Training overview

There are nine ryuha or schools that are trained within the Bujinkan curriculum. 

Training Styles

Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu

Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu centers on disrupting the nerve center and vital organs in order to defeat the opponent. It does this by concentrating the strikes on the muscle and nerve centers of the body. Strikes are made with the fists, fingers and toes and various weapons to these points.

The movements of Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu are very quick and circular and emphasize the principle of a dynamic spinning weight (the fist) to maximize the striking impact or joint load on an opponent. Feet, knees, hands and elbows are conditioned to strike with the smallest surface area in order to create penetrating results.

As with most Japanese martial arts there are four levels of training. The first three levels are basic unarmed defensive techniques with each level building upon the skills learned in the preceding technique or level. The last level  teaches the student how to deal with weapon attacks, specifically against the long sword, the Tachi, although most techniques are today taught against the Katana.

Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu         

Shinden Fudo Ryu is one of the nine martial traditions in the Bujinkan. The origins of this art date back to the mid-twelfth century when the founder of Shinden Fudô Ryû, Izumo, learned Chinese Kempo boxing. As a result of being on the losing side of a battle, Izumo fled to the Iga province of Japan. It was there that he expanded on his Chinese Kempo training and developed Shinden Fudô Ryû into a formalized martial discipline. Elements of Chinese Kempo can still be seen in many of the techniques practiced today. Shinden Fudô Ryû has been cultivated and passed down through 26 generations and now resides with current GrandMaster Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi (also the 34th generation GrandMaster of Togakure Ryû Ninjutsu). It also has the unique distinction of being the first art taught to GrandMaster Hatsumi’s mentor, Toshitsugu Uoh Takamatsu. Takamatsu began the study of Shinden Fudô Ryû at the age of nine under the tutelage of his grandfather, Shinryuken Masamitsu Toda.

Toda Sensei, the 24th GrandMaster of Shinden Fudô Ryû, wrote down a set of five “truths”. These “truths” are said to be the “law of the dôjô”:

1. Know that patience comes first.
2. Know that the path of man comes from justice.
3. Renounce avarice, indolence, and obstinacy.
4. Recognize that sadness and regret are natural and therefore seek to develop an immovable spirit.
5. Do not stray from the path of loyalty and familial love and pursue the warrior and literary arts with balanced         determination.

The Principles of Shinden Fudô Ryû
There is a twofold meaning to the “Nature” of Shinden Fudô Ryû. First, there is the secret principle of the school, the “Principle of Nature.” Instead of building a dojo and then training, students are taught to use nature to make the body strong. The legs and the hips are conditioned first. Then, rocks and trees are used to toughen the fists. Trees are excellent training partners for practicing dojime (body choke) and various strikes and kicks. Body throws can be practiced by bending supple trees. Rolling and falling on uneven ground with rocks and sticks provide a realistic training environment and help to teach situational awareness.

Shinden Fudô Ryû also uses “Nature” to emphasize the importance of moving in a natural way, without power or force. All of the techniques in this school (and the others in the Bujinkan Ninjutsu system) are practiced without utilizing physical strength as a means to overcome an opponent. The techniques are successful by using angles, distance and timing. Striking and kicking are done from a natural posture with no set-up or telegraphing. They should take the opponent by surprise from a blind angle.

There are no set kamae (stance, posture) in Shinden Fudô Ryû, with the notable exception of Shizen no kamae (natural posture), which holds no fixed form. A Characteristic of this Ryû can be found in its recognition of natural style as the only posture of defense. However, in reality, a person imagines a posture of defense in his mind and places himself on guard. As nothing in nature is fixed, so it should be with one’s movement. Nature is comprised of moment to moment changes, and these natural body changes become the kamae.

Moving Naturally
Every individual has a unique way of moving. As people mature, “habits” of motion develop, giving each person their own distinct way of walking, sitting, etc. Unfortunately, most of these habits contradict natural movement, and actually hinder motion. When a baby picks up an object from the ground he or she will bend down at the knees, keeping their back straight, and use their legs to raise and lower their body. Babies will instinctively use the largest muscle groups to coordinate balance and strength when moving. Most adults, on the other hand,will bend at the waist and rely on the smaller back muscles to perform the same task. They assume that these “shortcuts” of motion are more efficient, when infact the opposite is true.

Large weapons such as the ono (battlefield axe), ôtsuchi (large war hammer) and yari (spear) are also found in Shinden Fudô Ryû. Because of their size and weight, it would be impossible to wield these weapons unless the entire body’s movement was integrated. As an exercise, walk slowly in a straight line. Try to eliminate all unnecessary motion or habitual patterns. Keep your body relaxed and allow your body to compensate for uneven terrain or obstacles naturally – without overcompensating with muscle or tension. This is the true movement of ShindenFudô Ryû.

Shinden Fudô Ryû Punching
Traditionally, Shinden Fudô Ryû was developed for warriors wearing armor. Because of the heavy and cumbersome armor of the time, techniques needed to be both energy efficient and powerful. A punch, as we know it today, would bevery slow and difficult to execute. The unique punching style of Shinden Fudô Ryû emphasizes the use of natural movement with the whole body, not just the shoulder and arm. This economy of motion saved time and energy, both of which were vital in battle.

Here is an example of the Shinden Fudô Ryû punching method:

• Start from Shizen no kamae (stand naturally).
• Step forward with your right leg. At the same time, punch by bringingyour right hand straight out from your hip, surprising the opponent froma blind angle.
• Make sure to open your hips to provide better balance and posture. Byopening the hips, a better posture of balance and stability is achieved, which is crucial when wearing heavy armor.

Punching in this fashion provides added benefits such as allowing you to keep your sword (worn on the left side of the body) away from an opponent’s grasp. This also allows the punch to go unnoticed, by coming from underneath rather than straight on (like a jab) or from the side (like a hook). The Shinden Fudô Ryû punch should strike areas of an opponent’s body not protected by armor.

Iaijutsu and the Sword
It is written in the Shinden Fudô Ryû scrolls that Iaijutsu (draw cutting) may have originated from this school.

The Shinden Fudô Ryû sword is typically much longer than a katana. To compensate for the sword’s unusual length, a unique style of Iaijutsu (sword drawing) was developed. One technique in this style involves drawing the sword vertically while pushing the saya (sword scabbard) back. This type of Iaijutsuallows the sword to be drawn in a confined space, for example when fighting on a crowded battlefield. Due to the swords’ size it is important to use the spine and not just the arm when drawing the sword. By drawing only with the arm, many people would not be capable of completely removing the sword from the saya.

Sheathing the sword is done by turning sideways so the tip of the sword will always face the opponent. If necessary the sword can be pushed forward to prevent an oncoming attack. This type of sheathing also helps to hide the length of the sword, since the opponent is looking at the sword head-on. By taking a step back with the left leg and angling the body when pushing the sword into thesaya, the dimensions of the sword stays hidden, and the sword remains in a ready position.The cutting method of Shinden Fudô Ryû relies on using the swords’ weight, not upper body movement or power. This again emphasizes the principles of natural movement as opposed to forced muscle strength. The sword is literally allowed to drop on to the opponent, and body movement is used to push the sword down and in to complete a cut.

The Essence of Nature
It is difficult to quantify and express in words the true meaning of “Nature” in the training of Shinden Fudô Ryû. The principles of this school lie on many levels, often too complex to explain in simple terms. To fully understand how and why these techniques were developed, it is important to think and train the way Izumodid in the 1100s:

• Train outdoors.
• Use what is around you as your dôjô.
• Don’t get caught up in positions and details.
• Above all try and eliminate any forced or “unnatural” movement.

Not everyone has access to armor, so when training, try to visualize and incorporate your movement as if you were wearing some. When you can apply these principles to your training you will begin to understand the essence and true “Nature” of Shinden Fudô Ryû.

The Shinden Fudo Ryu is divided into two sub-disciplines, each one is taught separately; not everyone will learn both.

• Jutaijutsu/Jujutsu (Grappling methods)

  • Goho no Kamae (Five postures)

  • Shoden Gata (Basic forms)

  • Chuden Gata (Intermediate forms)

  • Okuden Gata (Advanced forms)

• Dakentaijutsu (Striking methods)

  • Ten no Kata (Heaven forms)

  • Chi no Kata (Earth forms)

  • Shizen Chigoku no Kata (Natural 'hell' forms)

Koto Ryu Koppojutsu

Koto Ryu Koppojutsu is a system of offensive close quarter where the operator uses linear attacks and responses to disrupt or destroy the attackers structural or skeletal foundation.

Koppojutsu is commonly referred to as a 'bone breaking' method but it can also be applied in a manner that disrupts the attackers balance and controls the opponent by utilizing weak points within his body structure, either those that occur naturally or are created by the defender in response to the attackers movement.

Koto Ryu Koppojutsu makes use of the entire body as a weapon through its utilization of all parts of the body in its defensive techniques.

As well as the very effective unarmed techniques Kotō Ryu also utilizes a complete range of small weapons in addition to the more standard sword and staff combinations.

Takagi Yoshin-Ryu Jutaijutsu 

 Most famous in the Bujinkan as a "Bodyguard School" with fast and effective jujutsu techniques, and daisho sabaki (jujutsu while wearing both swords in the belt). Other techniques are based around bojutsu. It has been mixed with sumo techniques, Takenouchi Ryu jujutsu and others. Takagi Yoshin Ryu has been handed down together with Kukishinden Ryu for generations. The Takagi Yoshin Ryu uses many techniques that appear similar to judo or aikido, but goes further in that when the techniques are applied it's made difficult for the opponent to escape by rolling or breakfalling.

These are very close quarter techniques with the opponent held close - a result of the techniques being developed in buildings. Students are taught to use speed, look the opponent in the eyes and use their impulse and weight. Also translated as "Heart of the Willow Tree School".

 The school was founded in the beginning of the 1600s by Takagi Oriuemon Shigenobu. He was chief instructor of swordsmanship at Shiraishi castle in Oshu (present day Tohoku region), having mastered Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu, Yoshin Ryu Kodachi, and Kenko Ryu Sojutsu. Takagi Oriuemon also founded Hontai Yoshin Ryu and both can trace their origins back for 18 generations. "In Takagi Yoshin Ryu, look at the eyes and use speed."

The History of Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu:

In 1569, during the Yeiroku Era (1568-1579), in the Funagata Yama area of Miyagi, lived a mountain priest from the Abe family called Unryu (Cloud Dragon). The Bugei Ryu-ha Daijiten gives his name as Sounryu. He was an expert in shuriken, bojutsu, yari, naginata and taijutsu from the Amatsu Tatara Rinpo Hiden Makimono. The Amatsu Tatara scroll was kept by the Abe, Nakatomi, Otomo, and Monobe families. Takamatsu Sensei's family also posessed a copy, through their blood relation with the Kuki family. Unryu taught his system to Ito Sukesada, a famous martial artist in his day (1570). He was a samurai from Katakura Kojuro in the Fukushima Province. He added hanbo, kenjutsu and kodachi to the teachings of Unryu. He taught the techniques that would later become Takagi Yoshin Ryu to Takagi Oriuemon Shigenobu, a young samurai from the Tohoku-Shiroishi Han in Oku (a northern part of Japan). He was born on April 2nd, 1625, and died on October 7th, 1711. He was given menkyo kaiden when he was just 20 years old. On the 15th of August, 1695, he was made a shihan of up to six different martial arts of the Imperial bodyguard by the Emperor Higashiyama.

He revised, improved and expanded the techniques that he learned from Ito, and put them together into what he called Takagi Yoshin Ryu, naming it after himself. He studied hard to improve himself for the purpose of avenging his father's murder. His father had gifted him with the teaching "A willow is flexible, but a high tree is breakable". The style has been called many things throughout its history, including Jutaijutsu, Jujutsu, and Dakentaijutsu. It has been heavily influenced by Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu, and Kukishin Ryu. In the 17th century, the soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu, Takagi Gennoshin Hideshige, and the soke of Kukishin Ryu, Ohkuni Kihei Shigenobu, fought a friendly match, and became close friends. The two systems exchanged information, and even became restructured as a result. The two systems passed down through history very close to each other. The style came to Toshitsugu Takamatsu through Yoshitaro Tadefusa Mizuta in August of 1908, and to Masaaki Hatsumi in May of 1959. When applied, the techniques of Takagi Yoshin Ryu go farther than those of Judo or Aikido, making it impossible to roll or breakfall. The throws are intended to break the shoulder or neck of the opponent.

"Soft like cotton, hard like lightning; courage to win against ten thousand men"
"A willow is flexible, but a high tree is breakable".

Kukishinden Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu

Kukishinden Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu is a school specializing in samurai grappling and sword work using both the long and short sword.

Dating from the 15th to 16th century at a time when Japan was in a state of continual warfare and just prior to the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate Kukishinden Ryu is a complete system of unarmed and weapons based combat developed when combatants wore full suits of armor into battle.

Training should be done with the feeling of wearing a suit of armor which weighs approximately 30 - 50 kilos. This dictates the way in which you move and gives the Kukishinden Ryu its particular style and rhythm.

Kukishinden ryu training encompasses unarmed techniques as well as sword, staff and knife techniques, as well as a variety of other weapons.

Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu

Said to have been formalized in about 1162 the Togakure Ryu, or ‘Hidden Door School’, uses unconventional ways of fighting, or rather avoiding fighting, that would have confused and frustrated the samurai of the day

Using a shorter than normal sword so it could be used indoors in narrow corridors or castle hallways, shuriken, shuko or hand claws the ninja was a worthy if unpredictable adversary.

The Togakure ryu ninja methods of escaping from an advancing enemy involve the use of Metsubishi. These are powders that are concealed in various ways about the body and then thrown in the face of an enemy to confuse and temporarily blind him so the ninja could vanish into thin air.

Rigorous study of all the methods of this school, both unarmed and armed, are necessary for a complete understanding of the Togakure ryu.