The samurai who inspired Bruce Lee

Many samurai from Japan’s Civil War era were often born, lived and died the same way: covered in blood and screaming. Even those who live to old age rarely brings sanity Reach the finish line with them. Tsukahara Sumokuden is a rare exception.

Historical records say he died peacefully at age 83 after a lifetime of duels and battles, often winning with fewer screams and more calculated strategies, leaving behind a mountain of corpses and a legacy that won for him” Juggernaut (Juggernaut). He even found time to inspire legendary martial artist Bruce Lee. This is his story.

Looking for trouble in all the right places

Born into the Yoshikawa family in modern-day Ibaraki Prefecture, Kiden was destined to become a Shinto monk until the legal heir of the Tsukahara family, whom the Yoshikawa family served, died unexpectedly. The Tsukahara family accepted Muden as their heir and trained him to become a swordsman.

It wasn’t a dramatic transition for him. Whether priest or warrior, both paths ultimately bring people closer to the divine. Mo Chuan had already practiced swordsmanship as a member of the Yoshikawa family, but joining the Tsukahara family exposed him to advanced swordsmanship. By the time he was seventeen, he was already a master of both swordsmanship.

Embarking on a journey to Japan, Mo Chuan seeks to learn new technologies and face stronger opponents. As time goes by, his legend continues to spread. It is estimated that he participated in nearly 100 duels and 37 battles, reportedly killing more than 200 people and imprisoning an unfortunate opponent on an island in the middle of the lake.

Enter Stegosaurus

Before the Edo period, with some exceptions, swordsmanship and spiritual enlightenment in Japan were largely independent pursuits. Two and a half centuries of peace in this era finally led samurai warriors to reflect on the katana’s potential as more than just a deadly acupuncture tool. Before then, they were too preoccupied with survival to engage in philosophy. However, Bokuden is a notable exception.

It is said that Hokuden, who had never been wounded by a sword, eventually became so skilled with the katana that he began to question whether the sword was necessary to win battles. His reflections culminated in the “swordless style,” which emphasized the importance of avoiding unnecessary conflict.

He gets the chance to demonstrate this ability when a young, loud warrior mocks the name of his combat system. In response, Mokuden challenged him to a duel on an island in the middle of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake. When they arrived by boat at what was about to become a battlefield, Mo Chuan let his opponent disembark, and then he calmly rowed away, leaving his opponent in trouble.

Centuries later, martial artist and actor Bruce Lee heard the story and liked it so much that he adapted it into a movie Enter the dragon. In the movie, the hero tricks John Saxon’s boisterous character Roper into boarding a small boat, leaving him stranded far from the main ship.

Wikimedia Commons

Tsukahara Inkden: Never Rest

Luuring opponents to an island isn’t a sustainable combat strategy, so Bokuden never really abandons the sword. While his philosophy advocated avoiding “necessary conflicts,” he made it clear that ambushes and self-defense fell firmly into the category of “necessary conflicts.” Bokuden later wrote that if this happened, fighters must remain calm and adjust their fighting style to the situation.

This adaptability helped Moden survive an attack by Ochiai Toraemon, a fighter he had previously defeated in a public duel. Feeling humiliated, Ochiai ambushed Kiden in a forest near Kyoto. Ochiai thought that Mo Chuan would draw his katana, but the sword master judged the situation and counterattacked with a backhand sword. Wakizashi (dagger), which is not part of his well-known style.

This emphasis on adaptability was a revolutionary idea in the world of Japanese swordsmanship, which had previously focused primarily on fixed postures and standardized movements.

Bokuden shares many of his teachings in the book. Mu Chuan Baizhou. The text includes practical tips, such as how to pass strangers on the road (never cross on the right, as that leaves you vulnerable to a surprise attack) and the most effective weapons for specific fighting styles.

Bokuden believes Naginata Swords shorter than 60 cm (called conana tower) is simply not comparable to a 70-80 cm katana. He demonstrated this in a duel with long sword wielder Kajiwara Nagato, reportedly cutting his opponent in half. One unconfirmed legend states that Bokuden prepares for a duel by trash-talking the duelists. conana tower Provoke him and trick him into choosing inferior weapons within earshot of Kajiwara, adding “master of psychological warfare” to his already impressive resume.

Tsukaharakiden never fought Miyamoto Musashi

This hypothetical “Clash of the Titans” was cleverly avoided by Moden, who died 13 years before Musashi was born. The reason why there are many portraits and prints depicting Mo Chuan fighting Miyamoto with a pot lid is more of a symbolic expression of the samurai’s philosophy of combat adaptability. They may also represent an early form of creative narrative – essentially fan fiction – crafted by artists who lamented that history would not allow us to have a duel between two swordmasters.

Related posts