Kukishinden Ryu

Kukishin Ryu, the "Nine Gods Spirit School", is a Japanese Sogo Bujutsu said to have been founded in the 14th century by Yakushimaru Ryushin. It teaches several arts, including taijutsu, bojutsu, naginata, hanbo, spear and strategy.

The legend

Ryushin was born in Kumano in 1318 into an influential clan, and learned the military arts handed down in his family. According to the school's tradition, he later helped Emperor Godaigo escape captivity. Ten thousand soldiers caught up with the group at the Kuragari-Toge mountain pass, and when the blade of Ryushin's naginata was cut off, he kept fighting with the remaining staff. The school's bojutsu is said to have grown from that moment.

The Emperor is said to have rewarded his loyalty by giving him the surname Kuki, using the characters for "nine" and "spirit".

A link with Takagi Yoshin Ryu

There's a strong relationship between the taijutsu of Kukishinden Ryu and Takagi Yoshin Ryu. According to Takamatsu Chosui, a Kuki heir named Kihei met Umanosuke Takagi on his travels and the two compared their schools. Takagi excelled in taijutsu and Kihei in bojutsu, so they agreed to alter the two systems. Since then, the basic taijutsu of Kukishin Ryu has been Takagi Ryu, while its staff, spear and naginata techniques have remained its own.

Nearly all the weapons we study at our dojo come from this school. See weapons training.