On Nyūmon and Hamon in traditional martial arts systems
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On Nyūmon and Hamon in traditional martial arts systems

Joining a ryūha, a classical school of martial arts, is a big step. Fortunately, it is one that often can be taken in several small steps nowadays.

These steps are formalized to a greater or lesser extent in different traditions. In the past it was not unusual for a school to demand a students complete dedication to the art and the teacher when accessing a ryūha. Before putting a step into the dojo the student had to make promises on loyalty and the rules of the ryūha were explained to him.

These were times when these arts were still applied and most vital to its practitioners. New students therefore knew (before even asking to join a ryūha) what was expected of them and that they will walk this path until the end once their access was granted.

Although some schools still have very strict access requirements for participating in the lessons of their art today, there are also those schools that are more consistent with a modern society.

Even though this allows to lower the access threshold to a school today, it does not mean that training in a koryū  can be compared to joining a modern football club.*

Joining a ryūha is a serious matter which should not be taken too lightly.

However, there are many schools allowing students to train in a particular part of the curriculum without being obliged to officially joining the ryūha.

There are cases where students have trained for 5 to 7 years in a school, stopped their training and have not gone beyond the level of a regular member of the school.

However, if a student showed persistence for many years and has acquired the substantial technical fundament, in some schools those students are allowed to officially join the ryūha. There are of course schools were this process is less formal and more gradual, but in this article I focus on the official accession.

Nyūmon 入門 literally translates as: entering the gate. Instead of Nyūmon 入門 some schools rather use the term Oku-iri 奥入. The term uses the same character for “entering” 入 but not in combination with “gate” 門 but rather with “inner part” 奥. This entering is often accompanied by a promise, sometimes this promise is signed with blood. This is called “keppan” or “kishomon”.

“A student of a ryūha must be willing to relocate in order to continue training and the head teacher must be prepared to sell his sword (read today: car or house) to support the family of the student if the student is not able to do so.”

Nyūmon 入門 is not a degree or diploma, but rather a confirmation of a previous made commitment. The commitment between (head)teacher and student is one of great responsibilities. In the past these promises were made at the gate before entering because all parties involved knew what the started. Today only a few at the “gate” will realize the commitment they give.

Due to this reason Keppan / Kishomon / Oku-iri / Nyūmon is not entirely free of commentary at the beginning (first 5 years) of training. Within some individual ryūha there is a movement which leads back to a more restrained system for official entry to the ryūha.

If everything goes well a student is able to train all his life in a ryūha. Unfortunately, it also happens that a student, after official entry to the ryūha, behaves inappropriately. In severe cases hamon 破門 will take place.

Loosely translated hamon 破門 means “breaking the gate”. It means that the student is denied access to the training; the name of the student will be removed from the registration of the school and he will be stripped of all ranks and qualifications.

It is important to remember that a ryūha is the personal property of the highest representative and not a democratic organization. Hamon 破門 is a very serious measure which is rarely used.

 

* It still is common practice to ask for access to a ryūha by writing an introductory letter. Sometimes you will be gained access and sometimes the school will respond by wishing you all the best along the path of martial arts and politely denying you  access to the school (own experience).

 

 

The text is a personal translation of the excellent article found here: Kochōkai: Nyūmon 入門, hamon 破門. Retrieved Februar 8, 2015 from http://www.kochokai.nl/?p=3751.

 

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