In modern world, world of popularization of multiculturisation, as a branch of eastern culture, martial arts became the focus of attention.
Being able to use art of self-defense all the more to use it with obvious philosophical aspect becomes popular.
Everyone wants to be similar with character from favorite movie in terms of being able to stand up for oneself.
However, hand-to-hand fighting is not enough already, because there are weapons too.
There have always been lots of fencing schools.
It is conditional on specific culture of each nation.
Style of combat, dominating tactic and weapons difference one school from another.
But if one takes in his hands cold steel, he needs heave, expensive armour.
What to do if one has no means or possibility to get this armour?
In 1971 under the direction of master Tetsundo Tanabe was founded modern training concept of practicing the fighting spirit in classical traditions.
It was called Gosindo, which means path of self-defense.
The name defined itself – using weapons to protect life or vitally important wealth.
That style became so successful and so popular, that some time later got the new name Chanbara, which means mortal combat with weapons in hands.
Chanbara was a joining bridge.
Real weapons are used nowadays for slashing (tomesihiri) or for practicing accuracy of art in individual forms (kata).
As is known these are the two of three components of full-fledged mastery.
The third, perhaps, is most important.
It is battle experience.
How many combats with weapons can one carry out?...That’s why it is used only in practicing the conditioned forms or personal choreography.
To get the real experience, people fight using swords of bamboo (in serious armour) or using special inflatable swords (with light protection for head and hands).
As to philosophy of that art, the object of chanbara is to teach to avoid situations demanding the protection of life by brute force.
To make inner life not to strive for aggression, effort.
To feel love, to minimize aggression, set out on warriors path.
For a long time Chanbara was the perfect method of exploring conflicts and ways of solution.
In everyday life, on job, out of doors etc. Little by little effort on the ground and beyond became equal.
Arrangement of duels became usable and recognizable in everyday life.
With the lapse of time opponents became “mirrors”, in which both of them could see themselves.
This condition changes the picture of happening.
If principles of combats are the same, one can periodically explore and do something with new experience.
On the boxing ring gloves are being checked and additional things are being taken away.
Chanbara doesn’t teach to survive in street fights, it teaches how to avoid this situations.
Chanbara gives knowledge to avert combat before it begins.
Thanks to safe weapons you can sense emotions such as anger, fear, emotional stress yours and your opponent’s, with no danger to health.
It gives you experience and understanding of behavior yours and opponent’s regarding to you in stressful situation.
It all means that there is modulating stressful situation and you can get chance to fulfill yourself and get experience.
In a word, Chanbara is a mirroring of principles of independent behavior.
April 2013
Vota ara! 