Kukishin Ryu

Tenshin Hyoho Kukishin Ryu Bo-Jutsu

In the 1st year of the Engen era (1336) on August 28th, Yakushimaru Kurando Takamasa, who was the 37th generation from a famous bloodline starting with Fujiwara Kamatari, helped Emperor Godaigo escape from Kazan palace.

The Emperor had been trapped at Kazan by Shogun Ashikaga Takauji. To gain entrance, Takamasa dressed as a woman, taking with him a traditional woman's weapon, the Naginata, so that the guards let him pass.

However, he was discovered escaping with the Emperor and he had to fight Satake Goromaru Takenobu, a retainer of Ashikaga Takauji. Goromaru cut the blade end off Takamasa's Naginata, but Takamasa used the metal bands on the bottom end of the remaining Rokushaku Bo, to strike a deadly blow to Goromaru's head. He then fought the rest of Takauji's guards, still using only his Rokushaku Bo and in the end was successful.

In December of the second year of the Engen era (1337), Takamasa was given the family name Kuki (Kukami) by Emperor Godaigo, for his loyalty and successful rescue mission. After that, Takamasa gave more credence to Rokushaku Bojutsu in his martial art Tenshin Hyoho Kukishin Ryu.

On May 4th of the 3rd year in the Tensho Era (1534), Daimyo Takeda Katsuyori's army fought against the combined forces of Daimyo Oda Nobunaga and Daimyo Tokugawa Ieyasu, at Narashino, Aichi prefecture.

During this battle, Takeda's retainer, Suzuki Tango Katsuhisa, fought with Kuriyama Ukon Nagafusa.

Kuriyama attacked Suzuki with his yari, but Suzuki countered with his tachi and cut the yari in two. Using the remaining Sanjaku Bo (Hanbo), Kuriyama struck and killed Suzuki.

After this encounter, Kuriyama raised the importance of Sanjaku Bojutsu training within Tenshin Hyoho Kukishin ryu, as previously it had only included Rokushaku Bo.

Takamatsu Toshitsugu gave this Ryu-Ha (Menkyo Kaiden) to one of his highest students, Kimura Masaji. Kimura Masaji gave Menkyo Kaiden grandmastership and Souden-no-Maki (final teachings scroll) to Tanemura Shoto, on November 10th 1991.

Tenshin Hyoho Kukishin Ryu Ju-Jutsu

The 37th descendent of Fujiwara Kamatari, Yakushimaru Kurando Takamasa was bestowed the name Kukami (which can also be pronounced Kuki) by the Emperor Godaigo. The family tradition of Kamatari Budo Heiho (Martial Arts or Martial Strategy of the Kamatari) was henceforth known and transmitted as Kukishinden Tenshin Hyoho (also called Tenshin Hyoho Kukishin Ryu or Tenshin Hyoho Kukishinden Ryu Bujutsu).

Tenshin Hyoho Kukishinden Bujutsu comes from the Amatsu Tatara line of schools and is a complete Budo system that covers a wide area of skills; Ken-jutsu, Bo-jutsu, Naginata-jutsu, So-jutsu, Kisya-jutsu, Chiku-Jo (castle building), Gun-Ryaku (Military Strategy), Ten-Mon/Chi-Mon etc.

The Amatsu Tatara Hibumi (secret writings of the Amatsu Tatara) has a total of 36 scrolls as well as another 9 supplementary scrolls. These include the Kuki Souden no Maki (Kuki Hisou no Maki), Shiten no Maki (Tenshin Hyoho Shinken Kakki-Ron/Tenshin Hyoho Shumon Souhi-Ron, Tenshin Hyoho Ten-Mon Chi-Mon Hen, Tenshin Hyoho Jochiku-Jinei Senryaku Hen) and Kukishin Ryu Kaiden no Maki (Ryu-No-Maki/Tora-No-Maki /Shin-No-Maki).

During the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa era, Takamatsu Toshitsugu began to fill in the incomplete parts of Kukishinden Bujutsu which had started to disappear. He did a formidable job in bringing this martial art back to life. The reason why we still have Kukishinden Bujutsu today is due to Takamatsu Sensei's achievement.

Kukishin Ryu Jujutsu is made up from and uses the best points of Taijutsu and Daken. This schools system/essence is written down in the 34 scroll of "Amatsu Tatara Kuki Ju-taijutsu Kappo Hen no Maki". In the time of Ishitani Matsutaro it was also called "Mushin Muso Ryu" but Takamatsu Sensei made this complete with his best effort to form Kukishin Ryu Jujutsu. This was taught by Takamatsu Sensei to his top student Kimura Masaji, who in turn taught Tanemura Shoto and gave the complete teachings of this school.