Gyokko Ryu: een korte beschrijving

A more indepth history by Peter Carlsson
Second version --- October 8th 1997 by Peter Carlsson
The information presented here is based upon the research of Peter Carlsson, with great help from others, this has not been verified by, nor received the approval of Hatsumi Soke. It is presented only as the researchers interpretation of history and should not be taken as fact. Please feel free to send your comments to the authors.
According to Kuden, the verbal tradition in Gyokko ryu, the system was developed in China during Tang-dynasty. There are two possible origins, either there was a guard at the palace who developed the system after his small body, or a princess developed it. This is in accordance to the system of movement, which implies that a physically smaller person developed it.
According to An Zhisun from Xian, a musician, an authority on the history of music, council member of the China Music Association (Shanxi Branch) and of Chinese Folk philharmonic Society, there was a woman by the court in Chan'an (present Xian), which was the capital of Tang dynasty, who was very famous for her skills in dancing and martial arts. By the fall of Tang-dynasty, year 907, many noble people escaped from China to Japan. One name that is connected to the origin of Gyokko ryu in Japan is Yo Gyokko (Yao Yu Hu).
The first formal grandmaster in Japan was Hakuunsai Tozawa, who appeared some time during the period of Hogen (1156-1159). How he got the title and how he got knowledge of the system is unknown. According to information from the book Ninja Hiden Submission by Hatsumi Masaaki, Gyokko ryu was developed from Ikai, another refugee from China, but it is very hard to tell which lineage that leads to Tozawa Hakuunsai, and what are the connections to Yo Gyokko, who at least has contributed to the system with his name. Gyokko ryu, which means "Jewel Tiger", is according to Dai Nippon Bugei Ryu Ha a system of Kosshijutsu, Shitojutsu and Ninpo. It is also one of the oldest system in the Iga province and the Kosshijutsu has been great influence to many of the other systems in Iga.
The system was brought on and kept alive during Kamakura, Nambuko and Muromachi period, by the Suzuki family. In the 16:th century it came to the Sakagami family, and between 1532 and 1555, the methods were organised by Sakagami Taro Kuniushige, who named the system Gyokko ryu Shitojutsu. The next supposed grandmaster, Sakagami Kotaro Masahide, was killed in battle 1542. Because of this, the title was passed on to Sougyoku Kan Ritsushi (also known as Gyokkan Ritsushi). Sakagami Kotaro Masahide was also known as Bando Kotaro Minamoto Masahide, and he was supposed to be the grandmaster of Koto ryu koppojutsu as well. He was never registered in Koto ryu, and his name is only mentioned in some of the lists of Gyokko ryu grandmasters. Sougyoku Kan Ritsushi, who either came from the Kishu area or belonged to Kishu ryu, renamed Gyokko ryu Shitojutsu to Gyokko ryu Kosshijutsu. He had some students who, in the 18:th century, founded different schools based on Gyokko ryu and knowledge from Sougyoku. In the Genealogy described in Hiden Ninja Submission, Gyokkan or Sougyoko Kan is one of the central persons connectIn spite of the fact that two other of the schools founded by Sougyoku Kan Ritsushis students also went on to Takamatsu Toshitsugu and Hatsumi Masaaki, Gyokko ryu went it's own way along with Koto-ryu. The schools went to Toda Sakyo Ishinsai and Momochi Sandayu I. After that, the schools remained in the Toda and Momochi families until Takamatsu, who was the last of the Toda’ to learn the arts, passed the schools to Hatsumi Masaaki.
It is thanks to the Toda and Momochi families' activities in the Iga province that the schools have come to belong to the local ninjutsu tradition of Iga. Another connection in history is that Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu, Takamatsu's teacher and uncle, is said to be a descendant of Hakuunsai Tozawa's.
Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu taught Takamatsu that the most important is to study the techniques of Kihon Kata, also known as Kihon Happo, since they are the basis of all martial arts. This should be interpreted like that Kihon Happo covers all methods that are effective in real combat such as blocks, punches, kicks, breaking of wrists and elbows, and throws.
The methods of Gyokko ryu are based on Kosshijutsu (attacks against soft parts of the body). The strategy differs therefore very much from for example Koppojutsu, which concentrates on the bone structure. While Koppojutsu motions goes in and out to come at right angles to the joints, Kosshijutsu moves sideways, or around the attack, to get close to Kyoshu (the week parts of the body). These targets can be nerve points, but also inner organs, or muscles and where the muscles are attached. One of the reasons for this system is probably because a small person developed it. The power in the counterattacks is therefore not generated by muscles, but by the hips and the spine. This is shown for example by the way of blocking, which concentrates on a powerful block to break the opponent’s balance, and thereby reaching the weak points of the body. An importan detail in order to move close to the opponent is that the backhand is always held in front of the face as a guard against counterattacks.
A frequently used body weapon in Gyokko ryu is the fingers and the fingertips. This is the reason for the earlier name Shitojutsu, which means techniques with the fingertips. Shito ken, also known as Boshi ken, is the most common finger strike. This is a strike with the tip of the thumb, most often against where the muscles are attached or nerve points. The bone by the wrist is also a weapon, which is used for blocking, hits against Kasumi (the temple), etc. Another way of hitting is to push the knuckle of the middle finger in front of the other knuckles in a modified Shikan ken. It is not only Boshi ken that has another name in Gyokko ryu. Shuto ken is called Kiten ken, for example.
The thumbs are important in Gyokko ryu. It is mostly shown in the three official stances Ichimonji no kamae, Hicho no kamae, and Jumonji no kamae, where the thumbs always are directed upwards. The reason is that the energy always should flow freely, and there should be no lockups in the movement. In Gyokko ryu it is important to protect the heart. Therefore a starting position with the right leg forward is preferred, so that the left side is turned away from the opponent. Shoshin no kamae, Doko no kamae, "Angry tiger", and Hanin no kamae are also said to belong to Gyokko ryu.
Gyokko ryu consists of several parts. First there is Kamae no kata (stances) and Taihen Kihon (falls). The next step is Ki kata, also known as Sanshin no kata. Ki kata teaches basic movements based on the five elements. These movements reoccur in all techniques in Gyokko ryu. After that comes Kihon kata and Toride Kihon kata, which are basic exercises for punches, kicks, blocks, grabs and throws. There are different statements on how many the exercises are, and which exercises that belongs. Usually there are three exercises for punches, kicks and blocks, and five or six for grabs and throws.
After all these basic exercises, there are the Kosshijutsu. The exercises of Kosshijutsu are split into three main parts:
Joryaku no maki - Unarmed vs UnarmedChuryaku no maki - Unarmed vs Tanto or KodachiGeryaku no maki - Unarmed vs Ken or Yari
Mutodori from Geryaku no maki are techniques against sword or spear and is considered to be the highest, and most difficult level of Gyokko ryu.
Gyokko ryu was, beside the Koshijutsu, also known for its methods with Katana, Tanto and Bo. Except for some methods with Bo, very much of this is unknown. The methods with Bo are mainly built on the movements of Ki Kata. No available information gives any evidence of special techniques with the Bo, but it is used as an reinforcement of the ordinary Kosshijutsu methods. Maybe this is an evidence that the Bo-staff was not considered as a weapon against armed opponents at the battlefield, where it's normal to use the advantage of the length of the staff to create more distance to armed opponents. More of this will probably be known, however, since Hatsumi Masaaki is releasing more information on the subject.
According to Bugei Ryu Ha Daijiten, Gyokko ryu is a Ninpo school, but Hatsumi Masaaki does refer to it as a school of Kosshijutsu and says that the Kosshijutsu is the backbone of many of the other systems in Iga. So far there have not been any rumours about techniques of espionage from Gyokko ryu, but strategy and philosophy are important areas of the teaching. That are clearly shown by the following prayers that belongs to Gyokko ryu:
Ten Ryaku Uchu Gassho - prayer to heaven and universe Chi Ryaku Futen Goshin Gassho - prayer to the circle of wind Jin Ryaku Chi Sui Ka Fu Henka Ryaku - prayer to the circle of earth, water (Hanno Hon Itsu Gassho) fire and wind.
This is followed by sayings like Shin Shingan, Gods heart and eyes, Kurai Dori, to evaluate the situation and "Bushigokoro wo motte totoshi no nasu", which means "The heart of a warrior is precious and essential". Shin Shingan can be described as the ability to apprehend situations without thinking, or to develop the ability to trust intentions.
There are also Gassho Kuji Kiri. Gassho means to put the hands together in prayer, and kuji kiri is one way to focus ones intention in an attempt to surpass the gap between the subconscious and the conscious acting. In Gyokko ryu this is called Sanpo Gassho, which means three treasures:
Kongo - cloudsSuirin - ring of waterKaku Gassho - fire and wind
Much of the philosophy and strategy in Gyokko ryu are taught by Kuden, mouth to mouth teachings. there are also secrets in the ryu, so called Hiden. This is not always written down, but passed from grandmaster to grandmaster as Kuden. One of those Kuden says "Kuden Hissho Ho", which means "always win". The explanation of the saying is that never let the opponent win, but never use stronger techniques than are necessary. This is an important strategy, because it is important not to reveal the full potential of ones abilities. There are also a strategy in Gyokko ryu that is named Tenmon Chimon, which means the techniques of heaven and earth. The meaning of it is unknown so far..
The following nine rules, Ninja no Kissoku, are supposed to come from Gyokko ryu: 1. The character (nin), means to guard the nation with one's life 2. Forget self, be patient, fear not dying 3. Say or show nothing in danger 4. As a strong enemy comes, keep indomitable spirit 5. Serve and protect, the master the same way as your parents 6. Vices dissipate your proficiency 7. Being drunk affects your judgement 8. Destroy the enemy’s power but spare his lif 9. Teach not to others without the master’s permissio

Kazu - The genealogy of Gyokko-ryu
Ikai Hogenbo, Tesshun Sasabe, Tendo Hachiryu, Nyudo 1. Tozawa, Hakuunsai 2. Tozawa, Shozuke 3. Suzuki, Saburo Shigeyoshi 4. Suzuki, Gobei 5. Suzuki, Kojiro Mitsu 6. Tozawa, Nyudo Geneai 7. Yamon, Hyoun 8. Kato, Ryu Hakuun 9. Sakagami, Goro Katsushige 10. Sakagami, Taro Kunishige 11. Sakagami, Kotaro Masahide 12. Sougyoko, Kan Ritsushi 13. Toda, Sakyo Ishinsai 14. Momochi, Sandayu 1 15. Momochi, Sandayu 2 16. Momochi, Tanba Yasumitsu 17. Momochi, Taro Saemon 18. Toda, Seiryu Nobutsuna 19. Toda, Fudo Nobuchika 20. Toda, Kangoro Nobuyasu 21. Toda, Eisaburo Nobumasa 22. Toda, Shinbei Masachika 23. Toda, Shingoro Masayoshi 24. Toda, Daigoro Chikashige 25. Toda, Daisaburo Chikashige 26. Toda, Shinryuken Masamitsu 27. Takamatsu, Toshitsugu 28. Hatsumi, Masaaki
· Ikai
Area: ?
Era: ?
During the chinese Tang Dynasty. The teachings went through Ikai, Hogenbo Tesshun, Sasabe Tesshun, Hachiryu Nyudo until it reached Hakuunsai Tozawa.
· Hogenbo, Tesshun
Area: ?
Era: ?
During the chinese Tang Dynasty. The teachings went through Ikai, Hogenbo Tesshun, Sasabe Tesshun, Hachiryu Nyudo until it reached Hakuunsai Tozawa.
· Sasabe, Tendo
Area: ?
Era: ?
During the chinese Tang Dynasty. The teachings went through Ikai, Hogenbo Tesshun, Sasabe Tesshun, Hachiryu Nyudo until it reached Hakuunsai Tozawa.
· Hachiryu, Nyudo
Area: ?
Era: Tenei (1110)
During the chinese Tang Dynasty. The teachings went through Ikai, Hogenbo Tesshun, Sasabe Tesshun, Hachiryu Nyudo until it reached Hakuunsai Tozawa.
1. Tozawa, Hakuunsai
Area: ?
Era: Hogen (1156-1159)
He is considered to be the first Soke of Gyokko Ryu. From him the expression "Banpen Fugyo" comes wich means that "this is the spirit of change". There is a fable about Sasuke Sarutobi that was written at the end of the Meiji period wich mentions Hakuunzai Tozawa as his teacher, it is not very likely that he was.
2. Tozawa, Shozuke
Area: ?
Era: Oho (1161-1162)
3. Suzuki, Saburo Shigeyoshi
Area: ?
Era: Joan (1171-1180)
4. Suzuki, Gobei
Area: ?
Era:
5. Suzuki, Kojiro Mitsu
Area: ?
Era: Kamakura (1288)
6. Tozawa, Nyudo Geneai
Area: ?
Era: Nambuko
7. Yamon, Hyoun
Area: ?
Era: Muromachi
8. Kato, Ryu Hakuun
Area: ?
Era: Oei (1394)
9. Sakagami, Goro Katsushige
Area: ?
Era: Tembun (1532)
10. Sakagami, Taro Kunishige
Area: ?
Era: Tembun (1542)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu
He organised the ryu into the Gyokko Ryu Shitojutsu. He was also the founder of Koto ryu, wich originally came from Korea/China several generations earlier.
11. Sakagami, Kotaro Masahide
Area: ?
Era: Tembun
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu
12. Sougyoko, Kan Ritsushi
Area: ?
Era: Tembun
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu
He was either from the Kishu Ryu or Kishu Han changed the name to Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu, as it is known by today. He had three students Akimoto Kanai Moriyoshi who's student founded Gikan Ryu, Sasaki Gendayu Sadayasu who founded Gyokushin Ryu, and Toda Sakyo Ishinsai who became the next Soke of Gyokko Ryu and Koto Ryu.
13. Toda, Sakyo Ishinsai
Area: ?
Era: Tembun
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu
14. Momochi, Sandayu 1
Area: ?
Era: Tembun (ca 1542-1555)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Momochi Ryu
He was active in Iga no Ran - (The big battle of Iga). He was also the Soke in Momochi ryu and Koto ryu. It is also believed that he and Fujibayashi Nagato was the same person.
15. Momochi, Sandayu 2
Area: ?
Era: Tensho (ca 1570-1592)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu
16. Momochi, Tanba Yasumitsu
Area: ?
Era: Bunroku (1596-1615)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu
He was the lord of Tatsukuchi castle.
17. Momochi, Taro Saemon
Area: ?
Era: Genna (1615-1624)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu
18. Toda, Seiryu Nobutsuna
Area: ?
Era: Kwanyei (1624-1644)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu,
In the 1600's the immediate family died, and the school moved to the Hattori family. It was amalgamated with Hattori ryu and Kumogakure ryu. Seiryu Nobutsune was or became the 4:th Soke of Kumogakure ryu. Approximately in the year 1624 the Toda family also took over the leadership of Koto ryu, Shinden Fudo ryu, Gyokko ryu and possibly Gyokushin ryu.
19. Toda, Fudo Nobuchika
Area: ?
Era: Manji (1644-1661)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu,
20. Toda, Kangoro Nobuyasu
Area: ?
Era: Tenna (1681-1704)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu,
21. Toda, Eisaburo Nobumasa
Area: ?
Era: Hoyei (1704-1711)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu,
22. Toda, Shinbei Masachika
Area: ?
Era: Shotoku (1711-1736)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu,
23. Toda, Shingoro Masayoshi
Area: ?
Era: Gembun (1736-1764)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu,
24. Toda, Daigoro Chikashige
Area: ?
Era: Meiwa (1764-1804)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu,
25. Toda, Daisaburo Chikashige
Area: ?
Era: Bunkwa (1804)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu,
26. Toda, Shinryuken Masamitsu (1824.??.?? - 1909.??.??)
Area: Kobe
Era: Meiji ( )
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu, Shinden Fudo Ryu, Gikan Ryu, Gyokushin Ryu
He was a descendant of Hakuunsai Tozawa. He was also a master in the Bikenshin Ryu and was the sword instructor for the Tokugawa Shogunate in the mid 19th century. He resigned his position as a sword instructor because his students was forced to kill other Japanese. This would have gone against the teachings of Togakure Ryu. He had a Dojo wich on the doorplate said "Shinden Fudo Ryu Jutaijutsu" and a bonesetting clinic in Kobe. He was also a master in Shinden Koto Ryu Karate and Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu. Takamatsu said he often used to run up walls for strengthening his legs, it is said that he could jump 6 Shaku (180cm) with both feets together from standing. He died 90 years in Meiji 41 (the beginning of the 1900's).
27. Takamatsu, Toshitsugu (1888.03.01 - 1972.04.??)
Area: Nara
Era: Taisho (1909-1968)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu, Shinden Fudo Ryu, Gikan Ryu, Gyokushin Ryu, Kukishin Ryu, Takagi Yoshin Ryu, Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu
He was the grandson of Shinryuken and the last Soke of the Toda family. He was born 1'st of March 1888 and died in May 1972. Takamatsu was told by his teacher Toda that the most important was to learn the eight fundamental techniques called Kihon Happo, wich comes from the Gyokko Ryu teachings.
28. Hatsumi, Masaaki (1931.12.02)
Area: Noda
Era: Showa (1968)
Also Soke in... Koto Ryu, Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu, Shinden Fudo Ryu, Gikan Ryu, Gyokushin Ryu, Kukishin Ryu, Takagi Yoshin Ryu
He was born 2'nd December 1931. He was highly ranked in most of the Budo arts, he realized there had to be something else that was not watered down to a sport. He was constatly searching for a good teacher, until he was introduced to Takamatsu 1957. He travelled to his home in Kashihara every weekend for 15 years. Before Takamatsu died he was appointed to be the next Soke in Togakure Ryu and the other 8 schools. In the mid and late 70's as it was introduced to the first westerners the Bujinkan Ninpo Taijutsu Dojo began to take form. In the mid 80's he first went outside Japan to teach to the westerners. 1995 he decided to change the style name to Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, emphasizing that he had much more than Ninpo to teach. He still lives in Noda (north of Tokyo), he still holds classes in Tokyo and travels abroad to teach several times a year.
Thanks to following people:
Peter Aelbrecht, and many more...

The fable of Sasuke Sarutobi
Sasuke Sarutobi, one of the heroes of Ninjutsu, was created in Tachikawa literature at the end of the Meiji period. Up until that time, the general image of Ninjutsu was related to black arts, witchcraft, nagic, hobgoblins, thieves and assassins. Sasuke was a mischevious boy. Books describe him as an innocent child with a strong sense of justice. In the stories, great importance was placed on humor, with actual combat secondary.
One day Sasuke said to himself, "I'm already ten years old. It's no longer practical for me to practice Yatto (a form of Kiai-spirit shout) with monkeys and deer. I'll follow my father's advice and seek a master swordsman to train me. I'm going to Okunoin in the Torie pass to ask the gods to provide me with a good master."
When Sasuke arrived at the Okunoin, he began playing among clumps of trees rather than practicing Yatto. Not satisfied with a stick, Sasuke grappled with a tree, trying to twist it down. Then he heard someone laughing at him. Sasuke called,
- "Hey, who are you? I'm concentrating on fencing. Don't you dare laugh at me. Come out here. I'll not forgive you." As he looked around he saw an old man with swept-back long hair tied at the back of his head smiling at him. The man's hair was white as snow. Sasuke asked,
- "Oh, you laughed at me, didn't you, old man?" The old man answered
- "Yes I did." Sasuke asked him again fiercly,
- "Why did you laugh at me? Answer me. If there is no good reason, I'll never forgive you even if you are an old man." The old man laughed and said,
- "Well, Sasuke, you were practicing with a tree, but this is like practising with a dead enemy. You can't improve your fencing that way. Do you want to learn fencing so badly?"
This was the age of civil wars, and only a few people could live to an old age. Therefore, Sasuke reasoned, an eldery fencing instructor was surely a master at martial arts. Sasuke said,
- "Old man, are you a master of martial arts? I want to learn the secrets of martial arts."
- "What are you ging to do with them, after you learn them?"
- "I'll be a strong swordsman and win fame and honor".
- "Wonderful. What an admirable goal for only a boy! All right. I'm going to give you a lesson in consideration of your zeal and determination."
Sasuke prostrated himself before the old man thanked him. Then, Sasuke delivered a sword stroke to the old man. However, he had disappeared. Sasuke looked around nervously. Then he was suddenly tripped by an attack from behind and fell flat on his face. The old man appeared suddenly in front of Sasuke with a smile.
The old man taught Sasuke for the next three years. He tried to teach him the Godan fifth-level secrets by saying,
- "Don't you have your eyes in your back? How handicapped you are!. You'll be a failure unless you know how to defend your weak point, even if you know the unguarded point of an opponent. The secret of defence in martial arts is to always be alert. Unless one knows his own weak point, he can never be certain that the weak point of his opponent is not a decoy."
In addition to Ankok#toshijutsu techniques for seeing in the dark, Sasuke learned to listen for stealthy footsteps coming from more than thirty meters away. One day the old man handed a scroll to Sasuke and said to him,
- "Well, Sasuke, this is a parting gift, the rules of Ninjutsu. Carry it with you for life and behave prudently. When you are in combat with others or meet heroes and great men, you'll never be beaten if you understand what is written in this scroll." When the old man gave the scroll to Sasuke, he for the first time revealed his name as Hakuunsai Tozawa, and then disappeared.
From the book "Essence of Ninjutsu" Page 13-15 by Masaaki Hatsumi.

Gyokko-ryu training
There are a number of videos that you can watch, and I recommend all of them. They are all featured by Hatsumi Soke exept where mentioned.
· "Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu" (Quest #4): Most of the Ryu's techniques are demonstrated on this great video. I highly recommend this tape since most of the basics of Bujinkan is from Gyokko Ryu.
· "Gyokko Ryu Bojutsu" (Quest #21): Rokushakubo (183cm long staff) according to the body movement principles of Gyokko Ryu from Daikomyosai 1993.
· "Sanshin no Kata / Gogyo no kata" (EdicionesPF): Hatsumi Soke explains and teach the five principles of Gyokko-ryu Gogyo no kata. Filmed in Canary Islands 1995.
· "Advanced Kihon Happo" (EdicionesPF): Hatsumi Soke taught the first three forms Kosshi Kihon Sanpo gata at a special class in Paris 1997.
· "Kihon Happo Goho no kata" (EdicionesPF): Hatsumi Soke taught the five last forms Kosshi Kihon Goho gata with the feeling of Fu (wind) at Canary Islands 1998.

ed with the ryu of Bujinkan.