The 9 Traditions of Bujinkan
These are the 9 traditional schools preserved and teach within Bujinkan, whose current Soke (grandmaster) is Sensei Masaaki Hatsumi:
Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu Koto Ryu Koppojutsu Togakure Ryu Ninpo
Happo Hiken |
Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu Kukishinden
Ryu Taijutsu Happo Hiken Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu |
Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo Happo Hiken Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo
Happo Hiken |
Toate acest şcoli au baze comune, întrebuinţând aproximativ aceleaşi tipuri de deplasări, posturi şi mişcări. În acest fel a putut fi constituită sinteza Ten Chi Jin Ryaku No Maki de către Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, sinteză care constituie programa de studiu până la shodan, ca un numitor comun al şcolilor din Bujinkan.
Gyokko
Ryu Kosshijutsu
"Şcoala tigrului de diamant"
玉虎流骨指術
Gyokko Ryu comes with a complete fighting method, that combines techniques of unarmed combat (taijutsu) with all kinds of weapons (sword, spear, long stuff), and uses circular and fast movements based on the attack to the opponent's vital points, koshijutsu. Technical school curriculum includes techniques such muto-dori (unarmed fighting against armed), to-jutsu (sword techniques) and bo-jutsu (staff techniques). Some of the basic techniques from Gyokko Ryu are studies in Bujinkan as part of the kihon waza. Masaaki Hatsumi is the 28th Soke of this Ryu. |
* The techniques of this school came from China, during the T'ang dynasty, and it was brought to Japan (prior to the 10th century) by a Chinese priest called Cho Gyokko. Though 1-st Soke was Tozawa Hakuunsai, the first person who developed it as a Ryu was Sakagami Tari Kunishuge, between 1532 and 1555. After this, the school was given to Momochi Sandayu (a very famous ninja of his time), then to Toda family. |
Koto
Ryu Koppojutsu
"Şcoala tigrului devastator"
虎倒流骨法術
Koto Ryu techniques are based on fast and directed strikes used on short distances, in order to break opponent's bones - koppojutsu. The movements are simple, reflecting the pragmatism of the combative situations on the battlefield. Technical school curriculum includes the study of techniques of weapons (sword, cane), also muto-dori techniques. Masaaki Hatsumi is the 18th Soke of this Ryu. |
* Koto Ryu came also from China, over Korea to Japan, by an Chinese warrior named Chan Busho. After several generations, in the XVI century, Sakagami Taro Kunishige received the school's knowledge and organized the Ryu as we know it today. |
Togakure
Ryu Ninpo Happo Hiken
"Şcoala uşii secrete"
戸隠流忍法
The specific techniques of the school are characterized by low position and powerful strikes. In terms of natural movements, techniques from Togakure Ryu come clearly from those of Gyokko Ryu and Koto Ryu, representing their blending height: koshijutsu and koppojutsu streamlined forms. Masaaki Hatsumi is the 34th Soke of this Ryu. |
* One of the oldest schools (and a true Ninjutsu one), Togakure Ryu was founded in the Iga region by Daisuke Nishina (who later become Daisuke Togakure as the first Soke of Togakure Ryu), born in approximately 1161, into a Samurai family. Refugee in the mountains after a lost battle, Daisuke met a yamabushi warrior called Kagakure Doshi, the third soke of Hakuun Ryu (one of the original Ninjutsu systems developed from the teachings of Ikai who brought the roots of koshijutsu from China). Daisuke learned Doshi's warrior teachings, added them to his own Shugendo beliefs, and this is how the beginnings of Togakure Ryu were established. The new art was thought as a universal nature concept, and included meditation, breathing, diet, and mind training techniques, transforming the warrior into an intuitive surviving fighter. |
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Shinden
Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu
"Şcoala inimii imuabile"
神伝不動流打拳体術
The school specializes in dakentaijutsu (striking techniques, dislocation and fracture of bones) and jutaijutsu (clamping techniques, projection, articular techniques), and its concepts are based on the use of body as a weapon and a deep knowledge and understanding of the principles of the nature. Technical Curriculum includes techniques with tachi (sword), o-tsuki (a kind of sledge used as a weapon of war), ono (secure) and even hojojutsu techniques, the art of tying the opponent with a rope during combat. Masaaki Hatsumi is the 26th Soke of this Ryu. |
* The founder of this Ryu was Izumo Kanja Yoshiteru (the 1-st Soke) in 12-th century. He also studied Chinese Kempo Boxing in the beginnings of his training, somehow defining the punching and kicking techniques of this Ryu. |
Kukishinden
Ryu Taijutsu Happo Hiken
"Şcoala celor nouă demoni"
九鬼神伝流八法秘剣術
The school specializes in taijutsu and daken taijutsu, unarmed combat systems that include techniques of striking and breaking bones, catching techniques, projection, articular techniques, etc. Technical curriculum defines a comprehensive system of fighting techniques including, in addition to taijutsu (unarmed combat), the study of techniques with ken (sword), yari (spear), bo, jo and hanbo (sticks of different sizes), naginata and techniques of throwing weapons, also strategy, water and fire special use techniques, camouflage and disguise techniques, etc. In time, more branches of Ryu Kukishin were established, and Masaaki Hatsumi Sensei was named Grand Master of the Kukishinden Ryu branch, including it in Bujinkan as part of the knowledge received from his teacher, Toshitsugu Takamatsu. Masaaki Hatsumi is the 28th Soke of this Ryu. |
* Originated from China (like few other ryu included in Bujinkan), it is considered to be older than Kamakura period (even if the first written materials came from that time), when the name "Kuki" was given to the Samurai Yasushimaru Takazaneu, by the emperor Go Daigo (1319 - 1339). The school was organized with all it's specialties by Izumo Kanja Yoshiteru (the same founder of Shinden Fudo Ryu). |
Takagi
Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu
"Şcoala Spiritului Drept"
高木揚心流柔体術
The specific of this school are the jutaijutsu techniques, unarmed combat skill using the body flexibility rather than strength. Technical curriculum of the school also includes the study of weapons and fighting techniques with kodachijutsu (small sword), hanbo (short stick) and tanto (knife). Masaaki Hatsumi is the 17th Soke of this Ryu. |
* It was founded by a monk named Abe Unryu, who lived in the Funagata mountains, expert in shuriken jutsu, bojutsu and taijutsu; however, the name of the school comes after its first soke's name, Takagi Oriuemon Shigenobu (1625 - 1711), the one who actually systematized all the knowledge and organized them into the school basis. The history of this school is quite related to Kukishinden Ryu, when the two schools adopted techniques from each other to improve the quality and the efficacy of their methods. |
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Gikan
Ryu Koppojutsu
"Şcoala adevărului, loialităţii şi dreptăţii"
義鑑流骨法術
Gikan Ryu has many special punch, kick, and throwing techniques, as well as a special movement methods. Masaaki Hatsumi is the 15th Soke of this Ryu. |
* The founder of this school (and it's first Soke) was Unryu Hangan Gikanbo, the daimyo of Kawachi province (about 1558 - 1570), a dedicated practitioner of chinese boxing and shuriken throwing. |
Kumogakure
Ryu Ninpo Happo Hiken
"Şcoala ascunderii printre nori"
雲隠流忍法
Kumogakure Ryu has an unique taijutsu, featuring specific use of a kamayari (a spear-hook used by pirates in the Japanese islands). Masaaki Hatsumi is the 14th Soke of this Ryu. |
* Kumogakure ryu is complete Ninjutsu fighting system, and the 1-st Soke and the founder was Heinaizaemon Ienaga Iga, in 17th century. The fighting techniques are quite similar to those teach in Togakure Ryu, since these two schools were transmitted together in the beginnings. |
Gyokushin
Ryu Ninpo Happo Hiken
"Şcoala inimii de diamant"
玉心流忍法
Though Gyokushin Ryu has many sutemi waza and lasso specialized techniques, it is more focused on the art and techniques of espionage, rather than the fighting methods. Masaaki Hatsumi is the 21st Soke of this Ryu. |
* The founder of this Ryu (also its first Soke) was Sasaki Goeman Teruyoshi, who was also one of the Sokes in Gyokko Ryu. |
*After Paul Richardson, Introductory History to the Schools of Bujinkan, first edition, 1993
