With regards to
tsuki techniques, there is an interesting record of one Ohishi Susumu of the Yanagawa domain who, in the Tempō era (1830-1844) used a particularly long
shinai measuring at 5-
shaku 3-
sun (approx. 167cm) to soundly defeat a renowned Edo fencer with
tsuki and
dō cuts. It just so happens that Ooishi was not only the master of his own Ohishi Shinkage-ryū, but also held a teaching license in Ohshima-ryū
sōjutsu (spear). He appears to have utilized his
sōjutsu thrusting skills to take full advantage of the weak points of
kenjutsu bōgu . Maybe in part due to Ooishi’s exploits, longer
shinai became the rage in later years. Also, as is depicted in some pictures of the
bōgu of the period in Takano Sasaburō’s well-known book
Kendō, broad throat protecting padding was added to the
men in an attempt to protect this rather tender target. (Diagram 10).
Diagram 10
Anything popular in Edo soon made its way to the provinces, and throat protectors on the
men were no exception. For example, a basic set of handmade
bōgu from a small village in 1836 (Diagram 11) is made from bamboo, but has an enormous throat protector. Another set of armour was also found in the same village, but has a metal grill on the
men instead of bamboo, suggesting that there was a transition in the style of armour around this time.
Diagram 11
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