If you read Japanese manga or watch anime, you’ve probably seen sword styles with names like “○○-ryu” or “△△-style.”
In real history, Japan also had hundreds of actual sword schools, each with its own techniques and philosophy.
Among them, one style became famous during the late 19th century—right around the Meiji Restoration.
That style was Jigen-ryu, a powerful and distinctive school rooted in Kagoshima, in southern Japan.
■ Simple but Fierce: The “Tonbo Stance”
Jigen-ryu is shockingly simple.
Its signature stance is called the Tonbo (“Dragonfly”) stance.
What does it look like?
- Raise the sword high above your head
- Charge straight toward the opponent
- Bring the sword down with full force
…and that’s basically it!
Most manga heroes have like 20 special moves, right?
But Jigen-ryu is all about one decisive strike.
Because of this style, it earned the nickname “Ichi-no-Tachi Iradzu,” meaning “No need for a second strike.”
■ Imagine Zenitsu’s “Thunderclap and Flash”—But Vertical
If you’ve watched Demon Slayer, think of Zenitsu’s Thunderclap and Flash technique.
Now convert that into a vertical downward slash.
That’s the vibe of Jigen-ryu.
Like Zenitsu, everything depends on one perfect, lightning-fast attack.
■ The Battle Cry Was Part of the Technique
A striking feature of Jigen-ryu is the loud battle cry used before and during the strike.
Historical accounts describe warriors shouting fiercely while charging forward.
Picture this:
A swordsman with intense eyes
running straight at you
screaming at the top of his lungs
and swinging a sword from overhead.
At that point, most people lose the will to fight.
The psychological impact alone made this technique incredibly effective.
■ Training = Swing. Swing. Swing.
Training in Jigen-ryu focused almost entirely on repeated downward strikes.
Practitioners would hit wooden poles thousands of times,
building explosive power and reinforcing the single, lethal motion.
Simple, repetitive, and extremely practical.
■ The Style of Many Famous Warriors
During the Meiji Restoration, many warriors who gained a reputation for strength had trained in Jigen-ryu.
Kagoshima was a major political and military force at the time,
so this fierce sword style naturally became well-known.
■ In Conclusion: Only One Technique, but Amazingly Strong
Jigen-ryu is built on three core ideas:
✔ Simple
✔ All-out
✔ One-hit kill
It may not have flashy combos like in manga,
but in real combat, its simplicity and intensity made it overwhelmingly powerful.