People of Ninjutsu

Ninjutsu: 7 documented people. Also: traditional founder (1), predecessor / teacher (1), master (2).

Founder (3)

Izumo Kanja YoshiteruFounder: Shinden Fudo-ryu DakentaijutsuSemi-legendary first soke of the Shinden Fudo-ryu school, which he reportedly founded around 1113; tradition credits him with secret spear techniques from the tengu.Kuki RyushinFounder: Kukishinden-ryu Happo BikenjutsuLegendary founder of the Kukishin-ryu schools, born in 1318 according to tradition, credited with the origin of bojutsu after his naginata was broken in battle.Masaaki HatsumiFounder: Bujinkan Budo TaijutsuJapanese martial arts teacher (born 1931), student of Toshitsugu Takamatsu and founder of the Bujinkan, which merged nine schools whose lineages historians question.

Traditional founder (1)

Tozawa HakuunsaiTraditional founder: Gyokko-ryu KosshijutsuLegendary founder of the Gyokko-ryu Kosshijutsu school, who according to tradition lived in the late Heian period; sources do not document his existence.

Predecessor / teacher (1)

Chan BushoPredecessor / teacher: Koto-ryu KoppojutsuA legendary figure whom one lineage narrative from the Bujinkan circle links to the origins of the Japanese school Koto-ryu koppojutsu.

Master (2)

Toda NobutsunaMaster: Togakure-ryu NinjutsuAccording to the Bujinkan genealogy, the 24th or 25th soke of the Togakure-ryu ninjutsu school, living from 1624; his historicity is uncertain.Toda ShinryukenJapanese master of Gyokko-ryu and Koto-ryu (1824–1909), according to Bujinkan the 32nd soke of Togakure-ryu and teacher of Toshitsugu Takamatsu, lineage disputed.

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