Takagi Yoshin Ryu means ‘High Tree, Raised Heart’ school and this is one of the nine schools inherited by Hatsumi Soke from his teacher Toshitsugu Takamatsu Sensei. Along with Kukishinden Ryu and Shinden Fudo Ryu, this is one of the three classical samurai koryu (literally ‘old school’) traditions that are studied within the Bujinkan Dojo.

Founded in the 17th Century by Takagi Oriemon Shigetoshi, Takagi Yoshin Ryu is a school of Jutaijutsu or ‘soft body method’ (this is an older version of the term ‘Jujutsu’). This school primarily teaches unarmed combat but also contains a very strong section of formal techniques covering grappling while wearing the daisho, or twin swords.

Unlike other samurai schools, such as the Kukishinden Ryu, designed for large-scale battlefield use, the Takagi Yoshin Ryu was created to be used indoors in castles, corridors, inns or private homes.

There are few large throws or take downs for the simple reason that the exponent must be able to use this art in confined spaces. When the opponent is thrown violently, he is held close to the body and thrown at the defender’s feet, and not away. Another characteristic is that techniques from this school usually end with the attacker restrained face down

Takagi Yoshin Ryu works particularly well as a modern self-defence school as it presumes that the exponent is unarmed, in a confined space and probably facing multiple opponents. In addition, it has a set of techniques known as muto dori (literally ‘no sword capture’ movements) where an unarmed defender faces an attacker armed with a sword. While training in this school, it is traditional to wear hakama and it is important to use the opponent's own balance and weight against him.

“The essence of Jutaijutsu is to use softness to overcome something that is hard so as to not be injured because you present less of a target or threat. As this is the year of Jutaijutsu we should be very soft in how we train. We should receive our opponent’s attacks in a soft way, but still destroy the Uke using powerful strikes,” said Hatsumi Soke earlier this year. Takagi Yoshin Ryu is a product of the era in which it was developed. 

In the 17th Century, this school was primarily used by bodyguards to protect feudal-era lords. At this time there were strict laws governing who could and who couldn’t carry weapons and how the different classes should conduct themselves while in the presence of their social superiors. These factors are reflected in the formal kata, or techniques, of the school.

An example of this is the sizable number of basic techniques that are performed while the attacker and defender kneel in a position known as Za Gamae. This is similar to the conventional seiza stance found in most Japanese martial arts, except the exponent sits on the balls of their feet. This allows the user to move extremely quickly while performing the school’s kneeling techniques. These techniques can be adapted easily to a modern seated position.

Seated techniques, or suwari waza, were developed because feudal-era Japanese homes didn't have chairs or high tables. Instead, it was common for people to sit directly on the floor. As a result the ability to make and receive an attack while kneeling was very important. In addition, Takagi Yoshin Ryu was at one time a 'bodyguard-school' and consequently Jujutsu without weapons is very important. While noblemen were allowed to carry short swords or kodachi while indoors, it was unusual to have a katana.

Another characteristic of Takagi Yoshin Ryu is; when the opponent is pinned down on the floor, the exponent stands over them while controlling the attacker with pressure on two or three weak points, or kyusho, simultaneously. The reason for a standing posture is that the defender must be able to react fast if another opponent appears. The technique must also be ended quickly with an immobilization.

The training levels in Takagi Yoshin Ryu are as follows:

Shoden no Kata - 14 basic Jujutsu techniques 
Chuden no Sabaki Gata - 10 semi-advanced techniques 
Chuden no Tai no Kata - 15 semi-advanced techniques 
Okuden Gata - 15 advanced techniques 
Eri Shime Gata - 8 techniques involving strangles 
Moguri Gata - 11 techniques involving dynamic body weight 
Muto Dori Gata - 14 techniques against an armed attacker 
Daisho Sabaki Gata - 14 techniques where both partners wear twin long and short swords 

Takagi Yoshin Ryu is closely related to a number of other arts that still exist and are practiced outside the Bujinkan. Some examples include the Hontai Yoshin Ryu, Tenshin Hyoho Kukishinden, Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu (as distinct from Jutaijutsu) and others.