Bokuden studied kenjutsu with his father, a Shinto priest at Kashima Shrine, with his father-in-law, and with many of the famous kenshi who resided in the area of Katori and Kashima shrines. Bokuden`s skill grew to prodigious heights, and as a kenshi he is alleged to have been undefeated in thirty-nine combats. But Bokuden has overtaken by the spirit of self-reflection and developed over the years what he referred to as the “mutekatsu ryu”, a kind of swordmanship in which no hands are needed. The following well-known anecdote reveals the nature of this development.
One day as Bokuden was crossing the Lake Biwa in a small boat crowded with passengers, a swordsman was boasting of his unmatchable skill with the sword. His loud manner caught the attention of all the passengers and the oarsman. Only Bokuden, apparently asleep, was ignoring him. The braggart, disturbed that anyone should fail to learn his skill, shook Bokuden rudely from sleep and defiantly asked what ryu of swordsmanship Bokuden followed. Bokuden replied: “The mutekatsu ryu”
“What`s that?” asked the swordsman. Thereupon Bokuden explained that this style of swordsmanship was the highest form of skill possible with the sword, for it relied on the use of no hands. Bokuden`s answer made the swordsman angry. He shouted “You mean that you can defeat me without using your hands?” Bokuden replied quietly in the affirmative.
“But why then you carry two swords?” asked the braggart swordsman, growing still angrier.
“I use my swords only to vanquish my own selfish desires,” answered Bokuden. The swordsman, now fully enraged, ordered the oarsman to head for the nearest land, where he might engage Bokuden to settle the issue. But Bokuden voiced concern for the lives of innocent people who might happen to wander into the combat and suggested, instead, that they go to a small island nearby. The swordsman agreed. As the small boat was beached on the island the impatient swordsman leaped ashore, threw off his cloak, and stood ready for combat. Bokuden rose slowly from his seat, removed his jacket, and to all eyes appeared about to follow his challenger ashore. To the great supprise of all, especially the boastful swordsman on the beach, Bokuden then quickly picked up an oar and shoved the boat out into the lake. As the stranded swordsman bellowed with rage, Bokuden called out to him in a calm but clear voice: “This is how the mutekatsu ryu defeats the enemy”
Bokuden`s “mutekatsu ryu” is based on a principle that has a much deeper meaning than is indicated by the humorous incident alleged to have happened on Lake Biwa. It is a principle based on original thought that is traditionally credited to Bokuden, though it is possible that he was conditioned by the thinking of other kenshi at the Kashima and Katori shrines, in particular those of the Katori Shinto-ryu and Kashima Shinto-ryu.
(From Classic Budo – Volume two – Donn F. Draeger)
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