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According
to legend, the origins
of the Tomo-ryu tradition of Shinobijutsu was developed in the Kemmu Restoration (建武の新政) as a samurai
tradition that had its primary focus on its use of the short sword (kodachi) as well as several different kobuki
(old weapons). It was during this
time
(1333-1336) in the Shiga prefecture
(known as the Omi Province before
the
prefectural system was established) of Japan that Gohei Tomo and two other samurai
(Jinsuke Tomo
and Senri Akutagawa) developed this
method
of warfare to serve as a means of self-protection for their families, their
village, and their feudal lord. As
Japan
entered the Sengoku period (戦国時代), it was during this time that the art flourished
and other areas such as Bōryaku
(tactics), Chōhō (espionage),
Intonjutsu (escaping and concealment),
and Zetsumeijutsu (assassination)
which then became the strength of this samurai
tradition. It was these methods of guerrilla tactics that would later be
known as Tomo-ryu Shinobijutsu.
As the
lineage of the Tomo-ryu continues,
the 17th Soke
Nakashima Fumio
trained in other family traditions such as the Nakamura-ryu (中村流), Kobayashi-ryu (小林流), Nakashima-ryu (中島流), Akutagawa-ryu (芥川流) as well as Tomo-ryu
(伴流). It is with these teachings that Nakashima Sensei combined all of his bujutsu
and ninjutsu training
calling this method Tomo-ryu
Shinobijutsu (戸猛流忍術;
Door of the Fierce School).
Tomo-ryu (戸猛流)
Keiko consists of the Goke (五家), also known as the five houses,
which is the training of five family transmissions. The main family tradition and foundation of
all kuden that is taught is the Tomo-ryu (伴流; also called Ban-ryu). Each of these five family
traditions has its
own direct purpose and specialization towards war.
Tomo-ryu
Shinobijutsu (伴流忍術) has a variety of skills taught within which includes, but is
not limited to: stealth, espionage, assassination, spying, shinobijutsu, shinobi-waza,
shinobi-heiho, kajutsu, suijutsu, tenton juppo, chiton juppo, jinton juppo,
and zetsumeijutsu.
Nakamura-ryu
Monomijutsu (中村流物見術) has a variety of skills taught within which includes, but is
not limited to: survival, wilderness skills, scouting, hunting, tracking, meteorology, geography, and
topography.
Kobayashi-ryu
Nusubitojutsu
(小林流盗人術) has a variety of skills taught
within which includes, but is
not limited to: theft, robbery, stealing, disguise, impersonation, persuasion,
bribery, seduction,
sexual persuasion, and
prostitution. All of these skills
are
utilized as a means to a specific end.
Nakashima-ryu
Bujutsu (中島流武術) has a variety of skills taught within which includes, but is
not limited to: jujutsu, dakentaijutsu, kenjutsu,
bojutsu, sojutsu, kyujutsu, nagamonojutsu, shurikenjutsu,
hojojutsu, hojutsu, teppojutsu, and heiho.
Akutagawa-ryu
Ninjutsu (芥川流忍術) has a variety of skills taught within which
includes, but is
not limited to: stealth, entering-in, concealment, evasion, spying, disguise,
fire and explosives, water methods, shinobijutsu,
shinobi-waza, ninki, kakushi bukijutsu,
ninyakujutsu, and shinobi-heiho.
While
studying the five families of the Tomo-ryu (戸猛流), there are four levels
that one has to be proficient in to master this tradition.
Shoden Gata (初伝形; initial
transmission)
Chuden Gata (中伝形; middle level transmission)
Okuden Gata (奥伝形; heart
transmission)
Kaiden Gata (皆伝形;
full
transmission)
 The
training within the Tomo-ryu is
very physically demanding. Challenging your body to achieve extreme physical
abilities, such as hanging from rafters, holding your breath for lengths of
time, climbing, lifting, and swimming skills as well the ability to live in the
wilderness for months on end are a necessity. This is part of the training in
order to develop your mind, body, and spirit to be as sharp and as strong as
the katana.
You must constantly push and forge yourself to achieve the necessary
skills of the shinobi. This extreme mental and physical training
approach towards preparing for warfare has always been a staple point of the Tomo-ryu. Striking trees, sand, and the training floor
to condition skin and bone, lifting heavy rocks and weighted objects to build
muscle, and running and walking for
miles to condition cardiovascular ability are only a few of the “normal”
training methods. In the Tomo-ryu,
the training goes further into
the extreme so that no matter what situation you are in, whether you are
killing someone, being captured, raped, tortured, or having to fight many
enemies at once who are heavily armed with weaponry, you have the physical
strength, mental strength, and skill to overcome any situation.
Tomo Ryū (戸猛流) was a private school. None
of the previous Soke felt the need to
join large martial arts organizations. Therefore, not much was known or
recorded about the school outside the school itself until the 21st Soke; Anshu Christa Jacobson began
teaching publicly and accepting
more than a handful of students at any one time.
Tomo Ryū (戸猛流) is a school of war, and just like all warrior traditions
of the time, was passed down in the warrior sect in the form of kuden
(oral teachings). Therefore, very
little was written down in the form of Densho
until the 17th Soke; Fujibe Nakashima started documenting the
oral traditions of the school for it's survival.
There are makimono
& densho concerning Tomo Ryū
(戸猛流) from the past masters,
and
are currently in possession of Soke Anshu
Christa Jacobson, 21st headmistress of the Tomo Ryū
(戸猛流).
KODEN (古伝)
Ichiro
Kobayashi (1948-2008)
20th Soke;
was a
practitioner of the martial arts his whole life. He studied Shotokan
Karate and Judo
as an adolescent and started his training in Muso Jikiden Eishin
Ryu Iaijutsu while
he was in college. Later, Kobayashi
Sensei started training with Nakashima
Sensei in the Tomo Ryu methods of
Ninjutsu. Kobayashi Sensei knew that this was an honor to learn this art, as
it has been only taught within the Nakashima
family for the last three generations. After years of training, Kobayashi Sensei was awarded Menkyo
Kaiden (Full Transmission) in Tomo Ryu Shinobijutsu and the title of "Soke",
making him the 20th
grandmaster of the school.
Years later
he met a woman that
he passed down the knowledge and the art of the Tomo Ryu
Shinobi to; Christa J. Jacobson. Kobayashi
Sensei felt that she possessed
the physical / mental skills needed to train in the ways of the Tomo
Ryu Shinobi. Christa Jacobson
was awarded Menkyo Kaiden (Full Transmission) in the art of Tomo Ryu Shinobijutsu in November of
2005 as well as inheritor of the art. With the title of "Soke" (21st grandmaster of the
family)
he awarded her the warrior name of "Anshu"
which literally translates to "Dark Master". He said the kanji
"dark" symbolizes shadows as he never thought that he would hand the
art of the Tomo Ryu Shinobi to any
non-Japanese, and or a woman. He felt that "Soke Anshu"
had all of the skills to be the next successor in the art for the future
generations.
"Just
as the ninja operated in the shadows centuries ago in Japan, a new master of
the art again comes from the darkness. Training you has been my
greatest accomplishment, and it is clear the student has surpassed
her master."
-
Kobayashi to Anshu the day of awarding her Soke and successor of the Tomo-ryu.
HISTORICAL
DISCLAIMER:
When searching for information regarding secret societies and old
martial arts schools of training, it is very hard if not impossible to find all
of the information regarding the history of the arts. The information that I
have placed on all of
the seven traditions (ryuha) that are
studied within the Budo Ryu Kai (Koka-ryu Kempo, Tenjin-ryu Jujutsu,
Tomo-ryu Shinobijutsu, Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu, Koto-ryu Koppojutsu, Gyokko-ryu
Kosshijutsu & Togakure-ryu Ninpo Taijutsu) may be entirely wrong &
inaccurate. The information that I have
listed is the information that I gathered from my teachers, my training and my personal
research of the arts. This historical information
of the seven traditions taught within the Budo Ryu Kai I feel is
correct based on my personal training and research.
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