Togakure Ryū Santo Tonko No Kata Makimono & Full English Translation

A full digital scan of the Togakure-Ryū ‘Santō Tonkō No Kata’ (鼠逃遁甲之型, ‘Forms Of Escaping & Hiding Like A Rat’) makimono, originally brushed by Sōke Masaaki Hatsumi, along with a full English translation. This makimono delves into the primary theory of  body movement utilized by the ninja’s method thought and practice, including the implementation of concealed weapons, tactics for dealing with adverse combat situations, and the merging of taijutsu and the ‘goton-gata’ (forms of escaping using natural phenomena; 五遁型). Essentially, the Santō Tonkō no Kata are techniques for when one is nearing capture and must escape at all costs. It is the middle ground between ‘ninjutsu’ and martial arts in the physical sense. The digital scan of the makimono file is a TIFF file 10.1 MB in size. The English translation file is PDF in format.

The term “makimono” (巻き物), translates a rolled up thing which is why you will also see this word in reference to sushi. In this example, makimono refers to a scroll that is horizontal when rolled our on a flat surface used for calligraphic writings and paintings. It is intended to be rolled out with the hands from right to left and read in the same direction. Makimono can also be a scroll given to a student containing the techniques taught and mastered by the student.