Tenshin Ryu Hyoho and Yoshukai Iai.

In 2014 I spent 2 hours at Mr Culbreth's residence with Soke Yamamoto to discuss Yoshukai Iai with him.

Soke showed me some bunkai for some of the waza and we also discussed the origin of Yoshukai Iai. Soke did not learn Iai from Dr Chitose but from 2 different masters from Kyushu. 

Although I was not always able to fully understand what he was trying to tell me, I understood he had been training in the 2 styles of Tenshin Ryu and Jigen Ryu, and that when one of the masters he was training with died, he quit training in that style.

In this Tenshin Ryu video, you can see where some of the Yoshukai Iai moves come from.

Although Tenshin Ryu Nodachi is much longer than the regular katana used in Yoshukai iai, the waza at 1:40 is very close to the Yoshukai Waza #8, and the next one at 2:00  is very similar to our #7. 

Also, Chiburi and Noto are the same.

Fred Lecut, Dothan Dojo

Dothan Tournament

• Saturday November 4th 
• Dothan Civic Center
• Dothan, AL

For the opening ceremony :
 

• All Black Belts please be there at 9:00 a.m. for a walk-thru.
• Shihan and up to wear your suits
• Third and Fourth degrees wear your hakama’s
• All other Black Belts wear your Gi
• Fourth degree and below please bring a Bo

After the Tournament we will be going to the Top Tai Restaurant at 6:00 for those who want to attend.

Don’t forget the National Peanut Festival will be going on at this time as well. See their website at www.nationalpeanutfestival.com for the activities.


See everyone on the 4th


Kaicho Toyama and Culbreth

Dothan Tournament

The next Dothan tournament will be held on this Saturday November 4. 

Tsutsui Sensei will be coming from Japan with 4 of his students and other guests are coming from Germany, California, Miami and Texas.

To honor the memory of Soke Yamamoto, we will leave an empty chair at the official table on the stage above the arena during the event. 

Sumi-e painting of Soke

For the opening ceremony :

• Shihan and up will be wearing their Suits.
• Third and Fourth degrees will be wearing Hakama.
• All other Black Belts wear their regular Gi.

• All Black Belts please bring a Bo.

Please encourage all your friends and fellow students to attend and compete.

Kaicho Toyama and Culbreth