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Kosshijutsu - by Andrew Young: KOSSHI (A Fresh Definition)

Kosshijutsu refers to techniques that target the bones and fingers. The characters that make up the word translate to "bone" and "finger". Historically in Japan, bones were respected and collected after death. Strong bones were seen as important for working and fighting. Our skeleton gives us advantages like bipedal walking and gripping weapons. The techniques in Gyokko Ryu target the natural force of gravity countered by our skeletal structure. The kihon happo techniques are derived from Gyokko Ryu because bone represents the three core areas of the body and fingers represent the five elements, together making up the whole person within their environment. To truly master kosshijutsu and kih

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97 views1 page

Kosshijutsu - by Andrew Young: KOSSHI (A Fresh Definition)

Kosshijutsu refers to techniques that target the bones and fingers. The characters that make up the word translate to "bone" and "finger". Historically in Japan, bones were respected and collected after death. Strong bones were seen as important for working and fighting. Our skeleton gives us advantages like bipedal walking and gripping weapons. The techniques in Gyokko Ryu target the natural force of gravity countered by our skeletal structure. The kihon happo techniques are derived from Gyokko Ryu because bone represents the three core areas of the body and fingers represent the five elements, together making up the whole person within their environment. To truly master kosshijutsu and kih

Uploaded by

Chetanya93
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Kosshijutsu - By Andrew Young

KOSSHI (a fresh definition)


The two characters which comprise the word kosshi go more than skin deep. In fact
they go right to the bone. So what is kosshi? In a recent private talk with Soke Hatsumi
a fresh feeling to the meaning of this year's theme (Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu) was given.
The basic definition of the characters are BONE & FINGER. So let's look at each
character more closely.
Bone
In earlier times Japan respected the bones of the dead. These were collected from the
ash of the dead after a funeral.
Traditionally strong bones were also seen as the capacity for one to be able to work in
the fields or fight in battle. As Soke pointed out, what makes us human as much as
anything is our skeletal structure; without which we would be nothing more than a
jellyfish. Our skeleton gives us the advantage of walking bipedally and gripping a
weapon for self protection. Fundamental to the make up of Kosshijutsu is the Sanshin
No Kata. Explained here as skeleton, soft tissue and skin. Even bone could be
expressed in terms of the sanshin as teeth, bone and cartilage.
FINGER
The five digits of the hand represent the five elements. "Chi" is represented as the little
finger through to "fu" as the thumb.
The techniques in the Ten Ryaku No Maki or first section of Gyokko Ryu are practiced
with the feeling of gravity in mind. The natural force of gravity continually pressing down
on us is countered by the skeletal structure whose bones grow naturally to form a strong
shape and natural position. This could be expressed as the only true "FORM" of any
kamae or technique.
Ever wondered why the kihon happo is derived from the Gyokko Ryu? Well, as I said
the bone represents the three centres (sanshin) of the whole being and the fingers
represents the five elements giving us eight. In other words the person within the
environment. If one wants to master the kosshijutsu and kihon happo then the only way
is to "work(practice) one's fingers to the bone!" .
Mr Tommy Lawlor of Ireland is credited with supplying the necessary questions to this
article over a discussion taken place at Hatsumi Sensei's home in February 2001.
"BUFUSUI IKKAN"
(Any feed back will be most appreciated)
ANDREW YOUNG

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