The 9 schools are passed down to us through Takamatsu Sensei "the last living true Ninja"
Takamatsu's teachers were:
Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu, his grandfather, who taught 6 systems at the Toda family Dojo - Togakure, Gyokko, Koto, Shinden Fudo, Kumogakure, and Gyokoshin.
Ishitani - head of Security at the family's factory in Kobe who passed on Kukishinden and Gikan.
Mazuta - the Soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu who taught and passed on this ryuha. Takamatsu learnt this art at the Mazuta Dojo, and also trained in it with Ishitani who was a Master, (with Takagi Yoshin forming the unarmed combat of the Kukishinden). However, it is directly from Mazuta that Takamatsu inherits the Soke title and Densho.
TOGAKURE RYU:
Founded by Daisuke Togakure in the 12th Century.
Toda Seiryu Nobutsuna was the 24th Soke of Togakure Ryu when he inherited the school in the early 17th century. This was passed down the Toda family until Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu who passed the school to Takamatsu who became the 33rd Soke.
GYOKKO RYU:
Cho Gyokku left China during the Tang dynasty and arrived in Japan. This could have been anywhere from 7th to 10th Century. The techniques of "Tiger striking" were passed down until the Gyokko Ryu was formed in the 12th Century by the Tozawa family.
Toda Nobutsuna was the 18th Soke of Gyokko Ryu. Masamitsu passed it to Takamatsu, making him 27th Soke.
KOTO RYU:
The Sakagami family, the Toda ancestors, founded this ryuha in the 16th century.
Toda Nobutsuna was the 9th Soke of this school when he inherited it in the 17th century. Masamitsu passed it to Takamatsu, making him 17th Soke.
GYOKUSHIN RYU:
Sasaki, founder of Gyokushin, was from the Gyokko Ryu. Toda Nobutsuna was the 11th Soke. Takamatsu was the 20th Soke.
KUMOGAKURE RYU:
This school was created by the Toda family in the 16th century. Nobutsuna was the 5th Soke, Takamatsu was the 14th.
SHINDEN FUDO RYU:
Izumo founded this school in the 12th century. He also founded the Kukishinden Ryu.
This ryuha, however, is passed down through the Toda family, while Kukishinden comes to us from Ishitani.
This school of unarmed combat is based on the Chinese Kempo that Izumo learned.
Toda Masumitsu was the 25th Soke, with Takamatsu being the 26th.
GIKAN RYU:
This school was founded by Uryu in the 16th century, and passed down through 10 generations until it passed to the Ishitani father and son.
Gikan Uryu was the 10th Soke, last in the family line.
Ishitani became the 11th and 12th Sokes, who passed it to Takamatsu, making him the 13th.
KUKISHINDEN RYU:
This school has it's roots in the Kukishin school. Kuki means Nine Demons, and was the martial name of Kurando, it's founder.
This ryuha was founded by Izumo in the 12th century, and passed down through the Izumo family. He also founded the Shinden Fudo Ryu.
Ishitani were the 25th and 26th sokes, Takamatsu was the 27th.
TAKAGI YOSHIN RYU:
This ryuha was founded by the Takagi family in the 17th century.
Mizuta was the 15th Soke, who passed it to Takamatsu, making him the 16th.
