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The Samurai Art – Jujutsu
Jujutsu is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat self-defence for defeating an armed and armoured opponent in which one uses no weapon or only a short weapon.
“Ju” can be translated to mean “gentle, soft, supple, flexible, pliable, or yielding.” “Jutsu” can be translated to mean “art” or “technique” and represents manipulating the opponent’s force against himself rather than confronting it with one’s own force.
Because striking against an armoured opponent proved ineffective, practitioners learned that the most efficient methods for neutralizing an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks, and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker’s energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.
There are many variations of the art, which leads to a diversity of approaches. Jujutsu schools (ryu) may utilize all forms of grappling techniques to some degree (i.e. throwing, trapping, joint locks, holds, gouging, biting, disengagements, striking, and kicking). In addition to jujutsu, many schools teach the use of weapons.
Judo was developed by Jigoro Kano in the late 19th century from several traditional styles of jujutsu, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu was derived from earlier (pre–World War II) versions of Kodokan judo.
The major traditional style that most influences Ryuu Shin today is Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu, whose originator was Sokaku Takeda.
Founding Masters & Styles that have influenced Ryuu Shin Goshin Jujutsu
Sokaku Takeda
Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu
The most famous modern-day master of Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu. His most famous student was Morihei Ueshiba.
Morihei Ueshiba
Aikido
The founder of Aikido. Over a long period of time, he took the more aggressive parts of Aiki Jujutsu out and constructed a gentler, very flowing, yet still very efffective, martial art.
Kodo Horikowa
Kodokai
One of Takeda’s main students, he founded his own school, Kodokai.
Seigo Okomoto
Ropokkai
One of the most important students of Horikowa and the Head of Roppokai. Some Ryuu Shin students study his teachings from one of Okomoto’s personal students, Howard Popkin, at Ginjukai in New York, USA.
Takuma Hisa
Takumakai
A key student of both Takeda and Ueshiba. His style, Takumakai, can be easily differentiated by its focus on very complex “pins”.
Yukiyoshi Sagawa
Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu
Sagawa was originally considered to be the successor to Takeda Sokaku. One of the most accomplished of his students, he often served as his teaching assistant.
Gozo Shioda
Yoshinkan Aikido
One of Ueshiba’s most senior students who founded the Yoshinkan style of Aikido. The Japanese Riot police all have to undergo the brutal one-year “sensushi” Yoshinkan course to qualify.
Jigaro Kano
Judo
Kano was a Japanese educator and athlete and founder of Judo – a sport, not a martial art. He also introduced the Dan Ranking system of white to black belts.
And, so what's all this with the Dragon, then Sensei Dave .......
In both Chinese and Japanese cultures, the dragon is a very important spiritual character.
My own martial arts history really started with a Chinese art - Kung Fu. My generation were the first to discover Bruce Lee and Kwai Chang Caine!
The name of the kung fu association that I joined at 20 was Fei Lung Kwan, meaning Flying Dragon Association.
Our club emblem was of the Rising Celestial Dragon, chasing the Pearl of Wisdom.
The dragon is revered as a divine mythical creature, a potent symbol of strength, good fortune and transformation.
The pearl is viewed as a metaphor for wisdom, enlightenment and spiritual essence. Also viewed as Yang energy, in early Taoism.
The image here is of a plaque presented to name me by my Sifu (Instructor) as a personal gift.
After a break from martial arts for a few years in my late 30's I went on to study Jujutsu and gained my black belt.
When I relocated to Cornwall, I added Aikido to my skillset, as well as extra study in other Japanese arts.
By the time Ryuu Shin was formed, my core style had become very Japanese in flavour, although on the mat you can still clearly see my kung fu origins in the way I move.
Ryuu Shin means Dragon Spirit, so of course we had to have a Dragon as our emblem. I commissioned an illustrator friend to come up with a new Dragon, taking facets of both the Chinese and the Japanese styles.
The background of course is the Taoist symbol for Yin & Yang. As most people know, it symbolise the idea that everything in nature should be viewed as part of a whole, and that opposites are complementary forces that balance themselves out. The fact that both Yin and Yang contain the seed of their opposite means that Yin can become Yang and Yang can become Yin. The concept has very deep meaning in so many ways in martial arts.
And then the Ryuu Shin symbol was born.....
