Ryōi Shintō-ryū


Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu 柔術, is a traditional school of Jujutsu, founded in the early 17th century by Fukuno Shichirouemon Masakatsu.

Etymology

The 'Ryōi Shintō-ryū Denju Mokuroko' explains the meaning of Ryōi Shintō as follows: "The meaning of Ryōi Shintō-ryū is to shift your heart well, then you will encounter harmony." Alternatively, the 'Ryōi Shintō-ryū Ryakushi' records Fukuno as saying that: "Ryōi Shintō means to: skillfully apply the mind and strike with ease."

History

Ryōi Shintō-ryū is one of a web of schools that can be traced back to Fukuno-Ryū, and it's founder, Fukuno Shichirouemon Masakatsu. Fukuno-Ryū, along with Takenouchi-ryū and Yōshin-ryū make up the three primary lineages of Jūjutsu in the Edo period before the rise of Judo.
It's related styles include: the Kitō-ryū Jūjutsu, from which Kōdōkan Jūdō can be seen as being partially descended; Jikishin-ryū yawara and Ise Jitoku Tenshin-ryū Jūjutsu also known as Jigō Tenshin-ryū Jūjutsu.
The 'Jigō Tenshin-ryū densho' states that: "For grappling on the battlefield, Ryōi Shintō-ryū is unequalled."

Fukuno Shichirouemon Masakatsu

Fukuno was born 1585 in Settsu, Naniwa and known as in his youth as 'Yuzen'. He studied with Yagyū Munetoshi of the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū of Kenjutsu. Fukuno was a Meishu of Sumo and a Tatsujin of the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū.
The 'Jujutsu Hottan – Fukuno Shichirouemon den' states that Fukuno:
"... was an intrepid character, with great strength, he lifted mighty bronze pots. He took pleasure in learning the techniques of Nomi no Sukune. Fukuno endured mental tortures and developed his physique, and after twenty years or so, he finally acquired mastery of Nomi no Sukune's techniques. People spoke of him admiringly. He fights with great strength and battles with great valour. With his technique, he defeats an opponent in barely a minute, or two. His determination is to fight to the death. His techniques are correct, who could deny him victory."

Meiji period

Later, in the ‘Meiji period’, Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsuka – Hansuke Nakamura was considered the toughest martial artist in Japan. In 1886, Nakamura fought a match against the famed Kōdōkan Judo champion Yokoyama Sakujiro, known as ‘Demon’ Yokoyama. Both men fought for 55 minutes, but as neither prevail the match was drawn. Nakamura was declared champion of East of Japan and Yokoyama champion of the West.

In contemporary Japan

As with many koryū jūjutsu styles, the main sōke line of the Ryōi Shintō-ryū in Japan is now lost.
The only related school currently taught in Japan is Ise Jitoku Tenshin-ryū Jūjutsu, which is a derivative of the Ryōi Shintō-ryū that was combined with techniques from Yōshin-ryū Jūjutsu. Ise Jitoku Tenshin-ryū was founded by Fujita Chosuke Roku Norisada and is under the leadership of 16th generation sōke Mifune Toichiro.