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The 9 Ryu of Ninjutsu
1.Togakure Ryu Ninpo
The ninjutsu ryu of the Togakure family was not formalised until three generations
after Daisuke Togakure began to develop it. Allied with a clan that was
defeated in a series of battles against superior forces, Daisuke lost
all, including his samurai status, and escaped to the mountain wilderness
south east of Kyoto. Wandering among the pine forests and marshes of the
Ku Peninsula in A.D. 1162, he met the warrior monk Kain Doshi, who had
fled to Japan from the political and military upheaval in China. There in
the mountain caves of Iga Province (within present day Mie Prefecture),
Daisuke studied with this mystic, learning new concepts of warfare and
personal accomplishment based on Chinese and Tibetan ideas about the order
of the universe. Daisuke was taught the practical applications of the
balance of the elements in diet, in combat, in thought and emotion, and
in utilising the forces and cycles of nature to his advantage. Thus, away
from the limiting conventions of samurai conduct that he had never thought
to question, He discovered a completely new way of working his will. It
was Daisuke's descendants that developed and refined these notions into
the Togakure ryu of ninjutsu, and came to be called by the name ninja.
The Togakure-ryu's secret was the shuko, a spiked iron band worn around the hand, enabling
the ninja to stop sword blades or climb trees and walls like a cat. Another
device utilised by the Tokakure ninja was the tetsubishi, a small spiked
weapon used to slow pursuers or protect doorways. Made with spikes sticking
out in all directions, the tetsubishi were scattered on the ground to
be stepped on by the unsuspecting.
They also used and kept secret the use of the senban shuriken or four pointed throwing
star, originally made from a metal building washer, it looked so innocuous
as to be ignored by samurai soldiers. Most important to our training today
is the Togakure ryu ninpo taijutsu, or unarmed methods of moving the body
with subtle rather than forceful movements which controls the actions
of the attacker and allows the ninja to win whilst expending minimum energy
and exposure to the least amount of danger.
2. Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu
Said to be the oldest fighting system used by ninja, the Gyokko Ryu is developed
from an older fighting system brought over from China and integrated with
the Japanese systems of the time. Legend tells of its founder Yo Gyokko
using this koshijutsu (the attacking of nerve centres with pinching or
striking finger drives) system to defeat several tens of warrior monks
lead by an old man of strange appearance who wanted Yo dead because of
his reputation in defeating challengers. He killed over fourteen monks
and defeated the old man even after being struck on the head by a sword
which bounced off, as his head was so hard. Later after killing a lion
with one one fist he became known as Koto-ou (lion battling king).
3. Koto Ryu Koppo Jutsu
Translated as the Chinese Hand skill of Tiger attack this ryu teaches us the koppojutsu
or bone breaking methods employed in ninjutsu.
The Kuden (oral tradition) at Koto Ryu say that a monk named Chan Busho travelled
from Korea to Japan bringing with him the concept of Koppojutsu - the
study of bone breaking and weak points. The system was passed from master
to student until it passed to Momochi Sandayu. It stayed in his family
until 1624 when it passed to the Toda family, Toda Shinryuken passed it
to Takamatsu Toshitsugu his grandson. Takamatsu passed it on to Hatsumi
Masaaki which brings us to the present day.
Momochi Sandayu's famous student Ishitrawa Goemon became known as a Japanese Robinhood.
He also attempted to kill the famed leader Hideyoshi, but with no success.
4. Kukishinden Ryu Happo Hiken
As the 26th Grandmaster of Kuki Shinden ryu Happo Hiken (secret weapon arts)
Takakage Matsutaro Ishitani taught Toshitsugu Takamatsu the eight part
Happo method which included: Taijutsu (unarmed combat), Hichojutsu (leaping),
Mawanage (rope throwing), Koppojutsu (bone smashing technique), Jutaijutsu
(grappling), Yarijutsu (spear technique), Naginatajutsu (halberd skills),
Bojutsu (long staff fighting), Jojutsu (cane technique), Hanbojutsu (stick
fighting), Seban Nage (shuriken throwing), Tokenjutsu (blade throwing),
Kojutsu (fire and explosives), Suikutsu (water techniques), Chiku Jo Gunryaku
Heiho (military tactics and fortress design and penetration), Onshinjutsu
(art of invisibility), and Hensojutso (disguise).
He then taught the Hiken or secret sword methods of the ryu. All of these methods
are said to have been developed in the mountains of Kumano by shugenja
warrior monks who first of all developed the use of their shakujo ringed
staff to defend themselves.
5. Kumogakure Ryu Ninjutsu
With its own unique Taijutsu methods this ryu teaches us many leaping tactics and
also the use of the kamayari or hooked spear said to have been used by
pirates on the Japanese inland sea, specialising in field craft and espionage.
6. Gikan Ryu Koppo Jutsu
Founded by Uryu Hangan Gikanbo in 1558, this ryu was based on the Chinese style
of Cho Gyoko. It contains many special kicks, punches and throws. One
of the original teachings is "Ni Sente Nashi" (From this side there is
not the first strike). During the battle of Tenchi Gumi No Ran August
17th 1863, the tenth grandmaster who was also named Yryu Gikanbo was shot
and although he continued to fight with only one arm had eventually to
retire after been cut many times. He was found by Matsutaro Ishitani,
who was himself on the way to the battle. Ishitani helped Gikanbo recover
in the mountains of Iga. In return for this act he was trained in the
secrets of Gikan Ryu.
7. Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu
As the grandmaster of this ryu Shinryuken Masamitsu Toda taught the arts of striking
and kicking to his grandson Toshitsugu Takamatsu. This ryu teaches the
art of defeating a strong person by feigning weakness.
8. Gyokishin Ryu Ninpo
This ryu teaches many of the secret philosophies and tactics of our art.
9. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu
Said to have been founded by a monk named Un-Ryu (Cloud Dragon) this ryu has close
links with Kuki Shinden ryu after a contest between the two schools took
place in 1672. It was realised that the Kukishinden Ryu was superior in
the stick fighting arts, but that the unarmed combat techniques of the
Takagi Toshin Ryu was in its own turn superior. So the schools adopted
techniques from each other to improve the quality for future generations.
Takakage Matsutaro Ishitani was also a soke of this ryu and it is through
Takamatsu Sensei and Hatsumi Sensei that many of the throwing and locking
tactics are handed down.
Most of the other remaining ninjutsu schools were wiped out by Oda Nobunaaga in
1591 when the men, women and children of the Iga mountains were slaughtered
by a force out numbering them 10 to one. Of those few families to survive
all forgot or put aside their training in the many years of peace that
followed. Leaving Masaaki Hatsumi as the only surviving grandmaster. The
only person acknowledged as an authentic soke in ninjutsu by the Japanese
authorities.
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