What
is it to say exactly ? A military art on horseback, but still
?
Based on the most ancient warriors techniques of the Japanese
feudal time, it is in fact the practice of the fighting methods
used by famous Samourais. If the purpose of this discipline
is not anymore today to do war, it remains nevertheless a
military art, as well as a separate equestrian discipline.
This discipline groups together a set of varied techniques
such as : archery on horseback, sabre fighting, spear launching,
manipulation of the lance, the dagger and the stick, falling
techniques, horsemanship techniques, training, equestrian
vaulting, work with foot soldiers, show jumping, work with
bare-hands (foot soldiers and riders), study of katas (canevas
comparable in a way to dressage)…etc.
This art of equitation associated to the archery still continues
in the practice of Yabusame (bow shooting practice practised
nowadays in Japan during the traditional Shinto ceremonies).
Formerly in Japan, one rose on horseback by the right-hand
side, by carrying the weight of the body towards the back,
contrary to the current custom. Samourai on horseback fixed
the reins on a ring of its armor to have the hands free to
fight or fire , and steered then its horse only by legs and
weight of its body. The saddle was wood covered with tissue
or with leather, and had a dosseret. Stirrups were wide and
deep, allowing a stability at all speeds. The Ba (horse) Jutsu
(technique) included complete courses of equitation with and
without armors, going from the training of horses to the mastery
of the aids, and included show jumping, crossings of rivers,
as well as the learning of the customs of the different weapons
on could handle on horseback : big sabres, bow, yari, naginata,
…etc. Every family warrior had her own techniques of Bajutsu.
One of Bajustu's most ancient traditional school was called
"Otsubo-ryü", created in the XV century ; this school used
the big bow (Yumi) and very long bent sabre (O-dachi)
This archery, considered in Europe as "feudal lord" and non-noble,
was in Japan, the privilege of the aristocrats and of some
cavalry special body. For the fights, horses were protected
by a leather armor with patches of metal on the chamfer. Bajutsu
remained in Japan until 1600 when it disappeared definitively
further to the use of firearms in the fight.
Today, things have changed a little, and so at the end of
the 80s, the Japanese Boss Hiroo Mochizuki (coming himself
from a lineage of Samourais), founder of the School YOSEIKAN
retied with the tradition and put back in the style of the
day, the practice of Bajutsu. Due to his previous history
and strong experience of Budos (8th DAN Jui-Jitsu, 8the Dan
Aikido, 7th Dan karate, 5th dan Iaido, 3rd Dan Judo,…,etc),
Hiroo MOCHIZUKI, rider since his youngest age, encountered
no difficulty conceiving modern Bajutsu within the reach of
all.
Named since two years World Engineering Manager, it is to
me that returns today the heavy task to conceive the technical
program for this discipline. Helped by my faithful assistants
among whom Olivier MATTON and Patrice JAMINET (who both present
now their 2nd Dan), as well as by Valerie (specific training
of the horses), I notice with enjoyment that after 7 years
of existence in our country, Belgium has been followed in
worldwide. Indeed, one speaks and practices (sometimes still
confidentially) Bajutsu in France of course, but also in Germany,
the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Canada and
in the United States.
The functional aspect of Bajutsu for any type of rider still
stands out because of the fact that for three years, the Equestrian
Section of the Police of Mons follows Bajutsu Special Police
courses. The bow is naturally not used directly anymore but
rather in an educational purpose, but techniques for arresting
and defence on horseback were developed to allow the policemen
face many situations. The techniques of training used also
allow a good education of the police's horse. So it is not
surprising to see on one of the parking lots of the "Ecuries
du Grand Royal", vehicules and horse trailers of the Police
; Valerie and I welcome every month these horses and police
riders in training.
Stany
LEDIEU
[Trad. Sandra
Lambert Site :
http://www.ifrance.com/closaumane]
