Gassankan Kenpō

Yuèshān-guan is read Gassankan in Japanese — while internal martial arts training is my primary focus, I continue to practice classical sword methods (kenpō) from Japan I learned before moving to Seattle. I do so indepenently. The name I used for my overall approach is Shin Shinkage Heihō [真神陰・兵法] — it is a synthesis of multiple influences described below.

I was awarded a chuden license associated to my study of Kashima-shinden Jikishinkage-ryū from 2008 to 2016 by David Hall, founder of the Hōbyōkan, in 2018. I also hold a mokuroku license awarded in 2010 that is associated to my practice of Katori Shintō-ryū at Capital Aikikai from 2005 to 2015. From 2014 to 2022, I trained in older Shinkage-ryū kata from Owari lines of practice with my Hobyokan sponsor — this continued an earlier practice I had first been exposed to in NYC in the early 1990s.

After moving to Seattle in 2016, I continued to work on the classical sword methods I had learned as a form of solo practice. I was fortunate to be able to pressure test my understanding in free practice, which helped me unify my perspective on swordsmanship, versus thinking in terms of separate arts. In 2019 I started working with a small number of people to continue my Shinkage-ryū kata practice and over time introduced them to free practice.

The product of this effort is Tōsha Dōjō (闘者道場) led by Nicky Sayah Sina and Jake Harlin, which meets as part of Lonin League. Weekly training includes:

1. Foundational walking and cutting practices.
2. Four seasons arrangement of foundational kata.
3. Tactical exchanges performed with leather-wrapped shinai.
4. Analysis of kata in a process of deconstruction (kuzushi).
5. Free practice called jigeiko.

I continue to mentor this activity. Inquiries can be made through Lonin at the link above. More details on our syllabus for current members can be found here.