Bujinkan Mizu
Nagare Dojo
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Bujinkan Mizu
Nagare Dojo |
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Togakure Ryu Ninpo Mount Hei-zan is where the Enryakuji (headquarters) of Tendai monastery is sited. So-o was a monk at this place, but left to live for three years in a cave as an ascetic. It was after a dream that he formed the Tendai Shugendo sect of Buddhism. These monks today still exist and some are still engaged in the Kaihogyo (Shugendo). it was within this sect in a small village called Togakure (now Togakushi) in the prefecture of Nagano (close to the Nagano/Gunma-ken border) in Joshinsetsu National Park in approximately 1165 Daisuke Nishina was born, a Samurai. Daisuke was on the losing side of a battle in the 1180s and was forced to flee into the forests of Iga Province. Here he was found and taught by Kain Doshi (possible known as Kagakure Doshi). He adopted these warrior teachings to his own Shugendo and the beginnings of Togakure Ryu where formed. Goro Togakure is recognized as being the person who officially formed the family of Togakure into the Ninjutsu system that we learn today. Of the first 8 generations, 5 had the name of Togakure, as with most martial traditions it possibly passed from father to son. It is said that it continued in this way until the 1600s (?). When the immediate family died out, the chief branch of the clan Toda took over leadership. The 33rd Soke Takamatsu,
was the last member of the Toda line. It was interesting to note that the 11, 12
and 13th Soke of the Ryu are named after the main town of Iga, Ueno. It was the
tradition in those days to be named after the town or village that one came
from. The 2nd Soke of the Ryu, Shima Kosanta Minamoto No Kanesada was a Samurai retainer having the rank of Kosho, for one of the most powerful Samurai generals Kiso Yoshinaka, who was a general in the Minamoto army. The Minamoto where in time (1185) to become the first hereditary Shoguns. When he was 16, Shima fought
against the Tiara family, the rivals of the Minamoto family. That battle took
place at Awazu, Yoshinaka was on the losing side. It is thought that Shima was
wounded in the battle, and fled to one of the nearby mountainous areas near to
the battle site. Shima only did this at the request of Yoshinaka.
Kagakure Doshi, a Ninja of the Hakuun Ryu found Shima and together they fled to
Iga. Kagakure was also one of the teachers of Daisuke Togakure, who later on
took Shima into his care. The Hakuun Ryu of Ninjutsu was founded by Garyu Doji,
but was later completed by Hakuun Doji who later gave the Ryu its name.
32nd Soke of Togakure Ryu, Shinryuken Masamitsu Toda was also a master in the
Bikenshin Ryu and was the sword instructor for the Tokugawa Shogunate in the mid
19th century. Togakure Ryu Ninpo includes various punching, throwing,
locking and levering techniques. Along with
Taijutsu, this school includes the arts of Seishin teki kyoyo (spiritual
refinement), Ninpo Biken (sword), Sojutsu (spear),
Naginatajutsu (halberd), Bojutsu (sticks), Kusari Gama-jutsu (sickle and chain),
Bajutsu (horsemanship), Kayakujutsu (fire and explosives), Suiren (water
training), Shinobi Iri (stealth and entering methods), Bo Ryaku (strategy), Cho
ho (espionage), Intonjutsu (escape and concealment), Tenmon (meteorology),
Chimon (geography) Hensojutsu
(disguise) and three school secrets, called Sanpo Hiden, which are Shuko
(hand claws), Senban Shuriken (throwing daggers), and Shinodake (bamboo tube for
breathing under water). Togakure Ryu Lineage
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