Swimming practice has been popular since old days in the Usuki Domain, facing Bungo Suido (the channel between Kyushu and Shikoku Islands), and it is believed that swimming practice has already started during the reign of Yoshiaki OTOMO.
豊後水道に面する臼杵藩では、既に大友義鑑の治世に水練が始められたと伝えられ、古くから水練術が盛んであった。