馬
術

HISTORY

Bajutsu is the art of horsemanship. Skeletal remains found in Japan indicate that the horse existed there in prehistoric times, a fact that Japanese mythology corroborates. Even before the professional warrior class had been established, mounted fighting men roamed the country. Later as the classical warrior rose to decide the political issues that had divided the country, horsemanship was an inseparable part of his martial curriculum. He who possessed a suitable mount gave visual evidence of his aristocratic background, and this element of prestige was an important factor in assuming leadership over other warriors.

During the Kamakura period (1192-1333) the daily routine of the classical warrior reflected his profession at arms. He was under constant martial discipline, and much of his time was necessarily taken up with the practice of bajutsu, or horse art. By means of the horse the bushi (warrior) was able to use his weapons more effectively, in particular the bow and arrow, sword, spear, nagamaki or naginata. The need to ford streams and cross other bodies of water also led to the development of a branch of horsemanship known as sui-bajutsu, or water horse-art.

Though each bushi might accept the fact that it was his sword, not his horse, that generally saved the day for him in combat, nevertheless he devoted meticulous attention to kihon, or fundamentals, of riding. Norikata, or the correct manner of mounting, preceded all other training. Once in the saddle, the bushi knew the urgency of developing the loin strength to maintain for hours on end the posture necessary for swift riding. And development of a seat that would provide a stable base from which to ride without holding the reins as he wielded his major weapons was an absolute condition of his profession.

On the basis of historical records, the fifteenth-century Ōtsubo Hon Ryū first systematized bajutsu. This led to the development of more than fifty different traditions.

OUR BUJUTSU KEIKOBA

Our keikoba is placed in Hillerød. The practice is divided up into ordinary and special horsemanship. The special horsemanship includes the use of arms, particular the Japanese bow and spear. We rent horses to members whom do not have a horse.

Furthermore we thank Danish Traditional Kendo Federation for supporting the Bajutsu in Denmark. We will also thank Dr. Hui Li Yan for acupressure and acupuncture (website in Danish).

Other Japanese disciplines in the feudal Japan are Sojutsu, Kyujutsu, Kenjutsu, Naginatajutsu. (Naginatajutsu in Danish) and Kendo.