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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[@letsasksekisensei]

🗡Join the Online Iaido Training with Seki Sensei🗡 www.patreon.com/sekisenseiiaidotraining Interested in taking lessons directly from the 8th Dan Iaido Master with 40 years of experience in Musō Shinden Ryu, Seki sensei? Sign up to learn authentic samurai skills with perfect English interpretation from Let’s ask Shogo. Every lesson will be recorded and will be available to rewatch anytime. No previous martial arts experience is required; you can catch up anytime. On the other hand, even if you already belong to a different dojo or Ryuha, as long as you’ve clarified it with your Sensei, you are free to join. (Learn more about the online lessons: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqmyeqBun9ehmck | This is an example of our lessons: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3ync2SoicuLhq8) 💻Seki Sensei's Official Website💻 sekisensei.com/ 🎵Original Opening Theme Song "Hyakuren"🎵 Performance: Hanafugetsu (Singer/Suzuhana Yuko, Shakuhachi/Kaminaga Daisuke, Koto/Ibukuro Kiyoshi) Compositions & Arrangements: Suzuhana Yuko Mixing & Mastering: Watabiki Yuta 💰Please support this channel through Ko-fi (a donation platform like Patreon)💰 ko-fi.com/letsasksekisensei 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, KZbin video shooting costs, online lesson operation costs, and training camps in Japan and overseas. 🛍The BEST online katana shop for martial arts (Katana, Dōgi Training Gear, etc.): Tozando🛍 tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo Everything that Shogo uses for their katana training is bought at this shop… Shogo still uses the first training katana he bought in 2016 and is still in good shape! ❓What is Asayama Ichiden Ryu? / Who is Seki sensei?❓ kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJKlfKCNoq-jgNk 📱Instagram📱 instagram.com/lets_ask_sekisensei/ *Please ask us questions through the DM here

[@Public_Potato85]

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.

[@mikaelbauer3818]

has been pointed out many times in countless dojo..

[@jchaves26]

Indeed and id like to add the generosity's Seki Sensei and Shogo is something to feel grateful. Greetings from Bahia Brasil Shinto Ryu Iai Battojutsu 🇧🇷🇯🇵🤝

[@Artanis99]

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.

[@stickgarrote8582]

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.

[@jasonvahl9770]

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.

[@emalieth8220]

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.

[@jimmyjudo3559]

You guys are the best!!!!!

[@unrussleablejimmies4428]

I am very excited to move on to more technical subjects. I've been taught about Mae but shohatto still eluded me until today. Thank you very much Shogo-sama and Seki-sensei for your tutelage.

[@m88888]

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.

[@JrMedieval]

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

[@alexanderkstrauss9943]

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

[@outboundflight4455]

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

[@Public_Potato85]

If the leaders of the AUSKF see this they might get a little bitter X-D

[@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

[@thierryfaquet7405]

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.

[@392redienhcs]

I just saw a video from 9 years ago of Seki sensei doing Iaido (Dan trials?) and his actions are exactly the same, down to the way he finds the mouth of the saya by placing his left forefinger on it.

[@Knightblade490]

I like that the styles look "familiar" but there is highly different.

[@TanukiRael]

While searching for references and ideas of Kenjutsu, especially Kobudo, I noticed some similarity of core movement and the differences when it comes to foot works and details. Similar to the points you mentioned at 9:40, the style born from the differences in history and purpose. Which are amusing for me to learn of^^

[@stephenbivens3224]

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

[@drummer_mtseng]

Seki sensei is the true master I've ever seen

[@mariosocio8833]

Espectacular, gracias sensei por compartir su conocimiento!!

[@NamazuRyuSaiken]

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

[@douglasevans932]

Young elder Master teach awesome lessons

[@isell0n10n]

Seki sensei swing stop exactly when the tip almost hit the eyes at 03:50

[@YorkistRaven]

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

[@matthiaslow8533]

Thank you for sharing, beautiful art in moves.

[@Aliaz93moneyfingerz]

Great lesson once again

[@ZeusEBoy]

thank you as always! Arigato gozaimasu

[@BedriddenRiddims]

I have some questions about some of the Katas that start with people kneeling around each other. Were people calmly sitting near each other in Samurai times likely to suddenly burst into a fight? What kind of situations was this kind of thing needed- was it like a bar fight situation or like when negotiations between clans went wrong or something else? Are there any practical uses for these kind of Kata in todays world?

[@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.

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thank you..

[@KateJohn2013England]

👍🙏

[@alanchoichang8336]

is there a way to perform the kata at full speed? like, from unsheathing, slice, chiburui, sheath, all in one go without stopping? or is that against the rules?

[@thomasturner4253]

Thank you sennsi and Shogh

[@YaofuZhou]

6:55 I cannot appreciate enough how good Seki sensei is with his sword. He made that drawing look so easy but it really is not!

[@koshinryudojo-iaidojodosab875]

Hey Shogo, amazing your channel with Seki sensei. I am French, 4th Dan. My sensei has 90 yo, he still teach me on Zoom. And we have learned from Okada sensei style. I want to know when I join this online course if I will be consider as a Seki sensei’s student for the 5 and 6th Dan?

[@letsasksekisensei]

Yes, you will be!

[@letsasksekisensei]

www.patreon.com/lets_ask_sekisensei

[@shihantemplet]

First class instructions!

[@mikaelbauer3818]

Ok, so this is not obscure and is taught at many ZNKR dojo; his explanation is spot on I think, but in his execution his Mae and Shohatto are very/too close.

[@Unreal-Reality]

is there a specific website I can buy practicing katanas from that anyone knows about?

[@letsasksekisensei]

I personally recommend this website! tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo

[@petrbrezina4654]

Could sensei explain johakyu 序破急 in waza? Have johakyu only waza in ZNKR Seitei iai? Was johakyu added to wazas after WW2 with katsujiken and selfdevelopment target for practice? Is johakyu in Muso shinden wazas? Thank you a lot

[@MladenMarinov]

Wow... bunkai explain is extremely important in this case.

[@conormat]

Is Sensei using the same “Throw Draw” in Mae? It looks different to me but I could be wrong.

[@letsasksekisensei]

No, he’s not using it here! Only in Asayama Ichiden Ryu!

[@KendoSwordsman]

Again. Fascinating video. I'm definitely guilty of advancing too far forwards for Mae. Although I've heard a different interpretation of the nukitsuke. My teacher is currently having me turn the saya before the cut quite early. I think for two reasons. One to help me achieve a less diagonal trajectory for the cut at my level, but he also explains that you're threatening the opponent that if they continue to be aggressive that you will cut them. So there's a little less emphasis at this point in trying to "disguise" the intention of the cut. However I think I'm turning the saya a bit too early in either case. It's possibly a case of my teacher giving me advice for the short term not the long term because I was having trouble coordinating the change of angle within the timing of the Kata as a whole, so the cut was not horizontal by the time it was reaching the target. So it's a case maybe of "start this movement earlier so you can understand how the cut should look and feel, and then we'll go back and make it less telegraphic and more economical". You have to learn to walk before you can run in that sense I suppose.

[@MurderBong]

ONE RICE GRAIN ‘STOPPING’ .. DON’T FLINCH AROUND THIS MASTER.

[@416Nancy]

My sensei told me in old old time, people threw beans on the floor and practiced cutting them, then they moved to throw rice grains on floor and practiced cutting them.

[@MurderBong]

2:35 THIS MOMENT ABOUT TO HAPPEN. ‘WHERE DID IT GO?’ HE IS SO ACCURATE, THE BLADE VANISHES IN THE OPENING SLICE. SITTING IN FRONT OF HIM WOULD ONLY LOOK LIKE HE IS ‘ADJUSTING’ HOW IT RESTS, UNTIL ONE LOOKS UP AT THIER BODY. 😅 ‘WOW’

[@MurderBong]

DECAP WORDING WAS FOR DRAMA OF COURSE 😅 I ASSUME A DECAP MOVE IS NOT PRACTICAL. BUT THAT STAND ON THE KNEE MOVE WITH DECAP WOULD BE SPECIAL FOR BOTH. QUICK DEATH, COOL DEATH. 😂

[@MurderBong]

I WOULD STILL LOVE TO SEE HIM USE ‘MODERN GARDEN TOOLS’ AS A THROW BACK. SUCH AS MY GERBER BRAND MASS PRODUCED MACHETE WITH SAW BACK. SAW BACK IS IMPORTANT. ‘WHAT WOULD COULD A MASTER DO?’ 😮