In Japan, the art of Jiujitsu was founded along with other martial arts such as Iaijitsu, Yabusami, Kobujitsu to name a few to facilitate the multiple\u00a0skill sets of the warrior class which may be needed on the battle field.. The island of Japan, not quite as large as the State of California, many years ago was divided into a number of territories some being private land known as\u00a0“Myoden”\u00a0which generally were located in\u00a0identified\u00a0Prefectures\u00a0. Cases where a Daimyo ruled a particular land mass\u00a0or territory\u00a0it was common to employ Samurai or Bushi to serve\u00a0in his territory.\u00a0 In Okinawa\u00a0the\u00a0arts of attachment\u00a0known as Tegumi were\u00a0practiced among\u00a0Karateka.\u00a0There were\u00a0some dojos in Okinawa where\u00a0this was required training to make the student better versed in grappling, trapping, and attaching.<\/p>\n
During this same period of time, the people of the island of Japan were divided into four classes which were: (1) warriors \u2013 Bushi, (2) the Peasant \u2013 Nonin, (3) the Technician \u2013 Gijitsu-sha, and (4) The Merchant- Shonin, with the Technician being one of the most highly respected. In this class were those who specialized in the martial arts and were much sought after by the various Daimyos to be instructors for their armies. At various times these Daimyos warred against each other and a good instructor was worth his weight in gold to his Daimyo, for once the army had taken to the field, the fighting technique of the individual Samurai was a reflection of that of his instructor. So, in a way, battles became a contest of various techniques taught by these Technicians, or instructors. It is for this reason that even today these techniques are known as the Martial Arts, i.e., pertaining to, or adapted for, wars and \/ or military use.<\/p>\n
During the Tokugawa Era, the Samurai warriors faced each other with their skills honed to a keen edge in sword fighting, spear technique, and the like.\u00a0A warrior-instructor of this time was a man named\u00a0Yarukuemon Ujimune\u00a0Sekiguchi, who founded his own style (or technique) of fighting. His method became known as: Sekiguchi \u2013 ryu or the Sekiguchi System. Throughout the island various instructors taught Samurai warriors their individual styles of in-fighting and consequently each of these systems came to bear the name of their founder.<\/p>\n
In 1862, during the time of the\u00a0Takugawa Shogunate\u00a0 martial contest as a sport\u00a0became common practice\u00a0in Edo around the castle\u00a0of the Shogun.\u00a0\u00a0Today, Tokyo’s Imperial Palace is the home of the Emperor of Japan which currently\u00a0sits on the old site of the Shogun. The Old castle of Edo\u00a0was burned down in 1873, and during the fire bombing of WWII the site suffered further substantial damage. \u00a0Contestants were drawn from all parts of the Island of Japan with representatives of each system being present, and each contestant being eager to prove his system to be the very best form of martial arts, such as Iai, Kyudo, Yabusami, and Sumo provided sporting entertainment both in Edo and other locations in Japan<\/p>\n
Approximately 150 years ago, Samurai warriors were still equipped with swords and other such weapons. With the passing of the Tokugawa Era and the selection of a single ruling emperor, Japan became united and\u00a0Edo\u00a0became known as\u00a0Tokyo. With the coming of the Meiji Era, the status of the Samurai warrior was reduced to that of a common citizen and carrying his once famous sword became forbidden.<\/p>\n
In place of this most awesome and feared weapon, men turned to various martial arts to include\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jiujitsu, a martial art that until\u00a0the end of the feudal era\u00a0had been taught for use with swords and other weapons in the Samurai’s arsenal.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0was critical for a warrior\u00a0when\u00a0becoming attached in combat and could not deploy a weapon, these methods of\u00a0personal defense\u00a0were\u00a0taught to dispatch the enemy quickly\u00a0on the battlefield.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Jiujitsu during the past 300 years of peaceful contests has produced\u00a0students of various systems\u00a0of this Budo based\u00a0art which\u00a0has\u00a0become widespread\u00a0both in\u00a0Japan and around the globe. These martial arts\u00a0are taught and practiced in a placed called a dojo, which translated means: \u201cPlace of cultural technique and spiritual character.\u201d It was given this name due to the fact that the people of the time believed that it was only when a person could master the unity of the spirit and the mind could they become proficient in the martial arts.<\/p>\n
Jiujitsu has been explained to some degree in the Kojiki (The record of ancient Matters) and also in the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan). When, during the Edo period from 1615 to 1868, many of the masters founded schools devoted to the teaching of their own style, great numbers of men turned to them with zest. Consequently, approximately 50 different systems of combat were developed. Even today, as a result of being\u00a0handed down through the ages\u00a0these systems are still changing in style and technique and will probably never stop changing.\u00a0 There are some systems of Budo which still exist that\u00a0continue to instruct the original\u00a0methods and continue to\u00a0remain\u00a0martial in this day of age.<\/p>\n
The art of true Jiujitsu is still practiced by many who retain the warrior spirit.\u00a0\u00a0A number of old systems having been kept alive continue pass down from generation to generation with authenticity. \u00a0Jiujitsu is flourishing with a popularity in this world of new technology that has never been seen.<\/p>\n
Shinto Yoshin Kai Jiujitsu is one of the oldest systems of combat Jiujitsu that has been passed down from the warrior class, and maintains the same methods, tactics, techniques, and principles which were taught to the Samurai of Feudal Japan. Shinto Yoshin-Ryu, (also spelled Shindo Yoshin-Ryu) was founded in 1864 by Matsuoka Katsunosuke a Samurai and a member of the Kuroda Clan. Katsunosuke was a personal body guard for the Tokugawa Shogun serving in this position for several years. Running a famous dojo in Japan called Matsuoka Shindokan; Katsunosuke gained a very wide popularity. Katsunosuke continued to train and run the dojo until his death in 1898. After his passing the two senior instructors split and each began to teach the system in their vision of the founder.<\/p>\n
Our Shinto Yoshin line follows the path of Motokichi Inose (name expressed for the western reader) who during his tenure experienced the close of the classical period of the Samurai under the Tokugawa Era and the transformation of Japan during the Meiji Era. This era found a resurgence and desire for the average person to train in the martial arts which was once only available to the warrior class. Jigoro Kano the founder of Judo and the Kodokan had modified some of the dangerous techniques found in Jiujitsu and modified for a more safer application and was able to apply these methods into a competitive format which has stood the test of time and are now a major event in the Olympics. During this era, to make money, the student had to be kept healthy and motivated to return to training. Some of the techniques in Shinto Yoshin-Ryu for beginning students were modified for safety reasons and good business to keep the training halls full of students to earn a living. As the student became more adept earning their way, the true or inner techniques of Shinto Yoshin Ryu were revealed to the students who were able mentally and physically to train utilizing the dangerous techniques of Shinto Yoshin-Ryu Jiujitsu. Motokichi continued to teach and touch some of the lives of prominent Budoka and Japanese people.\u00a0Motokichi produced a student who became a senior Yudansha\u00a0under Motokichi by the name of Tatsusaburo Nakayama.<\/p>\n
Tokujiro Otsuka trained in Shinto Yoshin -Ryu in the Ibaraki Prefecture Japan and as his young son Hirinori Otsuka came to the age of 6 in 1898 at, Tokujiro began to teach him Shinto Yoshin-Ryu Jiujitsu. In 1905 Otsuka along with 35 other students to include Uke Takeski trained under Nakayama. In 1921 Otsuka received a full license from Nakayama in Shinto Yoshin-Ryu Jiujitsu. Otsuka continued to train and eventually years later founded Wado Ryu Karate. Nakayama and then finally Otsuka elevated Uke Takeski to a fully licensed instructor. Uke Takeski moved to the United States in the early 1940\u2032s and was living in Las Vegas Nevada. Takeski was training selected servicemen one being Douglas Grose. This training continued towards the end of WW II when Grose was deployed to Europe. Upon his return to the States he had learned that Takeski was moved to a Japanese internment camp and the two were never reunited. In 1945 following in the steps of Robert A Trias the founder of Karate in America, Grose founded the American Jiujitsu Karate Association. With the loss of Master Takeski, Grose contacted Hirinori Otsuka and a new relationship began. Grose received instructors in Shinto Yoshin Ryu from Japan to continue his training. Hirinori Otsuka in time along with Shujiro Hatta presented Douglas L. Grose with the Menkyo Kaiden of Shinto Yoshin Ryu Jiujitsu. Shortly after the Vietnam War a gentleman by the name of Dennis Hill had been training in Japan in Jiujitsu and was very familiar with Shinto Yoshin Ryu and even trained in the style. Upon his return from Japan, Dennis Hill met Steve Roensch who was a senior black belt in Shuri-Ryu Karate under the \u201cFather of Karate in Florida\u201d John Pachivas. Steve Roensch while training with Dennis Hill was introduced to Master Grose and a new relationship began for many years. Master Grose awarded Steve Roensch as the senior Chief Instructor of Shinto Yoshin Ryu Jiujitsu. This position was held until shortly before the passing of Master Grose. In a formal ceremony before senior Yudanshakai of Shinto Yoshin Ryu Jiujitsu, Master Grose awarded the Menkyo Kaiden to Steve Roensch. Master Grose passed away shortly afterwards in October of 2006. Shortly after, Hanshi Roensch founded the American Budokai International, and also founded Shinto Yoshin Kai Jiujitsu which has enhanced the original combative methods of the founder Matsuoka Katsunosuke.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In Japan, the art of Jiujitsu was founded along with other martial arts such as Iaijitsu, Yabusami, Kobujitsu to name a few to facilitate the multiple\u00a0skill sets of the warrior class which may be needed on the battle field.. The…<\/span><\/p>\n