Yachigusa-Ryu Aiki Bugei

Frequently Asked Questions on History and Background

Because Yachigusa-Ryu is not affiliated with any known school or tradition of martial arts, we have received many questions over the years about where our style comes from and how it fits into the universe of Japanese arts. Also see the School FAQ for specific information about the school and classes.

If you have any other questions you would like answered or added to this list, please ask Gary at yachigusaryu@aol.com or Spencer at tsburns18@hotmail.com. Also, please contact us if you think you have any information that could shed some insight on our history.

The Koryu Question:

Is Yachigusa-Ryu a "koryu" ("old-school") art?

No. There is a fair amount of confusion about what the term koryu means, but Yachigusa-Ryu does not fit most definitions.

The word "koryu" (literally "old school") refers to styles of martial arts that were established before the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Yachigusa-Ryu preserves the original pre-modern art of the "Yachigusa" family as accurately as possible, and in that sense could possibly be considered koryu or kobudo (lit. "old martial art"). However, while Gary Moro was given the right to teach the art, he did not inherit it and is no longer connected with the family. Thus, Yachigusa-Ryu is not the same "school" as it originally was. This means that it is not koryu in the way most koryu practitioners define the word.

Beyond the technicalities of what the word means, Gary Moro has always insisted that Yachigusa-Ryu is not koryu because he does not teach students in the traditional manner that he was taught.

Does that mean that Yachigusa-Ryu is a "gendai" (modern) art?

Once again, it depends on definitions. If you define any Japanese martial art which is not koryu as gendai, then it is. If you feel 'gendai' means a more specific term for arts developed in Japan for the needs of the late-19th and 20th centuries, then it is not.

So what is it then?

They are only labels. Don't get too attached to dualism.

Relationship to other arts:

You mentioned Shinkage-Ryu and Jukishin-Ryu in the history. Is Yachigusa-Ryu affiliated with either art?

No, we have no affiliation with those arts. Yachigusa Sensei told Gary Moro that some techniques were derived from Shinkage-Ryu and Jukishin-Ryu. It is likely that members of his family had been students of these arts in the past and incorporated some of their techniques into the family's style. They were probably not licensed to teach those arts, therefore in no sense is Yachigusa-Ryu descended from Shinkage-Ryu or Jukishin-Ryu.

Which branch of Shinkage-Ryu influenced Yachigusa-Ryu?

We do not know specifically. Shinkage-ryu was a tremendously influential style with many branches. In some sense it influenced every classical martial art in Japan.

What is Jukishin-Ryu?

We are not certain what school Yachigusa Sensei was referring to. It is likely that the modern Romanization should be "Jikishin". It could be the Jikishin-Ryu founded by Terada Kanemon. It could be related to one of the branches of Jikishin-Kageryu. Gary Moro was specifically told that some of our yari (spear) techniques evolved from "Jukishin-Ryu", so perhaps it is related to the naginata arts of Jikishinkage.

What did Yachigusa Sensei's family call "Yachigusa-Ryu"?

Hiroshi Yachigusa did not use any particular label for the art when he taught it. It was just "martial arts".

Is Yachigusa-Ryu affilated with Daito-Ryu/Yanagi-Ryu/other Aikijujutsu/Aikido?

No. Gary Moro has never trained in any of these arts outside of seminars. As far as we know, neither Yachigusa Sensei nor any other member of his family ever trained in any Daito-Ryu related art. It is certain that he never trained in Aikido.

Why do you use the terms aiki / aikijutsu / aikijujutsu to refer to your art if you are not affiliated with Daito-Ryu?

Daito-Ryu popularized the use of the terms aiki, aikijutsu and aikijujutsu to a degree that the word aiki is now usually associated exclusively with the Daito-Ryu family tree (including Aikido). There is a legitmate argument that the term "aiki-ju-jutsu" is only used by Daito-Ryu and affiliates. The terms "aiki" and "aiki-jutsu" do, however, predate Daito-Ryu.

In truth, Yachigusa Sensei never had a name for the type of art he taught. He just taught "martial arts". Gary Moro started to refer to the art by these terms after meeting senior aiki-jujutsu practitioners and discovering how much he had in common with them stylistically and philosophically.

Indeed, the principles of aiki are the heart of Yachigusa-Ryu techniques, both empty-handed and armed.

Is Yachigusa-Ryu affiliated with any other style at all?

No.

Is Yachigusa-Ryu affiliated with any martial arts organizations?

Gary Moro is a member of a few martial arts organizations--including ATAMA (American Teachers Association of the Martial Arts), WCAF (World Combat Arts Association), PAWMA (Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists, ISOK (International Society of Okinawan/Japanese Karate-Do), and Ao Denko Jutsu. Gary holds dan ranks in some of these organizations as well.

However, these organizations have no oversight or direct affiliation with Yachigusa-Ryu.

Legitimacy and Documentation:

Do you have documentation to legitimize the history of Yachigusa-Ryu?

No.

Without proof, are you even sure that it is true?

The history of the style is a "best effort" pieced together by Gary Moro from his conversations with Yachigusa Sensei over the years.

Why didn't Gary ask more questions when he was a student?

Gary was accepted as part of the family on some level, however he was still an outsider and not privy to family business. Yachigusa Sensei was very secretive man; Gary held on to what was given him and did not feel it was his place to ask more--although he did at times try unsuccessfully.

The Yachigusa Family:

I've never heard of a Japanese man named Yachigusa. There are no records of anybody with that name. Is it a real name?

It was almost certainly an alias. Yachigusa has been used as a stage name and is the name of a town, but is not a common Japanese surname. There is no reason to think he or any member of his family ever used the name Yachigusa in Japan.

What does the name Yachigusa mean?

Yachigusa Sensei's translation was "8000 Reeds".

One reed breaks easily while thousands together are unbreakable. To him, this name stood for his convictions: convictions like leaving his family and opposing Japanese militarism prior to WW2 as well as the atrocities he witnessed during the Korean occupation.

Were the Yachigusas ninjas? Can you teach me to be a ninja?

Not that a true ninja would admit to it...but, emphatically, no.

Was Yachigusa Sensei connected to the Yakuza?

Probably not. He did live a shadowy and paranoid life under a false name with no visible means of support. Kobe, where he came from, is known for being a center of Yakuza activity....
A coincidence? Absolutely.

Was Hiroshi Yachigusa a spy/saboteur/war criminal/wandering monk/yamabushi/tengu/etc?

It is very tempting to fill the empty spaces in our history with romantic conspiracy theories. Everybody wants to be more special than they are. But there is no reason to think he was anything more than a simple man swept up in the tide of 20th century history.

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