Kyūjutsu (弓術) in Ryōi Shintō-ryū (良移心当流). The 'Dai Gen Yumi Somme Hiden' (大玄弓蟾目秘伝 - Large Mysterious Bow Toad's Eye Secret Transmission). Also known as 'Fukuno Masakatsu Denrai Somme' (福野正勝伝来蟾目 Fukuno Masakatsu Inherited Transmission of the Toad's Eye). Although Fukuno was the founder of Ryōi Shintō-ryū, in this document he is also described as "Kitō-ryū ganzo" […]

Also from: Classical Fighting Arts of Japan - A Complete Guide to Koryū JūjutsuChapter 6.2 ‘The Fukuno-ryū Lineage’ by Serge Mol (2001), p.124. "Fukuno used the term yawara at least as early as Genna 8 (1622), since in March of that year he is believed to have written a mokuroku titled Ryōi Shintō Yawara. Some […]

From the 'Shintō Yawara Hisho' (心當和秘書), which was the transmission scroll passed from Takeda Tarobei (武田 太郎兵衛 - the lineal head of the Nagahama branch 長浜派 of the Ryōi Shintō-ryū 良移心当流) to his successor Maki Sōjūrō (牧宗十郎) in 1840. "Kakemachi no Koto 掛待之事 (stand off and wait)In combat, do not strike first; wait for your […]

Regarding Chin Genpin, Bujutsu researcher, author and teacher; Jun Osano (see web page -https://japanbujut.exblog.jp/23706338/) shows a partial picture (see below) of the 神富柔え組大 'Shinto Yawara e Kumi dai' - Gods (Kami) strike big grappling. Also known as the 秘伝組合時代 'Hiden Kumiai Jidai' - Secret transmission war time joining together in grappling document and describes it […]

From the book: Nihon no Budō Jūjutsu jūnōseigō no michi 日本の武道 柔術 柔能制剛の道 良移心當流 目録 Ryōi Shintō-ryū mokuroku 表 Omote 五 (five) 先表 Senpyō (pyō = omote) front outer 五 (five) 仕合表 Shiai-hyō (contest omote / outer ) 五 (five) 裏表 possibly ura omote (inner & outer), but it is indistinct, although the lower part […]

The Nagahama (長浜) line of the Ryōi Shintō-ryū’s (良移心当流) used the shortened form of 'Shintō-ryū Yawara' (心當流和). This is an amateur translation of part of the above document. Shintō-ryū Yawara Kumiuchi Mokuroku 心當流和組打目録 腰之廻  Koshi no mawari (revolve / around the hips) 捕シト To shito (catching)  - 左右  Sayū (left and right) 前車  Zensha (Mae […]

Kitō-ryū Jūjutsu Yoroi Kumiuchi起倒流柔術鎧組討Okayama Prefecture, Okayama City, Ashisunkura 岡山県岡山市足寸蔵 Hontai 本體 (True reality) Dofu (同封 See enclosed) – (起倒本體を御参考 Kitō-ryū Hontai - for reference) Ten no maki 天之巻 (Book / volume of heaven) (詳細不明 details unknown)Chi no Maki 地之巻 (Book / volume of earth) (詳細不明 details unknown) Jin no Maki 人之巻(Book / volume of man) […]

This article is well worth reading. Ryōi Shintō-ryū’s (良移心当流) founder - Fukuno Shichroemon wrote “let softness be your mother and hardness be you father” i.e. the importance of hard and soft are equal and interconnected. This theme is consistent throughout the writings of the school and strategically allows for appropriate responses to the nature of […]

I have mention a number of times that the Kitō-ryū (起倒) is derived from the Ryōi Shintō-ryū (良移心当流). I recently obtained a copy of the 'Kitō Yushin Jūjutsu Hiden Kai' (起倒雄心柔術秘傳解 - An Explanation of the Secret Techniques of the Kitō Yushin School) by Tahara Shūme (田原主馬) in Meiji (明治) 38 (1905). I have included […]

This is an interesting book describing early 20th Century Jūjutsu. It relates to the 'Shinto Rokugou-ryū' (神道六合流), which was one of a number of schools that rivalled the Kōdōkan in those days. It has both grappling similar to Jūdō and Jūjutsu waza. It suggests that the Kōdōkan was not unique in its content, but followed […]

I have recently obtained a Kanshin-ryū makimono dated 1889 (see above). Characters for school names can sometimes be substituted, while keeping the same sound as a ‘play on words’ . This Kanshin-ryū (貫心流 penetrate or possible brace the heart / mind) ) makimono is written with 貫, but the Kanshin-ryū (観心流) described by Serge Mol […]

This is the first part of an entry on the Ryōi Shintō-ryū from an new Japanese language book entitled: 'Nihon Jūjutsu Ryūha Jiten' by Osano Jun (2020). Some of it follows of the Kitō-ryū narrative that the Kitō-ryū was a continuation, rather than a derivative of the Ryōi Shintō-ryū. However, further light is throw on […]

I recently found the book below and have included a relevant quote from it together with a couple of the illustrations. The book is entitled: 'A History of Shaolin: Buddhism, Kung Fu and Identity'By Lu Zhouxiang (2019) “While Shaolin kung fu gained mainstream popularity in China, it was also introduced to neighbouring countries and contributed […]

Between 1626 - 1627, Ryōi Shintō-ryū (良移心当流) founder Fukuno Shichirouemon Masakatsu (福野七郎右衛門正勝) studied ‘Torite no jutsu’ (捕手の術 – hand taking) & ‘Kenpō’ (拳法 – fist striking method) from the Southern Shaolin Monastery (南少林) Chinese monk Chin Genpin (陳元贇) at the Kokushoji monastery in Azabu 麻布 in Minato, Tokyo) I have just obtain a book (in […]

The first illustration above is entitled as 'Tengu Mata' 天狗胯 (股) - (Long-nosed goblin thigh) from the Yōshin-ryū (楊心流). The second picture is from the Yōshin-ryū showing Tengu performing the throw and is taken from 'Classical Fighting Arts of Japan: A Complete Guide to Koryu Jujutsu' by Serge Mol (2001). The final picture shows a […]

Carl De Crée's (2014) article states the following: “Kitō­-ryū delivered most of Kanō’s inspiration for throws and for his concept of Jū yoku gō o sei suru 柔能く剛を精する (Non‐resistance overcomes force), although the latter can be traced even further towards the roots of historic sumō 相撲 wrestling (De Crée, 2014; Kanō, 2006). More specifically, Kanō […]

I recently came across these certificates from 41 years ago. I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to follow teachings Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流 柔術) for so many years. The certificates are signed by the late Robert Clark Sensei in his capacity as BJJA (British Jujutsu Association) National Coach and by my teacher James […]

Dr Erwin Bälz (1849 - 1913) was a German internist, anthropologist and personal physician to the Japanese Imperial Family. He taught at the Medical College of Tokyo Imperial University and was the co-founder of modern western medicine in Japan. He provides a first hand account of the Totsuka-ha Yoshin-ryū  (戸塚派揚心流) and during his time, it’s […]

In the "The Kano Chronicles® – Kano Shihan in fact and fiction Part I"Blog article by Lance Gatting (Dec. 2019), he discusses the lack of evidence for subsequent stories of the victories by Kōdōkan Jūdō (講道館 柔道) over the older Jūjutsu (柔術) schools in Meiji era (明治) matches (see below). However, that notwithstanding, it should […]

In basic terms, Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流 柔術) is divided into two different components (subject to the needs of the situation) and two types of technique within each, as follows: Kakutō (格闘) - Combat, comprising of: Atemi waza (当身技) – Striking"Using the body as a point of impact against an opponent. Selecting the target for […]