Kobori-ryu To-suijutsu
By Kuseru
Entrance Requirements: Restricted to Honorable Alignments. No Attribute restrictions.
Skill Cost: 8 years (4 years as a Secondary Martial Art).

This style is a Japanese swimming style, with emphasis on combat in the water, and crossing aquatic obstacles. This style was created around 1700 by Muraoka Idayu Masafumi at the Tenjin Gulf on the Shirakawa. He was succeeded by several masters who introduced and developed their own techniques to the style.

The Kobori ryu is a highly practical system of swimming, developed so that warriors might move freely in and on the water in order to be able to engage in work or to fight. Developmental training includes a four part criteria: 'Ichi: soku, Ni: sui, San: tan, Yon: Gei' (One: legs, Two: water, Three: guts, Four: art). The first of these criteria suggests that the development of good health is paramount, the second that mastery of swimming should be achieved, the third that courage should be cultivated and the final criteria concerns the martial arts.

The "Tosui" aspect of Kobori ryu involves a circular leg movement technique that allows the proponent to tread water while keeping their upper body above water (while wearing armor). This enabled the Higo bushi, if necessary, to fight with swords, fire arrows (tachi oyogi shageki), and fire muskets while positioned in or while crossing a river. Kobori ryu is sometimes referred to as Katchu Gozen Oyogi (swimming in armor while in the presence of highly ranked officials or nobility), because it was selected to demonstrate suijutsu to certain officials based upon its reputation as a refined and graceful art.

Special techniques of the school include the fundamental techniques Tachi Oyogi (swimming upright, performed with a characteristic treading action) and Taguri Oyogi (hand-over-hand swimming). Further techniques include Geioyogi (performance/art swimming), Teishin nuki Oyogi (techniques for shoving waves aside), Yasumi Oyogi (techniques for catching rest while in the water). Other skills include Haizen Oyogi (the presentation of food and drink whilst swimming), Ippyoshi Oyogi, Katate Oyogi, Katchu Gozen Oyogi (the practice of swimming in the Gozen Oyogi style whilst in armor), Soroi Oyogi, Suiken (swordsmanship while swimming), Suikyu (archery while swimming) Suisho (the practice of calligraphy while swimming), Sakenomi Oyogi (the serving of sake whilst swimming), Tachimochi Oyogi (swimming whilst holding a sword), and Ukimi Sho (the practice of calligraphy whilst floating), Suijyu (musketry while swimming).

The current headmaster of the school is Koga Tadao. Ttraining is held at the Gakushuin in Kyoto, Nagasaki and its home of Kumamoto.

Costume: Typically wears splint lamellar armor.
Stance: Special! Tachi Oyogi. Not really a stance per se, but the primary 'stance' of this style is swimming upright with a characteristic treading action.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +1 to P.S.
Add +2 to P.E.
Add +3D4 to Spd in water only
Add +10 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, Parry.
Advanced Defense Moves: Circular Parry, Combination Parry/Attack.
Hand Attacks: Knife Hand, Palm Strike, Punch.
Basic Foot Attacks: Backward Sweep, Snap Kick, Tripping/Leg Hook.
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Death Strike (New!), Drown (New!), Elbow.
Holds/Locks: Arm Hold, Body Hold, Neck Hold.
Weapon Kata: W.P. Bow, W.P. Matchlock, W.P. Sword.
Modifiers to Attacks: Critical Strike, Pull Punch.
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: Automatically gains Suiren. Select a total of ONE (1) Martial Art Power from among Body Hardening or Martial Art Techniques. Except for Suiren, any number of Martial Art Powers can be traded, on a one-for-one basis, for Basic Skill Programs (excluding Physical).
Languages: Japanese
Cultural: Calligraphy, Cooking, Cha-No-Yu.
Physical: Swimming
Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Bow, W.P. Matchlock, W.P. Sword.
Philosophical Training: Zen Buddhism/Bushido.
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time: Heki Ryu (4 Years), Itto Ryu (3 Years), Iwakura Ryu Suiejutsu (3 Years), Kankai Ryu Suiejutsu (3 Years), Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage Ryu (3 Years), Kasumi Shinto Ryu (2 Years), Kendo (3 Years), Kobo Ryu Suiejutsu (3 Years), Kurama Ryu (5 Years), Mukai Ryu Suiejutsu (3 Years), Muso Shinden Ryu (5 Years), Muso Jukiden Eishin Ryu (5 Years), Sasanuma Ryu Suiejutsu (3 Years), Shinden Ryu Suiejutsu (3 Years), Shinmuso Hayashizaki Ryu (5 Years), Suifu Ryu Suiejutsu (3 Years), Suio Ryu (4 Years), Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-Ryu (4 Years), Yamauchi Ryu Suiejutsu (3 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st + 3 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, Critical Strike or Knockout from Behind.
2nd + 1 to Parry/Dodge in water, + 1 to Strike.
3rd + 1 Attack per Melee,+1 to Initiative in water.
4th + 2 to Strike in water, Knockout/Stun on a Natural 19 or 20.
5th Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Body Hardening or Martial Art Techniques.
6th + 1 Attack per Melee.
7th + 1 to Strike in water, + 1 to Parry/Dodge.
8th Death Strike on a Natural 20.
9th + 1 Attack per Melee, + 1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
10th + 1 to Parry/Dodge in water.
11th Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Body Hardening or Martial Art Techniques.
12th+ 1 to Strike in water, +1 to Initiative in water.
13th + 1 Attack per Melee, + 1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, Critical Strike on a Natural 19 or 20.
14th + 1 to Parry/Dodge.
15th Select One (1) Additional Martial Art Power from Body Hardening or Martial Art Techniques.
Why Study Kobori-ryu To-suijutsu?
Because you want to kill those annoying people playing "Marco Polo." Of course, being able to swim in armor (not to mention many of the other swimming skills taught) does come in handy.