27/08/2023
Goho and Koppo
According to Watatani and Yamada, goho and koppo are very similar. Goho was developed as a supplementary system to the jujutsu of a style referred to as Ichi Jo Funi Ho. Yamada Hiko uchi Nobunao, a samurai of the Owari domain, was said to have been an expert in goho. Goho arose from the idea that when using jujutsu like techniques to control a much stronger opponent, one needs some kind of equalizer. For this purpose, small unorthodox weapons, referred to as kakushibuki were used. These weapons could be used to deliver atemi, or to apply pressure to nerve centers.
Koppojutsu systems are often said to be hard systems using the thicker and more solid bones of one’s body to attack the enemy’s bones. The techniques make liberal use of atemi and powerful blocks. Koppo can translate to bone method, and so Koppojutsu is sometimes renedered as art of breaking or bone smashing art. Some schools used special methods to sufficiently condition the body to deliver and receive atemi. However, it is belived that Koppojutsu , just as was the case with goho, small concealed weapons were used.
Other terms that can be found in connection with some of koppojutsu schools are kosshijutsu and sh*tojutsu. Kosshijustu suggests attacking an oponent’s muscles, while sh*tojutsu refers to the use of the tips of thumbs and fingers to attack an opponent’s anatomically weak points.
Systems that include koppojutsu and kosshijutsu in their curricula occupy a somewhat marginal position; in particular the Koto Ryu, Gyokko Ryu and Gyokushin Ryu are usually situated within the realm of ninjutsu.
The systems combining koppojutsu and kosshijutsu are sometimes also called dakentaijutsu. From a merely technical perspective, however, they are jujutsu like systems that use a slightly harder approach than the average jujutsu school.