The nine schools of the Bujinkan are :
Gyokko Ryu (Jewelled tiger school )
The oldest of the
nine traditions, this style is heavily influenced by Chinese kenpo and is known
for its koshijutsu attacks to muscles and soft organs, also using fingers and
thumbs for ripping and tearing. Gyokko Ryu was originally founded by Cho Gyokko
who was said to have fled China during the Tang Dynasty around 900 AD. This ryu
forms much of the basis for the Bujinkan system including the kihon happo.
Togakure Ryu (Hidden door school)
The second oldest of
the nine traditions, this ryu forms much of the basis for the Ninjutsu
techniques taught in the Bujinkan. This system is famous for its use of such
weapons as shuko and shuriken. It was reportedly founded by Daisuke Togakure in
the late 1100's.
Kukishinden Ryu (Nine demons school)
This ryu is a
battlefield style whose specialty is the use of many different weapons including
spears, swords, hanbos, etc. Many of the weapon techniques (hanbo, bo, yari,
naginata, etc) in Bujinkan come from this school. Kukishenden Ryu was reportedly
founded by Izuma Kanja Yoshiteru in the mid 1100's.
Gyokushin Ryu (Jeweled Heart school)
The second ninjutsu ryu in the Bujinkan system was founded by Sasaki
Goemon Teruyoshi in the mid 1500’s. Not much is known of this ryu except that it
is an Iga ninja school and concentrated more on the espionage side of ninjutsu,
rather than the fighting side. It is also known for its use of sutemi
(sacrifice) throws.
Shinden Fudo Ryu (Tradition of the immovable god school)
This system specializes in dakentaijutsu (striking techniques) and
jutaijutsu (hard grappling techniques). This was the first ryu that Takamatsu
learned from his grandfather. This ryu was also founded by Izuma Kanja Yoshiteru
in the mid 1100’s who also learned Chinese kenpo.
Takagi Yoshin Ryu (Raise the heart to
the high trees school )
This system specializes in grappling and
throwing techniques similar to aikido and judo. However, unlike judo and aikido,
this style makes it difficult for the opponent to make ukemi (to fall or roll
safely). This ryu is known as the "bodyguard school", and was founded by Takagi
Oriuemon Shigenobu around 1650.
Koto Ryu (Tiger knocking down School )
This style
specializes in koppojutsu or bone-breaking techniques and is very linear in
motion. This style was originally organized into a ryu by Sakagami Kunishige in
the mid 1500’s. The name of the school means "to knock the Tiger down with the
tips of the fingers" and historically, training started with striking sand and
gravel, then larger stones for
conditioning.
Gikan Ryu (Regard for justice school )
This ryu was
originally founded by Uryu Hangan Gikanbo in the mid 1500’s and specializes in
koppojutsu or bone-breaking techniques. This style is known for its low stances,
with much of the footwork within the Bujinkan system coming from this ryu.
Kumogakure Ryu (Hidden shine school )
The third of the
ninja ryu's, it uses similar taijutsu as Togakure Ryu, and is also known for
double blocks and strikes. This ryu originated with Heinaizaemon Ienaga Iga in
the mid 1500’s.
Gyokko Ryu (Jewelled tiger school )
The oldest of the
nine traditions, this style is heavily influenced by Chinese kenpo and is known
for its koshijutsu attacks to muscles and soft organs, also using fingers and
thumbs for ripping and tearing. Gyokko Ryu was originally founded by Cho Gyokko
who was said to have fled China during the Tang Dynasty around 900 AD. This ryu
forms much of the basis for the Bujinkan system including the kihon happo.
Togakure Ryu (Hidden door school)
The second oldest of
the nine traditions, this ryu forms much of the basis for the Ninjutsu
techniques taught in the Bujinkan. This system is famous for its use of such
weapons as shuko and shuriken. It was reportedly founded by Daisuke Togakure in
the late 1100's.
Kukishinden Ryu (Nine demons school)
This ryu is a
battlefield style whose specialty is the use of many different weapons including
spears, swords, hanbos, etc. Many of the weapon techniques (hanbo, bo, yari,
naginata, etc) in Bujinkan come from this school. Kukishenden Ryu was reportedly
founded by Izuma Kanja Yoshiteru in the mid 1100's.
Gyokushin Ryu (Jeweled Heart school)
The second ninjutsu ryu in the Bujinkan system was founded by Sasaki
Goemon Teruyoshi in the mid 1500’s. Not much is known of this ryu except that it
is an Iga ninja school and concentrated more on the espionage side of ninjutsu,
rather than the fighting side. It is also known for its use of sutemi
(sacrifice) throws.
Shinden Fudo Ryu (Tradition of the immovable god school)
This system specializes in dakentaijutsu (striking techniques) and
jutaijutsu (hard grappling techniques). This was the first ryu that Takamatsu
learned from his grandfather. This ryu was also founded by Izuma Kanja Yoshiteru
in the mid 1100’s who also learned Chinese kenpo.
Takagi Yoshin Ryu (Raise the heart to
the high trees school )
This system specializes in grappling and
throwing techniques similar to aikido and judo. However, unlike judo and aikido,
this style makes it difficult for the opponent to make ukemi (to fall or roll
safely). This ryu is known as the "bodyguard school", and was founded by Takagi
Oriuemon Shigenobu around 1650.
Koto Ryu (Tiger knocking down School )
This style
specializes in koppojutsu or bone-breaking techniques and is very linear in
motion. This style was originally organized into a ryu by Sakagami Kunishige in
the mid 1500’s. The name of the school means "to knock the Tiger down with the
tips of the fingers" and historically, training started with striking sand and
gravel, then larger stones for
conditioning.
Gikan Ryu (Regard for justice school )
This ryu was
originally founded by Uryu Hangan Gikanbo in the mid 1500’s and specializes in
koppojutsu or bone-breaking techniques. This style is known for its low stances,
with much of the footwork within the Bujinkan system coming from this ryu.
Kumogakure Ryu (Hidden shine school )
The third of the
ninja ryu's, it uses similar taijutsu as Togakure Ryu, and is also known for
double blocks and strikes. This ryu originated with Heinaizaemon Ienaga Iga in
the mid 1500’s.