, is a traditional Samurai warrior tradition of ancient Japan (Kobudà Â). There are two distinct lineages of Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « known as Sendai-Heihojutsu and Edo-Taijutsu.
The term has its roots in Japanese Zen Buddhism, and refers to an ability to see and sense via the mind's eye. It was originally known as Shingan-ryà «, but the honorary Yagyu surname was later attached with the permission of the founder's mentor. The Sendai branch states that Yagyà « Munenori granted this approval to Takenaga Hayato, whereas the Edo lineage states it was Yagyà « Jà «bei Mitsuyoshi who gave permission to Araki Mataemon.
Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « was originally created as a comprehensive battlefield art, covering an array of skills and weapons. Grappling techniques focused on wrestling in full-armor and prepared foot soldiers for engagements on the battlefield. The techniques of Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « were designed to eliminate an enemy quickly and efficiently, employing sound body mechanics to off-balance and takedown an adversary. As a military art, the techniques were unforgiving and lethal. The system consisted of classical jujutsu, quarterstaff fighting (bà Âjutsu), glaive fighting (naginatajutsu), sword drawing and cutting (iaijutsu) and sword fighting (kenjutsu).
Takenaga Hayato (竹永 é¼人 / dates of birth and death unknown), is credited as the founder of Yagyà « Shingan-ryà «, which he taught primarily in what is now known as Sendai, Miyagi. Before creating the school, Hayato studied Shintà Â-ryà « (ç¥ÂéÂÂæµ / also pronounced Shindà Â-ryà «), Shinkage-ryà « - Divine Shadow school (ç¥Âå½±æµÂ), Shuza-ryà « (é¦Â座æµÂ), Toda-ryà « (æ¸ç°æµÂ) and Edo line Yagyà « Shinkage-ryà « - New Shadow school (æ°é°æµÂ).
Takenaga Hayato was strongly influenced by the Shintà Â-ryà « teachings of Ushà « Tatewaki. Takenaga Hayato travelled to Edo and was employed by the Yagyà « family. At this time, he studied Edo-den Yagyà « Shinkage-ryà « with Yagyà « Munenori. According to legend, Yagyu Munenori suggested Takenaga affix the Yagyà « family name to his new style, in honor of his achievements. On return to his hometown of Sendai, Miyagi, it is said that Takenaga taught Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « to infantry (ashigaru foot soldiers), until his death.
Araki Mataemon (èÂÂæ¨ Ã¥ÂÂå³è¡ÂéÂÂ, 1594–1634) was a native of Araki Village in the feudal domain of Iga, Japan. It is said that he studied the Nakajo and Shinto schools of swordsmanship from an early age. The Araki clan had deep ties to Yagyà « Shinkage-ryà «. From the age of 15, Mataemon began his study of the Shinkage school under Yagyà « Munenori., and later under Yagyà « Jà «bei Mitsuyoshi. Legend states that as a final test of skill, Munenori drew his sword and attacked Araki unexpectedly. Araki successfully defended himself using nothing more than a rolled-up piece of paper. Araki was appointed as an official swordsmanship instructor for the Yamato Koriyama Domain and received a stipend of 250 koku. Lord Matsudaira Tadaaki, grandson of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and Daimyo of Yamoto Koriyama later adopted Araki, taking him as a son. Edo-den Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « credits Araki Mataemon as the spiritual patriarch of Yagyà « Shingan-ryà «. The name Araki-do is a title bestowed upon each Soke of the Edo-den tradition. The current Soke is Kajitsuka Yasushi, 11th in succession. A key differentiator between Edo-den Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « (Araki-do) and Sendai-den Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « is that the Edo-den requires the training and mastery of both Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « and Yagyà « Shinkage-ryà «. Historical records held by Edo-den Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « indicate that Yagyà « Jubei granted permission for the Yagyà « surname to be affixed to the Shingan school.
There are two main lineages of Yagyà « Shingan-ryà «, The Sendai lineage, created by Takanaga Hayato, and the Edo lineage, founded by Koyama Samon (inspired by patriarch, Araki Mataemon).
During Japan's Sengoku period, Ushu Tatewaki (ç¾½å·Â帯åÂÂ), a native of Ushu, Shonai domain (ç¾½å·ÂåºÂå ), instructed Takenaga Hayato (竹永é¼人) of Oshu, Sendai domain (奥å·Âä»Âå°) in the ways of the Shintà  school (aka Shindà Â). It is said that after studying the Shintà Â-ryà « (ç¥ÂéÂÂæµÂ), Shuza-ryà « (é¦Â座æµÂ), Toda-ryà « (æ¸ç°æµÂ) and Shinkage-ryà « (ç¥Âå½±æµÂ) schools, Takenaga Hayato went to Edo and studied the Yagyà « Shinkage-ryà « (æ³çÂÂæ°é°æµÂ) from Yagyu Munenori. He later founded his own school known as Yagyà « Shingan-ryà «.
The Sendai teachings spread throughout the Tohoku region and over the centuries gave birth to numerous splinter groups. The Sendai tradition known as Heiho, meaning Way of War, consists of armored jujutsu and an array of weapon arts. This lineage is directed by Hoshi Kunio II, grandson of the late Hoshi Kunio I, who died in 2007. Kunio II is the 15th generation Soke and 5th descendant of the Hoshi family transmission. The headquarters is located in Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture.
Two other prominent branches are the Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « Heihà Â-jutsu (Chikuosha) of the late Shimazu Kenji, Shihan (島津堼治) and the Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « Hei-jutsu (Dawadà Â) of the late Sato Kinbei, Shihan (ä½Âè¤éÂÂå µè¡Â).
Shimazu Kenji (1938-2024) was a highly-respected elder within Japan's kobudo community, having dedicated his life to the growth & dissemination of the Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « tradition. His Chikuosha organization has branches in several countries, the primary locations being Australia & Sweden.
Sato Kinbei (1925-1999) was largely known in Japan as an authority on Chinese martial arts, having established the Ba Gua Zhang movement in Tokyo. Sato claimed mastery of dozens of schools, one of which was Yagyà « Shingan-ryà «.
Edo-den Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « is officially known in Japan as Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « Taijutsu (Araki-do) and is directed by 11th generation Soke, Kajitsuka Yasushi. This lineage stems directly from Koyama Samon (å°Â山左éÂÂ), the 4th generation Soke of Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « Heiho. Born in 1718 (the third year of the Kyoho era) in Ofunakoshi, Monou County, to the Koyama family of foot soldiers of the Sendai domain. He first studied under Endo Shigeshiro, and later under Ito Kyusaburo. Koyama Samon moved from Sendai to the capital of Edo (present day Tokyo), teaching Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « in Asakusa for 18 years. The waring periods had come to an end, and the capital of Edo became a symbol of peace and a center for cultural refinement. Training in a full suit of armor for battlefield engagements became less relevant and the school evolved into a more refined and efficient system, specializing in both armored and non-armored applications. Techniques for close-quarter combat were adopted, such as those used indoors, on streets or in narrow alleyways. The school became known as Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « Taijutsu, focusing on body mechanics and stressing directness, economy of motion, and energy conservation. With Yawara (æÂÂ) at its crux, the taijutsu system strives for minimum effort with maximum results. Koyama Samon died 19 March 1800, age 82. His Buddhist name was Ichiryuin Jokunyu Gakushin Koji.
Two well-known students of Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « Taijutsu were Ueshiba Morihei (founder of Aikido) and Kano Jigoro (founder of Judo). Ueshiba had trained under Masakatsu Nakai, during the reign of Araki-do 6th Soke, Goto Saburà Â. Kano received his training directly from Araki-do 7th Soke, Ohshima Masateru.
Meanwhile, Koyama Samon's Heiho teachings lived on and were passed down by Aizawa Nakanoshin Touken, who had carried the tradition to the Tome and Kurihara regions. It was here that Hoshi Hikojuro Kuniyuki (æÂÂ彦åÂÂé åÂÂè¡Â), the 12th Soke of Sendai-den Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « Heiho received his training in the art.
In a nutshell, Yagyà « Shingan-ryà « Taijutsu should not be viewed as divergent from the Sendai tradition, but rather as a sister school, representing an evolved interpretation of Soke, Koyama Samon's experiences while living & teaching in the metropolis of ancient Edo.