Ryōi Shintō-ryū (良移心当流) was initially, an early Edo period (江戸時代, 1603 - 1868) amalgamation, drawing on three separate traditions of martial arts. It is for this reason that Oshimatsu (1983) describes Ryōi Shintō-ryū as being “the fruition of general / comprehensive martial arts” (良移心当流は総合武術の結実 - “Ryōi Shintō-ryū wa sōgō bujutsu no ketsujitsu”).

The three foundation pillars of Ryōi Shintō-ryū (良移心当流 ) are:

* Historical Sumo (相撲) I.e. Kumiuchi (組討)

* Yagyū Shinkage-ryū Heihō (柳生新陰流兵法) i.e. Kōbujutsu (古 武術)

* Chūgoku Kenpō (中国拳法 Chinese Fist Art)

Ryōi Shintō-ryū was an extremely influential martial art, founded during the transition between the Sengoku Jidai (an age continual battlefield warfare) and the Edo period (of prolonged feudal peace). However, that is not to say that the Edo period was without danger. Martial training was necessary to maintain a peace, often built on threat of mutual destruction between rival Han (feudal fiefs).

Ryōi Shintō-ryū included Sengoku (warring state period) Kumiuchi (grappling), but also contributed to the development of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū Muto-dori (無刀捕 - without sword catching) by introducing Tai-sabaki (体捌き) movements, that allowed advanced practitioners to evade sword attacks, then use the attacker’s momentum and body weaknesses against him.

Conversely, Yagyū Shinkage-ryū (柳生新陰流) Heihō (兵法 - war method, strategy), also had a profound influence on the tactics of Ryōi Shintō-ryū.

The writings of Fukuno were included in the Tsuki no Sho (月之抄), under the title of Ryōi Shintō Yawara (良移心当和),

This is why the Bujutsu (now termed Kobujutsu - old martial skills) is an important component of Ryōi Shintō-ryū. It remains essential to be skilled with traditional weapons, in order to understand their distance and functions, so as also be able to work against them.

In essence an appreciation of ranges of distance cannot be fully appreciated without reference to traditional weapons.

I am grateful and extremely honoured to have been recognised as - Hanshi (範士) and Kudan (9th dan 九段) rank in 'Ryōi Shintō-ryū Kobujutsu' (良移心当流 古武術) by the 'Zen Nihon Sōgō Budō Renmei’ (全日本総合武道連盟 – All Japan Budō Federation), in Kyōto, Japan

My sincere gratitude to my teacher Shortt Hanshi and to Kawano Kanchō and Sheridan Hanshi of the ZNSBR for their kindness and support in making this happen.