Yōshin-ryū

infobox koryu
nationality = Traditional Japanese martial art
school = Yōshin-ryū
(楊心流)


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imagecaption =
founder = Akiyama Shirōbei Yoshitoki
founder dates = fl. mid 17th century
period founded = Early Edo period
(1600–1867)
date founded = mid 17th century
headmaster = No single headmaster
headmaster dates = Multiple lineages
art1 = Jujutsu
description1 = Grappling art
ancestors = None identified
descendants = Danzan-ryū • Shindō Yōshin-ryū • Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū

Nihongo|Yōshin-ryū|楊心流 ("The School of the Willow Heart") [http://www.amfedjujitsu.com/YoshinRyu.html YoshinRyu] ] is a common name for one of several different martial traditions founded in Japan in the Edo Period. The most popular and well-known was the Yōshin-ryū line founded by physician Akiyama Shirōbei Yoshitoki in Nagasaki in 1632. The Akiyama line of Yōshin-ryū is perhaps the most influential school of jujutsu to exist in Japan. By the late Edo Period, Akiyama Yōshin-ryū and its descendants had spread all over Japan. By the Meiji Era, Yōshin-ryū had even spread overseas to Europe and North America.

Curriculum

This line of Yōshin-ryū is noted for a curriculum including "kyusho-jitsu atemi" (vital points striking) and the development of internal energy, teachings most likely influenced by Chinese sources. It is believed that these teachings were eventually absorbed by many other jujutsu traditions.

Only the Yōshin-ryū buki/naginata school in Hiroshima, Japan currently headed by Koyama Takako and attributed to Akiyama has been successfully transmitted and survives. The school was prolific, however, with its teachings surviving in many descendant ryu.

Descendants

Schools descended from Akiyama Yōshin-ryū jujutsu include:

Danzan ryu, Shin Yoshin ryu, Shin Shin ryu, Sakkatsu Yoshin ryu, Shin no Shindo ryu, Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū, Shindō Yōshin-ryū, Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin ryu, Ryushin Katchu ryu, Ito ha Shinyo ryu, Kurama Yoshin ryu, Kodokan Judo.

Takagi Yoshin ryu and Hontai Yoshin ryu

The schools of Takagi Yoshin Ryu / Hontai Yoshin ryu are not really Yoshin ryu lineage schools but are instead descended from Takenouchi-ryū. [ [http://business.fortunecity.com/johns/510/takagiyoshin.html Takagi Yoshin] ] They are said to originate from an earlier un-named tradition. It is thought they may include later influence from the Akiyama Yoshin-ryu but this is not supported by documentation.

Various names used for this school:

Hontai Yoshin ryu, Takagi ryu, Hontai Takagi Yoshin ryu, Takagi Hontai Yoshin ryu, Kukishin ryu, and Minaki Den Kukishin ryu.

Schools descended from Takagi Yoshin ryu:

Shingetsu Muso Yanagi ryu.

Notes