TRADITIONS

TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS TITELS

There was not a Dan-Kyu system for traditional martial arts once upon a time, there was only a Menkyo system by scroll. The Dan-Kyu system started from about 1887. In Menkyo (scroll) system is Shoden (Mokuroku), Chuden (Chu-Gokui), Okuden (Gokui), Menkyo (Shinan Menkyo) and Kaiden (Inka). This is the normal case.

I will explain more in case of Takagi Yoshin Ryu. This Ryu-Ha was opened by Oriemon Takagi during 1644 to 1654. Second generation Umanosuke Takagi fixed system completely with the theory using the mind of the willow and In-Yo. This Ryu-Ha was named as the "Hontai Yoshin Ryu Takagi Ryu Jujutsu". Then the fourth generation Onihei Ohkuni changed it to Kukishin Ryu Bo-Jutsu from Takagi Ryu Bo-Jutsu. Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei called this Ryu-Ha as the "Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu".

Oriemon system used as the Takagi Ryu techniques from Tatara Shinden Shintoism, Kenko Ryu So-Jutsu (Yari), Muto Ryu So-Jutsu, Yagyu Ryu Kenpo, Ueda Ryu Ba-Jutsu (horse riding), ... because he held Menkyo Kaiden (Grandmastership) for that. As a Ryu-Ha rule, next generation Grandmaster is only one. That is Soke. Other Menkyo Kaiden Masters are Shike (special Master family). If other Menkyo Kaiden Master wants to keep that Ryu-Ha name, he can not say he is Soke and he has to be called Shike or other title name. If he wants to call himself Soke/Soshi as new Ryu-Ha, he has to system up new style and he can do so because he already has some traditional Ryu-Ha Menkyo Kaiden. If someone opened new Ryu-Ha without being given correct Ryu-Ha Menkyo Kaiden, he is irregular and nobody can believe him.

Shihan was from Okuden or Shinan Menkyo persons title as a traditional rule. But nowadays be called Shihan from about 4th Dan or from 6th Dan. Or sometimes be called as a Shihan eventhough Soke. Nowadays, this is confusing.

Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu scroll system are Shoden Mokuroku no Maki, Chugokui no Maki, Gokui no Maki, Menkyo no Maki, Kaiden Ryuko no Maki, Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu Menkyo no Maki, Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu Kaiden no Maki and Tora no Maki (Tiger scroll), ... .

The 13th generation Grandmaster was Ikugoro Yagi. He was a Samurai of Ako castle (Hyogo Prefecture). In 1841 he lost job (became Ronin) and he went to Akashi City. He opened a Dojo there and taught Takagi Ryu Jujutsu and Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu. He gave Menkyo Kaiden to 3 persons who were Takema Ishitani, Kumataro Inoue and Togoro Fujita. They were 14th generation.

Takamatsu Sensei was the 16th generation of Ishitani line and Fujita line. He gave Grandmaster Sato Kinbei Sensei the 17th generation of Ishitani line as Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Ju-Jutsu, with Amatsu Tatara scroll and Tora no Maki. Grandmaster Sato Kinbei Sensei gave to Grandmaster Tanemura Shoto Sensei as 18th generation of this line.

Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei gave to Grandmaster Ueno Takashi Sensei next generation of Fujita line as "Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Ju-Jutsu". And Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei gave to Grandmaster Hatsumi Yoshiaki Sensei too next generation of Fujita line as "Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Ju-Taijutsu".

Ueno and Hatsumi said their generation was 19th because they counted from So Unryu and Kiinokami Ito before Orimon Takagi. Hatsumi was a student of Ueno. Sato Kinbei was elder student rather than Ueno under Takamatsu Sensei.

Grandmaster Tanemura Shoto Sensei received Grandmastership of Inoue line and he mastered Mizuta line too.

Nowadays there are other Soke in Ako and Kobe and some person line separated for Takagi Ryu, Hontai Yoshin Ryu and Kukishin Ryu. Like this, if no decision is made about the next generation Soke, many Soke appear.

© Grandmaster Tanemura Tsunehisa Shoto Sensei (Bu-Fu Magazine)