Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Silver seren (talk | contribs) at 16:56, 22 October 2011 (Probably shouldn't be in the lede). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Togakure-ryū error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help) is a historical tradition of Ninjutsu known as the "School of the Hidden Door", founded during the Oho period (1161-1162) by Daisuke Nishina (Togakure), who learned his original fighting techniques from a Chinese monk named Kain Dōshi. However, the history and early lineage of Togakure-ryū may be impossible to verify due to the antiquity of the time period. After Togakure, the title of Sōke (grand master) was passed down through other practitioners that kept the style secret from the outside world.

The 33rd Sōke, Toshitsugu Takamatsu, became renowned throughout China and Japan for his martial arts abilities and also his extensive knowledge that resulted from learning the Ninjutsu skills. Passing on the title of Sōke to the 34th, Masaaki Hatsumi, it was Hatsumi who took the style public, which has resulted in the ninja craze in the Western world. Hatsumi went on to create the Bujinkan organization that practices the nine styles of ninjutsu and has more than 50 dojos internationally.

The style of Togakure-ryū has been described as being less restricted into certain training regimens like other styles and instead encourages questions and individual, personal training. One of the main goals of the training is to teach students the ability of shin shin shin gan (God's eyes, God's mind) so that they can learn to properly know their opponents and defend themselves.

History

Originating in the Mie Prefecture with its creator, Daisuke Nishina, in 1162, as a stronger method of fighting in the war between the Genji and Heike (Taira) clans. The style itself would go on to be known as the origination of ninjutsu and its various fighting styles. Nishina was a samurai and a member of the Genji clan, which had been staging a revolt against the Heike clan because of their oppression against the Genji people. The revolt, however, was crushed and Nishina fled his home village of Togakure in Shinano Province to save his children.

With them, he changed his name to Togakure to reflect where he had come from and settled down in the forests on the Kii Peninsula in the Iga Province. It was there that he met Kain Dōshi, a warrior-monk who had been politically exiled from China. From Kain, Togakure learned the fighting styles of China and Tibet and combined them with his own style. From there, he began to teach what would become Togakure-ryū so that the practitioners of the style would be able to face overwhelming odds and still emerge victorious. His first deshi was his son, Rokosuke, but he also took another deshi called Shima, who would become the third master of the style after Rokosuke.

Since then, the Togakure-ryū style has been passed down through the years until it was given mastership to Shinryuken Toda, the 32nd Sōke of Togakure-ryū. He began teaching the style to his grandson, Toshitsugu Takamatsu, since Takamatsu was five in 1893. When he turned 19, Takamatsu was announced as the next successor of the Togakure-ryū style, becoming the 33rd Sōke. After this pronouncement, Takamatsu decided to spend a year meditating in the "mountains between Kyoto and Nara". Upon his return, he set out again, this time to China where he spent time in the courts of nobles as an important adviser because of his extensive knowledge from his ninja training. Because of a series of incidents that occurred throughout China, Takamatsu became infamous throughout the region by the age of 25. When he turned 28, he was elected as the "Head of Japanese martial arts in China".

After becoming renowned throughout China for his fighting abilities, he earned the nickname "Mongolian Tiger". This nickname was a result of his time as a Japanese spy in China during World War II. Upon returning to his home in Japan, he began teaching the Togakure-ryū style, searching for his successor. In 1950, when he was 62, Takamatsu met Yoshiaki Hatsumi, who had black belts in karate and judo and was searching for a proper teacher. Hatsumi trained with Takamatsu for twenty years and, during this time period, he urged Takamatsu to document the principles of Ninjutsu, which had only been transferred orally before that point. Not long afterward, Takamatsu announced that Hatsumi would be the 34th Sōke of Togakure-ryū. Hatsumi fully assumed this role when Takamatsu died in April of 1972.

Changing his name to Masaaki, Hatsumi was the first Sōke to take the art of Togakure-ryū public, which he did in the early 1970's with Takamatsu's approval. This resulted in a ninja craze in the United States that permeated the popular media and led to their depiction in popular culture. Masaaki also went on to found the Bujinkan, an international martial arts organization, in Noda, Chiba. The group combines Togakure-ryū and the eight other martial arts styles that descended from Togakure-ryū and other Ninjutsu teachings.

Currently, there are 20 dojos for Togakure-ryū in Japan that house 100 instructors and around 100,000 students. There are also around 50 international dojos teaching Togakure-ryū outside of Japan.

Manuscript

Togakure ryu Ninjutsu Hidensho is a Japanese manuscript, in the possession of sōke Masaaki Hatsumi, that documents Togakure-ryū. The document is the purported origin of the "18 skills of Ninjutsu". Togakure-ryu is taught in the syllabi of the Bujinkan, Genbukan, Jinenkan, and To-Shin Do.

Lineage

The lineage in the line of Sōke (grand masters) of Togakure-ryū, beginning with Daisuke Togakure, is as follows:

1. Daisuke Togakure (1161)
2. Shima Kosanta Minamoto no Kanesada (1180)
3. Goro Togakure (1200)
4. Kosanta Togakure
5. Kisanta Koga
6. Tomoharu Kaneko
7. Ryuho Togakure
8. Gakuun Togakure
9. Koseki Kido
10. Tenryu Iga
11. Rihei Ueno
12. Senri Ueno
13. Majiro Ueno
14. Saburo Iisuka
15. Goro Sawada)
16. Ippei Ozaru
17. Hachiro Kimata
18. Heizaemon Kataoka
19. Ugenta Mori
20. Gobei Toda
21. Seiun Kobe
22. Kobei Momochi
23. Tenzen Tobari
24. Seiryu Nobutsuna Toda (1624-1658)
25. Fudo Nobuchika Toda (1658-1681)
26. Kangoro Nobuyasu Toda (1681-1704)
27. Eisaburo Nobumasa Toda (1704-1711)
28. Shinbei Masachika Toda (1711-1736)
29. Shingoro Masayoshi Toda (1736-1764)
30. Daigoro Chikahide Toda (1764-1804)
31. Daisaburo Chikashige Toda (1804)
32. Shinryuken Masamitsu Toda (born 1824 - died 1909)
33. Toshitsugu Takamatsu (born 1887 - died 1972)
34. Masaaki Hatsumi (born 1931 - Present)

Organization

Similar, if not identical, to the eight other Schools of Ninjutsu, Togakure-ryū in antiquity featured three different levels of organizations or ranks. The highest level was occupied by the master in charge of the specific operation, who was given the title of Jonin (wise man), and sent out his soldiers while remaining hidden himself, for the enemy was never to know who was in charge of a group of ninjas. The level below the Jonin was occupied by the Chunin, who were the "middle men" in an operation and relayed messages and objectives to the rest of the lower ranks. The lowest and most extensive rank was the Genin, known as "field agents", who conducted the missions. When not sent out on a mission, the Genin could often be found "in remote mountainous areas where they posed as farmers, but spent their time training".

Style

Togakure-ryū is described as being "fundamentally different" from other styles of Japanese martial art that are currently taught in Japan and around the world. This is largely because, unlike these other styles, Togakure-ryū does not have a "tightly regimated organizational structure". This includes a lack of kata, which are "choreographed combat training routines". Much of the "formality" that other styles contain is also not present in Togakure-ryū. Stephen K. Hayes, famed Bujinkan instructor, explained that it is likely this "freer, more flexible structure" that makes it different, as the style has an atmosphere where "questions are encouraged, but there isn't one pat answer for every question".

In a different manner, Togakure-ryū has resemblances to other martial arts styles as well in that there is certain "footwork and dynamics" that all styles utilize because of how the human body moves and works. Stephen K. Hayes stated that a main goal of the style is shin shin shin gan (God's eyes, God's mind) refers to "development of a broad vision or knowledge". This is in relation to learning to anticipate the moves that an opponent will make and to also be able to sense danger.

Togakure-ryū does contain some "historical kata", but they are different from traditional Japanese styles in that they require someone to be attacking the practitioner, similar to the training in judo and aikido.

Weapons

The original Togakure-ryū dojo utilized four special weapons. The first was the shuko, which is a "spiked iron band worn around the hand". It enabled the wearer to use it as a defense against sword attacks and also to reach higher terrain, as it could be used to climb trees or walls. The second weapon was the tetsubishi, a "small spiked weapon used to slow pursuers or protect doorways", much like how caltrops were used. The third was the kyoketsu-shoge, a blade from a double-bladed spear that was then tied to the rope that also had an iron ring attached at the other end to hold onto. It could be used to "wedge open a door, climb into a tree or over a wall, or tie up an opponent" as well as for fighting.

Training areas

There are 18 training areas that Togakure-ryū focuses on. The areas are constantly updated to remain relevant to modern threats that practitioners will need to face. The training areas include:

• Seishin teki kyoyo (spiritual refinement)
• Tai jutsu (unarmed combat)
• Ninja ken (ninja sword)
• Bo-jutsu (stick and staff fighting)
• Shuriken-jutsu (throwing blades)
• Yari-jutsu (spear fighting)
• Naginata-jutsu (halberd fighting)
• Kusari-gama (chain and sickle weapon)
• Kayaku-jutsu (fire and explosives)
• Henso-jutsu (disguise and impersonation)
• Shinobi-iri (stealth and entering methods)
• Ba-jutsu (horsemanship)
• Sui-ren (water training)
• Bo-ryaku (strategy)
• Cho ho (espionage)
• Inton-jutsu (escape and concealment)
• Ten-mon (meteorology)
• Chi-mon (geography)

Criticism

Koryu Books, a publisher of Koryū Bujutsu ("old school") books and related materials, stated on its website that it does not consider Ninjutsu or any of its styles to be koryū and, thus, does not sell books related to them.

References

1. ^ Kornicki, Peter Francis (1996). Religion in Japan: arrows to heaven and earth. Cambridge University Press. p. 34. Retrieved October 16, 2011. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
2. ^ Andy Adams (October 1982). "The Roots and Reality of Ninjutsu". Black Belt. 20 (10). Active Interest Media: 45–48. Retrieved Octobr 10, 2011. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
3. Morris, Glenn (1992). Path Notes of an American Ninja Master. North Atlantic Books. pp. 1–2. Retrieved October 16, 2011. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
4. Richmond, Simon (2011). The Rough Guide to Japan. Penguin Group. Retrieved October 16, 2011. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
5. ^ Cawthorne, Nigel (2009). The Immortals: History's Fighting Elites. MBI Publishing Company. p. 40. Retrieved October 16, 2011. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
6. ^ Ilan Gattegno (June 1985). "Takamatsu: The Man Who Taught Ninjutsu To Today's Ninja Leader". Black Belt. 23 (6). Active Interest Media: 20–24, 118–119. ISSN 0277-3066. Retrieved October 20, 2011.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
7. Levy, Joel (2008). Ninja: The Shadow Warrior. Sterling Publishing Company. p. 47. Retrieved October 16, 2011. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
8. ^ Andy Adams (October 1986). "Ninjutu's Leader Opens Fire". Black Belt. 24 (10). Active Interest Media: 36–40. ISSN 0277-3066. Retrieved October 16, 2011.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
9. Jim Coleman (February 1983). "Ninja in the modern world". Black Belt. 21 (2). Active Interest Media: 20–25. ISSN 0277-3066. Retrieved October 16, 2011.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
10. Hatsumi, Masaaki (1988). Essence of ninjutsu: the nine traditions. Contemporary Books. Retrieved October 16, 2011. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
11. Wilhelm, Thomas (2010). Ninja Hacking: Unconventional Penetration Testing Tactics and Techniques. Elsevier. pp. 10–12. Retrieved October 16, 2011. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
12. ^ Andrew Breen (December 1992). "Trick or treat?". Black Belt. Active Interest Media: 30–34. ISSN 0277-3066. Retrieved October 16, 2011.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
13. Hayes, Stephen K. (1990). The ninja and their secret fighting art. Tuttle Publishing. p. 22. Retrieved October 16, 2011. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
14. Darryl Caldwell (June 1985). "The Ninja Web". Black Belt. 23 (6). Active Interest Media: 15. ISSN 0277-3066. Retrieved October 17, 2011.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
15. Stephen Hayes (January 1978). "Ninjutsu: A Martial Art of Mystique". Black Belt. 16 (1). Active Interest Media: 76–78. ISSN 0277-3066. Retrieved October 20, 2011.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
16. Green, Thomas A. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation, Volume 2. ABC-CLIO. pp. 162–171. Retrieved October 19, 2011. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
17. Diane Skoss (February 19, 2007). "Ninjutsu: is it koryu bujutsu?". Koryu Books. Retrieved October 22, 2011.

Further reading

• Hayes, Stephen K. (1983). Ninja: Warrior Path of Togakure. Black Belt Communications. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Hatsumi, M. (1981) Ninjutsu: History and Tradition. Burbank, CA: Unique Publications. ISBN 0865680272.
• Wolfgang Ettig: Takamatsu Toshitsugu. The last shinobi. 2006, ISBN 3-924862-10-9.
• Robert Bussey (November 1985). "Ninja Invisibility Training: The Secret To Silent Movement". Black Belt. 23 (11). Active Interest Media: 42–46. ISSN 0277-3066. Retrieved October 20, 2011.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)

• Ninjutsu organizations