Fusen Ryu's major claim to fame is defeating the Kodokan in an challenge match in 1900. The style was almost entirely grappling based with an emphasis on ground fighting. After Kano's top fighters were submitted by the Fusen students, he persuaded Mataemon Tanabe (the Fusen Ryu headmaster) to teach him the art's curriculum. He then included the techniques in the newaza portion of Kodokan Judo Fusen Ryu, to the best of my knowledge, is no longer practiced. However, the principles and methods of the art are the basis for much of Brazilian (Gracie) Jiu-Jitsu as well as Kosen Judo. Fusen Ryu is historically very important because it showed that those ignorant of ground fighting would be easy prey for seasoned grapplers. The Fusen Ryu vs Kodokan results are strikingly similiar to the results of the first four UFC events.
