Isshin Ryu

• Japanese: 一心 流 (Isshin Ryuu)
• Type: Kusarigamajutsu, Bojutsu, Torinawajutsu, Shurikenjutsu
• Founder: Tan Isshin
• Era: late 1400s

Tan Isshin is considered the founder of Isshin Ryu, but before him is a lineage stemming from Nen Ami Jion, though the veracity of this lineage is suspect. At some point, the line broke up, and the bojutsu remained in Kyoto and the Torite remained in Numata-han. This style is most often found as an ancillary art to Shindo Muso Ryu since Shiraishi Sigeaki, who passed both onto his students.

The kusarigama of Isshin Ryu has a chain that is 1-jô 2-shaku (over 3 meters). The blade of the sickle is straight and sharpened on both sides. The chain is also attached to the bottom of the kama handle, rather than to the top or middle. Serge Mol writes that this may be an earlier form of the kusarigama, and that some credit Isshin Ryu as one of the earliest schools of kusarigamajutsu

Lineage

• Nen Ami Jion(念阿弥慈恩)
• Tsutsumi Hôzan?(堤宝山)
• Yoshioka Munisai?(吉岡無二斉)
• Yamada Shinryuken?(山田心竜軒)
• Yui Shôsetsu(由比正雪)
• Tan Isshin (丹一心)
• ... (lineage unclear)
• Takaki Jirô (高木仁郎)
• Ashida Rinpei? (芦田林平)
• Morikata Ryôzaku (森方両作)
• Shiraishi Hanjirô Shigeaki (白石範次郎重明)(Shindo Muso Ryu)

References

• Watatani, Kiyoshi and Yamada, Tadashi (2003), Bugei Ryuha Daijiten (武芸流派大辞典), Tokyo Copy, Tokyo, Japan.
• Mol, Serge (2003), Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts, Kodansha International, Tokyo, Japan.