Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu is part of the Hontai Yoshin Ryu – Takagi Ryu tradition. The current Soke is Fumon Tanaka, the 19th Soke of this style.
Fumon Tanaka trained in various traditional Japanese martial arts before becoming a student of Minaki Saburoji Masanori, the 17th Soke of Hontai Yoshin Ryu and Kukishin Ryu, in the 1970s. He had already earned high master grades; his sword techniques were highly regarded, and his skills in bojutsu and with the naginata were also impressive.
In 1982 (the 57th year of the Showa era), Minaki Saburoji Masanori separated the scrolls of Hontai Yoshin Ryu and Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu and passed Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu to his student Matsuda Kyodo. Matsuda was Soke for exactly one day before handing the scrolls and the title to Tanaka Fumon. This caused a great stir in the small world of koryu schools.
Connection to Motoha Yoshin Ryu
Motoha Yoshin Ryu is also part of the Hontai Yoshin Ryu – Takagi Ryu tradition. The bojutsu techniques are therefore still trained and passed on – but no longer under the name Kukishin Ryu, as that name is now used by the independent Kukishin Ryu.
Anyone who wants to learn these staff techniques as taught in the Hontai Yoshin Ryu – Takagi Ryu tradition can do so in Switzerland at a Motoha Yoshin Ryu dojo.
Kukishinden Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu
In the Bujinkan, Genbukan and Jinenkan, the term “Kukishinden Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu” is used for a school that has certain similarities with Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu. The term “Kukishinden Ryu” is not used in the Hontai Yoshin Ryu – Takagi Ryu tradition.