Jujutsu - Tsutsumi Hozan Ryu - Jujutsu or Jujitsu
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Tsutsumi Ryu By Greg Palmer
Historical Background:
In 1658 Tsutsumi Yama Shironorakami Hozan broke away from the Takenouchi Ryu to begin the Tsutsumi Hozan Ryu, now usually referred to as the Tsutsumi Ryu. He did this in order to use the Reflex method of training and grading for his students. This method of training and grading is still in use to this day. Like all schools of the martial arts during the Japanese feudal era only selected students were ever shown the entire set of techniques from the school. The most secret teachings were those that the whole set of techniques were based on. Usually only one person was ever shown these techniques in order for them to continue the teachings of the school - this student was given the Menkyo Kaiden teaching licence issued to show that the master had taught all that he knew.
The most important thing to
realize about this system was that for the majority of students all they
really learnt was a set of 'tricks' which were never taught in relation to
any other 'tricks". Every technique
was taught as a separate 'trick' to be trained and learnt as such.
Each technique was taught by 'Put your foot here', 'Move your hand so',
'Lift like this'.
The object of this was to keep the BASICS of body movements, classifications of techniques and relationships between techniques secret. It used to be considered that if someone learnt the basics of the system they could then rebuild the whole system from the base up. It is now considered that this is an impossibility considering the depth and complexity of the Tsutsumi Ryu system. With a system rounding out to over six thousand techniques it would take a very gifted person indeed to construct the system from just the basics, a master who really knows the system is required.
References
1. "Shihan Jan de Jong: A Journey of 80 Years. Part 2." R. W. Hymus. Blitz Australasian Martial Arts Magazine
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Jujutsu - Tsutsumi Hozan Ryu - Jujutsu or Jujitsu