Futagami Hannosuke Masanori, a Samurai of Bungo Takeda, a master of the Takenouchi Ryu (under second head master Takenouchi Hisakatsu) and many other ryu founded the Sosuishitsu-Ryu in 1650. Masanori developed his owns method of close combat after a period that he spend meditating into the Yoshino mountains.
Masanori went to live to Nogata a town on the southern island of Kyushu due to an invitation from Matahichi Shitama another samurai of Bungo Takeda. While in Nogata, Masanori taught Shitama the secrets of Sosuishitsu-Ryu. The Shitama family, whether by direct lineage or adoption, had retained and preserved Sosuishitsu-Ryu Jujitsu for centuries.
The records of the Sosuishitsu-Ryu contain the succession of masters from Masanori, the first headmaster, to Manzo Shitama, the 16th and present headmaster, Shusaku Shitama died in the 1960’s. The 12th headmaster Shingo Munetsuna Shitama was killed during the Saigo rebellion.
The 14th headmaster Kibei Aoyagi attended to the Butokukai martial arts academy in Kyoto on July 24th, 1906, where with other Ju-Jutsu Sensei helped formalize the kata of Kodokan Judo and continue the development of the technical forms of the sport. The Sosuishitsu-Ryu has 5 series of Ju-Jutsu kata.
Each series of katas prepares one to handle different types of attack in combat situations. There are 40 kata in all. These kata contain techniques that are composed of realistic self-defence techniques. The class consists of Ukemi (break falls), Atemi-waza (striking techniques), Kansetsu-waza (techniques of twisting and breaking of joints), Nage-waza (throwing techniques), Shime waza (chokes), and Osae waza (immobilisation) and Kata (forms) that are unchanged for 350 years.

There is no sport aspect in Sosuishi-ryu Jujutsu, for it is true Bujutsu (Art of the Warrior).

Founder	Futagami Hannosuke Masanori A samurai of Bungo-Takeda. Mastered Jujutsu of Takenouchi-ryu, founding his own school called Futagami Ryu. After mastering many of the principles of other schools and spending 37 days on the Yoshino Mountain practicing and studying the theory of Jujutsu, he founded his own system and named it Sosuishitsu-ryu (Sosuishi-ryu) after the pure flowing waters of the Yoshino Rivers.	1650
First	Matahichi Shitama
Second	Tashiro Seijiro Noritada	November 14, 1666
Third	Shinjiro Munetoku Shitama (Grandson of Matahichi)	April 15, 1683
Fourth	Kibei Muneichi Shitama (First son of Munetoku)	August 22, 1697
Fifth	Yahei Munekatsu Ono	May 7, 1718
Sixth	Sakugoro Munekane Shitama (Second son of Munetoku)	January 27, 1725
Seventh	Kyuzaemon Tadanao Enomoto	October 5, 1730
Eighth	Hichiro Munemasu Shitama	September 15, 1739
Ninth	Kujuro Munenao Usuki (Third son of Munemasu)	September 13, 1774
Tenth	Shinjiro Munetsuna Shitama	January 13, 1818
Eleventh	Yagoro Munetsuna Shitama	November 18, 1833
Twelfth	Shingo Munetsugu Shitama Learned Jujutsu from Munetsuna and became his son-in-law. When he was an instructor of Monbukan he founded a school and named it Serensha. In 1868, he began the senbondori (test of 1000 points). Master Shingo Munetsugu was killed in battle during an unsuccessful rebellion against the emperor in 1877.	May 7, 1861
Thirteenth	Bota Munetsuna Shitama In 1880, he opened a new school at Uonomachi and named it "Serensha" after his son-in-law's school, after he was killed in battle "Seinan-no-eki". In 1896, he moved the Dojo to Kanayashoji. In 1897 he died at the age of 83.
Fourteenth	Kibei Masanori Aoyogi After his instructor's death he managed the school and instructed the students. In July 24, 1905 in Kyoto he attended a meeting to formulate the Kodokan Judo. August of 1911, he changed the school's name to "Sekiryukan" and started it as a Judo Dojo. Jujutsu was preserved in the form of kata. August 25, 1929 he died at the age of 59.
Fifteenth	Shusaku (Shuzu) Shitama (Adopted son of Munetsuna) Inherited system in 1925. In 1930 he graduated from the Judo Department of the Butokukai in Kyoto. First of the Shitamas to teach Non-Japanese. Created the Sosuishi-ryu Jujutsu Kai in1963, of which he was the President. He died March 31, 1966.
Sixteenth	Manzo Munetoshi Shitama (Third son of Shusaku) Inherited system upon the death of his father. Holds grades in Kodokan Judo and Aikido. First of the Shitamas to visit the United States, in November of 1995. He has visited several times since. In March of 2004, Shitama Sensei conducted the first senbondori (test of 1000 points) outside of the Sekiryukan when he personally sanctioned the event at the New York Seibukan. 15 members of the Seikiryukan accompanied him. He reinstated the teaching of Jujutsu waza in addition to kata. Additionally, he serves as the President of the Sosuishi-ryu Jujutsu Kai and Kancho of the Sekiryukan.

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