Gikan-ryu Koppojutsu is a medieval Japanese school of martial arts established in the 16th century by Uryu Hangan Gikanbo . Koppojutsu means attacks against bones. Koppojutsu is commonly considered a hard art in comparison to the soft arts such as kosshijutsu: attacks against muscles.
According to the Bujinkan, Gikan-ryu Koppojutsu is based on martial arts skills and techniques that Uryu Hangan Gikanbo learned from Sougyoku Kan Ritsushi, Soke of Gyokko-ryu and Koto-ryu. Uryu Hangan Gikanbo is said of having developed a punching style so strong that he once broke a sword with it. It is thought that this special punch in fact utilized a teppan concealed within the hand to break swords.
It is disputed who the current soke of Gikan Ryu is. At this time, two people claim to be soke of Gikan ryu. One is Tanemura Shoto (Tsunehisa), the other is Masaaki Hatsumi (Yoshiaki).
Tanemura Shoto claims he received sokeship to the ryu through Sato Kinbei. According to Tanemura, Sato Kinbei received sokeship to the ryu from Toshitsugu Takamatsu (Hisatsugu) who was the previous soke. It is thought Takamatsu originally gave sokeship to Fumio Akimoto, however, Akimoto died shortly thereafter and so the sokeship was secretly given to Sato. It is not publicly known why this was done secretly.
Tanemura's claim to the ryu has been challenged in a Japanese court, however, Tanemura was able to provide proof that his claim was legitimate in the form of scrolls and the matter was closed. Tanemura has also displayed his Gikan Ryu sokeship scrolls in an instructional jujutsu video produced in the early 90's.
Hatsumi claims sokeship to the ryu directly from Takamatsu. According to Hatsumi, Takamatsu gave sokeship to Akimoto, who died shortly thereafter. Takamatsu then gave sokeship of the ryu to Hatsumi. There is some confusion as to why Akimoto Fumio is listed in the Bujinkan version of the Gikan Ryu lineage, because the sokeship returned to Takamatsu after Akimoto died. It is not understood why Hatsumi has listed Akimoto as being in the lineage when Akimoto never passed the ryu to anyone.
Genbukan Claimed Lineage
- Uryu Hangan Gikanbo
- Uryu Hangan Yoshichika
- Uryu Kanzui
- Uryu Nobuyoshi
- Uryu Tenkaibo
- Uryu Hidechika
- Uryu Sokaibo
- Uryu Shinkaibo
- Uryu Gikaibo
- Uryu Gikanbo
- Ishitani Matsutaro
- Takamatsu Toshitsugu
- Sato Kinbei
- Shoto Tanemura
Bujinkan Claimed Lineage
- Sonyuhangan Gikanbo (Daimyo of Kawachi Castle)
He was also known as:
- Uryu Hangan Gikanbo - Eiroku era, 1558-1570
- Uryu Yoshimitsu - Tensho era, 1573-1592
- Uryu Yoshimori - Kan'ei era, 1624-1644
- Uryu Yoshichika - Kambun era, 1661-1673
- Uryu Yoshitaka - Genroku era, 1688-1704
- Uryu Yoshihide - Horeki era, 1751-1764
- Uryu Yoshimori - Kansei era, 1789-1801
- Uryu Yoshiaki - Tenpo era, 1830-1844
- Uryu Gikan - Keio era, 1865-1868
- Ishitani Takeoi Masatsugu - approx d. 1905
- Ishitani Matsutaro Takekage - approx d. 1911
- Toshitsugu Takamatsu - b.1887-d.1972
- Akimoto Fumio - approx d. 1962
- Masaaki Hatsumi
