Tenjin Shinyo Ryu Jyujyutsu

Born in 1804, Hachiroji Okayama (later renamed to Iso Mataemon) became a warrior of the Kishu Clan. When he was 15 years old, he entered Yoshin-ryu in Kyoto, Japan. After a few years of study and nearly achieving mastery, his teacher died. Transferring to the Shinno Shinto-ryu, whose master was Joemon Honma, Hachiroji studied and mastered all of the skills.

History of the Style

Faced with a dilemma, Hachiroji requested help from the senior students of both Yoshin-ryu and Shinno Shinto-ryu. Through prayers and practice of both styles at the temple, Tenjin Shinyo-ryu was conformed. While traveling to participate in the required ‘fighting pilgrimage’ for all founders of new styles, Hachiroji and a senior disciple were confronted by more than 100 bandits. In the resulting battle and having exhausted all of the secret skills, Hachiroji was inspired and extensively researched the use of natural body weapons (Atemi) in combative situations.

After mastering this field of study, Hachiroji created a new style of Self Protection. He used an existing development theory and the Defend Guard System to the new research, creating a new System and incorporated all aspects into the existing Tenjin Shinyo-ryu. This new System was accepted by many who studied it from the Founder.

Generation to Generation

Taken from the Record from the Original Ancestry Series of Generations of Persons descending from their common Ancestor – -

The first headmaster (Iso Mataemon Minamoto No Masatari), the originator-Founder, transmitted the Style to the 2nd Generation Headmaster (his son). The 2nd Generation Headmaster couldn’t transmit the Style to his son, the Founder/1st Headmaster transmitted the Style to his grandson, the 3rd Headmaster. The Deity blessed the 3rd Headmaster with several apprentices who would later become the new-Headmasters for the Style after the death of the 5th Headmaster. Because of the Deity, the propagation of this style was transmitted by Yagi Torajiro, one of the original Apprentices. Sakamoto Fusataro, his Apprentice, transmitted the Style to Kubota Toshihiro, the current Headmaster of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu Jyujyutsu.

Calvin D. Lester

Shi Den – The duty of a Teacher, Master of Bujyutsu

An apprentice of Kubota Toshihiro, Calvin D. Lester establishes the first generation of Tenjin Shinyo Goshin Ryu. He received the completion for his studies of Goshinjyutsu of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu Jyujyutsu in 1986. Mr. Lester teaches in the United States.