8th Dan Iaido Master Explains the 7 Differences Between Shohattō and Maé

Musō Shinden Ryu was one of the Ryuha styles that became the basis of the ZNKR 12 standard Kata. So its 1st Kata, “Mae,” and the 1st Kata of Musō Shinden Ryu, “Shohattō,” are very similar. However, strictly speaking, these two Kata are very different. If you don’t understand the differences correctly, you may be misunderstanding the purposes of each Kata, and will not be able to perform them correctly,

So today, Seki sensei, an 8th Dan Iaido Master with 40 years of experience in Musō Shinden Ryu, will perform and explain the 7 main differences between Shohattō and Mae. What we explained about the Tsuka-okuri is something that many Iai trainees misunderstand, so please watch this video until the end. So then, let’s get started! By the way, tickets for the 3-day training camp in Japan held by Seki Sensei and Let's ask Shogo are now on sale! Check out our Patreon page for more information!

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The Kobudo Asayama Ichiden Ryu, of which Seki Sensei is the 22nd headmaster, was one of the most popular Ryuha styles during the Edo period. In our golden age, we had over 7, 000 students nationwide. Today, we only have 100 students. Our dream is to revive the golden age of Asayama Ichiden Ryu while Seki Sensei is still the headmaster. We want future generations to remember Seki Sensei as the legendary Sōké who brought back the glory of our Ryuha. Your donations will be used to cover Shogo's travel expenses to visit the main dojo from Kyoto, YouTube video shooting costs, online lesson operation costs, and training camps in Japan and overseas.

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[Public_Potato]

I think Iaido communities around the world have been starving for this knowledge and level of education. An amazing and refreshing video for any iaido practitioner.

[Artanis]

Beautifully explained kata. You can see how Shohatto was developed with flexibility in mind and as such it is a bit wider in application, while standardised Mae kata is a bit stricter in requirements as it is suupposed to test basic skills in iai among many different schools and branches. I have no doubt that if you had masters of all the ryuuha that contributed elements of their katas to Mae they could probably explain how the elements that limit Mae kata in application had fairly practical reason for existence in their original katas.

[enforcer]

Seeing the kata with the opponent present makes the differences much easier to see. It also makes it easier to visualize in my own head how it should be done. Amazing video as always.

[joshisokiguess]

I LOVE how Seki Sensei says that a difference in technique is down to personality and that he doesn't say that specific differences are right or wrong. Such a humble and self-aware master. He is truly inspirational.

[fabiangerten]

Thanks to Seki Sensei & Shogo for the great training !

[jasonvahl]

Thank you very much for sharing Seki Sensei's knowledge and practical wisdom with the world. To me, this is the fulfillment of the potential of the internet: very specific knowledge shared with those who lack the ability to learn it in person. I am incredibly grateful.

[stickgarrote]

Mae is also the name of the kata in Eishin-ryu, which is what Muso-Shinden ryu is based on. I haven’t trained ZNKR, but I have trained both Muso-Shinden ryu and Hasegawa-ha Muso-Jikiden-Eishin ryu and the ZNKR Mae seems to be a mix of them. What Seki-sensei explains is more or less how it was taught to me:
The MSr Shohatto is a much faster draw because you react later and in our school, the nukitsuke ended with the kissaki on the centre line ;
the MJEr Mae uses intimidation to slow the opponent. First you threaten with the tsuka, then a strong nukitsuke all the way through and a kiritsuke to finish off.

There’s a kind of lightness to MSr Shoden that is very different from MJEr.

[emalieth]

It's interesting to see all the different interpretations of koryu. Although they all seem the same at first, the scenarios upon which they are based are always wildly different.
Thanks for sharing these insights.

[JrMedieval]

thanks Seki Sensei, each time I come back to re watch your lessons I learn something new.

[thierryfaquet]

6:55 this is amazing.
Iai is learned as something quite fixed in its movement. But here you can see the level and knowledge of Seki Sensei. He doesn't just know iai, he knows how to fight with a sword.

[alexanderkstrauss]

It‘s always the details that transact. Who can deliver these valuable specifics better than Seki Sensei?❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[NamazuRyuSaiken]

Eloquently explained! 👏 this helps to clarify a lot of things for my training personally too, thanks!

[tietosanakirja]

It's nice to get a different perspective to these kata. I think listening to explanations by different sensei for the same kata help paint a more complete picture about the technique and its meaning.

[ZeusEBoy]

thank you as always! Arigato gozaimasu

[Tunturisorsa]

my sensei taught me that we do tsuka-okuri, incase we need to draw again. you do not let go off the tsuka until you are sure the situation is over

[mariosocio]

Espectacular, gracias sensei por compartir su conocimiento!!

[YorkistRaven]

This was beautiful, like visual poetry! Thank you for sharing :)

[outboundflight]

I hope the AUSKF Iaido community are watching this. Especially after the recent changes to ZNKR Seitei

[stephenbivens]

Look at the control at 3:47
At speed, blade doesn't waver, and is controlled to stop *so* close.