槍は左手を先に右手を手許にして構へるものである。體形は左半身になって、右に開いておる、故に攻める時は向つて槍の左方から攻めるが常である、槍は突くものであるから其の穂先さへ避ければよい、穂先より打ちへ入れば、槍は施す術のないものである故に、隙あれば手許へ入ることが肝要である。
The spear is usually held with the left hand in the front, and the right hand behind. The body is held in a sideways stance with right at the rear. The normal seme from someone using a spear is from the left hand side. Spears are fundamentally thrusting weapons, so you should aim to avoid the spear tip and enter into the space beyond it (this is how i’ve chosen to translate 手許へ入る). If you see an opening where you can enter into this space then its essential that you take it, as it will render your opponents weapon useless.
一箇所に止まるは危険で常に身體を動かし、右に左に活動して、敵をして狙ふ暇なく、機を見て槍を抑へ又ははらって(*)手許へ入り、その面を打つなり、敵を突さかかったる時、これを交わし、又ははらひ(*)得たなれば、その時こそ屈強の攻め込み時機である。又充分に踏み込む暇の無い時は、左足より踏み込み、左片手打つにて、敵の右横面又は左胴うを打つか真直に踏み込めば、右片手にて面を打つもよい。
Stopping in one place is dangerous, so always move around, going left and right, giving your opponent no chance to attack you. Whilst doing this watch for an opportunity, sweeping and pushing your opponents spear, and enter into his space and attack him when possible. If he attempts to tsuki you, this is good opportunity to attack. Dodging his attack, or sweeping his spear away, strongly enter into his space and, giving him no chance to retaliate, attack his migi-yoko-men or hidari-do.
槍に対する構へは太刀を下段又は中段にし、槍先に対せしむるのである。
When fighting against someone using a spear, you should use gedan or chudan kamae.
(*) I had difficulty working out the kanji used in the this instance. Luckily the furigana was there. My best guess is that its an older version of 払う or harau, to brush or sweep something away, like the technique harai-kote (払い小手).
Note
As always, please remember that these translation is done by a non-professional. Any and all mistakes are my own.
Source
剣道指南。小澤愛次郎範士。昭和二年発行。
Here is an interesting video showing Owarikan-ryu, one of the prominent spearmanship styles still left in Japan. There is some sparring in bogu mid-way through. Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeXQSThqYgU
Sojutsu seems to be an art that can be adapted to a kendo/naginata do format. I wonder why it wasn’t, is it simply a popularity issue?
Hishaam, the bogu that we use in kendo has its has its origin in spearmanship, and there are plenty of old wood block paintings that show it being practised in that manner.
That swordsmanship is more popular than spearmanship – during the Edo period as well as now – probably has a number of reasons, the first things that pop to mind are:
- the sword is just more romantic;
- the sword has more flexibility;
- the spear is a battlefield weapon, not a personal weapon;
- spears aren’t as mobile as swords.
etc
Its an interesting topic and I’d love to explore it further.
Could we add to that the impossibility of getting on the bus with the spear? I mean it is generally a cumbersome thing to take anywhere, practice at home etc.
There’s no reason why sword vs spear couldn’t still be practiced, like isshu-jiai is. I would love to have the opportunity to do so. Even, like the Owari-kan guys, having spear vs spear in bogu. You do have to have quite a bit of control with your tsuki however. A 3m length of oak puts a fair bit of momentum behind your thrust.
I’d also love to try shoto/tanken vs shinai or naginata or spear as well. b