The exact origin of this school is not known, but it is speculated that the Koto Ryu came to Japan via Korea, by Chan Busho, a Chinese warrior. The techniques were organized by Sakagami Taro Kunishige in 1542.
Koto Ryu uses short distances between opponents, and the techniques are direct and to- the-point. It focuses on powerful striking, with power generated from twisting and turning of the hips and shoulders. In the Bujinkan, it is renowned for its unarmed techniques that attack the body's structure to take down opponents.