Koto-ryu Koppojutsu
虎倒流骨法術Koppojutsu school, one of the nine Bujinkan traditions, also taught by the Genbukan and Jinenkan. Wikipedia credits Sakagami Taro Kunishige as its founder.
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About Koto-ryu Koppojutsu
Koto-ryu koppojutsu, 虎倒流骨法術, is according to English and Japanese Wikipedia a school specialising in koppojutsu, founded in the Muromachi period by Sakagami Taro Kunishige and derived from Gyokko-ryu. The Genbukan says the name refers to the legend of Cho Gyokko, who felled a tiger with one blow, and kogakure.de translates it as the school of knocking down the tiger. English Wikipedia explains koppo jutsu as a way of attacking the skeleton or using it. Wikipedia states that the soke title passed from Takamatsu Toshitsugu (1889 to 1972) to Hatsumi Masaaki and from him to Noguchi Yukio. According to the Bugei ryuha daijiten, cited by Wikipedia, koppojutsu arose in ancient China and Chan Busho of Korea brought Koto-ryu to Japan. The Genbukan calls him Cho-Busho of Kudara, kogakure.de a Chinese warrior who came via Korea. It is a tradition passed down by Takamatsu and we have not found independent written evidence. The official list of the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai does not include the school. Today it is taught by the Bujinkan, Genbukan, Jinenkan and the Israeli organisation AKBAN, which describes it as a school of aggressive direct attacks using a larger bone against the opponent's weaker bones.
History
According to Wikipedia, the Bugei ryuha daijiten states that Toda Sakyo Ishinsai took over the tradition from Sakagami of the Tenbun era, founded Gyokko-ryu koshijutsu and Koto-ryu koppojutsu, and passed them to Momochi Sandayu. The Genbukan writes that in 1541 Sakagami left Iga and became a martial arts teacher at Iwami Ginzan castle, and according to kogakure.de he summarised the techniques into a ryuha in 1542. According to the Genbukan, Takamatsu received menkyo kaiden in Shinden Fudo-ryu, Koto-ryu and Togakure-ryu from Toda Shinryuken in 1908. He began learning Koto-ryu at twelve according to the Genbukan, at nine according to kogakure.de, and was a master at thirteen.
How it differs
The Genbukan gives a different lineage from Wikipedia. It names Ri-Houtei as founder and runs the line through Cho Gyokko, Cho Busho and Hougen Sennin to Sakagami, Momochi Sandayu, Toda Shinryuken and Takamatsu. According to the Genbukan, the school was taught to the Iga ninja as a secret art. Kogakure.de states that Sakagami was also soke of Gyokko-ryu and that the two schools have many similarities.
Technique
The Genbukan lists five kuraidori stances, eleven atekomi-gata sets, eighteen shoden-gata, eight hekito-gata, twelve chuden-gata, twelve okuden-gata and three kaiden-gata. AKBAN names five stances, hidari seigan, migi seigan, hira ichimonji, hoko and bobi no kamae. Kogakure.de states that Koto-ryu contains the complete kyusho, that is pressure points for atemi, and that the opponent is watched between the eyebrows, not in the eyes. Its special stance is mangetsu no kamae, holding the sword above the head to dazzle the opponent with sunlight on the blade.
Training
AKBAN states that the Koto-ryu syllabus has the levels shoden-gata, hekito-gata, chuden-gata and okuden-gata. The Genbukan writes that members from 3rd dan may study the traditional schools as originally taught, and generally need 1st dan in Genbukan ninpo or KJJR jujutsu. English Wikipedia says Bujinkan training involves no competitions.
Today
According to English Wikipedia, around his 88th birthday in December 2019 Hatsumi named Noguchi Yukio his successor for Koto-ryu. According to the Genbukan, Tanemura Shoto received menkyo kaiden in Koto-ryu in 1979 and has taught it since 1984, and those interested must join the Genbukan or the KJJR. The Jinenkan lists Koto-ryu among its lineages and AKBAN considers it a pillar of its syllabus.
Did you know
According to kogakure.de, in 1960 Takamatsu convinced a Tokyo Sport journalist of Koto-ryu's effectiveness by drilling five holes in tree bark with his fingers. The site gives no source. The Genbukan dates the origin of the name Koto-ryu koppojutsu to 1156.
Frequently asked questions
What does Koto-ryu mean?
According to the Genbukan it refers to the legend of Cho Gyokko felling a tiger, and kogakure.de renders it school of knocking down the tiger.
Who leads Koto-ryu in Bujinkan today?
According to English Wikipedia, Noguchi Yukio, whom Hatsumi named his successor in 2019.
Is Koto-ryu in the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai?
No. The list of member schools of the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai includes no ninjutsu or koppo school.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.