curriculum-koppoujutsushoden
Koppoujutsu Shoden
Koppoujutsu (骨法術) is an ancient form of armed and unarmed combat which focuses on striking bones and skeletal structure to break and knock down the opponent. Koppoujutsu shoden is a foundational module that teaches the basic principles and concepts of koppoujutsu.The fundamentals of koppoujutsu are split into three levels; shoden, chuuden and jouden or beginner, intermediate and advanced.
Koppoujutsu shoden is made up of 18 forms split into three categories, postures [kamae] (構), engaging [daken] (打拳), and geigeki [counter attacking] (迎撃). These three areas are called Koppou Roppou Kamae, Koppou Roppou Daken and Koppou Roppou Geigeki respectively. Along with the daken are 6 hand striking postures called (houken) [宝拳].
These forms are designed to reinforce muscle memory and practice good martial habits.
Kotouha Houshiki - 虎倒派方式
The system of Kotouha (虎倒派) or the Tiger Felling School has a core system of movement, which was developed for a certain kind of close combat engagement. Kotouha focuses on close combat, grappling and hidden weapons; aligning the system with a compact method of movement and footwork.
Below are core concepts which the techniques of koppoujutsu rely on.
Sokushin Sokuhou - 足進側方 (Lateral Step): From shizen no kamae, lower the lead leg and place the rear foot behind the lead foot in an L shape. Then step out of sokushin sokuhou with the lead foot in any direction.
Kamae Taoshi - 構倒 (Structure Breaking): Knock down the opponent from above and below, locking the structure, then breaking it.
Hagi Keri - 骭蹴 (Shin kick): From sokushin sokuhou, thrust up to the suzu (pelvis) with the shin. Hagi keri is used to break the structure and posture.
Gantsubushi - 顔潰 (Taking the face/senses): Similar to metsubushi (目潰) or blinding powder, gantsubushi is a posture and movement, usually from shizen which disrupts the opponents senses to strike from a hidden position. Can include throwing blinding powder, sand or similar to obstruct vision.
The houshiki are embedded into the 18 techniques of Koppoujutsu Shoden. The purpose of this section is to highlight the importance of these concepts within the system.
Koppoujutsu Shoden Kamae - 骨法術初伝構
Kamae (構) are postures or biomechanical structures of the body for specific use in both unarmed and armed combat. The kamae practiced in Koppoujutsu are derived from the Tiger Felling School (Koto Ryu).
[一] Seigan no Kamae - 青眼の構 (True Eye Posture): The lead hand is in Kitenken pointing at the opponent's eyes, while the lead foot is forward pointing at the opponent. The rear hand is in Kitenken resting on the bicep of the lead arm, while the rear leg is at a right angle to the opponent. Koto Ryu seigan is shallow, feet shoulder width apart.
[二] Bobi no Kamae - 防備の構 (Defensive Posture): The lead hand is in Niouken (仁王拳) pointing at the opponent's eyes, while the lead foot is forward pointing at the opponent. The rear hand is in Niouken resting on the hip, while the rear leg is at a right angle to the opponent. Bobi is very shallow, with both feet together.
[三] Houko no Kamae - 抱圍の構 (Encircling Posture): The lead hand is forward in Kitenken pointing up, while the lead foot is forward pointing at the opponent. The rear hand is in Kitenken also pointing up but slightly off-set from the lead hand, while the rear leg is facing forward and also slightly off-set from the lead leg. Koto Ryu Houko is a shallow posture.
[三] Houko no Kamae - 抱圍の構 (Encircling Posture): The lead hand is forward in Kitenken pointing up, while the lead foot is forward pointing at the opponent. The rear hand is in Kitenken also pointing up but slightly off-set from the lead hand, while the rear leg is facing forward and also slightly off-set from the lead leg. Koto Ryu Houko is a shallow posture.
[四] Shizen no Kamae - 自然の構 (Natural Posture): The body is facing the opponent and the legs are shoulder width apart, parallel facing forward. The hands are in Kitenken resting on the pelvic inlet or the belt.
[五] Hira Ichimonji no Kamae - 平一文字の構 (Level Straight Line Posture): The body is facing the opponent and both arms are stretched out in a straight line. Both hands are in Kitenken. The posture is shallow.
[六] Sukimi no Kamae - 隙楣の構 (Shoulder Yoke Posture): The body is facing the opponent and both arms are stretched out in a straight line. Both hands are in Kitenken. The legs are crossed (sokushin sokuhou). The posture is shallow.
[六] Sukimi no Kamae - 隙楣の構 (Shoulder Yoke Posture): The body is facing the opponent and both arms are stretched out in a straight line. Both hands are in Kitenken. The legs are crossed (sokushin sokuhou). The posture is shallow.
Koppoujutsu kamae serve as the core foundation of movement in the Tiger Felling School (Koto Ryu). The idea of kamae is to maintain posture through movement in both attack and defence. Kamae allow the practitioner to maintain a combat posture that transitions into striking or grappling, without having to think about movement. These kamae should be programmed into the body's muscle memory.
Koppoujutsu Shoden Houken - 骨法術初伝宝拳
[二] Kiten Ken - 起転拳 (Turning fist): Fingers are clenched together facing forward in a cupping action with the thumb locked in on the side.
[五] Shikan Ken - 指環拳 (Ring Finger fist): Fingers together, but fully bent. Striking with the tip of the bent finger.
[六] Hagi Ken - 骭拳 (Shin fist): Shin.
The striking postures protect the fingers and hands. They are vital to the effectiveness of the striking postures (kamae).
Koppoujutsu Shoden Daken - 骨法術初伝打拳
Hōken (宝拳) are the striking postures of the limbs of the Tiger Felling School (Koto Ryuu).
[一] Niou Ken - 仁王拳 (Deva fist): Clenched fist, thumb resting on the index finger.
[二] Kiten Ken - 起転拳 (Turning fist): Fingers are clenched together facing forward in a cupping action with the thumb locked in on the side.
[三] Happa Ken - 八葉拳 (Eight Leaves fist): Hand is open. Fingers are together and slightly bent.
[四] Koppou Ken - 骨法拳 (Thumb Bone fist): Clenched fist, thumb on top of index finger in bent shape.
The striking postures protect the fingers and hands. They are vital to the effectiveness of the striking postures (kamae).
Koppoujutsu Shoden Daken - 骨法術初伝打拳
Daken (打拳) refers six basic techniques (waza) [技] that are designed to align the body and teach proper biomechanics. These daken are the basic striking forms of Koppoujutsu and form the foundation of attack and defence.
[一] Joudan Tsuki - 上段突 (High Thrust): From seigan no kamae. Transition into houko no kamae while stepping across with sokushin sokuhou (cross step) on the lead side to seigan no kamae, then strike with a high thrust (joudan tsuki) with the fist in niouken. Reset to seigan no kamae.
[二] Gedan Tsuki - 下段突 (Low Thrust): From bobi no kamae. Transition into sokushin sokuhou (cross step) and at the same time strike with a low thrust (gedan tsuki) with the fist in niouken. Reset to bobi no kamae.
[三] Shikan Tsuki - 指環突 (Ring Finger Thrust): From houko no kamae, transition with sokushin sokuhou (cross step) while guarding with the rear arm, then strike with shikan ken (ring finger fist) to the jakkin (shoulder joint) with the lead arm. Reset to houko no kamae.
[四] Happa Tsuki - 八葉突 (Palm Thrust): From shizen no kamae, transition with sokushin sokuhou (cross step) while raising both hands into houko no kamae, then immediately thrust to the face with happa ken (palm strike). Reset to shizen no kamae.
[五] Koppou Tsuki - 骨法突 (Thumb Bone Thrust): From hira ichimonji no kamae, sokushin sokuhou (cross step) and immediately strike with koppou ken to the kasumi (temple). Reset to hira ichimonji no kamae.
[二] Gedan Tsuki - 下段突 (Low Thrust): From bobi no kamae. Transition into sokushin sokuhou (cross step) and at the same time strike with a low thrust (gedan tsuki) with the fist in niouken. Reset to bobi no kamae.
[三] Shikan Tsuki - 指環突 (Ring Finger Thrust): From houko no kamae, transition with sokushin sokuhou (cross step) while guarding with the rear arm, then strike with shikan ken (ring finger fist) to the jakkin (shoulder joint) with the lead arm. Reset to houko no kamae.
[四] Happa Tsuki - 八葉突 (Palm Thrust): From shizen no kamae, transition with sokushin sokuhou (cross step) while raising both hands into houko no kamae, then immediately thrust to the face with happa ken (palm strike). Reset to shizen no kamae.
[五] Koppou Tsuki - 骨法突 (Thumb Bone Thrust): From hira ichimonji no kamae, sokushin sokuhou (cross step) and immediately strike with koppou ken to the kasumi (temple). Reset to hira ichimonji no kamae.
Koppoujutsu daken teach the basic striking methods of the Tiger Felling School (Koto Ryuu). Embedded within the koppoujutsu daken are simple concepts of striking high or low to set up the next strike or kick. Koppoujutsu daken transitions easily into throwing and grappling techniques.
Uke (受) are receiving techniques to disrupt or avoid an opponent's attack. They are also used to set up counter attacks.
[一] Ryoute Eri Dori Uke - 両手襟捕受 (Double Lapel Capture Receiving): Opponent grabs both lapels. Shift to the left or right, then sokushin sokuhou while at the same time striking down to the back of the opponent's hands with niouken.
[二] Eri Dori Uke - 襟捕受 (Lapel Capture Receiving): Opponent grabs single lapel. Sokushin sokuhou forward into the inside of the lapel grab then strike to the jakkin with shikanken.
[三] Erihiji Dori Uke - 襟肘捕受 (Lapel and Elbow Capture Receiving): Opponent grabs the single lapel and opposite elbow. Sokushin sokuhou backward to the outside of the lapel grab while raising hokou over both the opponents arms. The opponent should shift forward to maintain their balance. Kick up to the suzu with hagigeri.
[四] Ryoute Tsuki Munemoto Uke - 両手突胸元受 (Double Strike Chest Receiving): Opponent strikes with lead followed by the rear arm. Receive the first strike and shift back. Receive the second strike and sokushin sokuhou. Kick to the solar plexus.
[五] Ryoute Tsuki Suzu Uke - 両手突鈴受 (Double Strike Bell Receiving): Opponent strikes with lead followed by the rear arm. Receive the first strike and shift back. Receive the second strike and sokushin sokuhou. Kick to the suzu (groin) with hagigeri.
[六] Ryoute Tsuki Ude Dori Uke - 両手突腕捕受 (Double Strike Arm Capture Receiving): Opponent strikes with lead followed by the rear arm. Receive the first strike and shift back. On the second strike wrap around the opponent's arm and sokushin sokuhou to the outside of the strike (rearward).
Uke in the Koppoujutsu are used to set-up follow up attacks and counters.