Kukishinden Ryu Happo Biken

九鬼神伝流八法秘剣

The school was first known by the name of Kukishin-Ryu Happo Biken-no-Jutsu. According to legend in the heian era (平安時代 Heian jida 1141), Izumo Kaja Yoshiteru 出雲冠者義照 was a famous expert of strategy. unsatisfied with his skills he committed himself to intense training for three years in a mountain cave called inoume. During this time he had a premonition from which he built the foundation of the Ryu Ha. He gave these skills a special name and named his school as Kukishinden Happo no Hijutsu.

The 10th generation grandmaster Arima Kochinosuke Masayoshi 有馬河内介正義 renamed the school to Kukishin-Ryu Happo Biken-no-jutsu.

The 14th headmaster Kazama Shinkuro Hidechika 風間新九郎秀近 named the Ryuha Kukishinden Happo Biken-jutsu. According to legend he was quite skilled with the sword hence the reason for the name Biken (secret sword). There are 8 ways (Happo) plus sword (Biken) for a total of 9 styles.

The Ryuha has nine parts:

1. Daken-Taijutsu – 打拳体術Daken-Taijutsu – special unarmed skills special unarmed skills
2. Bo-jutsu – 棒術 staff
3. So-jutsu (Yari) – 槍術 spear
4. Naginata-jutsu – 薙刀/剣術 halberd
5. Jutte-jutsu – 十手術 iron trenceon
6. Kisha-jutsu – 騎弓術 archery
7. Biken-jutsu – 秘剣術 sword techniques
8. Kusari Gama – 鎖鎌 sickle and chain
9. Shuriken Jutsu – 手裏剣術 blade techniques