The 9 Schools of Ninjutsu

There are 9 schools, or ryuha to give them their Japanese name that are considered Ninja schools

1. TOGAKURE RYU NINPO
2. GYOKKO RYU KOSHIJUTSU
3. KOTO RYU KOPPOJUTSU
4. KUKI SHINDEN RYU HAPPO HIKEN
5. KUMOGAKURE RYU NINJUTSU
6. GIKAN RYU KOPPOJUTSU
7. SHINDEN FUDO RYU DAKENTAIJUTSU
8. GYOKIJSHIN RYU NINPO
9. TAKAGI YOSHIN RYU JUTAIJUTSU

only 3 of these are actually "ninjutsu" or ninpo in the truest sense

the other 6 were MAs practiced by Ninja clan that became complete schools - some are based on Kempo, some of Japanese JJ or Kenjutsu

What makes them Ninja is that they were used by the Ninja against the samurai, tactics preceding techniques as always

It is not necessary to go into any real depth with these schools early in your career, but they may be referred to in class

this is similar to how a shuto is done different in kempo to kyukushin karate to shotokan and why taijutsu's kiten ken is a unique technique not a variation on karate or kempo's shuto

Kukishinden Ryu Happo Hikenjutsu

Kuki shinden Ryu (Nine demons school)

Happo Hikenjutsu

Weapons
sword, spear, halberd, bo, hanbo,
jutte, tessen kusuri-kama

taijutsu

heiho
military strategy

Started as a battlefield art, techniques brought back by masters who survived to teach

The Bojutsu was devised in battle when the commander's spear broke and he used the staff to defeat the remaining enemy with the kuji kiri 9 cuts method

the Bo of Takagi yoshin ryu is taken from kukishinden

the taijutsu of kukishinden is based on takagi yoshin ryu

Bojutsu in the ryu holds elements of spear and halberd and is used in a deceptive manner

it is similar to other Jo schools of Japan, and differs from the Bojutsu of Okinawa, which is part of Karate and Kempo

shorter sticks include hanbo and tanbo - although there is a part of taijutsu that uses them as close range weapons, similar to a karate weapon


Kenjutsu in this ryu has a signature upward slash at angle 12

it also uses long and short swords, swords in pairs, throwing knife, and bo shuriken

Naginata - halberd - the ryu owes it's creation to the battlefield halberd and the broken halberd that started it's bojutsu

Hanbo - a similar origin in that a warrior's spear was cut in half so he used the half staff. Further developments of the hanbo come from the movements of the sword. It also has a section based on taijutsu kempo.

Spear - sojutsu - yari - a difficult weapon to use as it relies on distance and timing. Similar to the Wing Chun pole.

Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu

Gikan Ryu (Regard for justice school)

Koppojutsu

a bone breaking method with low stances and powerful First Rule strikes

Pairs with Koto Ryu as an early form of hard karate

It has the precept of Sentenashi, no first attack, meaning it is a self defence system

The founder of Gikan Ryu was a student of Gyokko Ryu and it is an adapted Kihon Happo that uses First Rule and bone breaking rather than Second Rule and kyusho pain strikes

eg a thai kick to the leg causes a dead leg, attacks the muscle, and drops the opponent - with the right training you could develop the power and focus to break the bone

eg ikkyo is an immobilisation and takedown - but could be developed to break the arm at the elbow

Based on KH this ryu uses distance to draw the opponent in and then destroys him with bone breaking strikes

If Gyokku Ryu resembles Shorin Ryu karate, this ryu and Koto Ryu resembles Shorei Ryu karate

Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu

Takagi Yoshin Ryu (Raise the heart to the high trees school)

JuTaiJutsu

This closely resembles Kempo Jujutsu, very much a grappling school with rapid strikes

The throws and chokes of Judo, and the locks and projections of aikido can be seen here - though in a battlefield form, not a mat form

Power and pressure - techniques are applied fast, close and in succession so the opponent has no chance to retreat or counter, breakfall, roll, or escape

Unlike battlefield arts for soldiers, this was an art developed for bodyguards - it was developed inside a building, not outdoors like most koryu, designed for use in a more confined area

This is almost the opposite of Shinden Fudo Ryu which is outdoors in nature KJJ, TYR is indoors and urban KJJ

As this ryu is not battlefield based it takes it's weapon system from the Bojutsu of Kukkishinden Ryu, and the shorter sticks are used to effect in close quarters

The entire syllabus of this ryu forms the unarmed combat of Kukkishinden Ryu

Koto Ryu Koppojutsu

Koto Ryu (Tiger knocking down School)

"to knock the Tiger down with the tips of the fingers"

Koppo Jutsu

Very much like kyukushin karate this method involved linear strikes to break bones

First Rule - hit fucking hard

This ryu adopts training methods seen in Okinawa and later in Japan in kyukushin - wood breaking to perfect the bone breaking methods - striking sand and gravel, then later stone to condition the hands and other striking tools

The 10th Soke of Gyokko Ryu founded the Koto Ryu

This ryu also teaches sword, and uses the four point shaken shuriken

Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu

Shinden Fudo Ryu (Tradition of the immovable god school)

Dakentaijutsu

This closely resembles Kempo Jujutsu.
The hard striking methods are drawn from Chinese Kempo, including low line kicking.
There is also hard grappling method, chin na done like Judo.

The hand and body tool conditioning is not as fierce as Koto Ryu, but still involved hitting trees to toughen the tools, and also ripping bark to develop the "seizing" methods.

There is also the use of trees to practice the taijutsu for throws and locks

This ryu teaches oversized weapons - instead of a simple Bo a ninja would use a whole branch or log, his taijutsu allowing him the movement to weild it

this ryu also made oversized weapons - an axe, a hammer, and a sword, for use with it's taijutsu

This ryu promotes the "principle of nature", was big on training in nature (a lot of Grass Days) and natural body movement

It also uses hojojutsu - the art of using a rope in combat, a lot like a rodeo lasoo

Gyokko Ryu Koshi Jutsu

Gyokko Ryu (Jewelled tiger school)

Koshijutsu

The oldest ryuha.

Based on Chinese Kempo, with roots in Tiger Crane, strikes are made to muscles and nerves - a lot of Second Rule. There is also chinese chin na - muscle seizing and tearing.

Closely resembles kung fu, tiger crane, with some dragon, snake.

Taijutsu kihon happo comes from this ryu.

The changing of direction mid flow gives us evasion and distance in defence, adds torque and power in our counters, and makes it hard for the opponent to read us so he in turn can't counter.

Indirect attack.

The 10th Soke of Gyokko Ryu founded the Koto Ryu school of koppojutsu

Ninjutsu Book of Man

Jin Ryaku no Maki (Humanly Strategy Book)


Suwari Gata (sitting forms)
•Three forms of defending from seated posture

Katate Dori (counters to single hand grabs)
•Five forms of countering one hand grabs or grabs with one hand

Ryote Dori (counters to two hand grabs)
•Seven forms of countering two handed grabs

Haibu Yori (defending the rear)
•Five counters to attacks from behind

Tsuki Uchi (counters against fist attacks)
•Nine forms against punching attacks

Keri ni Taisuru Uke (counters against kicks)
•Five forms against kicking attacks

Tsuki to Keri ni Taisuku Waza (counters to punch & kick combinations)
•Five forms against punch/kick combo attacks

Nage Kaeshi (throw counters)
•Eight counters to throws - also defined as "returning the throw"

Muto Dori Gata (unarmed against a blade)
•One form unarmed against a blade attack

Zanto Tonko no Kata (escaping forms)
•Seven forms for escaping variety of attacks

Ninjutsu Book of Earth

Chi Ryaku no Maki (Earthly Strategies Book)


Hajutsu Kyuho ( nine grab escapes & breaking out methods)
•Nine escaping methods from grabs, throws, kicks & punches

Gyaku Waza (reversal techniques)
•Nine methods of arm/wrist manipulating

Nage Waza (throwing techniques)
•Nine throwing and toppling methods

Shime Waza (choking techniques)
•Five methods of strangulation

Ninjutsu Book of Heaven

 

This first and major book teaches all the skills that are the foundation of Ninjutsu

the Chi Earth and Jin Man books contain techniques, kempo, grappling, weapons, inton, goton, that are all based on the kihon of the Ten Ryaku

Taihenjutsu - rolling, walking, jumping
Kihon Happo
Sanshin
Kamae - stances
Muto dori - unarmed sword defence
Jurropoken - sixteen striking tools - "Ninja Kempo"


Ten Ryaku no Maki (Heavenly Strategies Book)


Taihenjutsu Ukemi Gata (rolls, breakfalls, leaping, moving)
•Four directional rolling & diving
•Four directional breakfalls & drops
•Four directional leaping
•Body evasion movements
•Walking techniques

Kamae (postures, attitudes)
•Eight postures

Hoken Juroppo (striking)
•Sixteen body weapons

Sanshin no Kata (movement)
•Five integration movement forms

Kihon Happo Kata ( eight foundational combat techniques)
•Three striking methods
•Five grappling methods

Muto Dori Gata (Shinken Gata Taihenjutsu) (sword evasion)
•Three sword evasion methods

Ninpo Ninjutsu Yumi Ya Kyujutsu Archery

The Japanese bow and arrow are called Yumi and Ya, Japanese war archery is called Kyujutsu (Kyudo being a modern version, more of a meditation than a sport).

 

Of course Ninjutsu employs the yumi and Ninpo kyujutsu, Ninpo archery, is covered ...in different ryu.

 

We have already demo'd the modern fibreglass bow at class, so future Grass Days will be an opportunity to cover and investigate the use of Ninpo kyujutsu in contemporary environmental context.

 It's not all shuriken and blowdarts after all ;)

STMA Grass Day Early Spring 2013

Environmental training

Started with some taihenjutsu rolling and breakfalling
...
the bulk of the session was Kempo JuJutsu

Kempo Kihon and Master Key waza with some takedowns as insertion and extension

Advanced Kempo - about a dozen sets which use the various tds

kempo ground finishes

Ninpo taijutsu taiken:
using your body as the weapon to throw and project

ganseki nage:
versions - nage throw, otoshi drop, ori walk and roll

aikido okidoki:
5 tom ate waza
kaiten nage - rolling throw

Concepts from Togakure regarding use of shuko in kempo sequences

Shuriken when keeping the gap, closing and takedown, shuriken on the ground for close range finish

Armour methods of Kumogakure Ryu

Gyokushin Ryu concepts of distance, breaking with kempo

Togakure Ryu Ninpo Ninjutsu

 

 

Togakure Ryu (Hidden door school)

Ninjutsu

The primary school for ninja tactics, techniques and tools

biken jutsu - ninja sword - the short straight sword
kenjutsu fighting skills and iaijutsu drawing skills

Yonpo Hiden - the four secrets:
shuriken and metsubishi
shuko claws
shinondake - blowgun/snorkel
shoge - blade and rope/ring

This ryu is 800 years old

The taijutsu for Togakure ryu is taken from GyokkoRyu KoshiJutsu and Koto Ryu KoppoJutsu

taijutsu kenpo uses shuko, and always has options for throwing shuriken and metsubushi

shinobi gaeshi - the taihenjutsu that is used for escape and evasion is based on the sanshin no kata, both in technique, and in the interpretation of the elements godai and gogyo

santo tonko - use of shuriken and metsubushi in vanishing

henso jutsu - disguise and impersonation

sakki - the sensing of intention, as in the shidoshi test

The famous Ninja Hattori Hanzo was from this ryu

When the Toda family inherite the ryu they added their own systems of Kumogakure ryu, Gyokko Ryu and Koto Ryu


Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo

Gyokushin Ryu (Heart school)
or Spherical Spirit

Ninjutsu

This is real Iga mountian Ninja stuff - espionage, disguise, invisibility

There was not much focus on fighting style here as the onus is on evasion rather than combat - however in grappling this ryu uses sutemi sacrifice throws to take the enemy down so they can be finished on the ground, below sight lines - this would be used in defence if discovered, and in infiltration to take out a sentry

In a fight you keep your distance and draw the opponent in were he can be dealt with - like the double retreat before shoot, clinch and td

Attack By Drawing

It is summarised that Gyokushin is entirely based on Gyokko Ryu, therefore the Kihon Happo, just a different tactical approach.

There is also a suggestion that, as Takamatsu Sensei was at Kano council for Jujutsu instructors, that the sutemi waza sacrifice techniques of Judo come from Gyokushin.

There is also a modification of the KH in this ryu that allows for powerful bone breaking, meaning this school adresses koppo jutsu as well as jutaijutsu in combat, similar to the koppojutsu of Gikan ryu

This ryu also uses flexible weapons such as kusurifundo chain, and the lasoo, so includes hojojutsu

Kumogakure Ryu Ninjutsu

Kumogakure Ryu (Hidden shine school)
or Hiding In The Clouds School

Ninjutsu

very similar to Togakure ryu in it's taijutsu and fighting method

clever use of combination strikes and combination blocks, a very surreptitious way of moving in combat that is hard for the opponent to track and counter

it also uses tobi leaping and jumping in combat method

Uses spear, sword and armour

including a kama-yari, which is also used for climbing and swinging from trees

the tools of this ryu double as both weapons and climbing/infiltration aids

the shoge, kuntai and sugi are examples as are shuko claws

Armoured Ninjas were members of this ryu

a modern example would be kevlar body armour
(or Batman's costume )

ninjas from this ryu would often wear a demon mask - which is both protection and a weapon, and the strike kikaku ken, the headbutt, comes from the use of the mask

the armoured sleeves are from this ryu

members of this ryu were survival specialists

this ryu has a deep spiritual and esoteric sides which includes mindsets, meditation, and possibly hypnosis, with a foundation in both Buddhism and Shinto

the Ninja prayer Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo comes from this ryu