Bujinkan Dojo South East Queensland

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We are sad to hear about the passing of Tetsuji Ishizuka-sensei, soke of Gyokkō Ryu Kosshijutsu. Rest in peace and condolences to his family and disciples.

Goho and Koppo

According to Watatani and Yamada, goho and koppo are very similar. Goho was developed as a supplementary system to the jujutsu of a style referred to as Ichi Jo Funi Ho. Yamada Hiko uchi Nobunao, a samurai of the Owari domain, was said to have been an expert in goho. Goho arose from the idea that when using jujutsu like techniques to control a much stronger opponent, one needs some kind of equalizer. For this purpose, small unorthodox weapons, referred to as kakushibuki were used. These weapons could be used to deliver atemi, or to apply pressure to nerve centers.

Koppojutsu systems are often said to be hard systems using the thicker and more solid bones of one’s body to attack the enemy’s bones. The techniques make liberal use of atemi and powerful blocks. Koppo can translate to bone method, and so Koppojutsu is sometimes renedered as art of breaking or bone smashing art. Some schools used special methods to sufficiently condition the body to deliver and receive atemi. However, it is belived that Koppojutsu , just as was the case with goho, small concealed weapons were used.

Other terms that can be found in connection with some of koppojutsu schools are kosshijutsu and sh*tojutsu. Kosshijustu suggests attacking an oponent’s muscles, while sh*tojutsu refers to the use of the tips of thumbs and fingers to attack an opponent’s anatomically weak points.

Systems that include koppojutsu and kosshijutsu in their curricula occupy a somewhat marginal position; in particular the Koto Ryu, Gyokko Ryu and Gyokushin Ryu are usually situated within the realm of ninjutsu.

The systems combining koppojutsu and kosshijutsu are sometimes also called dakentaijutsu. From a merely technical perspective, however, they are jujutsu like systems that use a slightly harder approach than the average jujutsu school.

While undertaking the Godan (五段 - 5th degree black belt) test you must remove yourself otherwise you won’t be able to feel the sakki (殺気 - killing/ spirit intention). It’s not about the using your eyes and ears to notice an attack. You remove yourself and become zero, then you are able to sense an adversary approach or intention prior to that engagement.

During the period of Japan’s warring states, samurai were known for decapitating their opponents’ heads prior to collection by the samurai’s deshi (弟子 student). The heads would be cleaned, labelled and titled with the opponent’s particulars to incorporate their name and rank, clan they were representing, Buki (武器 weapon) utilised and the circumstances of the engagement prior to their death. This label would be attached to the opponent’s hair and displayed before the Daimyo (大名 War Lord) and a brief discussion would occur with the conclusion of the victor receiving payment from the Daimyo in the form of higher rank depending of the number of heads, barrels of rice or even rice fields.

In circumstances where the samurai’s deshi was unavailable to collect the opponents head, it was acceptable to cut and remove the nose, upper lip or tooth of a lower ranked opponent.

Self control, not acting based on emotional triggers rather strategic entry or approach when an adversary resistance is weak or has been weakened to implement maximum impact to occupy or destroy and defence capabilities.

This reduces the potential for possible counter attacks and loss of resources (damage to yourself) while initiating such operates or attack.

The strategy would further be successful through applying such action from utiliting various distances (depending on an adversarys skills, defences and range) or striking from an unknown location to mitigate against counter attacks.

"Beware the quiet man, for while others speak, he watches and while others act, he plans and when they finally rest... he strikes"
Anonymous.

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