Convergence

Yoshin Ryu Jyujyutsu
Founder: Yoshimasa Shirobe Akiyama

Always wanted to be in Bujyutsu. He studied and practiced continuously. One day, he saw the Willow Tree moving in the wind, flipping the snow away. He realized that the mind and the body can apply the different changes. This became the major principle of his School.

Yo ––> Willow
Shin ––> Heart or Mind

The characteristics are similar to Judo in that you adapt to an enemy without losing one’s body.

Becoming Famous

In the book, Bujyutsu Ryu Soroku in 1847, Yoshimosa Akiyama is recorded. Books in Kyushu has him as O’I Senbe or O’Sato Senbe. It was difficult to determine his real name until a book called Yoshin Ryu Seikan Nomaki was written. This book said that his real name is Yoshinmasa Akiyama. His second disciple was O’E Senbe Yoshitoki.

When Was Akiyama Active?

Bujyutsu Ryu Soroku mentions him as living in the Jokyo period, around 1600. In 1669, he became a Disciple. The founder lived during the 3rd and 4th Shogun period (3rd Iemitsu, 4th Ietsuna). Akiyama never stated his age. A person called Bukan became a disciple and learned three hands of Grappling and 28 methods of Killing While Keeping Alive.

Also, the secret methods book, of 1824, states:

“A doctor called Akiyama in Nagasotu Prefecture, went to China to practice medicine. He learned three hands of Jyujyutsu from a Chinese named Hakuten. The attacking methods in China at the tie were hitting and kicking methods. Akiyama practice the three right hands of Jyujyutsu and mastered the 28 secret skills. In Japan, he tried to teach these methods. Many people quit learning because he only had three hands’ methods and 28 secret skills.”

Shin No Shinto Ryu
Founder: Yamamoto Tamizaemon

Defeated Kito Ryu when he matched Yuken Takino. He defeated everyone in the dojo. He taught Yoshin Ryu principles that said to not fight force with force, but move along with nature. He attempted to set up Shodan (lower), Chudan (middle), and Jodan (upper) levels of training. According to Bujyutsu Ryu Soroku (book), Shinno Shinto Ryu Founder comes from Namihana in Sesshu Prefecture. He learned Yoshin Ryu and mastered the secrets and secretly named in Shinno Shinto Ryu. An outstanding disciple named Honma Takemon went to Edo and became famous. The Founder had many disciples.

Shinno Shinto Ryu is developed from Yoshin Ryu. Therefore, the skills are similar to Yoshin Ryu. They selected 303 hands in order of rank, beginning at the middle and upper level skills. The number of hands selected totaled 68. This is the origin of Shinno Shinto Ryu.