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The Bujinkan is a system of martial arts made up of nine separate family martial traditions (ryu ha), some
being over 1000 yrs old. Together they make up the Bujinkan method, more properly known as Bujinkan
budo. Masaaki Hatsumi is the current grandmaster of the Bujinkan Hombu dojo located in Noda, Japan.
Toshitsugu Takamatsu was his teacher.
Bujinkan No Ryu Ha
Schools of the Divine Warrior House
• Takagi Yoshin Ryu Tall tree felling heart Jutaijutsu
• Shinden Fudo Ryu Immovable heart Dakentaijutsu
• Kumogakure Ryu Hidden cloud Ninjutsu
• Kukishinden Ryu Nine demon gods Hikenjutsu
• Gyokushin Ryu Jeweled heart Ninjutsu
• Togakure Ryu Hidden door Ninjutsu
• Gyokko Ryu Jeweled tiger Koshijutsu
• Gikan Ryu Example of justice Koppojutsu
• Koto Ryu Tiger kingdom Koppojutsu
Bujinkan Ryu Ha Lineage - current Soke lineage
• Takagi Yoshin Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 17th Soke
• Shinden Fudo Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 26th Soke
• Kumogakure Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 14th Soke
• Kukishinden Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 28th Soke
• Gyokushin Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 14th Soke
• Togakure Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 34th Soke
• Gyokko Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 28th Soke
• Gikan Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 18th Soke
• Koto Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 18th Soke
Historical Lineage of Bujinkan Ryu Ha Founders
• Takagi Yoshin Ryu Oriuemon Shigenobu Takagi
• Shinden Fudo Ryu Izumo Kanja Yoshiteru
• Kumogakure Ryu Heinaizaemon Ienaga Iga
• Gyokushin Ryu Unknown
• Togakure Ryu Daisuke Nishina Togakure
• Gyokko Ryu Hakuusai Tozawa
• Gikan Ryu Sonyu Hangan Gikanbo
• Koto Ryu Sandayu Momochi
Ryu Ha No Fu - school types/styles
• Dakentaijutsu Striking arts
• Hikenjutsu Hidden weapon arts
• Koppojutsu Bone attacking arts
• Koshijutsu Muscle attacking arts
• Jutaijutsu Throwing arts
• Ninjutsu Hidden arts
being over 1000 yrs old. Together they make up the Bujinkan method, more properly known as Bujinkan
budo. Masaaki Hatsumi is the current grandmaster of the Bujinkan Hombu dojo located in Noda, Japan.
Toshitsugu Takamatsu was his teacher.
Bujinkan No Ryu Ha
Schools of the Divine Warrior House
• Takagi Yoshin Ryu Tall tree felling heart Jutaijutsu
• Shinden Fudo Ryu Immovable heart Dakentaijutsu
• Kumogakure Ryu Hidden cloud Ninjutsu
• Kukishinden Ryu Nine demon gods Hikenjutsu
• Gyokushin Ryu Jeweled heart Ninjutsu
• Togakure Ryu Hidden door Ninjutsu
• Gyokko Ryu Jeweled tiger Koshijutsu
• Gikan Ryu Example of justice Koppojutsu
• Koto Ryu Tiger kingdom Koppojutsu
Bujinkan Ryu Ha Lineage - current Soke lineage
• Takagi Yoshin Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 17th Soke
• Shinden Fudo Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 26th Soke
• Kumogakure Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 14th Soke
• Kukishinden Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 28th Soke
• Gyokushin Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 14th Soke
• Togakure Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 34th Soke
• Gyokko Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 28th Soke
• Gikan Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 18th Soke
• Koto Ryu Masaaki Hatsumi 18th Soke
Historical Lineage of Bujinkan Ryu Ha Founders
• Takagi Yoshin Ryu Oriuemon Shigenobu Takagi
• Shinden Fudo Ryu Izumo Kanja Yoshiteru
• Kumogakure Ryu Heinaizaemon Ienaga Iga
• Gyokushin Ryu Unknown
• Togakure Ryu Daisuke Nishina Togakure
• Gyokko Ryu Hakuusai Tozawa
• Gikan Ryu Sonyu Hangan Gikanbo
• Koto Ryu Sandayu Momochi
Ryu Ha No Fu - school types/styles
• Dakentaijutsu Striking arts
• Hikenjutsu Hidden weapon arts
• Koppojutsu Bone attacking arts
• Koshijutsu Muscle attacking arts
• Jutaijutsu Throwing arts
• Ninjutsu Hidden arts
M a s a a k i H a t s u m i
BIOGRAPHY
Born on December 2,1931, Hatsumi spent his youth studying martial arts. He trained in many arts,
including karate, judo, kendo, and aikido. But it was not until his mid twenties that he met the man who
would have the most influence on his life. Toshitsugu Takamatsu took the young Hatsumi as his personal
student and they spent the next fifteen years training together until Takamatsu passed away on April 2,
1971.
Dr. Hatsumi is true genius. He is an accomplished renowned bone doctor. He has written over a dozen
books, and is the former chairman of the Writers Guild of Japan. He is a very accomplished fine artist
whose paintings have shown not only in Asia, but in America and Europe as well. Among Dr. Hatsumi's
other many honors are the title of Knighthood from Germany, Honorary Doctorate degrees in both Human
Sciences and Philosophy, Honorary Texas Ranger, and numerous Honorable Citizenship awards from
locales as close as Los Angeles, California to as far as Dublin, Ireland. Dr. Hatsumi's work has also been
recognized by numerous government and law enforcement officials, such as the FBI and the NSA. A look at
the collection of commendations on the walls in his office is a like looking at a list of who is who among world
leaders for the past several decades.
Dr. Hatsumi holds black belts in several arts, including judo, karate, kendo, aikido and jojutsu, and has
studied such western arts as boxing. He is grandmaster of the following nine schools of the Bujinkan:
·
Togakure Ryū Ninpō Happō Hiken, 34th Grandmaster
· Gyokko Ryū Kosshijutsu Happō Hiken, 28th Grandmaster
· Kotō Ryū Koppojutsu Happō Hiken, 18th Grandmaster
· Shinden Fudō Ryū Dakken Taijutsu Happō Hiken, 26th Grandmaster
· Kukishinden Ryū Taijutsu Happō Hiken, 28th Grandmaster
· Takagi Yōshin Ryū Jutaijutsu Happō Hiken, 17th Grandmaster
· Kumogakure Ryū Ninpō Happō Hiken, 14th Grandmaster
· Gyokushin Ryū Ninpō Happō Hiken, 21st Grandmaster
· Gikan Ryū Koppōjutsu Happō Hiken, 15th Grandmaster
PHILOSOPHY
I believe that Ninpo, the higher order of ninjutsu, should be offered to the world as a guiding influence for all
martial artists. The physical and spiritual survival methods eventually immortalized by Japan's ninja were in
fact one of the sources of Japanese martial arts. Without complete and total training in all aspects of the
combative arts, today's martial artist cannot hope to progress any further than mere proficiency in the
limited set of muscular skills that make up his or her training system. Personal enlightenment can only come
about through total immersion in the martial tradition as a way of living. By experiencing the confrontation of
danger, the transcendence of fear or injury or death, and a working knowledge of individual personal
powers and limitations, the practitioner of ninjutsu can gain the strength and invincibility that permit
enjoyment of the flowers moving in the wind, appreciation of the love of others, and contentment with the
presence of peace in society.
The attainment of this enlightenment is characterized by the development of the jihi no kokoro, or
"benevolent heart". Stronger than love itself, the benevolent heart is capable of encompassing all that
constitutes universal justice and all that finds expression in the unfolding of the universal scheme. Born of
the insight attained from repeated exposure to the very brink between life and death, ninpo's benevolent
heart is the key to finding harmony and understanding in the realms of the spiritual and the nautural
material worlds.
After so many generations of obscurity in the shadowy recesses of history, the life philosophy of the ninja is
now once again emerging, because once again, it is the time in human destiny in which ninpo is needed.
May peace prevail so that mankind may continue to grow and evolve into the next great plateau.
Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, Soke
34th Grandmaster of Togakure Ryu
TOSHITSUGU TAKAMATSU
BIOGRAPHY
BORN: March 10th 1887 in Akashi, Hyogo Province
GIVEN NAME: Hisatsugu Takamatsu
FATHER: Yasaburo Takamatsu (also known as Gishin Takamatsu)
Takamatsu was a sickly child and at a young age, his father had decided that training in martial arts might
make him stronger. Therefore, he decided to send him to his grandfather, Toda Shinryuken, who was of
Samurai rank, and known for his martial arts skill and knowledge. Toda, who owned a Chiropractic clinic
and a Budo Dojo in Kobe, was the 24th Soke of a fighting system known as Shindenfudo Ryu
Dakentaijutsu. Toda was also 16th Soke of Shinden Koto Ryu Karate (Later changed to Koto Ryu
Koppojutsu), 26th Soke of Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu, 12th Soke of Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo, 12th Soke of
Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo, and 32nd Soke of Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu. Toda was also a master instructor
in Bikenshin Ryuu Kenjutsu, which he wrote books on and taught to students in The Royal Military Academy
in Nakano.
The first year Takamatsu trained in Toda’s Dojo, he was only thrown around by the elder students of the
dojo. In the years to come, Toda poured his knowledge into Takamatsu, and by the age of 13, Takamatsu
had mastered the techniques of Shindenfudo Ryu. Toda taught Takamatsu Koto Ryu, Gyokko Ryu
Kosshijutsu, Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo, Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo, and Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu. Takamatsu
thought Koto Ryu was “Fun”, but he had little interest in Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu training at the time. Koto
Ryu training involved striking small pebbles with the finger tips until the fingers built up strength. Then the
student would move on to striking rocks, and so on. Soon he had mastered all the training.
In the spring of 1900, 13-year-old Takamatsu left high school and went on to English school and the
Chinese School of Classics in his hometown of Kobe. It was during this time, he met Mizuta Tadafusa
Yoshitaro (15th Soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu). Takamatsu trained at Mizuta’s dojo everyday, and
when he was 17 years old, Mizuta gave him the Menkyo Kaiden (Master’s License) in Takagi Yoshin Ryu
Jutaijutsu in 1906. In that same year, Takamatsu met his family cousin, Ishitani Matsutaro Takege, who
worked as a bodyguard in the match making factory owned by Takamatsu’s father. Ishitani, was well known
for his skills in the warrior arts, used an old oak bokken for a walking stick, and had built a small dojo in the
factory where he taught Takamatsu. Ishitani was Soke of Kuki Happo Biken No Jutsu, Gikan Ryu
koppojutsu, and Shinden Muso Ryu. He taught Takamatsu in these systems and continued his training in
Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu, which Takamatsu had been training in previously with Mizuta. There was
once a fire in the sleeping area of the match factory. As everyone else ran around in a panic, Takamatsu
grabbed a thick Gi training top, soaked it in water, and put it on. He grabbed a hanbo (3 foot stick), ran into
the burning area, and started knocking down the sliding walls. This helped to extinguish the fire, saving the
rest of the factory. Ishitani seeing this commented saying, Takamatsu was truly a great martial artist. Ishitani
died a few years later just after passing the status Soke of Gikan Ryu koppojutsu to Takamatsu.
In 1909 when Takamatsu was 22 years old, he received his Menkyo Kaiden from his grandfather Toda
Shinryuken in all the systems he taught. Toda died that same year, December 6th. Some important aspects
Toda taught Takamatsu were, “When you face death, die laughing”, “Even when facing defeat, do it
smiling”, and “Never speak of your knowledge, it might make it disappear”. Around this time, Takamatsu quit
working at his father’s factory and left for China, where he wanted to test his skills. He spent some time in
Korea, where he met Kim Kei-Mei-a and trained with him. In China, he studied under many of the most
famous Chinese martial arts masters. Later he had mastered eighteen Korean and Chinese martial art
systems. After some time in China training, he returned home because of illness. He was then cured by a
Yamabushi (Mountain Priest) and soon after, returned to China.
Takamatsu founded a Japanese martial arts community in China and in order to survive, he held lessons in
his system of fighting. It was during this time Takamatsu had fought in several battles, one of which a
mounted soldier was charging at him. Takamatsu had no weapon, but nearby a sword lay on the ground.
The soldier started to pull out a pistol with the intent of shooting Takamatsu. Takamatsu did a dive roll for
the sword, picked it up and sprang into the air, severing the head from the soldier’s body. Takamatsu
taught that rolling correctly in many directions was very important. During his time in China he also fought in
nineteen tournaments, twelve were fights to the death. The death fights were challenges made by other
masters of martial styles who wanted to prove their style more powerful and had heard of Takamatsu’s
famous skills. Takamatsu beat every challenger. In one such case, a Chinese monk challenged Takamatsu.
The monk fought hard, but after 3 minutes of fighting, the referee saw how exhausted the he was and
decided to stop the fight, calling it a draw. Takamatsu had evaded every attack from the monk, and was not
even winded. Takamatsu had never lost any of the fights he had been in and because of his fighting skills,
he was nicknamed “Moku No Tora”, which means Mongolian Tiger.
While Takamatsu was in China, the keepers of the Kukishin Ryu scrolls, the Kuki family had thought they
would never see him again and so granted Iwami Nangaki the status Menkyo Kaiden. When Takamatsu had
returned to Japan in 1919 his position as Soke of that style had been filled. However, during World War 2,
the Kuki family scrolls were destroyed. Takamatsu was able to rewrite the scrolls from his notes and
memories of training and presented them to them to the Kuki family three years later. Because of this, he
was given permission to create a branch school called Kukishinden Ryu, which contained what he
considered the best and most effective of the Kukishin Ryu techniques.
Takamatsu then joined a Tendai-shu sect of mountain warrior monks on the Hiei mountains nears Kyoto.
He was ordained as a Mikkyo (Abbot) priest shortly after. Even though he had been ordained in two other
religions, he did not consider himself religious. He was later married to Tane Uno, who was born on June
28, 1896 on the riverside of Yodo-gawa in the Hirakata region. They did not have any children, so they
decided to adopt a girl, Yoshiko.
It was known that he was an adviser on the movie “Shinobi No Mono” (Ninja Band of Assassins), which was
directed by Yamamoto Satsuo. He taught Bojutsu to a few of the actors in the movie. Later on in his life, he
ran a small teahouse and hotel in Kashiwabara, in the Nara region. It was here he started training students
in the art of Ninjutsu, although he was formally known for his mastery of Jujutsu and Bojutsu. His Dojo was
named Sakushin Dojo. Takamatsu Soke was the president of the Nippon Minkoku Seisen Butoku-Kai, and a
member of the Shobu Bureau.
Takamatsu had never lost his fighting spirit and when he was in his late 70’s, a Karate instructor of high
rank was being interviewed on TV had referred to him as “An old man which his time had past”. A comment
like that was not taken lightly by someone of traditional training, and Takamatsu, defending his honor then
arranged his own interview in which he stated that his time was far from past and viewed the comment as a
fight to the death challenge. He gave the Karate instructor 3 days in which to retract his statement and
make an apology. The Karate instructor made the apology.
Around the late 1950’s, Takamatsu took a new student, 26-year-old Massaki Hatsumi. When Hatsumi had
first met Takamatsu, he was frightened by his power and reputation. Hatsumi was Takamatsu’s last and
final student for the rest of his life. Takamatsu taught Hatsumi in all the different styles he mastered in,
some of which he had never taught before. Hatsumi travelled 15 hours almost every weekend for 15 years
to train with Takamatsu. Later on, Takamatsu made it known to his students that Hatsumi would be taking
over instruction and that by leaving everything to him, he was able to repay Toda Shinryuken, Mizuta
Tadafusa Yoshitaro, and Ishitani Matsutaro for their kindness and instruction, also knowning that Hatsumi
would pass the knowledge along and not let it die out. Takamatsu told Hatsumi he had taught him
everything he knew and so Hatsumi became Soke of all his systems. Takamatsu had trained actively until
he was 80, but continued to monitor Hatsumi’s training afterwards.
Takamatsu died on the 2nd day of April 1972, when he was 85 years old. He was buried in the Kumedra
cemetery near Nara, Japan. It was said that when his neighbors read his obituary, they were shocked to
hear the full details of his life as a martial arts master. To respect his teacher, Hatsumi named his dojo,
Bujinkan Dojo (A place where the Divine Warrior Trains).
PHILOSOPHY
Takamatsu once wrote a poem to Hatsumi:
"In the days of the Tenei era
there was a great master of Koppo
He was calm and peaceful like the flowers of springtime
Yet, he was so brave that not even 10,000 enemies could make him show fear.
He could even strike down a wild animal with but a single blow."
"The way to experience ultimate happiness is to let go of all worries and regrets, and to know that being
happy is the most satisfying of life's feelings. Reflect back on all the progress in your life and allow the
positive, creative and joyous thoughts to outshine and overwhelm any sorrow or grief that may linger in the
recesses of your mind. Knowing that disease and disaster are natural parts of life is the key to overcoming
adversity with a calm and happy spirit. Happiness is waiting there in front of you. Only you can decide
whether or not you choose to experience it. Take this to heart!"
- Toshitsugu Takamatsu 1887-1972
16th Soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu
25th Soke of Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu
13th Soke of Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo
27th Soke of Kukishinden Ryu Hikenjutsu
13th Soke of Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo
33rd Soke of Togakure Ryu Ninpo
27th Soke of Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu
17th Soke of Giken Ryu Koppojutsu
17th Soke of Koto Ryu Koppojutsu
BIOGRAPHY
Born on December 2,1931, Hatsumi spent his youth studying martial arts. He trained in many arts,
including karate, judo, kendo, and aikido. But it was not until his mid twenties that he met the man who
would have the most influence on his life. Toshitsugu Takamatsu took the young Hatsumi as his personal
student and they spent the next fifteen years training together until Takamatsu passed away on April 2,
1971.
Dr. Hatsumi is true genius. He is an accomplished renowned bone doctor. He has written over a dozen
books, and is the former chairman of the Writers Guild of Japan. He is a very accomplished fine artist
whose paintings have shown not only in Asia, but in America and Europe as well. Among Dr. Hatsumi's
other many honors are the title of Knighthood from Germany, Honorary Doctorate degrees in both Human
Sciences and Philosophy, Honorary Texas Ranger, and numerous Honorable Citizenship awards from
locales as close as Los Angeles, California to as far as Dublin, Ireland. Dr. Hatsumi's work has also been
recognized by numerous government and law enforcement officials, such as the FBI and the NSA. A look at
the collection of commendations on the walls in his office is a like looking at a list of who is who among world
leaders for the past several decades.
Dr. Hatsumi holds black belts in several arts, including judo, karate, kendo, aikido and jojutsu, and has
studied such western arts as boxing. He is grandmaster of the following nine schools of the Bujinkan:
·
Togakure Ryū Ninpō Happō Hiken, 34th Grandmaster
· Gyokko Ryū Kosshijutsu Happō Hiken, 28th Grandmaster
· Kotō Ryū Koppojutsu Happō Hiken, 18th Grandmaster
· Shinden Fudō Ryū Dakken Taijutsu Happō Hiken, 26th Grandmaster
· Kukishinden Ryū Taijutsu Happō Hiken, 28th Grandmaster
· Takagi Yōshin Ryū Jutaijutsu Happō Hiken, 17th Grandmaster
· Kumogakure Ryū Ninpō Happō Hiken, 14th Grandmaster
· Gyokushin Ryū Ninpō Happō Hiken, 21st Grandmaster
· Gikan Ryū Koppōjutsu Happō Hiken, 15th Grandmaster
PHILOSOPHY
I believe that Ninpo, the higher order of ninjutsu, should be offered to the world as a guiding influence for all
martial artists. The physical and spiritual survival methods eventually immortalized by Japan's ninja were in
fact one of the sources of Japanese martial arts. Without complete and total training in all aspects of the
combative arts, today's martial artist cannot hope to progress any further than mere proficiency in the
limited set of muscular skills that make up his or her training system. Personal enlightenment can only come
about through total immersion in the martial tradition as a way of living. By experiencing the confrontation of
danger, the transcendence of fear or injury or death, and a working knowledge of individual personal
powers and limitations, the practitioner of ninjutsu can gain the strength and invincibility that permit
enjoyment of the flowers moving in the wind, appreciation of the love of others, and contentment with the
presence of peace in society.
The attainment of this enlightenment is characterized by the development of the jihi no kokoro, or
"benevolent heart". Stronger than love itself, the benevolent heart is capable of encompassing all that
constitutes universal justice and all that finds expression in the unfolding of the universal scheme. Born of
the insight attained from repeated exposure to the very brink between life and death, ninpo's benevolent
heart is the key to finding harmony and understanding in the realms of the spiritual and the nautural
material worlds.
After so many generations of obscurity in the shadowy recesses of history, the life philosophy of the ninja is
now once again emerging, because once again, it is the time in human destiny in which ninpo is needed.
May peace prevail so that mankind may continue to grow and evolve into the next great plateau.
Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, Soke
34th Grandmaster of Togakure Ryu
TOSHITSUGU TAKAMATSU
BIOGRAPHY
BORN: March 10th 1887 in Akashi, Hyogo Province
GIVEN NAME: Hisatsugu Takamatsu
FATHER: Yasaburo Takamatsu (also known as Gishin Takamatsu)
Takamatsu was a sickly child and at a young age, his father had decided that training in martial arts might
make him stronger. Therefore, he decided to send him to his grandfather, Toda Shinryuken, who was of
Samurai rank, and known for his martial arts skill and knowledge. Toda, who owned a Chiropractic clinic
and a Budo Dojo in Kobe, was the 24th Soke of a fighting system known as Shindenfudo Ryu
Dakentaijutsu. Toda was also 16th Soke of Shinden Koto Ryu Karate (Later changed to Koto Ryu
Koppojutsu), 26th Soke of Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu, 12th Soke of Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo, 12th Soke of
Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo, and 32nd Soke of Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu. Toda was also a master instructor
in Bikenshin Ryuu Kenjutsu, which he wrote books on and taught to students in The Royal Military Academy
in Nakano.
The first year Takamatsu trained in Toda’s Dojo, he was only thrown around by the elder students of the
dojo. In the years to come, Toda poured his knowledge into Takamatsu, and by the age of 13, Takamatsu
had mastered the techniques of Shindenfudo Ryu. Toda taught Takamatsu Koto Ryu, Gyokko Ryu
Kosshijutsu, Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo, Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo, and Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu. Takamatsu
thought Koto Ryu was “Fun”, but he had little interest in Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu training at the time. Koto
Ryu training involved striking small pebbles with the finger tips until the fingers built up strength. Then the
student would move on to striking rocks, and so on. Soon he had mastered all the training.
In the spring of 1900, 13-year-old Takamatsu left high school and went on to English school and the
Chinese School of Classics in his hometown of Kobe. It was during this time, he met Mizuta Tadafusa
Yoshitaro (15th Soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu). Takamatsu trained at Mizuta’s dojo everyday, and
when he was 17 years old, Mizuta gave him the Menkyo Kaiden (Master’s License) in Takagi Yoshin Ryu
Jutaijutsu in 1906. In that same year, Takamatsu met his family cousin, Ishitani Matsutaro Takege, who
worked as a bodyguard in the match making factory owned by Takamatsu’s father. Ishitani, was well known
for his skills in the warrior arts, used an old oak bokken for a walking stick, and had built a small dojo in the
factory where he taught Takamatsu. Ishitani was Soke of Kuki Happo Biken No Jutsu, Gikan Ryu
koppojutsu, and Shinden Muso Ryu. He taught Takamatsu in these systems and continued his training in
Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu, which Takamatsu had been training in previously with Mizuta. There was
once a fire in the sleeping area of the match factory. As everyone else ran around in a panic, Takamatsu
grabbed a thick Gi training top, soaked it in water, and put it on. He grabbed a hanbo (3 foot stick), ran into
the burning area, and started knocking down the sliding walls. This helped to extinguish the fire, saving the
rest of the factory. Ishitani seeing this commented saying, Takamatsu was truly a great martial artist. Ishitani
died a few years later just after passing the status Soke of Gikan Ryu koppojutsu to Takamatsu.
In 1909 when Takamatsu was 22 years old, he received his Menkyo Kaiden from his grandfather Toda
Shinryuken in all the systems he taught. Toda died that same year, December 6th. Some important aspects
Toda taught Takamatsu were, “When you face death, die laughing”, “Even when facing defeat, do it
smiling”, and “Never speak of your knowledge, it might make it disappear”. Around this time, Takamatsu quit
working at his father’s factory and left for China, where he wanted to test his skills. He spent some time in
Korea, where he met Kim Kei-Mei-a and trained with him. In China, he studied under many of the most
famous Chinese martial arts masters. Later he had mastered eighteen Korean and Chinese martial art
systems. After some time in China training, he returned home because of illness. He was then cured by a
Yamabushi (Mountain Priest) and soon after, returned to China.
Takamatsu founded a Japanese martial arts community in China and in order to survive, he held lessons in
his system of fighting. It was during this time Takamatsu had fought in several battles, one of which a
mounted soldier was charging at him. Takamatsu had no weapon, but nearby a sword lay on the ground.
The soldier started to pull out a pistol with the intent of shooting Takamatsu. Takamatsu did a dive roll for
the sword, picked it up and sprang into the air, severing the head from the soldier’s body. Takamatsu
taught that rolling correctly in many directions was very important. During his time in China he also fought in
nineteen tournaments, twelve were fights to the death. The death fights were challenges made by other
masters of martial styles who wanted to prove their style more powerful and had heard of Takamatsu’s
famous skills. Takamatsu beat every challenger. In one such case, a Chinese monk challenged Takamatsu.
The monk fought hard, but after 3 minutes of fighting, the referee saw how exhausted the he was and
decided to stop the fight, calling it a draw. Takamatsu had evaded every attack from the monk, and was not
even winded. Takamatsu had never lost any of the fights he had been in and because of his fighting skills,
he was nicknamed “Moku No Tora”, which means Mongolian Tiger.
While Takamatsu was in China, the keepers of the Kukishin Ryu scrolls, the Kuki family had thought they
would never see him again and so granted Iwami Nangaki the status Menkyo Kaiden. When Takamatsu had
returned to Japan in 1919 his position as Soke of that style had been filled. However, during World War 2,
the Kuki family scrolls were destroyed. Takamatsu was able to rewrite the scrolls from his notes and
memories of training and presented them to them to the Kuki family three years later. Because of this, he
was given permission to create a branch school called Kukishinden Ryu, which contained what he
considered the best and most effective of the Kukishin Ryu techniques.
Takamatsu then joined a Tendai-shu sect of mountain warrior monks on the Hiei mountains nears Kyoto.
He was ordained as a Mikkyo (Abbot) priest shortly after. Even though he had been ordained in two other
religions, he did not consider himself religious. He was later married to Tane Uno, who was born on June
28, 1896 on the riverside of Yodo-gawa in the Hirakata region. They did not have any children, so they
decided to adopt a girl, Yoshiko.
It was known that he was an adviser on the movie “Shinobi No Mono” (Ninja Band of Assassins), which was
directed by Yamamoto Satsuo. He taught Bojutsu to a few of the actors in the movie. Later on in his life, he
ran a small teahouse and hotel in Kashiwabara, in the Nara region. It was here he started training students
in the art of Ninjutsu, although he was formally known for his mastery of Jujutsu and Bojutsu. His Dojo was
named Sakushin Dojo. Takamatsu Soke was the president of the Nippon Minkoku Seisen Butoku-Kai, and a
member of the Shobu Bureau.
Takamatsu had never lost his fighting spirit and when he was in his late 70’s, a Karate instructor of high
rank was being interviewed on TV had referred to him as “An old man which his time had past”. A comment
like that was not taken lightly by someone of traditional training, and Takamatsu, defending his honor then
arranged his own interview in which he stated that his time was far from past and viewed the comment as a
fight to the death challenge. He gave the Karate instructor 3 days in which to retract his statement and
make an apology. The Karate instructor made the apology.
Around the late 1950’s, Takamatsu took a new student, 26-year-old Massaki Hatsumi. When Hatsumi had
first met Takamatsu, he was frightened by his power and reputation. Hatsumi was Takamatsu’s last and
final student for the rest of his life. Takamatsu taught Hatsumi in all the different styles he mastered in,
some of which he had never taught before. Hatsumi travelled 15 hours almost every weekend for 15 years
to train with Takamatsu. Later on, Takamatsu made it known to his students that Hatsumi would be taking
over instruction and that by leaving everything to him, he was able to repay Toda Shinryuken, Mizuta
Tadafusa Yoshitaro, and Ishitani Matsutaro for their kindness and instruction, also knowning that Hatsumi
would pass the knowledge along and not let it die out. Takamatsu told Hatsumi he had taught him
everything he knew and so Hatsumi became Soke of all his systems. Takamatsu had trained actively until
he was 80, but continued to monitor Hatsumi’s training afterwards.
Takamatsu died on the 2nd day of April 1972, when he was 85 years old. He was buried in the Kumedra
cemetery near Nara, Japan. It was said that when his neighbors read his obituary, they were shocked to
hear the full details of his life as a martial arts master. To respect his teacher, Hatsumi named his dojo,
Bujinkan Dojo (A place where the Divine Warrior Trains).
PHILOSOPHY
Takamatsu once wrote a poem to Hatsumi:
"In the days of the Tenei era
there was a great master of Koppo
He was calm and peaceful like the flowers of springtime
Yet, he was so brave that not even 10,000 enemies could make him show fear.
He could even strike down a wild animal with but a single blow."
"The way to experience ultimate happiness is to let go of all worries and regrets, and to know that being
happy is the most satisfying of life's feelings. Reflect back on all the progress in your life and allow the
positive, creative and joyous thoughts to outshine and overwhelm any sorrow or grief that may linger in the
recesses of your mind. Knowing that disease and disaster are natural parts of life is the key to overcoming
adversity with a calm and happy spirit. Happiness is waiting there in front of you. Only you can decide
whether or not you choose to experience it. Take this to heart!"
- Toshitsugu Takamatsu 1887-1972
16th Soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu
25th Soke of Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu
13th Soke of Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo
27th Soke of Kukishinden Ryu Hikenjutsu
13th Soke of Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo
33rd Soke of Togakure Ryu Ninpo
27th Soke of Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu
17th Soke of Giken Ryu Koppojutsu
17th Soke of Koto Ryu Koppojutsu
