Nito-Ryu Info/Rules

[BoguBoogyman]

So I'm new to Kendo, and I've been researching a lot about it. But Nito is still mysterious to me because there isn't a whole lot of information on it. I'm very interested in beginning to train in Nito but don't know where to start exactly.

I'll start with a few questions, but feel free to tell me all you can about the style.

1) Equipment: Does the Daito have to be 37" or can it be longer?

2) Does it matter which hand the shoto and daito are in? I would prefer Daito in my right hand and shoto in my left.

3) Is striking men in nito-no-kamae similar to katate-men-uchi in jodan? It looks like it...

4) Is there really a specific form to nito? I have seen quite a few variations and it seems like each is different for every person.

If someone can help, that'd be great. Thanks.

[Neil Gendzwill]

So I'm new to Kendo, and I've been researching a lot about it. But Nito is still mysterious to me because there isn't a whole lot of information on it. I'm very interested in beginning to train in Nito but don't know where to start exactly. Start by learning itto kendo (what you are hopefully learning now in your dojo).


1) Equipment: Does the Daito have to be 37" or can it be longer?

2) Does it matter which hand the shoto and daito are in? I would prefer Daito in my right hand and shoto in my left.

3) Is striking men in nito-no-kamae similar to katate-men-uchi in jodan? It looks like it...

4) Is there really a specific form to nito? I have seen quite a few variations and it seems like each is different for every person.

If someone can help, that'd be great. Thanks.Yes, no, yes, no.

[BoguBoogyman]

Haha, great answers. Thanks for such a ridiculously fast reply!:happy:

[BoguBoogyman]

Oops. I am learning itto already and it's going well. But I will be training on the side for nito in the future. P.s, I wanted to know if I needed to get the 37" daito because I already have a 39" and I'm too cheap to buy more stuff. lmao! :D

[hl1978]

Look into the Musashi-kai. They just did a 2 day seminar here in DC 2 weeks ago (they preform ZNKR kendo and had some higher ranking sensei providing the seminar). The musashi kai practice a koryu style from which they apply a number of waza learned from their kata to keiko.

I am sure there will be a indepth seminar review later on, but nito requires a different way of swinging than itto, though in my opinion some of what you learn if you use gyaku nito is applicable to jodan and other things. Likewise anyone who has ever told me you can't apply te no uchi one handed isn't quite correct after meeting members of the musashikai.

Anyways, if you really want to learn nito, find someone who has trained with them. At the seminar there was no grade requirement either.

Also yes you need a 37 for competition purposes, and a shoto.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Nito shinai have their own regulation size/weight. Google "shinai regulations" or something like that, you can find it.

[DCPan]

Likewise anyone who has ever told me you can't apply te no uchi one handed isn't quite correct after meeting members of the musashikai.

Can you clarify the concept of one-handed te-no-uchi as explained by Musashi-Kai?

Thanks!

[Raffa]

Can you clarify the concept of one-handed te-no-uchi as explained by Musashi-Kai?

Thanks!

If you fight in Nito you must master katate waza, and a katate waza cut ends, like all waza, with tenouchi to stop it. So in my opinion, if you want to have an idea of what one handed tenouchi is, the simplest way is trying to do some katate men suburi. If the cut stop where and when you want, then probably you are making a good work.

[emitbrownne]

.. If the cut stop where and when you want, then probably you are making a good work.

Stopping the shinai it is step one (for goodness sake be careful you dont strain ligaments)..
Making it into a cut is step two
Making it into a convincing cut is step three
Making it into a cut that shimpan will score... well thats the next level alltogether :)

cheers

Paulo

[Raffa]

Stopping the shinai it is step one (for goodness sake be careful you dont strain ligaments)..
Making it into a cut is step two
Making it into a convincing cut is step three
Making it into a cut that shimpan will score... well thats the next level alltogether :)

cheers

Paulo
Agreed completly with you!

I add a "problem" that isn't often indicated in Nito, ENERGY CONSUMPTION!
In my very limited experience using two sword together is very tiring. Is of no use to know even the most wonderfull nito waza if you don't have the force to raise an arm after one or two Jigeiko.

[ShinKenshi]

But I will be training on the side for nito in the future. I would agree with Neil in that you should just focus on itto for now. You'll get yourself confused this early on and you'll have enough on your plate as it is, especially when it comes time for bogu. I'd recommend holding off on trying nitto until you're at least sandan (same advice I've received from other sensei and sempai) because at that point you'll have a firm understanding of maai, seme, and other important concepts.

[0746]

I'm too much of a newb to be interested in nito but had a question:

Is it true that chest tsuki is a valid point against nito players?

[hugo]

I'm too much of a newb to be interested in nito but had a question:

Is it true that chest tsuki is a valid point against nito players?

That WAS true. The rule was removed sometime in the 90's. It was originally created, from what I can gather, to be a political statement against so many people taking up jodan. The rule is no longer in effect.

However, it still stings.

[BoguBoogyman]

I would agree with Neil in that you should just focus on itto for now. You'll get yourself confused this early on and you'll have enough on your plate as it is, especially when it comes time for bogu. I'd recommend holding off on trying nitto until you're at least sandan (same advice I've received from other sensei and sempai) because at that point you'll have a firm understanding of maai, seme, and other important concepts.

Thank you for the recommendation. I agree, I think that I should concentrate on firming my understanding of the basic concepts of Kendo. After researching Nito, I've learned that maai is different and I can see that I may confuse myself. I will continue my itto training and save the nito for a later date when I have quite a few years of experience.