{{short description|Japanese martial art of combative swimming}} '''Suijutsu''' (水術) or '''suieijutsu''' (水泳術) is the Japanese martial art of combative swimming.The Literal translation of the term from Japanese is "water skills". It is sometimes called '''Nihon eiho'''.<ref>[https://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/202108/202108_05_en.html The Classical Swimming Arts of Japan] Japanese government</ref>
Various styles existed, which were codified into different ''ryūha''. The Iwakura ryū specialised in techniques for dealing with unusual situations such as consuming meals while in the water. The Shinden ryū taught methods for long-distance swimming, while the Kankai ryū focused on swimming in the ocean.<ref>{{cite web |title=Suijutsu |url=https://openwaterswimming.com/2012/10/suijutsu-how-ancient-japanese-samurai/ |website=World Open Water Swimming Association |date=13 October 2012 |accessdate=14 February 2020}}</ref> Many schools taught methods of swimming in armour (''katchu gozen oyogi'').<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hacker |first1=Randi |title=JAPAN – SAMURAI SWIMMERS (Gr. 3-12) |url=https://ceas.ku.edu/sites/ceas.ku.edu/files/docs/OutreachNotes/No.%207%20Outreach%20Notes-Japan%27s%20Samurai%20Swimmers.pdf |publisher=University of Kansas, Centre for East Asian Studies |accessdate=14 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="Inc.1964">{{cite book|author=Active Interest Media, Inc.|title=Black Belt|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_QdkDAAAAMBAJ|date=March 1964|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_QdkDAAAAMBAJ/page/n62 63]–|issn=0277-3066}}</ref> Suijutsu was considered to be one of the ''bugei jūhappan'', the eighteen fundamental martial techniques.<ref name="Inc.1964"/>
== See also == * {{annotated link|Aquathlon (underwater wrestling)}} * {{annotated link|Georgian swimming}}
== Sources == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://smaa-hq.com/bios/iwasaki.php ''Suiei-jutsu''] by Iwasaki Hisashi, of the Shudokan Martial Arts Association * [http://kempo.4mg.com/articles/suiei.htm ''SUIEIJUTSU - THE SWIMMING ART. KAKUTO BUGEI - FIGHTING MARTIAL ARTS (the auxiliary skills)''] by Dr. William Durbin
{{Swimming styles}}
Category:Japanese martial arts Category:Japanese martial arts terminology Category:Swimming styles {{martialart-term-stub}}