The Hokushin Ittô-ryû Hyôhô school was founded in 1820 by Chiba Shûsaku Taira no Narimasa.
He was one of the last swordsmanship masters to be honored with the title of Kensei (“Sword Saint”). The school quickly became one of the best-known and most popular martial arts schools of its time, and together with two other schools, it formed the Edo San Dai Ryu Ha (“The Three Great Schools of Edo”).
In addition to long-sword (daitō) techniques, the school also teaches short-sword (shōtō/wakizashi), jūjutsu (unarmed techniques), naginata (halberd), bō (staff), and yari (spear) techniques. Gekiken (撃剣, “striking sword,” or free sparring) is also part of the curriculum. The school has an extensive battōjutsu repertoire, focusing on cutting techniques performed immediately after drawing the sword. Furthermore, the school teaches the wearing of traditional Japanese armor (yoroi) and the execution of techniques while wearing it.
Students of the school played an important role during the turbulent years of the Bakumatsu period and actively participated in some of the final battles in which swords were still used in combat.
Yamaoka Tesshū and Sakamoto Ryōma were also practitioners of the school.
The three best-known lineages of Hokushin Ittô-ryû are the Chiba Dōjō, the Otaru-Genbukan (Noda-ha Hokushin Ittô-ryû), and the Mito-Tōbukan (Ozawa-ha Hokushin Ittô-ryû).
The Chiba Dōjō was founded by Chiba Sadakichi Taira no Masamichi, the younger brother of Chiba Shūsaku. Its headquarters are currently located in Albesried, Europe, and it represents the main lineage of the school.
The current head of the school and its seventh Sōke is Ōtsuka Ryūnosuke Taira no Masatomo.
The representative of the school and the Chiba Dōjō in Hungary is:
Tamás Oláh Kenryū Sensei
Kajō Mokuroku Shihandai
Head of Ryūshinkan Dōjō