Koto Ryu Koppojutsu - History
虎倒流骨法術
歴史 REKISHI
1st Soke Sakagami Taro Kunishige 坂上太郎国重.
It is thought that the Koto Ryu came from China via Korea, by Chan Busho, a Chinese warrior. It was many generations before it was to pass to Sakagami Taro Kunishige . The exact origin of this school is not known, but the techniques of this Ryu were organised, and formulated into a proper Ryu-ha by Sakagami Taro Kunishige, in 1542 who was also a Soke of the Gyokko Ryu 玉虎 流 before Momochi 百地.
2nd Soke Sakagami Kotaro Masahide 坂上小太郎源正秀
Sakagami Kotaro, also known as "Bando 坂東". He received the Koto Ryu 虎倒流 and Gyokko Ryu 玉虎流 from Taro. He was killed in battle in the later part of 1542. Whether he took up complete leadership of the school before his death, this is not known. With Bando's death the school passed to Sogyokkan Ritsushi 僧玉観律師. Sogyokkan was also Soke of Gyokko Ryu, and with him the two schools were brought completely together. Regardless of this they were taught and passed on to the next generation as separate schools within the same lineage. Sogyokkkan Ritsushi, who was either from the Kishu Ryu 紀州流, or the Kishu Han 紀州藩. What is unusual here is that not long after Sogyokkan, the Koto and Gyokko Ryu both come under the same Soke as the Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu 戸隠流忍術. The Togakure Ryu is supposed to have moved from Iga 伊賀 (the same as Koto Ryu), to the Kishu Ryu or han. Sakagami Bando Minamoto Masahide, is the same person as, Sakagami Kotaro Masahide, of the Gyokko Ryu.
From this point on the history of Koto Ryu 虎倒流 is the same as Gyokko Ryu 玉虎流
The information on this page has been edited from the book – Introductory History to the Schools of the Bujinkan by Paul Richardson
This book can be ordered from Http://www.budoya.org