Trevor Robinson Shidoshi

GIKAN RYU
Truth, Loyalty, and Justice school
Gikan Ryu is almost totally unknown to the public and the secret techniques were
handed down only to the next generation. The Gikan Ryu Grandmaster was Uryu
Hangan Gikanbo. He was of the Eiroku Era (1558 - 1570). He was a ruler of Kawachi
No Kuni (Osaka) with the clan castle “Uryujo”. He was a true warrior and martial
artist. His original intentions were to strive to keep the country at peace for all time.
From his teachings there comes his slogan “Bufu Ni Sente Nashi” (From this side
there is not the first strike). The Gikan Ryu was developed by Gikanbo with a lot
based on the Chinese style of Cho Gyoko’s line. He then merged these with native
Japanese martial arts. This style contains special kicks, punches and throws. Grades
were awarded on a step by step level system being scrolls for: Shoden Gata, Chuden
Gata, Okuden Gata, and Kaiden Gata etc... In ancient times the name Jujitsu was not
used. The styles were termed: Kosshi Jutsu, Koppo Jutsu, Daken Taijutsu. His special
punch could break a sword and he was a specialist of Koppo Jutsu, Hicho Jutsu and
Senban Nage Jutsu, etc. The 10th Generation Uryu Gikanbo went by the same name
as the first. This man was a warrior supporting the Emperor’s side during the rebellion
of “Tenchi Gumi No Ran” at the end of Edo Era on August 17th, 1863. This was a
famous battle. He was a tremendous force in the battle, being injured by a rifle shot he
continued attacking with his one arm until he was overcome by many sword cuts from
his enemies. Injured to the point of exhaustion he retired from the battle behind a
temple. He was found there by an Iga warrior, Ishitani Matsutaro on his way to join
the battle. He was told by Gikanbo that it had finished. Ishitani aided Gikanbo and
took him into Iga to recover, later being repaid for this kindness by being taught
Gikan Ryu techniques. On his own merit Ishitani Matsutaro was a Grandmaster
already of Takagi Yoshin Ryu, Kukishin Ryu, etc. In Meiji Era when Ishitani was 61
he was given employment by the father of Takamatsu Sensei at the family factory.
From this Ishitani started teaching Takamatsu Sensei. From Ishitani, Takamatsu
Sensei was granted the Grandmastership of the next generation in Takagi Yoshin Ryu,
Kukishin Ryu, Gikan Ryu etc.
 GIKAN RYU
Truth, Loyalty, and Justice school
KOPPOJUTSU
SOKE OF GIKAN RYU
1. URYU HANGAN GIKANBO Yeiroku era 1558-1570
2. URYU YOSHIMITSU Tensho era 1573-1592
3. URYU YOSHIMORI Kan-ei era 1624-1644
4. URYU YOSHICHIKA Kambun era 1661-1673
5. URYU YOSHITAKA Genroku era 1688-1704
6. URYU YOSHIHIDE Horeki era 1751-1764
7. URYU YOSHIMORI Kansei era 1789-1801
8. URYU YOSHIAKI Tenpo era 1830-1844
9. URYU YOSHIYASU Bunkyu era 1861-1864
10. URYU GIKAN Keio era 1865-1868
11. ISHITANI TAKEOI MASATSUGU approx death 1905
12. ISHITANI MATSUTARO TAKEKAGE approx death 1911
13. TAKAMATSU TOSHITSUGU b. 1887 - d. 1972
14. AKIMOTO FUMIO approx death 1962
15. HATSUMI MASAAKI b. 1931 -

HISTORY OF GIKAN RYU

The Ryu was founded by Uryu Gikanbo, was the Daimyo of Kawachi no Kuni
(Kawachi province). He lived in the family castle known as Uryujo.

It is said that Uryu Gikanbo's punch was so powerful, that he once broke a sword
blade in half. He was also a master of Hichojutsu, and Senban Nage.

The 2nd Soke Uryu Yoshimitsu, was to become in his later years a monk.

the 10th Soke Uryu Gikan met Ishitani Takeoi Masatsugu, of the Kukishinden Ryu .
Uryu had been involved in the battle "Tenchigumi no Ran". This took place on 17th
August 1863, he was fighting for the Emperors side, but was shot in the arm by a
musket. He still continued to fight with the use of only one arm. He retired to the
safety of a nearby temple. It was at this temple that he was met by Ishitani, He told
Ishitani that the battle had already finished, so Ishitani then helped him recover, and
afterwards escape to the province of Iga.

A friendship was then formed, and Ishitani was taught the Gikan Ryu , he later
became Soke of this school, adding it to two others that he was already Soke of
(Kukishinden Ryu , and Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu ).
 Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu
Justice/Loyalty Regard School

Shoden Kata
Hiki Otoshi

The uke grabs the left sleeve between the shoulder and the elbow with his right hand.
The tori sidesteps to the left covering the grabbing hand with his left inside wrist area
on the outside of uke's grabbing hand, then bring the right hand over the top to create
a jumonji effect with your arms to bar the arm then drop back to the right bringing
him down.

Kakae Komi
The uke grabs the left wrist with the right hand and jodan tsuki with his left. The tori
drops to the left and uses a basic tehodoki movement on the wrist grip and executes a
jodan uke with his right hand, then he hugs the arm with his right arm to form an arm
bar, twist to the outside of the arm and step on the toes to trap any movement, then
twist and lean back to break the arm.

Kote Gaeshi
The uke grabs the left hand with both hands. The tori steps to the left and takes his
right hand over the top of uke's hands takes hold of his own left hand. Then twist
bringing uke's hands in towards your chest trapping them on your chest then taking
ura gyaku with your right hand and barring the elbow with your left elbow to his right
elbow.

Iri Chigae
The uke grabs the right wrist with his right hand. The tori steps back 45 degrees to the
left and grabs the inside of the wrist, then step in and execute a left happa ken strike to
the solar plexus to bar the arm, bring the wrist down to the obi then take a deep step
away and twist to throw uke to the ground.

Ete Nage
The uke grabs the left wrist with his right hand and jodan tsuki with his left. The tori
responds by sidestepping to the left whilst twisting the left hand so that the palm is
facing up and the fingers are pointing to the eyes, then with your right hand take an
upside down omote gyaku, then place your left hand palm against the uke's fingers
with your fingers pointing towards the eyes, drop your weight and wind the arm in a
circle to throw.
Ryote Dori
The uke grabs both wrists . The tori responds by stepping forward 45 degrees to the
right, taking his left hand towards the eyes to break the grip then bring down the left
elbow down sharply onto the uke's left elbow to break the elbow while stepping back.

Ryomune Dori
The uke grabs the lapels with both hands. The tori passes the right hand over and in
between the uke's hands and assumes a kongo gassho grip, then twist to the right and
bring the hands towards the chest then step back with the right leg to take down.

Kasumi Gaeshi
The uke grabs the left lapel with his right hand and jodan tsuki with his left. The tori
steps to the left whilst covering the grabbing hand with his left hand then brings his
right hand over the top to grab his own clothing (jacket) to entangle the uke's hand.
The tori then twists to the right taking ura gyaku bringing the left elbow over the top
of the grabbing arm to lock arm twist back to break arm.

Ori Ki
The uke grabs the obi (belt) with his right hand and punches (jodan tsuki) the tori
steps forward to the left and blocks whilst covering the right hand with the middle
knuckles on the back of uke's hand, then as you step back bring your right hand on top
of your left hand to apply pressure to drive the knuckles home drop your hips deep to
create intense pain.

Uchi Otoshi

The uke executes a right tsui ken (downward striking fudo ken). The tori drops back
to the right whilst blocking with a jumonji cross block then kick attacker with right
foot to the kinteki (testicles) as you drop back, grab the wrist with your right hand and
the elbow with your left forearm then step deep into deep stance.

Iki Chigae
As you walk towards each other the uke grabs the right wrist with the right hand, the
tori responds by twisting to the outside of the arm and executes a left shuto to the
solar plexus whilst keeping hold of the uke's right hand then drop your weight and
grab under the elbow or triceps area with the left hand then row the elbow to throw.

Eri Hiki
The uke stands behind the tori and grabs the collar with his right hand. The tori then
twists inwards and away whilst executing a left boshi ken , covering the grabbing
hand as you go. Bring the left forearm onto the elbow as in ganseki, roll the forearm
to bar the arm, bring the other arm to join the left arm and step back, barring th arm
with both arms.
Hiki Tate
The uke grabs the tori's right wrist with his right hand. The tori steps back 45 degrees
to the left, grabbing the inside of the wrist then steps in and executes a fudo ken to the
solar plexus. Then hug uke's arm with the left arm barring the elbow then drop body
taking arm into attacker's body.

Maru Mi
The uke grabs the right wrist with right hand. The tori circles right hand clockwise to
grab uke's wrist and then steps in and bars elbow with his own arm or armpit and
executes yokonagare into uke's arm.

Gyaku Te Nage
The uke grabs both wrists. The tori kicks with right foot to uke's kinteki whilst
twisting left hand up so that the fingers are pointing towards uke's eyes. With the right
hand take an upside down omote gyaku then turn the wrist into a reverse take ori,
using your elbow to bar uke's elbow, then twist to throw.

Mojiri Gaeshi
The uke grabs left lapel with right hand and the tori executes a chinese burn usinf
pressure points twisting the body to the left and executing a right shuki ken to the face
to bring uke down.

Ichimonji
The uke grabs the right lapel with his left hand and executes a tsui ken. Tori covers
with right hand and drops to the right knee and catches punching hand with left, twist
clockwise rising up to bar both arms and throw with double seionage.

Gyaku Muna Dore

The uke grabs both lapels. The tori passes over and between the uke's hands and grabs
the right hand from underneath, then passes left hand under both arms whilst twisting
inwards to bar arms. Step across and throw with double seionage.

Eri Jime
The uke takes a cross hand jime (right hand on top). The tori executes a double boshi
ken to the butsumetsu (ribs) then takes ura gyaku on uke's top hand, twisting
clockwise, bringing left elbow over the top to bar the arm. Twist back to break or
throw.

Mae Kata Dori

The uke grabs the left lapel with his right hand and punches with the left. The tori side
steps to the left, taking ura gyaku with the right, then twist clockwise bringing left
arm over grabbing arm close to the body (creating hon gyaku) and down while
dropping body.

Tsuri Gane
The uke rugby tackles tori's waist. The tori hugs uke's chest and kicks to kinteki with
the right foot then executes a yokonagare bringing uke over. Then drive thumbs into
throat.

Uchi Komi Kakae

The uke executes a right tsui ken, the tori shifts back 45 degrees to the right, blocks
the arm and takes goja dori. Then twist in and execute a boshi ken to the throat with
the right hand and follows uke down keeping the goja dori on. Then straddle uke's
body, sits and twists to break the arm.

Kaeshi Nage
The uke, from behind, grabs the right with his right hand. As tori turns around, uke
punches to the head. Tori raises the right hand to cover the incoming punch while
grabbing the inside of the wrist. Twist clockwise with the body, bringing left hand
onto grabbing hand and twist wrist anti-clockwise to lock, then lift and throw.

Sanmyaku Dori
The uke hugs waist from behind (left hand on top). Tori strikes double fudo ken onto
uke's hands to release grip then takes uke's left hand with his right hand then brings
left hand under uke's left arm and grabs his own right wrist on top. Then twist anti-
clockwise to break the arm.