| Gikan-ryū Koppōjutsu (義鑑流骨法術) is a medieval Japanese school of martial arts allegedly established in the 16th century by Uryu Hangan Gikanbo (瓜生判官義鑑坊). Koppōjutsu means attacks against bones. Koppōjutsu is commonly considered a hard art in comparison to the soft arts such as kosshijutsu (骨指術): attacks against muscles.
Gikan-ryū Koppōjutsu is based on martial arts skills and techniques that Uryu Hangan Gikanbo learned from Sougyoku Kan Ritsushi, Soke of Gyokko-ryū and Kotō-ryū. Uryu Hangan Gikanbo is said of having developed a punching style so strong that he once broke a sword with it. It is thought that this special punch in fact utilized a teppan concealed within the hand to break swords.
It is not clear who the current soke of Gikan Ryu is. At this time, two people claim to be soke of Gikan ryu. One is Tanemura Shoto (Tsunehisa), the other is Hatsumi Masaaki (Yoshiaki).
Hatsumi claims sokeship to the ryu directly from Takamatsu. According to Hatsumi, Takamatsu gave sokeship to Akimoto, who died shortly thereafter. Takamatsu then gave sokeship of the ryu to Hatsumi. There is some confusion as to why Akimoto Fumio is listed in the Bujinkan version of the Gikan Ryu lineage, because the sokeship returned to Takamatsu after Akimoto died. It is not understood why Hatsumi has listed Akimoto as being in the lineage when Akimoto never passed the ryu to anyone.
It is thought that Hatsumi lacks a physical Gikan Ryu sokeship scroll. Instead, his Koto Ryu sokeship scroll was given an addition, possibly by Takamatsu, to include some form of Gikan Ryu license. Further adding to the confusion, prior to the 70's, Hatsumi did not claim to be soke of Gikan Ryu.
Neither story has been verified by a third party. There remains a possibility that Takamatsu To****sugu split the ryu into two similar branches. It is clear however, that both Tanemura Shoto and Hatsumi Masaaki have learned Gikan Ryu. Both have openly displayed techniques of the ryu in instructional videos.
Bujinkan Claimed Lineage
Sonyuhangan Gikanbo (Daimyo of Kawachi Castle)
He was also known as:
Uryu Hangan Gikanbo - Eiroku era, 1558-1570
Uryu Yoshimitsu - Tensho era, 1573-1592
Uryu Yoshimori - Kanei era, 1624-1644
Uryu Yoshichika - Kambun era, 1661-1673
Uryu Yo****aka - Genroku era, 1688-1704
Uryu Yoshihide - Horeki era, 1751-1764
Uryu Yoshimori - Kansei era, 1789-1801
Uryu Yoshiaki - Tenpo era, 1830-1844
Uryu Gikan - Keio era, 1865-1868
I****ani Takeoi Masatsugu - approx d. 1905
I****ani Matsutaro Takekage - approx d. 1911
To****sugu Takamatsu - b.1887-d.1972
Akimoto Fumio - approx d. 1962
Masaaki Hatsumi |