Founded in the 17th Century, Takagi Yoshin Ryu is one of Japan’s classical martial traditions (Koryu Bujutsu). The founder of the system was Takagi Oriemon Shigenobu, a young samurai from the Tohoku-Shiroishi Han in Oku (a northern part of Japan). Born of high warrior caste stock, Takagi was the second son of Inatobi Sanzaemon. Inatobi Sanzaemon was a high level retainer of Katayama Kojuro, the Daimyo of the Oshu Sendai, Shiraishi domain. Takagi was born 2nd January, in the 2nd year of Kan’ei (1625) although some say the 12th year of Kan'ei (1635). Takagi's childhood name was Umon.
Takagi left for the neighboring domains of Ushu and Hitachi, and entered the martial gate of one Muto Danuemon, a high level strategist of warlord Yoshihide. As Muto Danuemon’s pupil, Takagi learned Muto-Ryu Kodachi and Kyochi Ryu Sojutsu, pursuing the techniques and secrets of these schools to their highest levels. Takagi’s father Sanzaemon, who at that time served as Kenjutsu Shinan-Yaku or master sword teacher of the Shiraishi domain, met his bloody death in a night ambush. When Takagi received news of his father’s death, he remembered his father’s constant admonition, “a willow (yoboku) is strong and flexible, while a tall tree (takagi) will break”. Takagi took this teaching to heart, trained hard, and avenged his father’s murder. He then took the name Yoshin Ryu Takagi Oriemon Shigenobu.
Following this, in the 12th year of Seiho (1645), Takagi received instruction from an inhabitant of Oshu, one Ito Kii no Kami. Takagi studied hard, mastering the techniques of the Yari, Naginata, Shuriken and Taijutsu. Now an accomplished master of the bujutsu, Takagi took up service as the master sword teacher of the Shiraishi domain. He founded his own school of bujutsu, calling it Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu. Takagi-sensei passed away in the first year of Seitoku (1711) at the age of 87. His grave is found in Fukagaya, Karita-Gun, Miyagi prefecture, amongst the fields.
The second generation Soke (grandmaster) Takagi Umanosuke received the teachings of Takagi Oriemon in 1671 at the age of 16. Due to inheriting the system at such a young age, Umanosuke was arrogant, although he was very powerful with unarmed and armed combat with weapons like the staff.
At one time Umanosuke and 3rd Soke of Takeuchi Ryu, Takeuchi Kagasuke Hisakichi, fought a duel before Lord Mori Sadahisa, head of the Mori family. Comparing both of their physical characteristics, Takeuchi Hisakichi stood at 4 foot 8 inches, while Takagi Umanosuke was a giant 6 foot 8 inches towering over Takeuchi like an adult and child. Two matches were held in which Takeuchi Hisakichi won easily. During each match, Umanosuke was thrown with Takeuchi Ryu’s “Ganseki Otoshi”, and when he tried to get up, was locked on the ground and tied up with a cord. However, Umanosuke was so powerful that he merely flexed his huge muscles, and the normally strong arresting cord snapped immediately. He was finally defeated by being stabbed with a sword. Umanosuke saw his own arrogance in this and felt deeply ashamed. He went to Takeuchi Hisakichi to apologize, and became a student, eventually receiving Kaiden. While in his younger days, Umanosuke had a tendency of using his physical strength, as an old man he realized the limitations of a system reliant on physical strength. Following this he tried for several years to create such an art but failed. After this, He traveled to a shrine for 100 days, and claimed to have received a divine revelation: “a willows branches can bear the snow”.
Following this, Umanosuke further developed the art, mastering mental disciplines and concepts to form a system that defeated the opponent with a “Willow Heart” (Yo no Shin), calling the system Hontai Yoshin Ryu Takagi Ryu Jujutsu. In 1693, he was bestowed with a title that recognized him as a teacher and warrior of the finest caliber by the Kinei family. He died in April 1716 at the age of 61.
To this day it is recorded in Himeji castle that the 3th Soke, Takagi Gennoshin Hideshige, served Himeji domain with the salary of 500 Koku. Gennoshin, like his father Umanosuke, was a powerful man. Gennoshin met the future 4th Soke (Kukishin Ryu’s Okuni Kihei Shigenobu), and they tested their techniques against each other, with Gennoshin winning the unarmed side, and Okuni Kihei winning the staff side. The two decided to exchange techniques in the both systems, taking on the strong points of both to complete the arts. Gennoshin died in the 15th year of Genroku at the age of 32.
A resident of Izumo, Okuni Kihei (born in 1684) became the 4th Soke. Kihei was the 29th generation of Kukishin Ryu. Kihei met Takagi Gennoshin and both decided to test their skills in a friendly competition. They were both very good friends, and exchanged techniques, both taking on parts of the other’s arts. It was decided that Gennoshin's taijutsu was the better, while Kihei's Kukishin Ryu staff fighting was superior to Gennoshin’s. Gennoshin invited Kihei to stay at his dojo and instruct, and, from that time forward, the taijutsu of Takagi Yoshin Ryu and the bojutsu, sojutsu, and naginatajutsu of Kukishin Ryu were taught together as one system. There is, however, a record called Kishomon-Maegaki (a transcription in the Edo period) preserved by the Kuki family, on which the name of Takagi Oriuemon Shigemitsu and his signature is written dated February 2, 1602. There exist other documents which suggest that Takagi Oriuemon was given a “scroll concerning martial arts” from Kukishin Ryu on March 7, 1617. Which suggests the relations of the two schools had started from the time Takagi Ryu was established, rather than from the generation of Okuni Kihei.
5th generation Okuni Yakuro was the son of Kihei. His birth and death is unknown.
6th Soke Okuni Tarodayu Tadanobu was the son of Yakuro. His birth and death is unknown.
7th Soke Okuni Kihyoe was the son of Tarodayu, although his birth and death is unknown.
8th Soke, Okuni Yozaemon was the son of Kihyoe. His birth and death is unknown.
9th Soke, Nakayama Jinnai was student of Okuni Kyozaemon, and served the Ako domain until the collapse of the Tokugawa period. His birth and death is unknown.
Okuni Takezaemon was the 10th soke, and son of 8th Soke Yozaemon. His birth and death is unknown.
Nakayama Kauemon was the 11th soke, and son of Nakayama Jinnai. His birth and death is unknown.
Okuni Kamaji was the 12th soke, and son of 10th soke Okuni Takezaemon. He was the last successor of the Okuni family. His birth and death is unknown.
Yagi Ikugoro was the 13th grandmaster (1844), and a pupil of 11th Soke, Nakayama Kauemon. Banished of the Ako domain following his involvement with political rebels Watanabe Kazan, Takano Choei and others, he became ronin. He later moved to Akashi to open a dojo. According to one story, Yagi was so powerful that he stopped an attacking dog that was troubling some travelers, killing it with a small wooden skewer. His students at Akashi were Fujita Togoro Hisakichi, Ishibashi, and Ishiya Takeo, who each went on to establish their own lines of Takagi Yoshin Ryu which became Fujita-den (the branch that is taught in the Missouri Budo Taijutsu Dojo), and two other branches: Ishibashi-den and Ishiya-den. This caused the tradition to be taught on a hugely larger scale. Yagi's birth and death is unknown.
The 14th Soke was Fujita Fujigoro. The branch of Takagi Yoshin Ryu transmitted by him is called Fujita-den.
The 15th Soke was Mizuta Yoshitaro. The branch of Takagi Yoshin Ryu we study is sometimes called "Mizuta-den".
The 16th Soke Toshitsugu Takamatsu (1887-1972) received the school in August of 1908.
The 17th Soke Masaaki Hatsumi (1931- ) received the school in May of 1959.
The style has been called many things throughout its history, including Jutaijutsu, Jujutsu, and Dakentaijutsu. It has been heavily influenced by Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu, and Kukishin Ryu. When applied, the techniques of Takagi Yoshin Ryu go farther than those of Judo or Aikido, making it impossible to roll or breakfall. The throws are intended to break the shoulder or neck of the opponent.
There are seven levels of Takagi Yoshin Ryu:
Shoden no Kata- 14 techniques
Chuden no Sabaki Gata - 10 techniques
Chuden no Tai no Gata - 15 techniques
Okuden no Kata - 15 techniques
Eri Shime Gata - 8 techniques
Moguri Gata - 11 techniques
Daisho Sabaki Gata - 14 techniques