BUJINKAN BUDO TAIJUTSU

The proven last surviving Ninja-grandmaster, Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, cultivate in his Bujinkan Dojo the nine last still exist warfaretradition of the Iga-Ninjas, which can be traced back to its founders.

BUJINKAN DOJO is the collection of the following 9 schools of the traditional japanese warfare.

1. Togakure Ryû Ninjutsu.
2. Kumogakure Ryû Ninjutsu.
3. Gyokushin Ryû Ninjutsu.
4. Gyokko Ryû Kosshijutsu.
5. Kotô Ryû Koppôjutsu.
6. Shinden Fudô Ryû Dakentaijutsu.
7. Kukishinden Ryû Happô Hikenjutsu.
8. Takagi Yôshin Ryû Jutaijutsu.
9. Gikan Ryû Koppôjutsu.

Soke-grandmaster all of these styles ist Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi. He lives in Noda-Chiba, Japan.

As you can see, there is a first group of three schools, which have one thin in common: Ninjutsu. These schools are accrued as such (Ninjutsu). The remaining schools (6) are separate martial arts (styles) with own properties.

The 9 Ryu of Bujinkan

Shindenfudo-ryu

The founder of this school, Izumo Kanja Yoshiteru, laerned chinese Kempo-boxing, which you can see at the technics of this school today. To him is also attributed to be the founder of the Kukishinden Ryu Happo Hiken. The 9th and 10th Soke Kaneko Junsuke Yoshikiyo and Tajima Genchu Nariyoshi were grandmaster of the Sindenfudo Ryu while the Shohei and Genchu periods. This two periods were eponym for the south princely court as Japan was cleaved by two members of royal family. Most books of Japanese history by Stephen Turnbull explain the reasons of this split an the battles between the two sides.The second Soke, Minamoto Hachiman Tamenari, is attributed to be the official founder of the Shinenfudo Ryo. Toda Shinryuken Masamitus, the 24. Soke, was a Samurai an a master at the Bikenshin Ryo and also a swordinstructor of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Shindenfudo Ryu was the first of many schools which Takamatsu learned from Toda Sensei. Toda was Takamatsu’s grandfather and he trained  with him for four jears in Kobe. Above the door of Sensei Toda’s Dojo was a name tag fixed with the inscription „Shindenfudo Ryu Jutaijutsu“. At Sensei Toda’s Shindenfudo Ryu Dojo was a row of rules for all students exhibited, which were to be followed by them. These rules are also referred as the five Dojo rules. Takenaka Tesunoke senior, student of Jigano Kano, the founder of the Kodokan Judo, was student at the Schindenfudo Ryu Dojo for a time. Kuki Tahei from the Kuki family also came from the Shindenfudo Ryu.

The secret principle of the Shindenfudo Ryu is the „principle of nature“.

Gyokko-ryu

The verbal tradition of Gyokko Ryu says that this system was developed by a princess at chinese imperial court. But it would be also possible that Gyhokko Ryu comes from a guardian of the chinese imperial court.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-906) in China, many people were forced to flee to Japan. Among them was also a person named Cho Gyokko or Yo Gyokko, which brought with him the system of Koshijutsu, which became later the Gyokko Ryu.

The system was passed als a Koshi-Jutsu school until it was reorganized by Sakagami Taro to a Ryu Ha. He was also responsible for the reorganization of the Koto Ryu to a Ryu-Ha. he was Soke from 1532 til 1555 and he named the school in Gyokko Ryu Shito-Jutsu.

Taro transferred the school to Sougyoko Kan Ritsushi. He renamed the school in  Gyokko Ryu Koshi Jutsu. The Gyokko Ryu finally was transferred to the Momochi family and this family made it a part of the Iga Ninja tradition.

It’s possible that the next Soke, Sakagami Kotaro Masahide, was the same person like Bando Kotaro Minamoto Masahide, who was also selected to be the next Soke of the Koto Ryu. Bando Kotaro Minamoto Masahide was killed in the battle of 1542, so it’s possible that the Ryu has benn passed directly to Sougyoko Kan Ritsushi.

Maybe this is also the reason why Sakagami Kotaro Masahide is unlisted in the list of the Soke of Koto Ryu, but only in the list of Gyokko Ryu.

Momochi Sandayu, the first member of the Momochi family, became Soke of Gyokko Ryu an Koto Ryu and today in Japan he’s known as the largest Ninjaleader ever.

Oda Nobuo (the second son of Oda Nobunaga) fall into the Iga pronvince with 46.000 men on November 3, 1581. The battle which took place was named „Tensho Iga no Ran“. The Ninja and Samurai, forming a combined army of only 4.000 men, were massacred. Those who survived, fled to the four winds of Japan. This in turn furthered the spread of the Ninja network more than it has been possible heretofore. The japanese war chronicles says that Momochi Sandayu have fought bravely in this battle. It’s possible that he died after this battle. Another theory is that he was able to flee to one of his castles and died there in peace.

It’s known that Sandayu owned several castles, for example the Ryugu castle, the Hojiro castle and the Yamato castle. With these three castles he had three personalities and three families. But it would be possible that he fled to one of these places to die.

His grave was found in the 60s in a small family plot at the foot of one of his houses 25 kilometers south of Iga Ueno in the mountains. Two os his houses are still standing today. The third, a fortification, located in the mountains near Iga Ueno, was destroyed by Oda Nobunaga.

The 17th descendant of Sandayu, Momochi Itsuke, still lives in one of the houses of his ancestors. It’s more than 400 years old und located at the north foot of the Oka-One mountains. He lives ther with his wife and his three kids. he is a farmer and all that left to him by his ancestors are two documents. One of these is a Makimono, the other one is a book. His grandfather collected all the pieces of the Ninja family including srolls and books and sold them to collectors and museums.

Shinryuken Masamitsu Toda the 26th Soke was a descandant of Takamatsu Toshitugu.

The last member of Toda family who practiced Ninjutsu was Takamatsu Toshitsugu. Shinryuken Masamitsu Toda taught him that the most important thing in the martial arts are the eight fundamental techniques of Gyokko Ryu, known as Kihon Happo. They are the foundation of all martial arts.

Togakure-Ryu

The location of the friary is the mountain Hei. There lived a friar named SO-O. He lived there for three years cloistered as an ascetic in a cave. It was here that he founded the Buddhist sect Shugendo after a vision in a dream. This friars, which built a temple inside of the place Togakure (today Togakushi) in the province of Shimano, still exist today.

In the era of Oho (1161-1162) in Shinsyu near the province Azumi was Daisuke born. Daisukes father was Nishina Yukuhiro. He was the oldest liege man of Kiso Yoshinaka.

In the years around 1180 Daisuke fought on the loser side. Finally he escaped after the battle across Japan as far as he came to the village Togakure. Here he studied the Shugendo doctrine and learned the Nunjutsu under Kogakure Doshi. Another theory is that he first came to Iga and met here Kain Doshi (Kain Doshi is another name for Kagakure Doshi). Kagakure Doshi was a Ninja from Hakuun Ryu. This Kagakure also teached Shima Minamoto (later he became second Soke) and Daisuke, which Shima took under his wing afterwards.

Kiso Yoshinaka was Minamoto Yoritomo’s cousin (the first Shogun for hole Japan) and the son of Minamoto Yoshikata the yungest brother of Yoritomo.

At the war „battle of Awaza“, which took place between the Minamoto families, Kiso’s army was attacked by the army of his half-brother Minamoto Yoshitsune. Kiso was killed during this conflict. He rode with his wife Tomoe Gozen and her brother Imai in the battle. During the fight, he was hit by a deadly arrow, followed two samurai from the Yoshitsune army detached his head.

The Hakuun Ryu Ninjusu was founded by Garyu Doji. Later it was completed by Hakun Doji, the teacher of Kagakure Doshi. It was Hakuun who gave his school and by doing this the Ryu the name afterwards.

Daisuke took over Kagakure’s war doctrines and added them to his own Shugendo training. This was the beginning of the Togakure Ryu. The Togakure Ryu gained the status of a martial arts school after the third generation.

The second Soke of Togakure Ryu Shima Kosanta Minamoto no Kanesada was a Samurai follower and had the rank of Kosho of Kiso Yoshinaka, one of the most powerful samurai generals from the Monamoto army. The Minamoto became the first hereditary Shogune in this time.

As Shima, who was descended from a powerfull Samurai family in Ise, was sexteen years olf, he fought in the battle of Awazu against the rivals of the Minamotos, the Taira family.

The history says, Shima was wounded in this battle and found by Daisuke, who brought ihm to Iga. Another theory says that Shima managed to escape in spite of his injuries to Iga. He did so only at the request of Kiso Yohinaka, who was on the losing side.

Daisuke had a son named Rokosuke. This was the first student of Daisuke, Shima was the second and was also known as Togakure Daisuke II.

Goro Togakure is recognized as the person who brought the Togakure family into the Ninjutsu system officially – as it’s still taught today.

It’s possible, that the Togakure Ryu was involved for the defense of Iga 1581. In the years around 1600 the school moved around and was taught at the Hattori Ryu and at the Ninja and Samurai of Kishu Lehen. About this time the directly concerned family died. After this the leading of Togakure Ryu was taken over from the Toda family.

Some members of Toda family were Soke of Kumokagure Ryu. Therefor it would be possible that the Toda’s came from Kumogakure Ryu and brought together these two Ryu. Momochi Kobei, the 22nd Soke of Ryu, was a descendant of Momochi Sandayu, Soke of Momochi Ryu, Gyokku Ryu and Koto Ryu. He was one of the leading persons of Iga Ryu.

The techniques and skills of Togakure Ryu had big influence on the Ninja schools in the areas of Iga and Koga.

The 32nd Soke Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu was a master of Bikenshin Ryu also and in the middle of the 19th century he was senior sword instructor of Tukagawa Shogunate. He gave up the position as a sword instructor because the men who he teached, were forced to kill other Japanese. This was against the doctrines of Togakure Ryu. The 33rd Soke Takamatsu Toshitsugu was the last member of Toda family (Shinryuken was his grandfather). Takamatsu once said that he didn’t especially like the training of Togakure Ryu, he prefer the Koto Ryu, which made him more fun.

Today that is known as the Godan test (5th Dan) in Bujinkan and as Sakkijutsu appears in the Togakure Ryu Makimono (scrolls) with the name „Tenmon Jimon“ in the section „Happo Hiken“.

The three „secrets“ of Togakure Ryu:

Senban-Shuriken: A throwing star with four sharpen exclusively and unique designed to the Togakure Ryu Ninja.

Shuko: Also known as Tekagi. It was used as a climbing tool but also very effective in defense against sword attacks.

Shinodake: A small, short bamboo used for underwater breathing. It also could be used as a blowpipe. Sometimes broken Sayas (scabbards) were also used for it.

The both fundamental priciples of Togakure Ryu:

– Violence must be avoided and Ninpo is Bujutsu.
– The sword is peaceful and protect the country, the family and the nature.

Kukishinden-ryu

The history of Kukishinden Ryu is traceable to the Kamakura era (round 1180) and linked with many events.

The techniques of Kukishinden Ryu should by origin come from China an have been develoed in the Kumano province.

The „KUKI“ in the name of Kukishinden Ryu was awarded by the emporer „Go-Daigo“ (1319-1339). The reason was the successful recapture of the throne with help of the original founder Yasushimaru Takazane (also known as Yasushimaru Kurando) and another Samurai named Kagoshima. The emporer meant that you’re fighting with the techniques of this school as „nine devils“.

Around 1330 as Ashikaga Takauji was Shogun kidnaped the emporer Go-Daigo. Kusunogi Masahige, loyal to the emperor and high-ranking Samurai, occupied the at that time 16-year-old Yasushimaru Kurando. It was known very well that he possessed huge skills in Ninjutsu and in other Bujutsu arts despite his age. Kurando became the task to rescue the emporer who was imprisoned by the Ashikawa army at a royal residence. Kurando get through to the emporer and released him from the prison camp.

During the liberation of the emporer the Samurai guard was alerted, which should guard him. The Samurai surrounded Kurando and the emporer. Kurand faced himself the Samurai with a Naginata (Hellbarde) while the Samurai attacked him one after the other. Kurando was able to defeat each one of them until at the end he faced of the Samurai officer, who was a very experienced warrior.

As Kurando tried to cut him with the Naginata now, the officer cut off the blade from the upper part of the rod. Now Kurando used the rod without the blade and the techniques of Rokushakubo to defeat him.

After Kurandu had overwhelmed the Samurai guard, together with Kunusoki he brought the emporer to Kyoto. After this event Kurando founded a school which is known as Kukishin Ryu. Since then the Rokushakubo is applied in 9 different methods with 99 techniques. This indicates the fact that you can apply the Bo in many different methods.

During the existence of Kukishinden Ryu the techniques and principles of this school were used by the Japanese seafarers and thereby they took very great influence of the later development of techniques and weapon of this school.

The Kukishinden Ryu also have connections to other schools. One of this schools is the Itto Ryu sword school, foundet by Itto Ittosai. Itto was born between 1550 and 1560. He studied the Chujo Ryu under Kanemaki Jissai who founded the Kanemaki Ryu. Itto studied uder Kanemaki, Kanemaki studied under Akamatsu Koshiro whick was a related member of Kukishinden Ryu. Between both schools are also similarities in the techniques that are recorded in the scrolls.

In the 18th century the 13th Soke, Ohkuni Kihei Shigenobu, teached Kukishinden Ryu to the Takagi Yoshin Ryu (one of the 9 Bujinkan schools). Takagi Yoshin Ryu brought thereby Bojutsu-, Naginata- and Shuriken techniques into the doctrines of Kukishinden Ryu. Ohkuni became Soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu after the death of Takagi Yoshin Ryu Soke Tagaki Gennoshin. For a short period both schools were taught together but shortly befor his death Ohkuni separated both school again.

Ishitani Takeoi the father of the famous Ishitani Matsutaro (the teacher of Takamatsu Toshitsugu and 24th Soke of Kukishinden Ryu) came from the Hyogo province. He and his schoolfellow named Fujita Hisayoshi studied under Yagi Ikugoro, the Soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu. Ishitani and Fujita received both Menkyo Kaiden (completing informin and transfer of teaching license). Thereupon Fujita named his school Takagi Yoshin Ryu and Ishitani named his Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu. After twohundred years the Kukishinden and the Takagi Yoshin Ryu came together again. Ishitani Matsutaro Takekage (the 24th Soke of Kukishinn Ryu) studied also under URyu Gikanbo, Soke of Gikan Ryu (one of the 9 Bujinkan schools) and became later Soke of this Ryu. The ancestors of Ishitani Matsutaro were Chunin (mid-ranking Ninjas) in the Kami-Hattori family. This was the family of the famous Ninja Hanzo Hattori. Ishitani Matsutaro worked as security guard in the match factory of Takamatsu’s father in Kobe. Here he met Takamatsu, who already lerned the art of Koto Ryu, Gyokku Ryu and of Shindenfudo-Ryu from his grandfather Shin Ryuken Masamitsu Toda. Later Takamatsu Toshitsugu became 25th Soke of Kukishinden Ryu.

In Kumano a document of the Kukishinden Ryu is kept in a temple which is known under the name „Amatsu Tatara Hibin“. In this document the Takamatsu family is been associated with the Kuki family.

In the Edo period there were two martial artists with the name Fuku no Shichiro Uemon Masakatsu (Yusen) and Ibaragi Mata Zaimon (Toshifusa Sozen) who were members of Ryoi Shinto Ryu. Later they called the school to Kito Ryu Jujutus. Later Kito Ryu became the originatingschool from which Jigano Kano developed the Kodokan Judo. In the scrolls of Kito Ryu Jujutsu are some transcriptions which are similar to those of the Kukishinden Ryu. Taki no Saemon from the Kito Ryu was taught by Kuki Takano who once was the head of the Kuki family.

By mistake the Kuki family is called as the „hereditary family“. But actually it’s a family of another style, the Kukishin Ryo. There are many similarities between both schools and it’s possible that they were paired for a certain time. But today they are separate and while the Kukishinden Ryu is teached as complete system, the Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu was separated in single areas. For example Kukishin Ryu Dakentaijutsu, Kikishin Ryu Bojutsu a.s.o. and every single area has it’s own grand master but all have connections to Kukishin Ryu of Kuki family.

It’s said that Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of the mordern Aikido, trained the art of Kikishinden Ryu Happo Hiken Jutsu under the guardianship of Ishitani Sensei. Later he opened a school under the name Kikishin Aikido. It’s imaginable that he reached his skills with stick and sword in this school.

After the death of Matsutaro Ishitani Takamatsu Toshitsugo became the successor of the Kukishinden Ryu tradition. After his death Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi became head of this and eight other schools which were transferred to him by his Takamatsu teacher.

The weapons of Kuki Shinden Ryu:

Hanbo (3-foot rod): This originated on the battlefield as the Yari (spear) was broken into two parts. With this basicweapon are taught all Bujinkan members.

Rokushakubo (6-foot rod): This originated on the battlefield as the blade of Naginata was cut off.

Naginata: Hellbarde

Bisento (heavy hellbarde): The Bisento is similar to the Naginata. The biggest difference is the size and weight. The Bisento had a blade of about one meter (3 feet) and was by a multiple heavier. Weight and size also had an affect on handling of this weapon.

Kaginawa (hook and rope): The Kiganawa was used by a pirate named Kuroda Saneyuki. It’s said that the Kusarigama (sickle and chain) originated from the Kaginawa.

Daisharin (wheelaxle): An axle of about 10 feet length. At both ends are two small wooden wheels fixed. The Daisharin was used to let ships launched or to drag them out of the water.

Nyu Ibo: Similar a ship’s mast. During a fight the japanese sailors used all they could find on their ship. So ship masts and riggings found also their applications.

The Kuki Shinden Ryu Happo Hikenjutsu contains the following:

· Taijutsu, Hichojutsu, Nawanage

· Karate, Koppojutsu, Jutaijutsu

· Sojutsu, Naginatajutsu

· Bojutsu, Jojutsu, Hanbojutsu

· Senbannage, Tokenjutsu, Shurikenjutsu

· Kajutsu, Suijutsu

· Chikujo, Gunryaku Heiho

· Onshinjutsu, Hensojutsu

Kumogakure-ryu

The Denso mention a Ninja named Sarutobi Sasuke, which came from the Kumogakure Ryu. He used a Kamayari, hooked himself to a tree branch and jumped from tree to tree like a monkey. It’s thought that Sasuke never existed and that he was only an invention of the Tachikawa literature during the Meiji period (1868-1912).

Some believe that he was an invention of Shinryuken Masamitsu Toda. Also it’s said that he was tought by Tozawa Hakuunsai. It’s also thought that Hakuunsai have been tested Sasuke’s „Sakki“ because he said he had eyes on the back of his head. He gave him a Makimono (scroll) which contained the rule of Ninja. If he followed then he would never die.

Heinaizaemon Ienage Iga (also named Heinai Saemon no Jo lenaga) was the 12th descendant of Heinaibe Yasuikiyu and he is laso listed as a prominent member of the Iga Ryu Ninja school.

In accordance with the „Dai Nippon Bugei Ryû Ha“ the Kumogakure Ryu have the same origin as the Gyokko Ryu and Togakure Ryu (to be precise, the Hakuun Ryu), which indicate on an origin somewhere in china.

The Taijutsu of Kumogakure Ryu is very similar of Togakure Ryu, though both have the same origin. Some generations previosly the Ryu was transmitted as Iga Ryu before it was renamed in Kumogakure Ryu at last.

Actually around 1600 the Ryu have been created only by the Toda family as a Ninjutsu school. The techniques have been focused on the „nun-violent“ side of Nunjutsu.

The Togakure Ryu teaches that violence should be avoided. Because for a long time the Toda family led the school, this also explains why the Taijutsu of both schools are identical.

Another person who lays claim to the Soke-title is Tonbe Nobusato Kenji. According to Tonbe Kenji the route should be the following (yellow):

Some special weapons of Kumogakure Ryu are e.g.:

· Kamayari

· Ippon Sugi Noburi

· Dämonen Maske

Takagiyoshin-ryu

1569 during the Yeiroku period (1568-1579) there was a mountain priest from the Abe family with the name UnRyu, who lived in the Funaga Yama mountains in the area of Miyagi. He was an expert in Taijutsu, Shuriken and Bojutsu from the „Amatsu Tatara Rinpo Hiden Makimono“. The Amatsu Tatara scroll was stored in the families Abe, Nakatomi, Otoma and Monobe.

The „Dai Nippon Bugei Ryu Ha“ quote the name UnRyu as Soun Ryu. He was a taoist itinerant monk and lived in Rikuzen Funakawa, not far away from the mountain Sanroku.

UnRyu taught his system with the Yari, called „Sessho Hiden no Jutsu“, to Ito Sukesada, another famous war artist of his time.

Ito Sukesada was a Samurai from Katakura Kojuro in the Fukushima province. He taught the techniques (which would be the startingpoint for the future Takagi Yoshin Ryu) to Takagi Oriuemon Shigenobu, a young Samurai from Tohoku-Shiraishi Han (in the northern tract of Japan). Shigenobu was 16 years old as he began with the training and he was even 20 years old as later he became the Menkyu Kaiden. Shigenobu was born on April 2, 1625 (another source says on January 2, 1635) and he died on October 7, 1711.

Shigenobu’s father was named Sanzaemon Inatobi and was a follower of Katakura Kojuro, the Daimyo of Tohoku-Shiraishi Han. Shigenobu was his second son.

Dead of night Sanzaemon was attacked in a dark alley and died a violent death. At this time Shignobu called himself Umon but he changed his name at this time as his father died in Takagi Oriuemon Shigenobu.

Shigenobu avenged the death of his father with the memory of an advice once he got from him:

„A willow (- wood) is flexible but a high tree is breakeable.“

He revised and improved the techniques which he had learned himself and put them together with that what became known as „Takagi Yoshin Ryu“, named by himself.

The school was transferred to Takagi Umannosuke Shigesada. In 1671 Umannosuke started his studies under Oriuemon when he was just 16 years old and added many new techniques of the Jujutsu school Takauchi Ryu.

However he taught the school as Takagi Yoshin Ryu Dakentaijutsu, Bojutsu, Sojutsu, Naginatajutsu and Senban Nage.

In 1695 he was appreciated as a high class martial artist by the emporer. Also studied Zen with a monk, called Gudo-Washo, from the Chuzen temple. Some of the Zen-postures were integrated to the school. Umannosuke traveled everywhere and all over Japan in order to teach his system of Dakentaijutsu. He died on April 26, 1746.

Takagi Gennoshin Hideshige was the son of Omannosuke and taught in the Hyogo province. He had good skills in the system of Dakentaijutsu but he changed the name back du Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu.

Ohkuni Kihei Shigenobu was a Samurai and an expert of Kukishinden Ryu.

He and Gennoshin fought in a small competition in order to test the ability of the other one. The Tajutsu of Takagi Yoshin Ryu was ascendancy over the Kukishinden Ryu. Later Ohkuni was asked to stay and teach hist system on the Takagi Yoshin Ryu. This two Soke rearranged the two Ryu so that the Takagi Yoshin Ryu took over the Taijutsu and the Kukishinden Ryu took over the Bojutsu.

Gennoshin became ill and died on October 2, 1702. Shortly before his death he asked Ohkuni to continue the briefing on the same way as they both created it before.

Then Ohkuni renamed the school to Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu and Hon Tai Kukishinden Ryu. Later Ohkuni seperated the schools again. Yet the Takagi Yoshin Ryu has retained some of the Bojutsu.

Yagi Jigero Hisayashi (the 13th Soke) was a secluded Samurai from the castle Akoh in the Hyugo province and became a Ronin in October 1841.

Later he settled down and opened a Dojo in Akashi in the Hyogo province. Yagi transferred the Ryu to three students by giving each Menkyu Kaiden. These were: Ishitani Takeoi, Ishibashi and Fujita Togoro (Fujigoro). Fujita taught Takagi Yoshin Ryu and transferred the school to Mizuta Yoshitaro, who in turn taught Takamatsu.

Ishitani taught Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu and Hon Tai Kukishinden Ryu. He transferred this two schools to his son, who also became Soke of Shinden Tatara Ryu. One reason why he went to Shinden Tatara Ryu (it’s thought that this school had strong connections to Kukishinden Ryu) was that Ishitani Matsutaro skeddadled whith a mistress of his father.

His father sent him over Akiyama the Menkyo Kaiden of Kukishinden Ryu and Takagi Yoshin Ryu. Ishitani taught this schools to Takamatsu between 1903 and 1905.

As Ishitani died in the arms of Takamatsu, he instructed him to send a kopy of the scrolls of Takagi Yoshin Ryu to Kadono Hachiheita, who opened a Dojo under the name Hon Tai Yoshin Ryu.

Kadono gave Menkyo Kaiden to three students. These were: Minaki Saburoji, Wakita Sei Ichi and Tsutsui Yoshihisa (Takagi Ryu Jujutsu).

The Hon Tai Yoshin Ryu has a curriculum which is based on Jujutsu, Bojutsu, Kodachi, Tanto and Toritsuke. The current Soke is Inoue Tsuyoshi 9th Dan and his teacher was Minaki Saburoji.

The transfer of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu scrolls from Mizuta Tadefusa to Takamatsu took place at an auspicious day in August, Meiji 40 (1908).

The transfer of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu scrolls from Takamatsu to Hatsumi Masaaki took place at an auspicious day in May, Showa 33 (1959).

The Takagi Yoshin Ryu have techniques which are more advanced than that of Judo or Aikido. If the techniques are used, it’s difficult, even impossible – for the opponent to escape by rolling or falls.

This style of Jujutsu developed from inside the building, not like other styles which were developed outdoor.

Gikan-ryu

This Ryu was founded by Uryu Gikanbo, which was a Daimyo of Kawachi no Kuni (Kawachi province) and lived in a familycastle known as Uryujo. It’s said that Uryu’s blows were so powerful that once he broke a sword blade in half.

The second Soke Uryu Yoshimitsu became monk in his later years.

The 10th Soke Uryu Gikan partook on the battle „Tenchigumi no Ran“, which took place on August 17, 1863.

He fought on emperor side and was hit in the arm by a bullet during the fight. But he continued his fight only with one arm. For his own safety he retreated to a nearby temple, where he met Ishitani Takeoi Masatsugu.

He told him that the battle was already finished and so Ishitani helped him to recover. Later Ishitani fled to the Iga province.

Between both a friendship developed and Ishitani learned the Gikan Ryu, in which later he became Soke. Later he added this school to the other two in which he already was Soke (Kukishinden Ryu an Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu).

So be mentioned, in the Makimono of Gikan Ryu, if they refer to techniques, only the name of the technique is mentioned and not the instruction for accurate execution, as some scrolls does. So the teachings of the schools were kept secret in case the scrolls could be stolen.

Takamatsu relayed the Gikan Ryu to his best friend and senior student Fumio Akimoto. However Akimoto became seriously ill and died without bequeathed a successor. For that reason the school returned to Takamatsu again and then he transferred it to Masaki Hatsumi.

Fumio Akimoto was also Soke of another school, occupied of his own family. These are the Shoken Ryu Dakentaijutus.

The Gikan Ryu is related to the Izumo Ryu Koppojutsu which probably not longer exist.

Shoto Tanemura, founder of Genbukan also lay to claim to to Soketitel of this school.

Gyokushin-ryu

Sougyoko Kan Ritsushi, Soke of Gyokko Ryu teached Sasaki Goemon Teruyoshi and from these teachings the Gyokushin Ryu developed. The Gyokushin Ryu was taught in the Kishu an Takeda-teachings probably since 1600 (not exactly certifiably). It’s also assumed that at this time there was the first contact with the Togakure Ryu. In the western world is nothing known of the techniques of this school only that this school focuses more on the spionage of ninjutsu than non the fight. The Sasaki family kept the teachings of Gyokushin Ryu secret. It reached more to the public as the Ryu was teached side by side, mixed with other school and later was transferred to Toda Nobutsuna. Because of this secrecy, there are two people who make a claim on the Soketitle of this school. One is Masaaki Hatsumi and the other one is Ueno Takashi, an ex-student (as Hatsumi) of Takamatsu (some people believe he’s a relative of Takamatsu). Both had different lines.

Koto-ryu

It’s believed the origin of Koto Ryu comes from China, which was brought via Korea to Japan by Chan Busho, a chinese warrior. Many generations ago the Ryu was transferred to Sakagami Taro Kunishige. In the list of Soke are some famous Ninja but also Samurai, who have studied Koto Ryu in the past, for example also Ishikawa, Japan’s most famous Ninja from Iga, who learned his Ninjutsu from Momochi Sandayu I. Goemon is better known in his role as Robin Hood of Japan. It’s believed that Goemon tried to murder Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the amalgamater and (in his days) the mightiest general of Japan. But he was unsuccessful at his assassination and last was caught. His execution was typical of that time: He was placed with his whole family into a kettle of boiling oil and so executed. Some even believe he had escaped from the execution. The exact origin is unkown but round 1542 the techniques of this school were organized and formulated in a proper Ryu-Ha by Sakagami Taro Kunishige. The second Soke of this school was Sakagami Kotaro, also known as „Bando“. He was killed during a battle at the End of the year 1542. It’s not known whether he had taken voer the complete management of the school before his death. With Bando’s death the school was transferred to Sougyoko Kan Ritsushi. Sougyoko was also Soke of Gyokko Ryu. By him both school were put together but were teached separately and transferred to Sakagami Bando Minamoto, Soke of Gyokku Ryu. The name of the school Koto Ryu („knock the tiger down“) is meant to kick the tiger (attacker) with the fingertips. In the old days the training started by hit in sand and gravel firstly and boosted up to large stones and rocks to toughen the toes and fingers (necessary für ingenuities of Koto Ryu techniques). Koto Ryu is divided into five levels:

1. Kurai Dori

2. Shoden no Kata

3. Chuden no Kata

4. Okuden no Kata

5. Hekuto no Kata

By Hatsumi Sensei the expression Budô Taijutsu is a common and broader significance for the Bunjinkan martial arts than the previously used term: Ninpô Taijitus, which only made reference to Ninpô styles (= Ninjutsu). He says this is an mordern vision which builds on the needs of the time today.

Today the martial arts of Bujinkan Budô Taijutsu have achieved a qualitative highlight. Bujinkan Taijutsu based on the freedom. Those who not regard highly the value of freedom can’t understand the techniques. The feeling we are searching for follows from the freedom of movement. Hatsumi Sensei says: „At the beginning you move because the consciousnes – i.e. conscious thought – the body say to move in a certain way. Later the subconscious begins to work and you move on an intuitive level. But it’s not very good if the movements of Taijitsu changed in simple reflexes. Although a balance should be between conscious and unconscious, the latter is still more important. Up to the 4th Dan the human works in the world of conscious awakening, up to the 5th Dan enter the world of the subconscious.“

Composition and structure:

Composition and structure of Bujinkan Ninjutsu Germany is based on the regulations of Bujinkan Honbu Dojo Japan and is its member. It’s composed of generel members, group leader, instructors, Shidoshi-ho, Shidoshi and Shihan. All get their audit confirmation and licenses directly from Honbu Dojo Japan, thereby they are authorized and recognized worldwide.

Generel members:

Generel members obtained a membershipcard on request (about 25,-€ yearly)

Exerciser:

Checked is 10th-1st Kyu of owners from Shidoshi-ho with Shidoshi Kai-card at own discretion. It should be complied 3 month waiting period between the different levels. Skip of levels and shortening the waiting period shall be allowed only in case of extreme performance of students.
Dan-levels are taken up to the 4th Dan by Shihan/Shidoshi-ho (at least the trainer has to achieved the 5th Dan to take the 4th Dan, i.e. he always has to be one step higher than the Dan taken by him and up to the 3rd Dan a 10th Dan have to agree).
Shidoshi-ho licenses are only taken by Shihan and Shidoshi.
Saki test to 10th Dan is taken by Soke and from 15th Dan Shihan. From the 10th Dan it’s possible to take the tests of 1st-4th Dan and 6st-9th Dan.
All Dan-levels and licenses are to name the Honbu Dojo Japan. Who take test without authorization will be excluded from Bujinkan. This tests will not be valid.

Admission/axclusion:

All interested people who have decided to pass by Ninjutsu and the way of the warrior, Bufu-Ikkan, a positive mind-body-school and want to train under professional and authorized teachers.
The office decides on the admission. An admission can be turned down without giving reasons!
members who sin against the tules of Bujinkan will be excluded and they may be forbidden to continue in teaching on behalf of Bujinkan and to use the name or the symbol (copyright!).
Above this exists directly competence and order by Soke Masaaki Hatsumi.