Overview:
This school is one of the ninja ryû in the Bujinkan. The taijutsu of this school is said to be very similar to the taijutsu of Togakure ryû. This ryû is reserved for highly skilled members of the Bujinkan. The main differences between this school and Togakure Ryû are that in Kumogakure Ryû jumps, as well as double blocks and double strikes are used. The specialty of this school was Kamayari (sickled spear), which was also used for climbing on ships and trees.

Another special weapon, used by warriors of this school was also Ippon Sugi Noburi, which was made of a 25cm long metal tube with three spikes, and through which a long chain with hooks at its ends was laid. This weapon was used for combat as well as for climbing. Another characteristic of the ryû was for members to go to war wearing armored gauntlets under their sleeves for use when fighting. Also used was the Demon Mask, sometimes worn by the members of the Ryû, for masking their faces and for shocking the enemy. It is thought that the Kikaku Ken strike (“Demon Horn strike”) originated from this school. This ryû was formed by Iga Heinaizaemon No Jo Ienaga in the 1500s.

Soke of Kumogakure Ryû:

1. Iga Heinaizaemon no jo Ienaga Tenmon Era (1532-1554)
2. Toda Sagenta Nobufusa
3. Toda Gohei Nobunaga
4. Toda Noriyoshi
5. Toda Seiryu Nobutsuna Kwanyei Era (1624-1644)
6. Toda Fudo Nobuchika Manji Era (1658-1681)
7. Toda Kangoro Nobuyasu Tenna Era (1681-1704)
8. Toda Eisaburo Nobumasa Hoyei Era (1704-1711)
9. Toda Shingoro Masayoshi Gembun Era (1736-1764)
10. Toda Daigoro Chikahide Meiwa Era (1764-1804)
11. Toda Daisaburo Chikashige Bunkwa Era (1804-1818)
12. Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu b. 1824 - d. 1909
13. Takamatsu Toshitsugu b. 1887 - d. 1972
14. Hatsumi Masaaki b. 1931 -