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Chin Genpin

(Chen Yuan Pin 1587-1674)

Kuruma Iri

(Wheeling Enter)

Ran To

(Crushing Sword)

Hiza Guruma

(Knee Wheel)

Mune Kudaki

(Chest Crush)

Kobushi Nagashi

(Fist Flowing)

My teacher Mike DePasquale Sr. first trained with Kiyose Nakae Sensei in 1942 at his Dojo which was located then in Manhattan, NY. Nakae Sensei taught Kodokan Judo and Kito Ryu Jujutsu to his private students. This was my teacher's first school for Budo.

Chin Genpin was a master of Chinese methods of seizing a man (Kenpo). Genpin was a former dignitary of the Chinese court. In 1621 he visited Japan and settled there permanently in or around 1638 to escape the then raising Manchu Dynasty. Genpin was a poet and a scholar as well as a martial artist. He secured a rank with the Japanese nobles of the Owariha family. During this time he produced many treaties and texts on Chinese philosophy, such as Jugaku- Confuscism Lao-Tzu and, Tung Kao. Genpin was responsible for introducing the works of many Chinese poets into the mainstream of Japanese culture. Genpin collaborated with the learned monk-priest Gensei, in a number of literary endeavors.

Genpin teaches three Ronin the Kenpo methods:

1. Fukuno Hichiroemon

2. Isogai Jirozaemon

3. Miura Yojiemon

The three Ronin study and master Genpin’s Kenpo teachings at a monastery of Kokusei in Azabu. (Tokyo Azabu Kokushoji Temple) The three Ronin go their respective ways and spread their teachings and their unique influences throughout Japan.

Fukuno Hichiroemon- (Shichiro Uemon Masakatsu Yuzen)Also studied Yagyu Shinkageryu and Teishinryu which he got from: Terada Heizaemon Yasusada of the Kitoryu. His system is later known as the Fukunoryu which gives rise to his own system called the Ryoi Shintoryu. The Ryoi Shintoryu is closely tied to the Kitoryu throughout history.

Miura Yojiemon- Calls his system Miuraryu Yawara. His system leads to the formation of the Seigoryu.

The Three Ronin Teach Their Arts To Ibaragi

Ibaragi Matazaimon Sensei- (Toshifusa Sozen) Calls his system Midare Kitoryu Received Inka from the monk Takuan Zenshi. *Second theory of when Kitoryu was formed: Ibaragi creates the Midare Kitoryu.

In the Edo period, two masters collaborated: Fukuno and Ibaragi. Together they form a system called the Ryoi Shintoryu by combining their arts along with other influences from ofther people as well. There are many stories of how the Ryoi Shintoryu was formed. Most however leave out this important collaboration between Fukuno and Ibaragi. It was after this exchange between these men and after receiving of Inka from Takuan, that Ibaragi created his art of Midare Kitoryu. *Third theory of when Kitoryu was formed: Collaboration between Fukuno and Ibaragi and Inka from Takuan.

Terada Heizaemon Yasusada- Elder brother of Terada Hachizaemon Yoroshige. Masters Kitoryu from the Ibaragi line. Also a master of the Teishinryu. Another theory is that he formed the Teishinryu as a result of his mastery of the Kitoryu.

Terada Hachizaemon Yoroshige- Learned and mastered Kitoryu from Fukuno and Ibaragi and his older brother Terada Heizaemon.

Terada Kanemon Masashige- (Mitsuhide) Son of Terada Hachizaemon but sources also say he maybe the son of Terada Heizaemon. He was a Samurai in the service of Kyogoku, who was a Daimyo closely associated with the Tokugawa. He becomes the 3rd generation master of Kitoryu in the Terada family line. He formed the Kitoryu Chuko, which means "the revival of an old system". Studies Jugaku, Chinese Classics & Confusionism under Hayashi Shundo and Zen under Takuan Zenshi. With these influences he creates a school called: Jikishinyoryu Judo after entering the Matsuehan in the late 17^th century. He uses the term Judo for the first time to describe techniques which did not aim at killing one's opponent. This Ryu becomes the first school of Budo to use exclusively unarmed combat. Terada Kanemon develops the high theory of Muhyoshi (No Rhythm). With this he develops 14 techniques using only the power of Ki. He has many students. This is a 4^th supposed creation theory of when Kitoryu was founded. Terada Kanemon teaches both Yoshimura and Takino Kitoryu.

Yoshimura Hyosuke Sukenaga- (Heisuke) Mastered Kitoryu under Terada Kanemon. Students: Hayata Omori, Taemon Fukushima. Hotta was one of Yoshimura's top students.

Hotta Sagoemon Yoritsune- (Formerly Hanpei Hirano) Born in Tamba, passes away at the age of 67 on March 22, 1724. His grave is at Honden temple in Osaka. He was a retainer in the house of Ako in the Banshu domain. Kuranosuke Oishi and Sanpei Kayano and 11 other retainers were all said to have received licenses in Kitoryu from Hotta. Hotta creates 7 additional forms for Kitoryu and is highly recognized by his teacher (Yoshimura). He names his style: Kitoryu Jujutsu Shiyu Myojutsu

Takino Senemon Sadataka Yuken 滝野専右衛門貞高木逝軒
Born in 1695 in Tamba. Studied jûjutsu from an early age and in 1714 he becomes a student of Hotta no Suke Goemon. Received menkyo kaiden in "Kitô Ryû Jûjutsu Shiyu Myojutsu" from Hotta. On recommendation from Hotta, Takino becomes an instructor in the imperial court. He retires in 1744 at the age of 50 and leaves Kyôto and goes to Edo to teach Kitô Ryû. Many stories are recorded about Takino in the records of the Sekiguchi Ryû, which was a rival jûjutsu school at the time. Opens his dôjô near the Shiba Nishikubo Tentoku temple. Over 5,700 students pass through his dôjô over time. 170 of these students are awarded licenses.

Takenaka Tetsunosuke Kazukiyo- Masters Kitoryu under Takino Sadataka his teacher. This line of Kitoryu has a master named: Ikubo Tanetoshi. Ikubo teaches Jigoro Kano who integrates the Yoroi Kumiuchi section of techniques into his Kodokan Judo school.

Kuki Nagato No Kami Takanao 九鬼長門守隆直
Was a Daimyo from Sesshu and is linked to the Kukishin Ryû. He was a man of enormous strength and martial skill, so much so that even his teacher at the time, Shibukawa Bangorô Yoshikata of the Shibukawa Ryû, found him difficult to manage. After receiving his license in Shibukawa Ryû, he began to make a nuisance of himself by engaging in excessively rough practice with his retainers, many of whom he injured in many ways.

*Kuki Nagato no Kami Takanao hears of the skill of Takino Senemon Sadataka Yuken and challenges him to a match: Takino became very famous and well know for his ability to defeat attackers without touching them. A skill from his training in "Kitô Ryû Shiyu Myojutsu" 起倒流雄雌妙術. News of this spread to Kuki Nagato No Kami who repeatedly challenged Takino to a match but was turned down time after time. Kuki Nagato No Kami was of a higher rank and insisted the two have a match. Due to the Daimyo status, Takino could no longer avoid his challenge. The two had their match and Kuki Nagato No Kami Takanao was defeated publicly. At the end of this match he asked to become Takino's student. After Kuki Nagato No Kami mastered Kitô Ryû he formed the Kitô Ryû Kuki Ha 起倒流九鬼派 hence the connection to Kukishin Ryû.

Kito means raising and falling. Rising in the form of Yang, and falling in the form of Yin. Rising up represents the form of the positive aspect, while the negative is described by falling down. One wins by recourse to Yang and wins by recourse to Yin. When the enemy shows In, win by Yo. When the enemy is Yo, win by In. Likewise, in cases of the enemy using In, negative or inner energy, they can be won against by use of Yo, positive or outer energy. In the opposite way the defeat is the same.