Gikan-ryū Koppōjutsu

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Gikan-ryū Koppōjutsu (義鑑流骨法術) is a medieval Japanese school of martial arts allegedly established in the 16th century by Uryu Hangan Gikanbo (瓜生判官義鑑坊). Koppōjutsu means attacks against bones. Koppōjutsu is commonly considered a hard art in comparison to the soft arts such as kosshijutsu (骨指術): attacks against muscles.

Gikan-ryū Koppōjutsu is based on martial arts skills and techniques that Uryu Hangan Gikanbo learned from Sougyoku Kan Ritsushi, Soke of Gyokko-ryū and Kotō-ryū. Uryu Hangan Gikanbo is said of having developed a punching style so strong that he once broke a sword with it. It is thought that this special punch in fact utilized a teppan concealed within the hand to break swords.

It is not clear who the current soke of Gikan Ryu is. At this time, two people claim to be soke of Gikan ryu. One is Tanemura Shoto (Tsunehisa), the other is Hatsumi Masaaki (Yoshiaki).

Tanemura Shoto claims he received sokeship to the ryu through Sato Kinbei. According to Tanemura, Sato Kinbei received sokeship to the ryu from Takamatsu Toshitsugu (Hisatsugu) who was the previous soke. It is thought Takamatsu originally gave sokeship to Akimoto Fumio, however, Akimoto died shortly thereafter and so the sokeship was secretly given to Sato. It is not publicly known why this was done secretly.

Tanemura's claim to the ryu has been challenged in a Japanese court, however, Tanemura was able to provide proof that his claim was legitimate in the form of scrolls and the matter was closed. Tanemura has also displayed his Gikan Ryu sokeship scrolls in an instructional jujutsu video produced in the early 90's.

Hatsumi claims sokeship to the ryu directly from Takamatsu. According to Hatsumi, Takamatsu gave sokeship to Akimoto, who died shortly thereafter. Takamatsu then gave sokeship of the ryu to Hatsumi. There is some confusion as to why Akimoto Fumio is listed in the Bujinkan version of the Gikan Ryu lineage, because the sokeship returned to Takamatsu after Akimoto died. It is not understood why Hatsumi has listed Akimoto as being in the lineage when Akimoto never passed the ryu to anyone.

It is thought that Hatsumi lacks a physical Gikan Ryu sokeship scroll. Instead, his Koto Ryu sokeship scroll was given an addition, possibly by Takamatsu, to include some form of Gikan Ryu license. Further adding to the confusion, prior to the 70's, Hatsumi did not claim to be soke of Gikan Ryu.

Neither story has been verified by a third party. There remains a possibility that Takamatsu Toshitsugu split the ryu into two similar branches. It is clear however, that both Tanemura Shoto and Hatsumi Masaaki have learned Gikan Ryu. Both have openly displayed techniques of the ryu in instructional videos.