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 inherited the ryu they added their own systems of Kumogakure ryu, Gyokko Ryu and Koto Ryu
Togakure, the first formalised Ninja school, was actually a school of self defence, not warfare.
“Violence is to be avoided, and Ninpo is Bujutsu”.
“Use the sword to be peaceful, and protect country, family, and nature”.
‘Kajo waraku’ which means “The enjoyment of peaceful harmony with the same effortless compassion as that of the wildflowers.”
The SANPO HIDEN - the Three Secrets or Three Hidden Treasures:
1.SENBAN SHURIKEN
A four pointed throwing star, the design of which is exclusively unique to the Togakure Ninja.
2.SHUKO (hand needles)
Also known as Tekagi. These are metal bands around the palm of the hand with four metal spikes projecting from the palm. Another metal band is around the wrist and a piece of leather joins the two metal bands together. This was a climbing tool, and was also used in defense against sword attacks.
3.SHINDAKE bamboo grass
This is a short bamboo tube 4 foot long (1.20m) used to aid in breathing when hiding under water. It was also used as a blowpipe. Sometimes a broken scabbard was put to use as an underwater breathing apparatus also.
Later a fourth "Secret Treasure" was added - the Shoge weapon.
The use of Metsubishi and the Tetsubishi caltrops are included in the first Treasure.
HAPPO BIKENJUTU was the original name of the "Art" or "System" taught at the Togakure School
The HAPPO 8 methods:
1 Taijutsu - Hichojutsu - Nawa waza : Body movement art - jumping art - rope art
2 Koppojutsu - Jutaijutsu : unarmed combat
3 Sojutsu - Naginata : spear and halberd
4 Bojutsu - Jojutsu - Hanbojutsu : staff and half staff
5 Senban nage - Shuriken jutsu - ken nage jutsu : throwing blades
6 Kajutsu - Suijutsu : Fire and Water arts
7 Chikujo - Gunryako - Hyojo : strategy and tactics
8 Onshinjutsu - Gotonpo : Invisibility - Escape and Evasion
BIKEN JUTSU Sword being the 9th Method
Katana Kenjutsu or Kenpo
Kodachi - short sword or wakizashi
Jutte - Iron truncheon
Tessen - iron fan
The 10th Method was the Kunoichi series - the "Nine Plus One"
Togakure Ninja trained and mastered the 18 disciplines:
1.Taijutsu / Unarmed combat
2.Kenpo / Ninja ken (Swordsmanship)
3.Bojutsu / Staff fighting
4.Shurikenjutsu / Blade throwing
5.Kusarigama / Scythe and chain
6.Yari / Spear
7.Naginata / Halberd
8.Bajutsu / Horsemanship
9.Suiren / Swimming
10.Kayaku-jutsu / Gunpowder
11.Bo Ryaku / Strategy making
12.Cho ho / Espionage
13.Shinobi Iri / Infiltration
14.Inton jutsu / Lying low
15.Henso jutsu / Disquises
16.Tenmon / Meteorology
17.Chimon / Geography
18.Seishin teki kyoyo / Spiritual refinement
Kyojitsu Tenkan Ho is a later established discpline taught to spies - "presenting falsehood as truth, and truth as falsehood" - it has the same deceptive tactics and strategies used in Unarmed Combat and in planning a mission or attack
Togakure formal training form methods:
Kurai Dori The postures of Togakure ryu, unarmed or with shuko - kamae
Shinobi Gaeshi - methods of moving undetected, and methods of escaping
Santo Tonko no Kata - Form of the Escaping Rat - Vanishing forms - makes use of metsubushi blinding powder, and shuriken - these are also used for escape in case of discovery and when the opponent attacks
Ninja Bikenjutsu - Methods of using the Ninja sword, which is shorter and straighter than the Katana
•Kurai Dori - Sword Kamae
•Iaijutsu - Sword drawing
•Biken Kata - Ninja Sword forms
Shoge - blade and cord weapon
Sakkijutsu
Sabaki - movement - includes acrobatic Karuwaza, and Shoten wall running
Togakure Ryu techniques:
10 TAIJUTSU
Cho gaeshi
Doko ichimonji no kamae
Henryu
Kagaeshi
Ken
Tanguto
Futo
Hapa
Hicho - Togakure ryu
Kokuraku
MUTODORI
Kote uchi tonsou gata
Ushiro nagare - togakure ryu
Yoko gaeshi
Yoko geri - Togakure ryu
Yoko nagare - togakure ryu
Shuto - Kata
Nuki
Itto dori
Itto giri
Fusetsu
Kaeshi dori
Ken nagare
NINPO BIKEN Sword
Nuki - Drawing
Iai Maai - Sword draw distance
Kage no Itto - Shadow Sword
8 Kamae -
Ichi
Seigan
Chudan
Gedan
Tosui
Hasso
Kasumi
Totoku Hyoshi
additional Traditional Kamae
Ryusui
Waki
Daijodan
Happo Giri - 8 directions cut
Hi Ryu No Ken - Flying Dragon Sword
Kasumi No Ken - Mist Sword
Muso Ken no Kame UraName - No Thought Sword In Waves
Da To no Ken - Striking and Felling
Issen Ken - One Flash Sword
Itto Giri - One Sword Cut
Kiri Kaeshi - Cut Destruction
Rai Ko No Ken - Thunder Light Sword
