Kukishin-ryū

Kukishin-ryū (九鬼神流)
The original Kanji for the name. Notice that the Chinese character 鬼 (oni-demon) replaces the older kokuji character. The "hornless" version is used in modern texts due to Japanese writing simplification, unintentionally altering the meaning.
Founder	Ryūshin Yakushimaru Kuki
Date founded	c.14th century
Period founded	Nanboku-chō period
Current headmaster	Various
Art	Description
Taijutsu	Grappling (unarmed or with minor weapons)
Bōjutsu	Staff art
Naginatajutsu	Glaive art
Kempō	Sword art
Hanbōjutsu	Three foot staff art
Sōjutsu	Spear art
Heihō (兵法?)	Military strategy
Shinden Fujiwara Musō-ryū
Hontai Yōshin-ryū; Aikido; other modern schools

Kukishin-ryū (九鬼神流^?), originally "Nine Gods Spirit School" (also translated as "Nine Demon Gods School" by many modern groups having different lineages) is a Japanese martial art allegedly founded in the 14th century CE by Kuki Yakushimaru Ryūshin (Yakushimaru Kurando). It is a sōgō bujutsu, meaning that it teaches several different weapons/arts such as taijutsu, bōjutsu, naginatajutsu, kenpō, hanbōjutsu, sōjutsu and heiho. Kukishin-ryū and its founder are listed in the Bugei Ryūha Daijiten or "The Encyclopedia of Martial Art Schools", a record of modern (gendai) and old lineage (koryū) Japanese martial schools.

Ryushin Yakushimaru, the founder of Kukishin-ryū, was born to Dōyu Shirōhōgan at Kumano-Hongu in Wakayama prefecture on January 1, 1318. He was born into one of the most influential clans in Kumano, who were the descendants of the Fujiwara clan who served for generations as bettō, or “Shrine Supervisors." The family eventually entered into the Taira-Minamoto War and commanded the Kumano Navy. Ryushin's mother was Chigusa-hime, whose brother was Suketomo Dainagon Hino, a member of the Southern Imperial court. Because Chigusa-hime had difficulty in conceiving she made a pilgrimage to Enryaku-ji temple at Mt. Hiei where she prayed to the Yakushi Buddha (Bhaisajyaguru-Vaiduryaprabha) for help. Soon after, she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy, which she named Yakushimaru after the deity.