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The International Bujinkan Dojo is a creation of Soke Hatsumi, Masaaki. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei was the sole heir of Nine (9) Kobudo Ryuha (old combat schools) from his teacher - Soke Takamatsu, Toshitsugu. Soke Takamatsu-Sensei, also known as Moko no Toro – the Mongolian Tiger and the Last Combat Ninja – was the heir of the nine (9) schools from three different Soke: Soke Toda-Sensei (Grandfather of Soke Takamatsu-Sensei), Soke Ishitani-Sensei, and Soke Mizuta-Sensei. The name ‘Ryu’ can mean ‘school’ as well as ‘flow’ or ‘dragon’. I think it is interesting to think of the Nine schools as living Dragons – ancient, wise, powerful, and completely unpredictable. From that point of view, our Soke Hatsumi-Sensei, is the only gateway through which the Nine Dragons communicate their teachings. The following is a brief and very limited description of the Nine Ryuha and some additional materials that form the basis of the material available to Bujinkan Dojo Students. Togakure Ryu Ninpo (Hidden Door School of the Laws of Endurance/Survival) – 34th Generation: This is the oldest school in the Bujinkan and is the first of six Ryuha carried by Iga Ninjutsu Soke inherited by Soke Hatsumi-Sensei (2004:21). When Soke Hatsumi-Sensei began teaching and licensing he did so under the name Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu. Material from the other schools, especially Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu/Ninjutsu, was taught under this Elder Dragon’s name. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei changed the overall name of his organization to Bujinkan (Divine Warrior) and then taught the schools under their own names. This school is very large and teaches a great deal of material. Soke introduces the Shinobi Juhakkei from Togakure Ryu. Available material from this school includes Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, Kusarifundojutsu, Kyoketsu Shogejutsu, Intonjutsu, Senban shurikenjutsu, Godan examination, etc. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei inherited this school from Soke Takamatsu-Sensei who inherited it from his grandfather, Soke Toda-Sensei. Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu/Ninjutsu (Jewelled Tiger School of Muscle and Nerve Attack/Endurance/Survival Art) – 28th Generation: This school is also from Iga and is listed as a Ninjutsu Ryu by Soke Hatsumi-Sensei (2004:21). Thus it could be considered the second of the six Iga Ninjutsu Ryuha. It has had some of the most famous Ninja as its Soke – Soke Momochi, Sandayu I and II for instance. Many times Soke Hatsumi-Sensei has said that Koshijutsu is the basis of martial arts. It is the basis of the Kihon Happo and has a large emphasis in the Tenchijin Ryaku no Maki. It has Kuji-in associated with it and many Kamae yet only three ‘fundamental’ ones. The movement from this Ryuha is very important for Bujinkan students to study. It has been taught with Koto Ryu for many generations and although they were started by different Soke, they are said to be considered to be complementary – together they have all the variations of movement in the martial arts. Gyokko Ryu has no weapons kata but it specializes in Shoto/Wakizashi. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei inherited this school from Soke Takamatsu-Sensei who inherited it from his grandfather Soke Toda-Sensei. Kukishinden Ryu Happohikenjutsu (Nine Demon God School of Eight Secret Weapons Art) – 28th Generation: This Ryu along with Shinden Fudo Ryu and Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu are the three ‘Samurai’ Ryuha carried by Soke Hatsumi-Sensei. Kukishinden Ryu would be the first of these three Samurai schools. In fact for many generations Kukishinden Ryu and Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu have been practiced and inherited together. Having said that, Soke Takamatsu-Sensei inherited these Ryu separately one from Soke Ishitani-Sensei and the other from Soke Mizuta-Sensei (respectively). A large number of our weapon skills are drawn from Kukishinden Ryu – Hanbojutsu, Rokushakubojutsu, Sojutsu, Naginatajutsu, Bisentojutsu, Tessanjutsu, Juttejutsu, and Bikenjutsu. Also our practice of Yoroi kumiuchi comes Kukishinden Ryu. As you know most of our Kihon Happo comes from Gyokko Ryu, but Soke Hatsumi-Sensei brought both Onikudaki and Ganseki Nage as other Kihon examples of the principles taught in Gyokko Ryu as Musha Dori and Muso Dori (respectively). Kukishinden Ryu assumes the Uke is as skilled as the Tori, which is very important in understanding the movement of this Ryu. In 2007, we heard Soke Hatsumi-Sensei discuss the Kuki (Nine Demons) at Daikomyosai 2007, in the Tokyo Budokan. The essence of what Soke Hatsumi-Sensei said via his translator was “...that if you have a good warrior’s heart the Nine Demon Gods would help you, if you don’t they will destroy you”. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei inherited this school from Soke Takamatsu-Sensei who inherited it from Soke Ishitani-Sensei. Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu (Immovable God School of Striking Body Art) – 26th Generation: This Ryu is the second of three Samurai schools held by Soke Hatsumi-Sensei. Although this school was carried by Soke of the Iga Ninja tradition it is a ‘Samurai’ tradition. It came to our Ninjutsu lineage with Soke Toda, Shinryukan Masamitsu-Sensei, Soke Takamatsu-Sensei’s grandfather – in its 24th Generation. The fact that this school and the other ‘Samurai’ schools is held by Soke Hatsumi-Sensei, illustrates what Soke Hatsumi-Sensei has said many times – that Ninjutsu is Budo and that the so-called ‘line’ between samurai and ninja was in fact quite porous. If this was not the case, no ‘Samurai’ Soke would allow his/her art to be given to a ‘Ninja’ Soke. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei inherited this school from Soke Takamatsu-Sensei who inherited it from his grandfather Soke Toda-Sensei. Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo (Jewelled Heart School of the Laws of Endurance/Survival) – 21st Generation: This school is the third of the six Iga Ninjutsu Ryuha inherited by Soke Hatsumi-Sensei and is said to be derived from Gyokko Ryu. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei has only taught a very little of this Ryuha. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei has given us clues, however, to this school’s movement. He introduces the feeling of the school on his Bujinkan Koppojutsu DVD (Quest) and he has told us that the basis of the movement is from the Gyokko Ryu. Further, Soke Hatsumi-Sensei has said this school emphasized intelligence gathering and nagenawa (rope). Soke Hatsumi-Sensei inherited this school from Soke Takamatsu-Sensei who inherited it from his grandfather Soke Toda-Sensei. Koto Ryu Koppojutsu (Knock Down Tiger School of Structural Attack) – 18th Generation: This school is the fourth of the six Iga Ninjutsu Ryuha inherited by Soke Hatsumi-Sensei. It is said to have come from China via Korea and was in Japan for many generations prior to its arrival in the Bujinkan lineage 18 generations ago. Koto Ryu is a bone-breaking/structural attack school. Koto Ryu is a devastating system for the opponent. It is very strategic, where each movement leads to the next which ultimately leads to the opponents’ defeat. Koto Ryu and Gyokko Ryu are said to be complementary. Like Gyokko Ryu, Koto Ryu has no specific weapons kata yet it specializes in Katana. So with both Gyokko Ryu which has Shoto/Wakizashi and Koto Ryu which has Katana, the practitioner’s Daisho (the two swords worn by the Samurai) is complete. This again points the interconnectedness of Samurai and Ninja. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei inherited this school from Soke Takamatsu-Sensei who inherited it from his grandfather Soke Toda-Sensei. Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (True High Trees Rising Heart School of Flowing Body Art) – 17th Generation: This school is the third of the three Samurai schools held by Soke Hatsumi-Sensei. It has been taught together with Kukishinden Ryu for generations. In fact the sword and other weapon movement of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu are that of Kukishinden Ryu. In later years the Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu became a body-guard system in the palaces of Daimyo and also we believe of the Emperor. Thus the striking and throws were used to subdue and restrain your opponent. We find the techniques from this school very sharp. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei inherited this school from Soke Takamatsu-Sensei who inherited it from Soke Mizuta-Sensei. Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu (Truth, Justice and Loyalty School of Structural Attack)– 15th Generation: This school is the fifth of the six Iga Ninjutsu Ryuha inherited by Soke Hatsumi-Sensei although it was not passed to Soke Takamatsu-Sensei from Soke Toda-Sensei with the other Iga Ryuha. Rather it came from Soke Ishitani-Sensei despite its strong connection with Gyokko Ryu. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei has only taught a very little of this Ryuha. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei has given us clues, however, to this school’s movement. He introduces the feeling of the school on his Bujinkan Koppojutsu DVD (Quest) and he has told us that the basis of the movement is from Gyokko Ryu. Furthermore we know this is a Koppojutsu School. It is also said that this school’s Densho has only the kata names. The movement was taught as oral tradition only. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei inherited this school from Soke Takamatsu-Sensei who inherited it from Soke Ishitani-Sensei. It is quite interesting that this school was developed by a student of Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu/Ninjutsu which has been held by the Toda family for many generations, yet it was taught/brought back to Soke Takamatsu-Sensei by Soke Ishitani-Sensei. This is further proof of Soke Hatsumi-Sensei’s assertion that Ninjutsu is Budo. Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo (Hiding the Clouds School of the Laws of Endurance/Survival) – 14th Generation: This school is the sixth of the six Iga Ninjutsu Ryuha inherited by Soke Hatsumi-Sensei and is said to be derived from Togakure Ryu Ninpo. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei has only taught a very little of this Ryuha. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei has given us clues, however, to this school’s movement. He introduces the feeling of the school on his Bujinkan Koppojutsu DVD (Quest) and he has told us that the basis of the movement is Togakure Ryu. Further, Soke Hatsumi-Sensei has said that the opening phrase of all Bujinkan Dojo “Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo” comes from Kumogakure Ryu. Lastly we know that a specific type of spear comes from this school – the Kamayari. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei inherited this school from Soke Takamatsu-Sensei who inherited it from his grandfather Soke Toda-Sensei.
Other Official Materials Taught in the Bujinkan Dojo Tenchijin Ryaku no Maki: This is almost a tenth Ryuha. It is the fundamental movements of all nine Ryuha but taught simultaneously as a key to understand the nine Ryuha and can be considered a fully formed fighting system with its own unique movement. These are the Kihon movement of the Bujinkan. The Kihon Happo and Sanshin are extremely important components of Bujinkan training and thus Bujinkan movement. Kihon is often wrongly translated as ‘basics’ but rather it means ‘base’ as in foundation. The Kihon are never transcended. Unlike Western education where each level leads to the next as it is completed, the Kihon are always revisited and refined. Amatsu Tatara Hichibuku Goshinjutsu: Japanese Natural Martial Arts Medicine - Menkyu Kaiden given to Shihan Peter King, as well as three other Shihan. This an extremely rare discipline in the Bujinkan and Soke Hatsumi-Sensei has asked the Shihan whom he has granted Menkyo Kaiden to, like Shihan Peter King, to do the instruction of Amatsu Tatara Hichibuku Goshinjutsu. For more information, please see Shihan Peter King’s website http://www.amatsu-medicine.com/. Shinken Gata: Under Construction...Coming Soon Bokuden Ryu Jujutsu – Daisho Sabaki Kata: (from http://www.hanako.co.uk/History/Related-Denkei/Bokuden-Ryu-Soke.pdf). Thank you Shihan Paul Richardson for this information. Soke Hatsumi-Sensei received Menkyo from Soke Ueno, Takashi Tenshin. A Note on Kuji-in and Kuji-Kiri The mystical Kuji-In and Kuji-Kiri are part of the extended knowledge of the Bujinkan Schools. However, their instruction currently is very rare and demand a great deal of understanding of their origins, Japanese culture, religious iconography, and direct transmission from Soke Hatsumi-Sensei or one of the Dai Shihan. One thing is certain, is they are not possible without a thorough understanding and expertise in Taijutsu.
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