Kukishinden-ryū

Kukishinden-ryū is the collective phrase referring to nine schools of combat that were said to have led to the creation of all forms of Shinobi combat, among other techniques and styles. It is said that he whom would master all nine would be considered a God; a feat of which was achieved solely by the Sage of Six Paths. Originally, however, there existed no system to account for these schools before the Sage, as he, upon mastering all nine of them, set forth the names and subsequent techniques that correlate to each school of combat. Respectively, they are:


 * Shijidō (指示道, "Way of the Direct"), which led to Luohan Hands.


 * Enkyokudō (婉曲道, "Way of the Indirect"), which eventually gave way for Gentle Fist.


 * Seikengendō (精顕現道, "Way of Energy Manifestation"), which led to ninjutsu.


 * Kitōeidō (気投影道, "Way of Mental Projection"), which led to genjutsu.


 * Reienchōdō (礼延長道, "Way of Spiritual Extention"), which led to kenjutsu and the general use of weaponry.


 * Hakuridō (剥離道, "Way of Detachment"), which resulted in the creation of senjutsu.


 * 'Sōzōdō (創造道, "Way of Creation"''), which involved the use of Yin-Yang Release.


 * Ippandō (一般道, "Way of the General"), which deals in strategy and military planning.


 * Kandō (勘道, "Way of Perception"), which eventually led to the use of dōjutsu and specific sensory jutsu.

Inspiration
In real life, Kukishinden-ryū, or as it is more commonly known as Kukishin-ryū (九鬼神流), is an ancient Japanese martial art style that dates back to the fourteenth century. It was shown to encompass several schools of combat, thought to be important for any situation. With no specific order, they were taijutsu (hand-to-hand combat), bōjutsu (bō staff fighting), naginatajutsu (use of a naginata), kenpō (kenjutsu), hanbōjutsu (using a hanbō), sōjutsu (spear fighting) and heiho (military strategy).