Ogawa Sensei in Action

PUBLISHED 11 OCT 2025

In a recent video from Japan, senior Bujinkan instructor Ogawa Yukio Sensei — Menkyo Kaiden in Gyokko Ryū — offers viewers a rare look into one of the most influential traditions within Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu. Filmed at the Ishizuka Dōjō, the session showcases the precision, control, and deep heritage that define this cornerstone school.

The Heart of Gyokko Ryū

The Gyokko Ryū tradition, known as the Jewel Tiger School, forms one of the primary roots of modern Bujinkan training. It specializes in Kosshijutsu (attacks targeting muscles and nerve points) and Shitōjutsu (the use of thumbs and fingers). The term Kosshijutsu translates as “to knock down the enemy with one finger” — a reflection of the Ryū’s subtle yet devastating efficiency. Interestingly, kosshi can also mean “backbone,” reminding practitioners that this art is literally and figuratively the backbone of martial movement.

Nine Rules of the Gyokko Ryū

The philosophy of the school is encapsulated in nine timeless rules, offering moral and mental guidance for all martial artists:

1. The character nin means to guard the nation with one’s life.

2. Forget the self, be patient, and do not fear dying.

3. When in danger, say or show nothing.

4. As a strong enemy comes, keep an indomitable spirit.

5. Serve and protect the master as you must your own parents.

6. Vices dissipate your proficiency.

7. Being drunk affects your judgment.

8. Destroy your enemy’s power but not his life.

9. Don’t teach others without the master’s permission.

Legacy and Lineage

The sōke (headmaster) title of Gyokko Ryū was passed from Toshitsugu Takamatsu (1889–1972) to Masaaki Hatsumi (1931–), and then to Tetsuji Ishizuka, who led the tradition until his passing on March 15, 2025. No successor has yet been officially announced, but Ishizuka Sensei’s legacy continues through his most advanced students, including Ogawa Yukio Sensei, who now serves as one of the main instructors at the Ishizuka Dōjō, teaching several times each week.

A Living Tradition

In the featured video, Ogawa Sensei demonstrates several core techniques of Gyokko Ryū, including Renyō (輦輿), Koku (国空), and Danshu (彈手). Each movement reveals the Ryū’s unique balance of speed, distance, and precision — principles that have shaped the very framework of Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu.

Ogawa Sensei also guides students through basic movements with the naginata, showing how taijutsu body mechanics extend seamlessly into weapon work.