Kuki Shinden Ryu 2007
九鬼神伝流八法秘剣術

By Harry Mitrou, Bujinkan Greece Shihan
Bujinkan Greece Ninpo Taijutsu

The Bikenjutsu is the heading for a group that is made up of Kenjutsu, Kodachi, and Jutte. The Juttejutsu is the most important part of the Bikenjutsu. The Jutte also has the Tessenjutsu. It is important that the Taijutsu is mastered before the Jutte can be used effectively. Some of the Kukishinden Ryu Densho books appear on the second color page at the front of the book on Bojutsu by Hatsumi Masaaki. These Densho books are titled as such (from left to right):

1. Kukishin Ryu Happo Biken no Jutsu 1
2. Kukishin Ryu Happo Biken no Jutsu 2
3. Kukishin Ryu Happo Biken no Jutsu 3
4. Kukishin Happo Biken no Jutsu 3
5. Hon Tai Kukishin Chosui Ryu, Kukishin Ryu Dakentaijutsu Gokui no maki 2

DENSHO of KUKISHINDEN: Kukishin Ryu Gokui no Maki Hontai Kukishin Chosui Ryu Dakentaijutsu, Kuki Happo Hiken no Jutsu, Kukishin Ryu Happo Hiken no Jutsu, Kukishin Ryu Happo Hiken no Jutsu, Kukishin Ryu Happo Hiken no Jutsu

The Chosui in number 5, was one of the warrior names used by Takamatsu, the 25th Soke of the school. He took the name Chosui when he learnt the Okuden level of the Dakentaijutsu. May 4th 1575 (Tensho 3), the 9th Soke Kuriyama Ukongen Nagafusa was a Samurai from the Kurama Ryu serving in the army of Oda Nobunaga.

It was during the battle of Nagashino that he fought against Suzuki Tango no kami Katsuhisa, a Samurai in the service of Takeda Katsuyori. Suzuki carried a Tachi which was Sanjaku Gosun long (3 shaku 5 sun = 96.2cm). Kuriyama and Suzuki were both on horseback Kuriyama used a red Oak octagonal Rokushakubo. Suzuki cut the Bo in half at the centre, but as he raised his Tachi to Daijodan no Kamae to cut down at Kuriyama again, Kuriyama struck upwards with his Hanbo (the halved Bo) at Suzuki’s hands.

This caused Suzuki to drop his Tachi. A retainer of Suzuki’s who was near by passed. Suzuki a Yari (Spear), when Suzuki thrust the Yari at Kuriyama, Kuriyama moved to the side so that the Yari blade would miss him. Kuriyama moved to the side, and he struck Suzuki on the head with the halved Bo (Hanbo) which caused him to fall from his horse bleeding from his head and mouth. He died soon after. After this incident Kuriyama went on to create the Hanbo and instigated it’s use in the Kukishin Ryu. Kukishinden Ryu Happo Hikenjutsu. This however is not to be mixed up with the Kukishinden Hyoho which was transmitted from Ishitani to Iwami Nangaku. Takamatsu only received Menkyo kaiden in this school.

The Kuki family originated from Ise and Shima. It was during the time of the 12th Soke of the Kukishin Ryu Kuki Ohsumi no Kami Takatsune, which the Kuki family was sent to Tanba and Ayabe by the Shogunate. The Kukishin Ryu continued to exist and operate in its new area.

Formal Techniques of Kukishin Ryu

The densho (scrolls) are arranged in a particular order, and each [1] (technique), [2] (forms), etc are supposed to be learnt in the same order, mastering one before going on to the next one.

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Kukishin ryu is divided as such:

* [3] or [4] (Unarmed methods)

** [5] Gata (Postures)

**Kihon Gata (Fundamentals)

**Omote no Kata (Obvious/outer forms)

**Sabaki no Kata (Moving forms)

**Shime no Kata (Strangulations and hold downs)

**Tai no Kata (Body forms)

**Muto Dori (Unarmed defence against sword)

**Daishosabaki no Kata (Forms with no weapons in hand, but a long and short sword a worn at the side while performing them)

**Teppan Kata (Forms using the teppan, a square steel plate)

**Sensodori (Forms using the tessen, a metal fan)

**Shirabe Moguri Gata (Takedowns, throws; some involve throwing yourself)

**Atekomi (Strikes)

**Toritsuki and Shinkatsubo (Methods of dealing with multiple opponents, from two attackers up to nine)

**Hayanawa (Methods of tying your opponent with rope)

* [6]/ [7] (Sword methods)

**Kamae Gata

**Kihon Gata

**Omote no Kata

**Tyugokui

**Tokenjutsu no Kata (Forms that involve throwing the sword)

**Gokui no Kata (Secret forms)

**Kaiden Gata (These forms are intended for masters)

* [8] (Staff methods)

**Kamae Gata

**Kihon Gata

**Omote no Kata

**Chugokui (Middle level secrets)

**Gokui no Kata (Secret forms)

**Kaiden Gata

* [9]/Yarijutsu (Spear methods)

**Kamae Gata

**Omote no Kata

**Chugokui

**Gokui no Kata

* [10] (Halberd)

**Kamae Gata

**Kihon Gata

**Omote no Kata

**Chugokui

**Gokui Gata

**Kaiden Gata

* [11] (Half staff)

**Kamae Gata

**Kihon Gata

**Omote no Kata

**Chugokui

**Gokui no Kata

**Sensodori (Methods of using a Tanbo, a very small staff)

* [12] (Iron truncheon)

**Kata

* [13] (Water methods)

**Musui no Ho

**Kyuryuzenchi

**Suichukatsujizaiho

* [14] (Fire methods)

**Hibuse no Ho

**Hezeme Senpo

**Kayaku no Hiho

* [15] (Horsemanship)

**Katate Nawa no Ho

**Basyu Issoku

**Araumadome no Hiho

* [16] (Strategy)

**Kuden (Oral transmition, the densho also contain articles on strategy)

by Harry Mitrou, Bujinkan Greece Shihan
6th February 2006

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Copyright 2006 Harry Mitrou Shihan & Bujinkan Greece Ninpo Taijutsu

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[1] Waza [2] Kata [3] Jujutsu [4] Taijutsu

[5] Kamae [6] Kenjutsu [7] Kenpo [8] Bojutsu

[9] Sojutsu [10] Naginata [11] Hanbo [12] Juttejutsu

[13] Suijutsu [14] Kajutsu [15] Bajutsu [16] Bo-Ryaku