Jōsen’s School: The Foreign Fists

Jōsen teaches an unarmed fighting tradition in Iga-Ueno, drawing his pupils chiefly from farming households, craftsmen and working townspeople.

His school occupies an old warehouse enlarged over the years with adjoining halls, lean-tos and living quarters. Seven teachers, including Jōsen himself, provide instruction around the working lives of their students.

The school began with a handful of pupils whom Jōsen taught after returning from years of travel. His methods combined local fighting knowledge with Chinese boxing learned abroad. Their unfamiliar hand movements and breathing exercises earned the name “foreign fists.” His pupils established its reputation through escort work, protection of their households and success against armed opponents.

Jōsen remains its owner and chief instructor. He accepts common-born pupils without requiring a samurai sponsor. He expects them to respect their neighbours, meet their obligations and answer for the use of what he teaches.

“He has hands like an old farmer. I saw him take a sword from a man who thought the same.”

— A former pupil

The School

The original warehouse forms the main practice hall. Its heavy beams and worn timber floor have survived successive alterations. Smaller buildings have been bolted onto its sides as the school has grown: a second practice room, kitchen, equipment stores and quarters for the teaching household. Rooflines meet awkwardly, passages are narrow and repairs are a continual duty.

An enclosed yard contains striking posts, hanging targets and space for weapons practice. Fees, gifts of provisions and the instructors’ outside employment sustain the school.

Instruction centres on atemi-waza, jūjutsu and karumijutsu, supported by several weapons arts. Conditioning, breathing and repeated practice form part of the daily teaching. Students maintain the grounds and equipment.

Applicants meet an instructor and attend a probationary period. Jōsen decides whether they become permanent pupils. Tuition may be paid in coin, provisions or agreed work. Classes take place at dawn and in the evening, with private instruction arranged separately.

The Rivalry with the Sumai School

Jōsen’s pupils maintain a running rivalry with the local oyabun’s Sumai school. Both draw students from the town’s working population, and their members compete for reputation, pupils and employment.

The rivalry is sustained by challenges, public contests and arguments over which school produces the better fighters. Insults sometimes become fights, particularly when younger pupils have been drinking. A defeat suffered before witnesses can trouble a student for months.

Jōsen forbids his pupils from collecting debts or settling private grievances in the school’s name. He permits properly arranged contests and expects his students to honour their terms. That leaves alot of room for mischief. His instructors intervene when the rivalry threatens livelihoods or draws the oyabun’s wider organisation into a dispute. They cannot supervise every encounter in the streets.

Chief Instructor Jōsen

Level 6 Budōka. Owner and head of the school.

Jōsen is a master of every discipline he offers for instruction. He possesses several Okuden and continues to refine the relationships between them. His fighting is economical, and he rarely demonstrates its full extent.

He directs the teaching, examines prospective pupils and decides who may receive advanced instruction. He is approachable in ordinary conversation and exacting in practice.

Teaching location and availability: The main warehouse hall and yard. He teaches senior classes regularly. Private pupils require his personal approval.

Senior Instructor Arai Genpachi

Level 4 Budōka.

Genpachi was among Jōsen’s first pupils and now supervises ordinary instruction. He is a powerful, experienced fighter who teaches patiently and keeps firm order in the hall. He takes charge when Jōsen is absent and handles most complaints arising from the rivalry with the Sumai school.

Teaching location and availability: The main warehouse hall. Daily classes are open to accepted pupils. Private tuition is available by arrangement.

Grappling Instructor Mori O-Kinu

Level 4 Budōka.

O-Kinu teaches throws, holds, escapes and the control of an opponent at close quarters. She formerly worked protecting a merchant household and remains familiar with the town’s guards and servants. She receives many of the school’s prospective women pupils.

She supervises preparations for agreed grappling contests with the Sumai school and is strict about injuries being reported.

Teaching location and availability: The adjoining practice room. She conducts regular evening classes and accepts individual pupils by appointment.

Weapons Instructor Toda Heizō

Level 3 Budōka.

Heizō teaches short-staff and sickle fighting. A farmer by occupation, he divides his time between the school and his family’s fields. He maintains the practice weapons and expects students to handle them responsibly.

Teaching location and availability: The yard. Classes run on scheduled evenings. His availability is reduced during planting and harvest.

Movement Instructor Nakahara Sadao

Level 3 Budōka.

Sadao teaches balance, falling, footwork and recovery. He earns additional income as a porter and escort. He is a quick, capable fighter who places considerable importance on endurance and sound movement.

His work brings him into frequent contact with members of the rival school. He knows which men enjoy a sporting challenge and which carry a grievance beyond the contest.

Teaching location and availability: The yard and adjoining practice room. He teaches dawn classes and assists with evening instruction when escort work permits.

Striking Instructor Ishikawa O-Matsu

Level 3 Budōka.

O-Matsu teaches striking and supervises work at the posts and hanging targets. She is a disciplined fighter with a forceful manner. Her family supplies provisions to the school, and she helps organise its daily work.

She takes the school’s reputation seriously and has little patience for pupils who provoke challenges they are unprepared to meet.

Teaching location and availability: The striking yard. Regular evening classes are available to accepted pupils. Individual instruction is arranged through Genpachi.

Instructor Mizutani Rokurō

Level 2 Budōka.

Rokurō is the youngest member of the teaching staff. He has practical experience guarding goods and accompanying travellers. He teaches foundational classes under Genpachi’s supervision and continues his own studies with Jōsen.

He is a good fighter and a dependable instructor, although he has yet to master a discipline. His friendships among the younger pupils make him useful in settling quarrels before they reach the senior teachers.

Teaching location and availability: The yard and main warehouse hall. He leads scheduled beginners’ classes and supervises additional practice.

Membership and Secret Teaching

The seven instructors form a close teaching household. Pupils may study under several of them, but Jōsen and Genpachi oversee their progress. Misconduct can lead to suspension or dismissal. Students unable to pay may remain through an agreed contribution of work.

These are campaign statistics for FGU Bushido. Skill scores of 99 indicate mastery; character Level is recorded separately.

Jōsen possesses several Okuden. His senior pupils have learned portions of the deeper tradition, and some are developing teachings of their own. These remain the school’s secrets. A pupil may witness their effects without understanding the body of knowledge behind them. Access develops through a sustained relationship with the teacher and school, with the secrets themselves taking shape through gameplay.