Tenshin Koryu
天心古流拳法
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REKISHI
The origin of the Tenshin Koryu is said to have derived from the secret scrolls of the Amatsu Tatara Hibumi and the Ueno family art of Tako ryu. According to legend, the Otobe family were the guardians of the emperor for many generations. A one Otobe Komaro returned to Japan from China accompanied by a Buddhist monk with the name of Kanshin. Kanshin is said to have taught Otobe the way of Kenpo. Much later a kenpo master, Jinshi Kigi, is said to have taught Urabe Shukune Kentei. Urabe is believed to have introduced these methods into the Amatsu Tatara and after years of practice called it Dakentaijutsu (striking arts). This art was eventually renamed as Kijin Dakentaijutsu by Izumo Kanja Yoshiteru (founder of Kukishinden Ryu). This system was transmitted secretly within the Ueno family. The formal founder of the Tenshin Koryu was Ueno Shinyuemon. Ueno was a member of the Iga regions Dohan family. Ueno is believed to have fled from the attack of Oda Nobunaga to Ako founding his system of Tenshin Koryu based upon the secrets of Ichiden Ryu Torite, Katori Shinto Ryu and Takagi Ryu Jujutsu. The second generation soke was named Shimizu Hanyuemon. Shimizu mastered the arts of Sekiguchi Ryu and Araki Ryu and later introduced these teachings into Tenshin Koryu. Later, Satto Ryu Kenpo, Kito Ryu jujutsu and Choku Shinkage Ryu Kenjutsu was studied by the third generation headmaster. His name was Ichikawa Shuoku. The fourth generation head, Ueno Hikouemon, mastered several arts. He studied Hozan Ryu Tachijutsu, Yagyu Ryu Jujutsu and Ichijo Funi Ryu Koppo. This Ueno headmaster served as Shinan Yaku (head teacher) for Odawara domain. This headmaster is considered to have made the greatest contribution to the system. He added the Hishigi no Jutsu, which is said to have been feared by other Ryu at that time. The fifth generation master, Yamamoto Kasuke, mastered Takagi Ryu bojutsu. Ueno Ryukichiro, the 6th generation master, studied the arts of Sanwa Muteki Ryu, Shingyoto Ryu and inherited the system of Gyokushin Ryu. The 8th generation headmaster, the famous Ueno Takashi, was a very skilled budoka. He studied with and taught some of the great martial artists. Ueno Takashi inherited the Tenshin Koryu from his grandfather, Kujuro. In addition to Tenshin Koryu he also had menkyo Kaiden (complete mastery) in Tenshin Shinyo Ryu Jujutsu, Bokuden Ryu Jujutsu and Yagyu Shingan Ryu Taijutsu. He was also inheritor of 19th generation Shinden Fudo Ryu, 39th generation of Hontai Kijin Chosui Ryu Kukishinden Dakentaijutsu. Most of these latter systems were received from Takamatsu Toshitsugu. There was also a direct connection with Takamatsu's student Hatsumi Masaaki as he was a student of Ueno Takashi and received licensing from him in several arts. Today there are still several teachers of the Tenshin Koryu transmitting the art.
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