Ko is a word that means old, and ryu refers
to flow or school. Put together, they form the word Koryu, which
means "old styles, schools or traditions". Bujutsu is of course arts
of war- that is, martial arts introduced soley for the purpose of life
and death combat. The term koryu bujutsu refers to
martial arts of mainland Japan that originated sometime up to and including
the Tokugawa period (1603-1868).
Why have I included this page? Because there is a website, a very
good website with a wealth of information, called Koryu
Online. I looked through their material, quite impressed, and
purchased one of their books. I thought I had found a group of individuals
who, in this modern age of sport martial arts and Power Rangers, strive
for the same understanding in similar arts.
You can imagine how disappointed and distressed I was when I found this
page and what was written near the bottom of this
page. There they address the question: is ninjutsu
koryu bujutsu? They come to the conclusion, to put it politely, that
it is not. I would like to address their opinions in a rational manner,
viewing the issue first from their perspective.
Does ninjutsu exist in the form of independent ryuha? We have been
told it does, and we believe the histories passed down to us by our teachers.
I will not insist that anyone else believe the same. I will readily admit
that the quantity of actual 'combat methods' in ninpo taijutsu is very
limited. But what I would like to draw to your attention is that
there is much more to Budo Taijutsu than 'ninjutsu', whether you believe
in 'ninjutsu' or not.
It is not accurate to equate Budo Taijutsu with ninjutsu. Many people
may not realize that there are other traditions which are a part of the
Bujinkan Dojo. I can understand the disgust at the image of testosterone-charged
wanna-be's running around the woods in cammo. I completely share
those feelings of disgust. Such images, popularized during the 1980's
and still in existence today, along with shoddy teaching practices, have
poisoned the professional image of the Bujinkan Dojo.
Sadly, it appears that the folks at Koryu Online have allowed this bad
and incorrect image to shape the opinion they have of our arts. Hatsumi
Soke began distancing the Bujinkan Dojo from the 'ninja-boom' image by
changing the name of the arts we practice to Budo Taijutsu. The concept
that "Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu = Ninjutsu" is inaccurate. Here
are just a few examples of what I mean:
Those associated with Koryu Online recognize Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu, founded
in "the latter part of the seventeeth century" by Akiyama Shirobei Yoshitoki,
as Koryu Bujutsu. Then what about Takagi
Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (Jujutsu), founded by Takagi Oriuemon Shigenobu
(1625 - 1711)? The second master of Takagi Yoshin Ryu, Takagi
Umannosuke, was also the first soke of Takagi Ryu Jujutsu, and received
menkyo in Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu as well. The style is also related
to Hon Tai Yoshin Ryu, which is also listed on their website. The
history and connections of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu, which is a part of the
Bujinkan family of styles, clearly put it into the koryu bujutsu
catagory.
What about the Kukishinden Ryu? This system supplies most of the
Bujinkan's weapon training, and was founded by Izumo Kanja Yoshiteru in
the fourteenth century. This system gives us training in kenjutsu
- katana and shoto (daisho), yarijutsu, naginata jutsu, bojutsu, jojutsu,
juttejutsu, tessenjutsu, yoroi kumiuchi (grappling in full samurai armor),
and more. This style has been the focus of Hatsumi Soke's teaching
nearly exclusively both in Japan and abroad for the last 7 year cycle.
Kukishinden Ryu is related to Itto Ryu Kenjutsu. There are writings
by the famous swordsman Itto Ittosai in the Kukishinden Ryu densho signed
and dated March 1st, Tensho (1573). Hatsumi Soke's Stickfighting
book, with the methods of the Kukishin Ryu (Kukishinden Ryu's parent system)
is praised on the Koryu website as EXCELLENT.
The Koryu Bujutsu book sites the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten as a reference...
we in the Bujinkan also site that 'martial arts dictionary' frequently
in respect to our arts.
One might say that Budo Taijutsu is a modern synthesis, a point I would
not argue with. Budo Taijutsu is synthesis of koryu bujutsu, at
least in part.
The claim that it is merely a collection of disparate arts is not fair
nor true- one needs only to dig a little deeper to see the connections.
I have not included this page in order to change any minds, or seek approval.
I merely wished to make my opinion known. I believe that the ryuha
of which Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is undeniably comprised of at least some
koryu bujutsu. Anyone can gain further insight into this by
researching
further.
