We do not yet have a very clear history of this style of Koryu Jujutsu. The founder was Fukuno Shichiroemon Masakatsu and it is sometimes called Fukuno Ryu.

Ryoi Shinto Ryu was founded in a monastery in what is now a suburb of modern Tokyo. A Chinese master of Chiao-Ti-Shu (Chinese version of jujutsu) and healer with a Confucian background moved to Japan to escape the Mongol invasion of China in the 1600's. He met a Japanese master of jujutsu. These two masters met and exchanged information. Eventually the Chinese master returned, and Fukuno, the founder of Ryoi Shinto Ryu adapted all he learned into his system. This was the beginning of the rise of modern jujutsu.

Fukuno was born in Settsu province in the late 16th century. Later in life, he became a Ronin (masterless samura)’ and lived first in Otsu; then in Awataguchi in Yamashiro province. It is believed that, he learned Shinkage Ryu sKenjutsu from Yagyu Sogen there then later studied Teishin Ryu Wajutsu with Terada Heisaemon. When Terada left for Unshu province to serve the Matsudaira warrior family in 1640, Fukuno followed him to Unshu. Fukuno then received Menkyo Kaiden in Teishinryu. He made various changes to Teishinryu and created his own style which he called Ryoi Shinto ryu or Fukuno ryu.

Some evidence suggests Ryoi Shinto ryu is a generation older. "Shinkage Tsukimi No Sho" (written ca: 1622) mentions the existence of a book by Fukuno called Ryoi Shinto Ryu Yawara Denju Mokuroku. Other sources say that, in 1626-27, Fukuno learned Chinese kenpo from Chin Genpin at Kokushoji in Asabu. Incorporating elements of it into the styles of jujutsu he knew, he created Ryoi Shinto.

Fukuno said: “Ryoi Shinto means ‘Skillfully apply the mind, and strike with ease.’ By ‘mind’, I mean all the ways of winning; apply the ‘mind’ and you will meet no resistance.”

Contemporaries of Fukuno’s commented on him and his style:

Ryoi shinto takes strength as its father and weakness as its mother. Understand clearly when strength will not prevail. Know that the old, stiff tree is hurt by the wind, while the willow is toughened by the wind and rides above it. Ryoi shinto techniques are done standing. Grappling, strikes and short sword are all used. For grappling on the battle field, Ryoi shinto is unequalled.

In the reign of the 109th Emperor, Go Mizu-o, in the first year of the Kan’ei era (1624), at the time of the Shogun Iemitsu, there lived a man called Fukuno Shichiroemon. He was born in Ozu in Eshu (Omi province). At first, he was employed in the service of the lord of Hikone but for certain reasons he left his employ. Thereafter he moved his family home to Awataguchi village in Yamashiro province. He was of intrepid character; with his great strength he lifted mighty bronze pots; he took pleasure in learning the techniques employed by Nomi no Sukune, the mythical character of immense strength, who left his home in Izumo at the orders of Emperor Suinin to do battle with the renowned fighter, Taima no Kuehaya. Nomi no Sukune defeated Taima, and became Emperor Suinin’s personal servant. Nomi no Sukune is the legendary founder of sumo.

Fukuno endured mental tortures and developed his physique and, after twenty years or so, he finally acquired mastery of Nomi no Sukune’s techniques. People spoke of him admiringly: He fights with great strength and battles with valour; with his technique, he defeats an opponent in barely a minute or two; his determination is to fight to the death; his techniques are correct: who could deny him victory?

He learned Shinkage ryu sword skills form Yagyu Sogen; next, he learned Teishin ryu Wajutsu from Terada Heisaemon Sadayasu. When Sadayasu, in Kan’ei 17 (1640), was in the service of the Matsudaira family from Unshu, Fukuno followed him to Unshu and received kaiden in that style; next, he created Ryoi shinto ryu (commonly known as Fukuno ryu) with Ibaragi Sensai Ayafusa.

He transmitted this to Terada Sadayasu’s younger brother, Terada Hachisaemon Yorishige, and after the time of his son, Terada Kanemon Michihide (Masashige), the style became known as Jikishin ryu judo (see Terada Michihide Hisenbun). But, there is evidence that Ryoi shinto ryu was created before this time; in Genna 8 (1622), Fukuno Yagyu Juppei Sangen in his Shinkage Tsukimi no sho cites from Fukuno’s Ryoi shinto ryu Yamara denju mokuroku. Further, in 1626-27, it appears clear that he learned Chinese kenpo from Chin Genpin at the Kokushoji in temple in Asabu and made adjustments to the style as it had been till then.

Fukuno’s style is generally known as Fukuno ryu but in several places (eg Kito ryu densho and the Jikishin densho) it appears as Ryoi Shinto ryu. Ibaragi Sensei, moreover, gave to this style the new name of Kito ryu (or Kito midare ryu)

In Terada Ichiemon Seiso’s Tohishu (1729), it says ‘several styles devolved from Fukuno’s’, and it mentions the following men: Isome Jiroemon, Ibaragi Sensai, Terada Heisaemon, Terada Hachisaemon, Terada Kanemon, Miura Yojiemon, Kurozawa Tagu, Sekiguchi Yazaemon and Nagahama Jinzaemon. Isome is a misspelling for Isokai, and Sekiguchi should surely be Yarokuemon. Nagahama’s style is correctly known as Ryoi shinto ryu and popularly known as Nagahama ryu, and its lineage is as follows: Nagahama, Kurosawa Tangu, Kasahara Juyaku, Takai Gibei, Kuranari Rohei, Makimune Juro (licensed 1840)