Takagi Yoshin-ryu is a jutaijutsu (jujutsu) school taught in the Bujinkan and Genbukan Jujutsu Renmei. The techniques are designed to be applied in a very fast manner so the opponent cannot roll or escape. It is believed that it was a school for bodyguards. According to the Bujinkan, the school was founded by Takagi Oriemon Shigetoshi (born 1635), or his student Takagi Umanosuke. Other branches of Takagi Oriemon's original school include Hontai Yoshin Ryu, Hontai Yoshin Takagi Ryu and Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu. It is also connected with Kukishin Ryu (founded by Okuni Kihei Shigenobu, who was also the 4th headmaster of Takagi Ryu).
Takagi means "tall tree", while yoshin translates as "spirit of the willow tree". It is so named because a willow tree is flexible and thus harder to break.
Lineage
According to the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten, the head of the Bujinkan orginization, Masaaki Hatsumi is the lineage holder of Takagi Yoshin-ryu (see ancestral schools) transferred to him in the middle of the 20th Century by his teacher Takamatsu Toshitsugu.
The Bugei Ryuha Daijiten has entries bearing the name of Hatsumi below his teacher Takamatsu Toshitsugu for the following school entries: Gyokko Ryu, Koto Ryu, Shinden Fudo Ryu, Kuki Shinden Happo Bikenjutsu, Kumogakure Ryu, Gikan Ryu and Takagi Yoshin Ryu. (Please note that if you look at the entry for Takagi Yoshin Ryu, you are referenced to the listing for Takagi Ryu (which was also listed in the Kakutogi no Rekishi of 1843). Hatsumi is one of six individuals listed below Takamatsu Toshitsugu in this listing. This is because Takamatsu Toshitsugu split his scrolls among several students, including Fumio Akimoto and Kimura Masaji, among others)).
In 1843 several of the Bujinkan Ryu were mentioned in the Kakutogi no Rekishi (“The History of Fighting Arts”), p.508-517. Although details of the Ryu were omitted, the publication states, “Even though they are not mentioned in this particular periodical, there are several schools that are well-known for being ‘effective arts’ (jitsuryoku ha).” Among the schools listed in this section are Gyokko Ryu, Gyokushin Ryu, Gikan-ryu Koppojutsu, Kukishin Ryu, and Takagi Ryu, and Asayama Ichiden Ryu (which in not part of the Bujinkan’s nine schools but was studied by Hatsumi via Takashi Ueno).
Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu, founded in the latter part of the seventeeth century by Akiyama Shirobei Yoshitoki is a traditional school of Japanese Koryu Bujutsu. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (Jujutsu), was allegedly founded by Takagi Oriuemon Shigenobu (1625 - 1711). The second master of Takagi Yoshin Ryu, Takagi Umannosuke, was also the first soke of Takagi Ryu Jujutsu, and received menkyo in Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu as well. The Takagi Yoshin Ryu style is also related to Hon Tai Yoshin Ryu.
Formal Techniques of Takagi Yoshin Ryu
- Jutaijutsu (jujutsu)
- Shoden no kata (Beginner forms)
- Erijime no kata (Strangulations)
- Chuden no kata (Intermediate forms)
- Tai no kata (Body forms)
- Okuden no kata (Advanced forms)
- Moguri no kata (Diving under forms)
- Daisho sabaki no kata (unarmed forms, a long sword and short sword are worn at the sides while performing)
- Muto dori no kata (Unarmed defences against sword)
