Kashiwa Bujinkan Ninjutsu Dojo

Gyokko Ryū
Shiron (Historical Discussion) – 史論
Mijic Zoran

The history of many traditional martial arts schools cannot be fully reconstructed, as their teachings were transmitted orally for centuries. Throughout this process, names, historical periods, and specific events were often confused or merged. The history of the Gyokko Ryū tradition is no exception. In this chapter, I will attempt to present its development based on the available written sources and the oral tradition (kuden).

To understand the origins of Gyokko Ryū, it is necessary to examine the historical developments that took place in Korea, China, and Japan during that period.

According to the oral tradition (kuden), Cho Busho was one of the individuals who laid the foundations of what would later become known as Gyokko Ryū Kosshijutsu. He is said to have been a high-ranking military officer from Kudara.

Kudara (百済) is the Japanese name for the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje (백제), which was located in the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula. Baekje was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea and was renowned for its military strength, flourishing trade, and its important role in transmitting Buddhism and Chinese culture to Japan. After years of conflict, the kingdom fell in 660 CE to the allied forces of the Silla Kingdom and the Chinese Tang Dynasty.

Closely connected with the name Kudara is the Japanese clan Kudara no Konikishi, founded by Zenkō, the son of King Uija, the last ruler of Baekje. The name Kudara identified their place of origin, while Konikishi (also read Kokishi), literally meaning "king," was a special kabane (hereditary noble title) granted to members of the former royal families of Baekje and Goguryeo, including the Kudara, Shōna (肖奈), and Koma (高麗) clans.

According to the oral tradition, after arriving in Japan, Cho Busho settled in Ise Province near a place known as Tojin Iwa (Karadobuchi – "The Chinese Gate of Deep Waters"). There he is said to have transmitted several martial disciplines to the local population, including Kosshijutsu, Hichōjutsu, Senbanjutsu, Naginatajutsu, and Karauchijutsu.

His son was Chu Busho, whose Chinese name was Zhang Wu Sheng. The historical traditions surrounding Gyokko Ryū also mention a princess named Yao Yu Hu (姚玉虎), who became known in Japan as Yo Gyokko.

According to the tradition, these individuals brought to Japan not only their combat experience but also various fighting methods and technical knowledge, including Karauchijutsu (唐打術), literally "the art of Chinese striking," a term used at the time to describe martial methods associated with Chinese systems of combat.

"Kata and techniques are important. However, in a real fight, being bound to Kata will lead to death. Takamatsu Sensei taught me Kata correctly and in the Bujinkan we start by teaching Kata, but at the end Kata become superfluous, otherwise you would be knocked down and it would be the end."
-Masaaki Hatsumi from the book “Jinsei Mutōdori”