Togakure Ryu
Ninjutsu
History Weapons Ninja Tools (Ningu)
These are the 18 skills of Togakure Ryu known as the Togakure Ryu Juhakkei:
- Spiritual Education Seishin Teki Kyoyo
- Hand-to-Hand Combat Koppojutsu / Taijutsu
- Swordsmanship Kenjutsu / Toujutsu
- Staff Fighting Bojutsu
- Blade Throwing Shurikenjutsu
- Chained Sickle Skills Kusarigamajutsu
- Spear Fighting Soujutsu
- Halberd Skills Naginatajutsu
- Horsemanship Bajutsu
- Water Training Suiren
- Fire-Powder Skills Kayakujutsu
- [Military] Strategy Bouryaku
- Methods of Espionage Chouhou
- Methods of Infiltration Shinobi Iri no Hou
- Concealment Tonkyojutsu
- Disguise Hensojutsu
- Meteorology Tenmon
- Topography Chimon
There are also some little known methods and skills that fall into these categories, such as:
- Seishin Touitsu Ho
- Ninja Rikugu no Ho
- Ninja Shigoku no Hiho
- Sokushin Sosoku Ho
- Hiyaku Ho
- Shinshin Onshin Ho
- Kyojitsu Tenkan Ho
- Kujikiri Hiden (Jumon Ketsu-Inn)
- Shinshin Shingan no Ho.
Many if not all of these are discussed in books by Gingetsu Itoh. While familiar with Itoh's books, I have not studied them enough to confidently cover these topics in detail. A brief description of some of these are found in the section on Seshin Teki Kyoyo. However, Gingetsu Itoh's books should be the prime source for anyone looking to learn the ninjutsu aspects of the art.
An interesting aspect of Togakure Ryu is that it contains many military arts (Bugei) under one heading. (This is not unique to Togakure Ryu. Schools such as Kukishinden Ryu and Takagi Yoshin Ryu also contain many arts). For instance, Togakure Ryu contains combat arts (bujutsu), espionage arts (ninjutsu), and even horsemanship (bajutsu). It should be noted that much of the combat arts (bujutsu) within Togakure Ryu are somewhat different than those found in most Ryuha. While there are many shared moves and techniques, the execution and overall feeling is vastly different. In Togakure Ryu the overall feeling is one of not getting caught up in a fight but of escaping from those trying to capture you. The concept stems from the idea that a shinobi's main role was to complete a mission and return safely. There were times when shinobi had to fight on the battlefield, but most often their role was covert operations. Therefore, being captured was the worst outcome for a shinobi.
Togakure Ryu has a strong emphasis on escaping with body [fighting] skills (taijutsu) and skills of escaping and concealment (tonkyojutsu). The first line of the densho left behind by Takamatsu Toshitsugu states, "Do not kill people, either escape or disappear, and to get this one must learn 'Flower Heart and Bamboo Spirit' 'God's Heart and God's Eyes' 'Unification of Mind, Spirit, and Body in addition to the entire (Nin) virtues."
'Flower Heart and Bamboo Spirit' 'God's Heart and God's Eyes?' and 'Unification of Mind, Spirit, and Body' are different esoteric concepts with deep meaning. For instance, the Mehtods of a Divine Heart and Divine Eyes (Shishin Shingan no Ho) refers to looking at the overall picture. In simple terms, it means to look at things through God's point of view. It involves understanding the opponent and even to sense the unknown. The ability to sense danger, to sense an attack, or to sense lethal intent (sakkijutsu) is something that Togakure Ryu practitioners train diligently. There is likely a reasonable explanation for this ability; however, because it is seemingly impossible to explain with science or modern understanding, the skill has been labeled as "spiritual." Just because the ability is not easily explained does not mean that it does not exist. Even animals have the ability to occasional sense danger, therefore, it is likely some instinctual aspect that has been passed along in evolution. Shinshin Shingan no Ho is also a concept present in Gyokko Ryu.
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