The Kito Ryu logo is of two arrow heads facing up and down, it means “rise and Fall” school (To rise up and strike to throw down). The Kito Ryu Jujitsu system was founded by Ibaragi Sensai, a warrior of low status from the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu style just prior to the opening to the Edo period between the end of the sixteenth century and 1622.
Sensai’s successors were greatly influenced by the teachings of the Tenshin Ryu and others in which had emphasis on Wajitsu.
The third headmaster of Kito Ryu, Terada Heizaemon was the founder of Tenshin Ryu, where he studied earlier with the second head mater of Kito Ryu, Fukuno Shichiroemom. Fukuno Shichiroemom had also founded his own style of combat Fukuno Ryu; prominent in his syllabus were techniques of Kempo. These techniques are methods taught by Chin Gempin.
Chin Gempin (Chinese – Ch’en Yuan-pin), born 1587 and naturalised Japanese, was famous for teaching three Ronin methods of Kempo to Miura Yojiemon, Fukuno Shichiroemom and Isogai Jirozaemon.
The fifth head master of Kito Ryu, Terada Kan’emom, the grandson of Heizaemon where he specialised in “Ran” freedom training methods and founded his own system Jikishin Ryu Yawara (Jujitsu) and would have its name changed in 1724 by the fourth head master to Jikishin Ryu Judo. The term “Judo” predates Kano’s use by 168 years.
Kuninori Suzuki V, the Master of Kito-ryu Jujitsi, changed the name of Kito-kumiuchi to Kito-ryu Judo in 1714. The purpose of Kito-ryu Judo training is to tap the vital energy of the universe, fusing the universe and the student into one, thus allowing students to lead their lives with sincerity. Twenty-one techniques in the kata of Kito-ryu Judo are meant for hand-to-hand fighting, with both combatants being completely clad in armor. Latent in these techniques is the principle of kuzushi, which is the key to the throwing techniques of modern Judo.
The Kito Ryu is a system of jujutsu that merits a particular place in the doctrine of unarmed martial arts because of its esoteric elements, elements similar to those of Aiki jutsu. Of particular interest are the kata that have been preserved by the modern inheritors of Kito ryu.
These techniques generally performed in full armour or in formal robes resembling armour, are centred upon throwing an opponent to the ground. They were considered difficult even by masters such as Judo's Jigoro Kano and Aikido’s Morihei Uyeshiba, both of whom had studied them at great length before incorporating any of their features into their own modern methods. The original concepts of Kito Ryu are forever preserved in the Kodokan Judo kata Koshiki-no-kata.

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