The Samurai and Shaolin Monks?

[username19853]

I've always looked at the Samurai as the shaolin monks of Japan. They both dedicate their lives to their philosophy and training. But I was curious as to if there is "samurai temple" kind of like how the shaolin monks have a temple where people go to train. If there is such a place, can foreigners train there as well?

[LLLEARNER]

I am by no means an expert.

I see the connection you are making. Both groups dedicate themselves to fighting arts; but, while they dedicate their lives to the philosophy and training there are different goals. Samurai train to serve their feudal lord the Daimyo. In my mind this makes them more like European Knights. Shaolin Monks serve to pursue supreme wisdom. While Buddhism is not a religion I find it more closely like European Monks in the various orders of the Catholic Church. I know they are not exact copies of each other but one is a warrior class and the other a philosophical/religious/serving class.

Just my .02 cents. You are permitted to get change back.

[username19853]

Thank you for your input, but my main question was if there is a "Samurai temple" that is run the same way a Shaolin temple is. Like training 5 hours a day, etc.

[LLLEARNER]

I am sure there are dojos where full-time training takes place; however, since the ultimate goal of samurai does not really exist in an elected government like in a hereditary feudal system i am willing to bet that it is largely tradition and ceremony. There is a temple to the 47 Samurai of legend, it was a real event, that is more homage than the type of Buddhist temple I believe. A Buddhist monastery is for those that practice various aspect of Buddhism, Kung Fu included. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3000.html

I am sure there are schools that would allow full-time training, but I am not sure it correlates to Shaolin Temple.

Years ago I remember seeing a show on the history channel about the Ninja, that included a segment on a guy who moved to Japan to study, but he worked a real job to live and pay for training. It was not a temple per say, more of a dojo or specific master who agree to train him.

[Himokiri Karate]

I am not sure if this answer is satisfactory but the closest thing to a Samurai dojo would be to check out Takeuchi-ryū jujitsu.

Its one of the oldest style of jujitsu and in reality that's what the Samurais trained in.

This style offers all kinds of skills such as weapons and even restraining arts.

[Spartacus Maximus]

Historically, there never existed any sort of temple for Samurai. Samurai was just a social class that, among other privileges had the right to wear swords and the luxury of time to spend on training to use them.

They were members of the warrior caste which, meant they were nobility and also bound to their superiors and lords following the rules and usages of the Japanese feudal system. A samurai was always born as opposed to a monk, which is as an accessible status for almost anyone.

There are no similarities at all between monks and samurai, except perhaps the fact that both followed or was influenced by one of the many currents of Buddhist Thought. The warrior class of Japan, seemed to have favoured Zen or Nichiren. In actuality however, there were very few samurai who followed the Buddhist philosophy like a monk would, never mind the bushido code.

[Kusotare]

...I was curious as to if there is "samurai temple" kind of like how the shaolin monks have a temple where people go to train. If there is such a place, can foreigners train there as well?

In short no - or at least not authentic ones.

There are a number of extant traditions that are referred to as 'Koryu' (or old school), however they are quite rare these days and acceptance into them can be very difficult.

The study of said traditions takes 100% commitment, and most schools will require evidence of such before making any investment in the student. This can sometimes take years!!!

So the holiday camp style 'turn up and train with the Shaolins' - don't exist.

k.

[Spartacus Maximus]

First hand experience confirms what Kusotare said. Serious instructors are always suspicious and wary of foreigners who come seeking training for a short time. Overall, Japanese and Okinawan sensei expect very little from "martial tourists".

Worst case scenario, drifters are turned away at the dojo door. Most however, are at least willing to allow a training as a guest. One is a guest until one has proved to be able to make a real commitment and worth teaching. This takes time, endurance and patience and simply cannot be done in a few weeks or months. This difficulty is increased by other factors such as language barriers and cultural differences.

[bassaiguy]

Maybe an alternate would be either an uchi deshi program such as exists for some aikido organizations in both the US and Japan, the senshusei course if you are determined to live in Tokyo or a college program in the United States that offers a concentration in martial arts like the ones at Naropa University or Indiana University Bloomington.