Let’s cover the history of Ninjutsu as a whole (in the course, not this blog), especially within the Bujinkan, but not only them. I will try to be as concise as possible as history is so deep. Ninjutsu can be confusing as there is much overlap between Sokes and school lineages, where they join together for a while, or borrow from each other.
Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu is translated as the Truth, Loyalty, and Justice School. The secret techniques were handed down from one Soke to the next, usually from father to son. Gikan Ryu was founded in 1558-1570. The founder was Uryu Gikanbo, a lord of Osaka, and his castle was named Uryujo. He was a good leader, a great warrior, honourable, and tried to keep Japan at peace. His specialties were
Koppojutsu (bone breaking), Hichojutsu (jumping), and Senban Nagejutsu (blade throwing). He was heavily influenced by the Chinese influence of Cho Gyokko’s Gyokko Ryu Koppojutsu, and Ikai from Togakure Ryu. Gikan Ryu contains secret punches, kicks, and throws, and has a punch that will snap a sword in two.
The 10th Soke had the same name as the founder. On August 17th, 1863, he was involved in a battle called Tenchu Gumi no Ran. He was injured by a rifle and retreated behind a temple. An Iga warrior named Ishitani Matsutaro approached and was going to join the battle, but Gikanbo told him the battle was lost and not to waste his life. Ishitani took him back to Iga and tended to his wounds. Ishitani was already Soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu and Kukishin Ryu and Gikanbo rewarded him by teaching him Gikan Ryu, making him Soke.
When Ishitani was 61 years old, he got work at Takamatsu’s father’s match factory. His family’s ancestors were related to Takamatsu’s. He started teaching Takamatsu while he was young and received Takagi Yoshin Ryu, Kukishin Ryu, Gikan Ryu, and more.
Takamatsu awarded Gikan Ryu to Akimoto Fumio, whose scrolls were destroyed during WW2, then died in 1962. At this point, the Sokeship reverted back to Takamatsu who then gave it to Masaaki Hatsumi at the request of Akimoto, but, supposedly, Akimoto gave it to Sato Kinbei who kept it a secret. This makes it very difficult to confirm. Supposedly, the secret Sato gave it to Shoto Tanemura, a former student of Hatsumi’s. Due to this, they both claim to be Soke, but the Dai Nippon Bugei Ryu-ha book lists Masaaki Hatsumi as the Grandmaster.
The scrolls of Gikan Ryu are unique from other scrolls in that the kanji to decribe things are elaborate and the drawings of kamae are in colour.
The strong influence of Gyokko Ryu on Gikan Ryu means that the differences are not very big.
Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu: Hidden Door School
In the early stages, Togakure Ryu included early forms of Jojutsu, Sojutsu, Naginata, Taijutsu, Muto, Koppo, and Shuriken. Daisuke, the 1st Soke, adopted Kagakure's warrior teachings (Happo Hiken) to his own Shugendo training, and the beginnings of the Togakure Ryu were formed. In the 1600s, the school was taught at the Hattori Ryu to the Ninja and Samurai of the Kishu Fief. The immediate family died out and the Toda family took over leadership of the Togakure Ryu. Some of the Toda family were previously Soke of Kumogakure Ryu Ninjutsu. It is therefore possible that the Toda came from the Kumogakure Ryu, and joined the two Ryu together. Takamatsu once said that he didn’t like the training of the Togakure Ryu and instead preferred the training of Koto Ryu which was fun.
Gakure means “hiding”, and Kagakure means “hiding in the mist”. Togakure Village is almost always surrounded by mist or fog, so it was a good place to hide.
Kagakure Doshi and Kasumi-Gakure might be the same person.
The 22nd Soke was also a student of Momochi Sandayu, Soke of Momochi Ryu, Gyokko Ryu, and Koto Ryu. At this point, the Togakure kata were retired in favour of Gyokko Ryu and Koto Ryu since they were better.
The Sakki test comes from Togakure Ryu.
"Violence is to be avoided, and Ninpo is Bujutsu".
"Use the sword to be peaceful, and protect country, family, and nature".
"The enjoyment of peaceful harmony with the same effortless compassion as that of the wildflowers."
lzuna no Ho used to be a part of Ninjutsu within this school, as recent as 1 742 AD. It used small foxes that were bread and kept to divine the future, possess people, and other sorts of witchcraft related things.
The Togakure Ryu may have been related to a clan that lived in the Togakure Mountain that specialized in breeding wolf-dogs. They were employed by Daimyo often. They could dig under castle walls to gain entrance, fight, carry messages, or signal to it’s master if an enemy camp was sleeping or not.
The 9th Soke of Kukishin Ryu, Kuki Yoshitaka, a vassal, was put in command by Oda Nobunaga of a naval fleet that had been constructed, whose ships were covered in iron. The enemy’s arrows and musket balls simply bounced off. This is where we get the term “iron clad”.
The 9th Soke of Kukishinden Ryu, Kuriyama Ukongen Nagafusa, was on horseback facing a man named Suzuki, also on horseback. Suzuki had a tachi sword measuring 3 feet, 5 inches in length. Kuriyama had a red octagonal rokushaku 6 foot bo staff. Suzuki swung at Kuriyama, cutting his bo in two in the middle. Suzuki raised his sword for another attack and Kuriyama struck him on the wrists with the newly invented han-bo (half staff), causing him to drop his sword. A retainer (weapon carrier) gave Suzuki a yari spear, who then thrust at Kuriyama, but he dodged and struck Suzuki on the head, later dying.
Since Kukishinden were also a naval force, the daisharin wheel and axle assembly comes from this school, and was used to help get boats in and out of the water. The bisento battlefield blade also came from this school.
Takamatsu was hired as a teacher of Kukishin in the Kuki’s own dojo. He compiled the separate Kukishin arts into the Kukishinden Ryu complete system and made copies of the scrolls, with permission. The original scrolls were destroyed during a bombing in WW2, and the Kuki family asked Takamatsu to reeducate them in their own style. Apparently, he showed them a rough, watered down version and kept the best parts for himself. The Toda (Takamatsu’s grandfather) and the Kuki family were related as far back as the 1500s, intermarrying and working together for shoguns.
Ueshiba Morihei, the founder of Aikido, studied with the Kuki family after Takamatsu had “loosely” reeducated them on it after having lost it to him. Ueshiba then later, with permission from the Kuki family, opened the first Kukishin Aikido dojo.
Takamatsu’s grandfather, Toda, from whom he learned most of the schools, taught Kenjutsu to the Tokugawa shoguns, and also taught at a military academy. Toda also published a textbook on military strategy and he and Takamatsu published another one together.
Zhāng Wǔxiāng 張武相 is the Chinese name of Cho Bushō, the same Cho Bushō of Gyokko Ryu.
Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo: Hiding in the Clouds School
1. Iga Heinaizaemon Ienaga (Tenmon Era 1532-1554)
2. Toda Sagenta Nobufusa
3. Toda Gohei Nobunaga
4. Toda Noriyoshi
5. Toda Seiryu Nobutsuna (Kwanyei 1624-1644)
6. Toda Fudo Nobuchika (Manji 1658-1681)
7. Toda Kangoro Nobuyasu (Tenna 1681-1704)
8. Toda Eisaburo Nobumasa (Hoyei 1704-1711)
9. Toda Shinbei Masachika (Shotoku 1711-1736)
10. Toda Shingoro Masayoshi (Gembun 1736-1764)
11. Toda Daigoro Chikahide (Meiwa 1764-1804)
12. Toda Daisaburo Chikashige (Bunkwa 1804)
13. Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu (1824 - 1909)
14. Takamatsu Toshitsugu Uoh (1887 - 1972)
15. Hatsumi Masaaki (1931 – Present)
16. Furuta Koji
The first Soke of this school was also named Kumogakure Hoshi and is believed to be the first Soke of Iga Ryu Ninjutsu. The main characteristics of this school are the kamayari sickle spear, kote uchi forearm strikes, Intonjutsu escape and evasion skills (which are unusually similar to Togakure Ryu), Taijutsu (also verey similar to Togakure Ryu), the Onibi no jutsu (use of the demon mask to prey on people’s superstitions), the kikaku ken head butt, double blocks and strikes, jumps during combat, survival skills such as how to start a fire in wet weather, tree climbing devices, and armoured sleeves.
The famous Hanzo Hattori was a Jonin commander within the Iga Ryu Ninjutsu system and had over 200 ninja under his command. He was born in 1560 and served the Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, whose shogunate ruled between 1603 and 1867. He was his director of Ninja tactics and chief military adviser. He was killed by another Ninja clan, the Fuma Kainin, whom he was sent to kill. But, since the battle was waged at sea, they swam underneath his boat and disabled his rudders, and also covered the whole are with oil. As one of their burning ships came within range, the entire bay caught fire and killed Hattori and all his men, December 4th, 1596.
A famous story is told about Hanzo and Ieyasu Tokugawa before he was the shogun of Japan. One day, when he was 25 or 26, he grabbed Hanzo Hattori by the collar and drug him to a river and held him under. While Hanzo calmly held his breath, Ieyasu had to break the surface, gasping for air. He crawled to the shore weak and exhausted. “How long can a ninja stay underwater?” he asked. “Two days or so. However long you request of me.” replied Hanzo. He then dove beneath the water. Several hours passed and still, there was no sign of him. Ieyasu and his retainers began calling out to him, then Hanzo broke the surface of the water with bursting bubbles. Not only was he not out of breath, but he was smiling. He handed Ieyasu his short sword that he was wearing. Ieyasu was surprised. “I was not under water the whole time.” Hanzo explained. “After I dove underneath the water, I swam to the other side and took a nap behind a rock. When I heard you calling, I swam back.” The listeners were astounded! “I’m sorry for taking your short sword, Sir, but this is Ninjutsu.” Ieyasu was extremely impressed.
There is a ninja in this family scroll named Sarutobi Sasuke that used a kamayari to swing from tree to tree like a monkey.
The Taijutsu of this school is very similar to Togakure Ryu.
“Shiken Haramitsu Daikomyo” comes from Kumogakure Ryu.
There is another claim to Soke of what we call Tonobi Kumogakure Ryu, but the Dai Nipon Bugei Ryu-ha only lists Hatsumi.
Natori Ryu Gungaku: Little Bird School of Warfare
This school was dead and has recently been resurrected by Antony Cummins with the reluctant approval of the Natori family. Antony claims there is absolutely no connection to the schools of the Bujinkan and that any claims have only come about since he made it public, but the truth is, Hatsumi has claimed that several of the schools of the Bujinkan had passed into the Natori family and then to the Toda family as early as 1980 and is so stated on several of his videos from that time, showing unequivocally that Hatsumi said it first.
You may be interested to see the other traditions that are somehow connected to the Bujinkan through merged Soke. Unless noted, the other cases are connected via Masaaki Hatsumi.
1. Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu - Menkyo Kaiden
2. Bokuden Ryu Jujutsu - Menkyo
3. Kukishinden Tenshin Hyoho - student
4. Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu - student
5. Tenshin Hyoho Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu - student
6. Hon Tai Yoshin Takagi Ryu Ishitaniden - student
7. Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu Uenoden - student
8. Hon Tai Yoshin Takagi Ryu - diverges at 13th Soke from Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu Mizuta Den, 17th Soke. Died out at Ishitani,14th Soke. His children inherited the scrolls.
9. Koto Ryu Koppojutsu Uenoden - student of 14th & 15th Soke
10. Amatsu Tatara Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu - student of 13th & 14th Soke
11. Hon Tai Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu - student of 13th Soke, 15th Soke was student of Hatsumi
12. Gyokushin Ryu - student to 15th Soke
13. Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu Satoha - student of 12th Soke, 14th Soke was student of Hatsumi
14. Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke - 2nd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu (of which Hatsum is 17th Soke) received Menkyo Kaiden from 3rd Soke
15. Shinto Tenshin Ryu Kempo - student to 8th Soke, 8th Soke student to Takamatsu
16. Chinese Kenpo - 1st Soke of Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu (of which Hatsumi is Menkyo Kaiden), student of Ganjin Wajo & his escort.
17. Ban Shinden Ryu - 4th Soke of Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu (of which Hatsumi is Menkyo Kaiden) was 1st Soke
18. Chinese Karate Jutsu - Third of the teaching of Ban Shinden Ryu
19. Shinden Tartar no Jutsu - Third the teaching of Ban Shinden Ryu
20. Hotten Masamichi - Third the teaching of Ban Shinden Ryu, later called Seishin Fudo Ryu
21. Musashi Ryu Taijutsu - Miyamoto Musashi learned Ban Shinden Ryu and renamed it.
22. Shindefudo Ryu Yarijutsu - 36th Soke of Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu (of which Hatsumi is Menkyo Kaiden) developed this style.
23. Shindenfudo Ryu Kenjutsu - 36th Soke of Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu (of which Hatsumi is Menkyo Kaiden) developed this style.
24. Shinden Fudo Ryu Jutaijutsu - 42nd Soke of Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu (of which Hatsumi was Menkyo Kaiden) taught this to Takamatsu.
25. Kukishin Ryu - the larger school of Kukishinden Happo Bikenjutsu, 28th Soke
26. Iga Ryu Karate - 15th Soke of Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu was also Soke of this ryu
27. Takagi Ryu - 1st Soke of this ryu was 2nd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu, of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke
28. Muken Ryu - 1st Soke of this ryu was 2nd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu, of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke
29. Kakugai Ryu - 1st Soke of this ryu was 2nd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu, of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke
30. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
31. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Bojutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
32. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Sojutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
33. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Naginatajutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
34. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Senban Nagejutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
35. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Dakentaijutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
36. Amatsu Tatara Rinpo Hiden - Abe Unryu passed it along, finally to 1st Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu
37. Gyokushin Ryu Koppo - 1st & 2nd Soke of Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo were also trained in this ryu. They were also Sokes of Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu.
38. Gyokko Ryu Shitojutsu - early name of Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu, 28th Soke
39. Shoken Ryu Dakentaijutsu - 14th Soke of Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu (Hatsumi is 15th Soke) was also Soke of this ryu.
40. Kishu Ryu/Han - 3rd Soke of Koto Ryu Koppojutsu and Soke of Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu was also from this ryu.
41. Mukai Ryu Suijutsu - This ryu worked closely with the Kuki family during Nobunaga’s war.
42. Kuki Suigun Ryu-ha - related to the Kukishin Ryu.
43. Kukishin Ryu Kusarigama no jutsu - related to the Kukishin Ryu.
44. Tenshin Soden Kukamishin Ryu - 10th Soke here was also 9th Soke of Kukishinden Happo Biken, Hatsumi being 28th.
45. Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Ishibashi den - 13th Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu Mizuta Den (of which Hatsumi is 17th) taught Ishibashi and it diverged.
46. Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Fujita den - 14th Soke passed it to Takamatsu’s teacher.
47. Hakuun Ryu Happo Hiken - Ninja from this ryu taught 1st Soke of Togakure Ryu.
48. Shugendo Buddhism - 1st Soke of Togakure studied this.
49. Minamoto Shogunate - 1st Soke of Togakure was samurai of this shogun, as was his father.
50. Karate Koppojutsu - Takamatsu trained in this style.
51. Yagyu Ryu - The most advanced teachings of this ryu are known as Kukishin Ryu Happo Biken Jutsu, 28th Soke
52. Iga Ryu - The Happo Biken Jutsu is also a part of this ryu.
53. Kito Ryu - very early style whose 2 sokes founded Ryoi Shinto Ryu.
54. Ryoi Shinto Ryu - This style eventually became known as Kuki Shin Ryu, 28th Soke.
55. Takamatsu Ryu Karate - Takamatsu’s own theories of karate.
56. Takamatsu Ryu Ninjutsu - Takamatsu’s own theories of ninjutsu.
57. Kukishin Yo Ryu - Ishitani was apparently soke of this style as well, which Takamatsu was student.
58. Karate - 10th Dan
59. Judo - 6th Dan
60. Aikido - 8th Dan
61. Kobudo - 6th Dan
62. Kendo - grade
63. Aiki-jutsu - grade
64. Western boxing
65. Amatsu Tatara Hichibuku Goshinjutsu - Hatsumi
66. Asayama Ichiden Ryu - student
67. Bikenshin Ryu sword method - Shinryuken Masamitsu Toda, Master
When Takamatsu was in China as a spy, he taught the Chinese a quick version of Ninjutsu, and during the occupation of Russia of some parts of China, they learned it from the Chinese and developed what is known today as Systema, which means, The System.
33rd Soke Toshitsugu Takamatsu Emphasized Ninja Must...
• Learn patience, in the time it takes a cigarette to burn
• Learn that the way of man is truly his righteousness
• Learn to think of all sadness and chaos as life’s destiny
• Forget all desire, life’s easiness, and one’s stubbornness
• Do not distance loyalty from one’s parents and rulers
• Work always to master the cultural and martial arts
Dux Ryu Ninjutsu
The movie “Bloodsport” played by Jean-Claude Van Damme was supposedly based on the true life of Frank Dux. Dux claims to have been taught by a Japanese American named Senzo Tanaka. The orginal style was called Koka Yamabushi Ryu Ninjutsu.
Dux had been criticized for decades as being fake since no records of his teacher had ever been found. But they have been recently found. A man with the same name and dates and location have been verified. He was even in England for a bit and met Ian Flemming, who wrote the book “You Only Live Twice” which has a character named Senzo Tanaka. This character was thought to be stolen by Dux, but with this new information seems to verify his story.
Choson Ryu Ninjutsu
Choson Ryu is so named after the Joseon dynasty in Korea, which dates to 1392 AD. The current head is Greg Park. It is believed he died in the mid to late 2010s. This style is said to maybe have origins in China and then the style and people immigrated into Japan making up the first clan of warriors (Yamato), not to be confused with the Ainu, who are the original Japanese natives.
Shizen Den Ryu Ninjutsu
My 1st teacher was Maurice Goguen, and his teacher was John Willson. Eventually, John Willson became my direct teacher when Moe left to train under Phil Legare instead. I am no longer affiliated with that group.
John told me that he asked Hatsumi if he could teach the more direct Ninjutsu component and Hatsumi said no, so he “invented” a new style called Shizen Den Ryu. He went to the World Sokeship Council and passed off this “new” material and was granted sokeship for it. In reality, it is a combination of Bujinkan, Oikiru Ryu Aiki Jutsu, Shorin Ryu Karate, Combat Ki Jutsu, Judo, Toide Karate, Dai Yoshin Ryu Aikido, Hungar Kung Fu, Arness, Tai Chi, Systema, and Ne Waza, as he is certified in all these to some degree (except Systema). There is absolutely nothing new under the name of Shizen Den.
He claimed that he was part of a secret training group in Japan that met once a month that only the Japanese could be a part of where he learned the goof stuff. When I posted this online (because I believed it), John told me to take it down and I was quickly emailed by dozens of Dai-Shihan that confirmed he was full of shit and they told me what really happened with him. He started the Bujinkan Dojo Ninja Brotherhood of Canada in an attempt to centralize all of Canada but Hatsumi was very disappointed in this move and told him to cease and desist. He refused. Nagato Sensei told me directly that John used to be good, emphasizing again “used to be”, and that he and his offshoot are not official Bujinkan members any longer and they are not welcome in Japan. For some reason, the Honbu in Japan continues to take their money though and humour them with paperwork. When wearing their Bujinkan Dojo Ninja Brotherhood patches, they were singled out and pushed aside, unbeknownst to them, according to a Dai-Shihan I will not name.
John Willson used to have a large following, but after this, most of them left him and John became observably bitter, often lamenting to us who were still around to listen. He complained incessantly of others as do his students that remained with him, telling stories that could no longer be trusted. He would throw shuriken at Stephen Hayes book, telling me how much he hated him, with more stories between the two. He once played a VHS training video for me that started with pornography on it. He would tell me why prominent people within the Bujinkan were liars. I learned to hate Nagato as he did and immortalize Ishizuka. It turned out the opposite was true. Eventually, I had had enough and I left shortly after. To this day, his students are known as trouble makers, bullies, liars, and most people want nothing to do with them.
He even asked me to stop teaching Shizen Den or to use the BDNB of C name. I still claim that name because it pisses them off, and some of my training was organized under that banner, even though I know better now. For instance, he claims to have invented the idea of punching with the opposite hand as the lead foot (cross punch). But I learned this in Japan too, and when I told John’s students I learned it, they laughed and suggested they stole it from John!
They had for some time dropped the Bujinkan name and uniform completely, but once I became a Dai-Shihan, they started using the Bujinkan name again and are fervently trying to catch up in ranks. They hate the idea I succeeded without them. Imitation is the best flattery, I guess. ;) To this day, they cannot tell enough lies about me locally to discredit me.
From Phil Legare to Jason Steeves: “Sakizuke neh (pre-emptive strike eh?). You will work hard to better the Bujinkan in Canada, of that I have no doubt. And Soke has given the ability to cut through the BS.”
From another Dai-Shihan, who latter became a soke, “Soke made it clear he wasn't going to get any attention at all in Japan from him or any of the Japanese. He was upset that Willson set up the brotherhood thing. Thought it was similar to the Shadows of Ignorance and that he was trying to be like Hayes.”
Korean martial arts
Choi Yong-Shul, at the age of 8, was taken to Japan from Korea, later abandoned, and then taken into
the household of Takeda Sokaku, a teacher of Daitô-ryû Aiki-jujitsu. Choi said that he remained in Takeda’s home for thirty years before being repatriated to Korea at the end of World War II. This set the foundation for Hapkidō.
Similar stories of Koreans in Japan not being allowed to learn Japanese martial arts so they watched through the windows and then upon returning to Japan, recreated the styles they saw, creating new Korean styles.
What is Koryu?
Japanese martial arts are categorized into modern or Koryu. A Koryu is a classical martial art that has roots in Samurai culture dating back to at least the 19th century and can prove the lineage as such. Basically, it means its old and has been proven in battle and survived. A Ryu is just a packet of information that is structured to teach to the next generation by a master. There are Ryu in Japan for things other than martial arts, like tea ceremony, flower arranging, calligraphy, etc. Koryu was banned in Japan from the Meiji restoration until 1952. Many died because of this, but some continued in secret and are public today. The word Ryu and Ryuha are difficult to define. From what I can tell, Ryu could mean a parent tradition, while Ryuha is a subset within it. Another definition states that a Ryu is an official tradition, while a Ryuha is a gathering of like-minded individuals to unofficially study. Iga Ryu could be considered a parent Ryu while Togakure Ryu would then technically be a Ryuha. A dead Ninjutsu Ryu might have documents that have been found and they bring it back to life without an official direct lineage. The ideograms for Ryu 流 can also be read as “nagare” or as a flow, a line, as in a transmission. You could even say that schools that amalgamated with Takamatsu are Takamatsu Ryu, or even Takamatsu-den (a branch), like Kukishin and Kukishinden. I have even heard Hatsumi Ryu and Bujinkan Ryu. Once a Ryu is complete, especially in martial arts parlance, a master license is given. This notes not only mastery, but ownership. This person is responsible for passing it on and is authorized to make any changes as he sees fit. This is why Hatsumi says our styles are alive and grow and change. We learn it faster than our predecessor because he learned from his teacher then added his fresh experience afterwards, and organized the information better for more efficient transmission. We add our knowledge to improve them or modify them to unforeseen changes in our world, such as firearms when they were first introduced. Now we have cameras, technology, cars, and cityscapes. Koryu are generally a small number of practitioners, dozens or less, and are centralized to one primary location under the supervision of a headmaster. Admittance is strict, requiring long commitments, control of student’s behaviour, letters of recommendation, background investigation, elaborate entrance ceremonies, admittance gifts, fees, signing pledges, blood stamps, name stamps, etc. Koryu were very secretive, and the information sometimes seemed chaotic in order to confound someone who finds it without permission.
Because of Koryu’s lack of competitions, mysticism, the length and dedication of instruction, the strictness of meeting graduation qualifiers, and reality warfare components, it will never have the mass appeal as other mainstream systems do.
In the 1920s, the government of Japan began sending police to inspect dojos to make sure they had kamidanas (Shinto spirit shelves, altar) in accordance to the state religion. The rules stated that students had to begin and end each training session by worshipping the altar. During the 1930s, training halls were called dojo, a word originally meaning “religious chapel” and names of techniques took on religious terminology, such as Oni Kudaki (demon crusher), TenChiJin (heaven, earth, man), or Bujinkan (divine warriors). I did not choose the name Divine Warrior Ninjutsu for Shinto religious reasons, just so we are clear. I just wanted an English version of Bujinkan.
Ninja Uniforms
What did they wear? Let’s keep this short. It’s said the ninja borrowed the uniform from kabuki theater. When the play was on, stage hands wore all black to blend in the background. It could be true, but unlikely. Basically, the ninja would wear whatever worked best for the mission at hand. If they had to move in public, they would wear whatever they needed to blend in, be the grey man. What we think was the iconic ninja suit was really nothing more than normal clothing to most. Hakama (skirt) were worn by many, tabi (socks) were worn by many, straw sandals too, and even hoods and masks were pretty common. The ankle boot covers, known as kyahan, and hand gauntlets, known as tekko, were also common. They are really just devices to tighten and loosen in order to restrict blood flow when one was too cold or too hot. The ninja would also use them to keep cuffs from snagging on tree branches and such. Rubber soled jikatabi are worn in Japan today by construction workers and others, but they are probably more modern. The colours of their uniform also depended on the situation. Black is usually too stark a colour for the night and can be seen. A faded black, dark blue, grey, brown are all good colours. It really depends, and just use common sense.
A note on Antony Cummins
Cummins was once a Bujinkan student and now vehemently opposes the X-kans (Bujinkan, Genbukan, Jinenkan). He once told me he asked Hatsumi if he could see the scrolls and when Hatsumi refused, he decided they do not exist and is therefore fake. He also states the Bujinkan does not “fit” in history and evidence used states comic book characters and the lack of a Togakure Ryu scroll before Takamatsu or any evidence his grandfather really existed under the name Toda. But, as can be seen, the scrolls have been seen by many (I even own copies), the comic book character was taken from a real person first, copies of the Togakure Ryu scrolls have been found that pre-date Takamatsu, and Toda has been found in records since this claim.
What is the Genbukan and Jinenkan?
Shoto Tanemura, a once high ranking student of Hatsumi, left the Bujinkan under bad conditions and began his own school called the Genbukan. Similarly, Fumio Manaka also left and started Jinenkan. Stephen K Hayes also left and started To Shin Do. They all left over disagreements and are generally no longer on good terms.