We attempted to analyze the mechanics of the birth and development such as origin, techniques, practrice and philosophy of 'Takenouchi-ryu Kogusoku - Koshinomawari' which is the so-called origin of jujutsu in Japan.

Also, we considered what the effects were on Kodokan Judo, by the method of examining both written materials and interviews with Tojuro-hisatake, the 13th descendant of the founder of the Takenouchi-ryu jujutsu school and the results are as follows:

1) The founder, Hisamori Takenouchi, at first tried to master the mysteries of sword fighting and worked hard, leading a secluded life in Mount Atago and was initiated into the mysteries of sword fighting skills. He founded '5 techniques of Hoshu'; the techniques of subduing an opponent with and without the use of weapons and '25 techniques of Kogusoku-Koshinomawari' the techniques of defeating an opponent when both are armed with daggers, including techniques of binding to capture an opponent.

2) Hisakatsu, the second descendent of Takenouchi-ryu, devised '5 techniques of Yoroikumi' fighting techniques when wearing a suit of armor, and 'Hiden hakkajo,' eight special secret techniques. Besides that, he established 'Okite' a constitution for beginners which admonished them not to give out the name of the master to others and not to cross swords with any fencers of another school, but to concentrate on trying to kindly help each other in practice. Also, making use of a 'Zen' lesson for mental attitude, he wrote a lyric to warriors and made the spirit of real warriors generally known and understood to the students.

3) Hisakichi, the third descendant of Takenouchi-ryu, increased the number of 'kata' which the practitioners could practice wearing not armors, but the kimono (regular clothes of the era), because the era of war without wearing armor had begun. He established a system for promotion such as 'Tassha,'' Mokuroku,' 'Jiro,' 'Menkyo,' and "Inka,' and the students could promote their rise in ranking by mastering the various 'Kata.' He authored 'Santokusho,' incorporating the teaching of Confucius which was the main subject of educational affairs in the Tokugawa shogunate government, and aimed at developing excellent 'Samurai' with wisdom, benevolence, and valor. Takenouchi-ryu had been developing steadily in the era of both civil and military affairs.

4) Jigoro Kano worked as chairman of the new 'Kata'-creating committee in 'Dai Nippon Butokukai' in 1906, and at that time eight members out of 22 in the committee were masters of "Takenouchi-ryu,' and with this set of facts, it would be possible for us to build a hypothesis that the spirit and techniques of 'Takenouchi-ryu' produced the far-reaching influence on 'Katame no Kata,' and 'Kime no Kata' in Kodokan Judo.

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Courtesy University of Montana Daigaku Judo Dojo

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