Kukishinden Happo Bikenjutsu - History
九鬼神伝八法秘剣術
歴史 REKISHI
The 9th Soke Kuriyama Ukongen Nagafusa, fought against Suzuki Tango no kami Katsuhisa of the Kurama Ryu. Suzuki used a type of Tachi known as a Sanshaku Gosun Tachi , Kuriyama and Suzuki were both on horseback. Kuriyama used a red Oak octagonal Rokushakubo. Suzuki cut the Bo in half at the centre, but as he raised his Tachi to Daijodan no Kamae, Kuriyama hit at Suzuki’s hands. This caused Suzuki to drop his Tachi. A retainer of Suzuki’s who was near by passed him a Yari which he used to strike at Kuriyama. Kuriyama moved to the side, and he struck Suzuki on the head with the halved Bo (Hanbo) which caused him to fall from his horse bleeding from his head.
The 11th Soke Ohkuni Yukihisa is accredited with being the originator of Kukishinden Ryu Jojutsu. He achieved this by using his skills in Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu, Hanbojutsu, and Kenpo.
In the 17th century the 13th Soke, Ohkuni Kihei Shigenobu from Izumo holder of the Menkyo Kaiden in The Kukishin Ryu and the Chosui Ryu, taught the Kukishin Ryu to the Takagi Yoshin Ryu. In return the Takagi Yoshin Ryu exchanged with the Kukishin Ryu some of it's Bojutsu, Naginata, and Shuriken techniques. Ohkuni was to become the 4th Soke of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu after the death of his friend Takagi Gennoshin the 3rd Soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu. Ohkuni was the student of Kuki Sadataka the 11th Soke of the Kukishin Ryu, and it is possibly from Ohkuni that the Kukishinden Ryu really comes into existence.
Ohkuni Izumo Mori Shigehiro the 19th Soke, is believed to have been alive around the early part of the 1800's. He was the son in law of Toda Eisaburo Nobumasa 27th Soke of Togakure Ryu. The Densho states that Ohkuni was skilled in Gyokushin Ryu, Gyokko Ryu, Togakure Ryu, which were taught to him by Toda
Ishitani Takeoi, the father of the famous Ishitani Matsutaro the teacher of Takamatsu, came from Hyogo province. He, and a fellow student Fujita Hisayoshi studied under Yagi Ikugoro, the 13th Soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu. In effect the Kukishinden and the Takagi Yoshin Ryu had come full circle. Ishitani, and Fujita both received the Menkyo Kaiden in the Takagi Yoshin Ryu. Fujita, calling his school Takagi Yoshin Ryu, and Ishitani called his "Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu" Original name of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu). After 200 years the Kukishinden Ryu, and the Takagi Yoshin Ryu had come together again.
When Ishitani arrived at the factory, Takamatsu was told by Toda Sensei, that Ishitani was a famous martial artist. He also informed him never to challenge Ishitani to a sword fight, as the Swordsmanship of the Kukishinden Ryu was much better than that of the Togakure Ryu, and if he did he should expect to be easily beaten. Takamatsu heeded his grandfathers advice, and instead of a sword fight, he took on the much elder Ishitani in a Taijutsu contest. Twice he was easily beaten. He then requested that Ishitani teach him the Kukishinden Ryu, and other arts he knew. Ishitani accepted him as a student, and with the use of a corner of the factory, and a few Tatami, Ishitani taught Takamatsu the Hiken jutsu (sword) of the Kukishinden Ryu.
The information on this page has been edited from the book – Introductory History to the Schools of the Bujinkan by Paul Richardson
This book can be ordered from Http://www.budoya.org