helps.

36.

Joe McVey

37.
I thought I might add a thing or two to this discussion. The
Tenshin-ryu is a small family art, which grew out of the Meiji era
melting pot of bud. There was a great deal of cross pollination
among various ry at that time. Kenjutsu instructors began teaching
their art publicly to make a living. The popularity of shiai kenjutsu
and the musha-shugyo of some serious budka, saw senior level
swordsmen of one ryu bested in contest with an instructor of
another ry. Often the defeated swordsman would become a disciple
of the victor, and traditions started to mix. Most schools went on to
be completely shiai kend, and a few maintained the old ways of
shinken and kata based traditions. Tenshin-ry is of the latter group.
38.
My own (repeat, my own) research leads me to believe that the
Itto-ryu is the primary influence on our art. Kiri-oroshi is the heart
and soul technique of the ryu. Many heih, and our okuden seem to
be Itto-ryu. I definetely can see Shinto-ryu influence in our iai-nuki,
and the use of the hips in movement. One description I have heard
(though overly simplified) is that Tenshin-ry is Itto-ryu
swordsmanship with Shinto-ryu sabaki. There is much more to it
than that.
39.
The important thing is that even though these two traditions
influenced the founding of the Tenshin-ry, the gokui of our ry is
unique and independent. You may see in a child the resemblance to
both parents, but the childs soul is unique and his own.
40.
As for the name of the ryu: This is the source of much
controversy and debate. All of my menkyo say Tenshin-ry onu them,
so thats what I call the art. I have at times referred to it as Itto
Tenshin-ryu when writing about it. It is my understanding that the
name Itto Tenshin Katori Shinto-ryu is what was passed on to Lovret
Sensei. Other than the name, there are no claims to direct lineage
or relationship to the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu.
41.
I wrote this before I saw Mr. McVeys last post. Other than the
reference to Niten Ichi-ryu (I heard Tetsujin-ryu same origins
though), we seem to be on the same page. Good to read you Mr.
McVey! Hope all is well. Looking forward to October.
42.

Bill

43.
Ok, just briefly going back to the Sasaki Kojiro thing, so
Tenshin Ryu is the style of swordsmanship that THE Sasaki Kojiro
was tought in?
44.
I just would like to know because well...Kojiro was my favorite
swordsman in history. Some things I hear about him is that he was
a kinda ladies man because of his looks (some also say he had the
appearance of a boy), a legend states that he was trying to cut
flying swallows at Kintaibashi brigade (leading to the inspiration of
Tsubame Gaeshi) and at Ichijo waterfalls is where he perfected the
technique.
45.

Matthew Hlobilek, Shorin no Tora Dojo

46.
Sasaki Kojiro lived and died long before the Tenshin-ryu you are
referring to ever existed. The waza of tsubame gaeshi or tsubame
giri can be found in various forms in many ryu. It is essentially a
back and forth motion done horizontally mimicking the tail of the
swallow when in flight.
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Joe McVey
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