Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu
By Kuseru
Entrance Requirements: No Honorable Alignments allowed. No Attribute restrictions.
Skill Cost: 12 Years (10 Years as a Secondary Martial Art Style).

The Japanese martial art of Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu was founded sometime around 1660 by Takagi Oriuemon Shigenobu. Oriuemon Sense was at that time the chief swordmaster of Shiraishi castle in Oshu. He derived the techniques for Hontai Yoshin Ryu from Takeuchi Ryu Jujutsu, Kenko Ryu Sojutsu, Yoshin Ryu Kodachijutsu as well as other styles. Takagi Umanosuke (1655-1716), the next soke of Hontai Yoshin Ryu further refined the style after losing a match and meditating upon his loss for 100 days. His spiritual revelation caused him to develop several mental disciplines for the style and formally change the name to Hontai Yoshin Ryu from Yo no Shin (Willow Heart). Often considered an exclusively unarmed system of grappling, Hontai Yoshin Ryu is actually composed of three areas of study; Jujutsu (unarmed grappling), Bojutsu & Hanbojutsu (staff and stick combat), and Kodachijutsu (short sword techniques).

The unarmed system is composed of Atemi (striking vital points), gyaku (joint locks), katsu (resuscitation), nage (throws), shime (chokes and strangles), tantodori (knife taking), tachidori (sword taking), and toritsuke (binding techniques) techniques. Within these techniques, positioning, distance, breaking an opponent's balance, sharp application and subtlety of movement are stressed in order to control the opponent.

Staff fighting consists primarily of the rokushakumaru bo (called Chobo (long staff) in the style). The Chobo techniques of Hontai Yoshin Ryu differ significantly from Okinawan staff techniques in that the staff is used more with the nuance of a spear or halberd with it's blade cut off, emphasizing a more ample te sabaki (active handwork) along the entire length of the staff (in other words, the use of both a mere one inch, and in the next moment the full length of the staff) as opposed to the emphasis a hands positioning near the center of the staff. Of secondary importance to the Chobo is the Hanbo ("half" staff, three shaku in length (roughly three feet), round, somewhat thinner than the Chobo and may be straight or slightly tapered at one end) also referred to as suteki (walking stick). Hanbo techniques deal more with their use against swords and practical street applications, with many techniques lending themselves to the short style of combat used by Hontai Yoshin Ryu. Kumibo (combination training) and furibo (iron shod training staff) techniques are also taught.

Sword Training focuses primarily on Kodachijutsu (short sword techniques) developed from hanbo and other sword techniques. Long sword and iaijutsu (quick draw) training are also employed. To a lesser degree, some sojutsu (spear techniques) are also taught. Weapons training in general consists of single student kata combined with freestyle paired sparring. More experienced practitioners are introduced to the fuden no oshi (hidden areas of practice) which include Chi Mastery Techniques as well as other Chi Skills.

Costume: White Judo Gi with colored belts representing rank.
Stance: Feet are less than shoulder width apart, at right angles, with the knees slightly bent. Arms and hands are usually loosely extended in a variety of positions.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +5 to CHI
Add +2 to P.S.
Add +1 to P.E.
Add +5 to S.D.C.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: 2
Escape Moves: Maintain Balance, Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
Attack Moves: None.
Basic Defense Moves: Automatic Parry, Dodge, Entangle, Parry.
Advanced Defense Moves: Breakfall, Disarm, Multiple Dodge.
Hand Attacks: Fingertip Attack, Fore-Knuckle Fist.
Basic Foot Attacks: Tripping/Leg Hook.
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Automatic Flip/Lock (New!), Choke, Combination Grab/Slash, Death Strike (New!), Hand Throw (New!), Joint Throw (New!), Sweeping Throw (New!).
Holds/Locks: Elbow Lock, Wrist Lock, Neck Hold/ Choke.
Weapon Kata (Choose Two; One must be staff or blunt and one must be sword): W.P. Chobo (Staff), W.P. Hanbo (Blunt), W.P. Katana (Large Sword), W.P. Wakizashi (Short Sword).
Modifiers to Attacks: Critical Strike, Critical Strike from Behind.
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: Select a total of ONE (1) Martial Art Power from among Atemi, Martial Art Powers, and Special Kata. If desired, any number of Martial Art Powers can be traded, on a one-for-one basis, for Basic Skill Programs (excluding Physical).
Languages: Japanese
Cultural Skills: Hojojutsu
Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Chobo (Staff), W.P. Furibo (Blunt), W.P. Hanbo (Blunt), W.P. Katana (Large Sword), W.P. Spear, W.P. Wakizashi (Short Sword).
Philosophical Training: Whatever works. That's Jujutsu! It's designed to get the job done and there's no such thing as an 'unfair' move in jujutsu, anything that works against the enemy is acceptable. It is a pragmatic, no-holds-barred martial art style.
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time: Asayama Ichiden Ryu (3 Years), Gyokko Ryu (6 Years), Hakko Denshin Ryu (4 Years), Kaze Arashi Ryu (5 Years), Kito Ryu (4 Years), Kukishinden Ryu (8 Years), Sosuishitsu Ryu (4 Years), Takagi Yoshin Ryu (5 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Disarm, Critical Strike from Behind.
2nd: +1 Parry/Dodge, +2 to Maintain Balance.
3rd: +1to Damage, +2 to Throw.
4th: Critical Strike on a Natural 18, 19 or 20.
5th: +1 Attack per Melee.
6th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Atemi, Martial Art Techniques, or Special Kata.
7th: +1 to Strike, +1 to Disarm.
8th: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
9th: +1 Attack per Melee.
10th: +1 Parry/Dodge, +2 to Maintain Balance.
11th: Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Atemi, or Martial Art Techniques, or Special Kata.
12th: Death Strike on a Natural 20.
13th: +1 to Disarm, +1 to Damage.
14th: +1 to Strike, +2 to Throw (Throws do an extra die of damage for a total of two dice of damage).
15th: Select One (1) Chi Mastery.
Why Study Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu?
An armed jujutsu style that gets the job done. Access to chi mastery makes this style even more deadly.