Classes offered at:

1st Seventh-day Adventist Church
127 Earl Avenue
Glassboro, NJ 08028

Schedule: Sunday, 10A-12P

Registration: Call Best Sensei directly for class registration details at, (856) 534-3530

As soon as your naked feet have entered a dojo, you have entered forever. If you give up, or if you waver, you risk finding yourself weaker than before. This is an important risk and a handicap which is difficult to compensate.

Such a message of beauty and truth from the east brings an understanding which is new because it is timeless to all those (and they are many) who are drawn and fascinated by the virile and knightly way of Budo!

The Philosophy and Effect of Exercise

By an irrevocable law of physiology growth of brain and body is acquired by exercise. The vital organs are involved as much as are the superficial organs in the benefits that flow from physical activity. All organic development is along the lines of use. Nutrition and nervous supply follow absolutely and closely on demand, whatever direction this may take. All muscles and organs possess a latent potentiality for development, by virtue of which the different parts are capable of increasing in size and strength and if necessity arises, of successfully performing other work in conjunction with their own. Though supported by its bony framework, the human body owes its power of movement and its beautiful proportions to its muscles and tendons. All movements in or of the body are accomplished by muscles. The muscles actually make up the greater part of the weight of the normal body and this should indicate their great importance, as well as the importance of their proper care.

What we may denominate the Law of development may be stated thus: The development of any part of the body is in direct proportion to the vital currents (Nervous and nutritive) which, by exercise, are brought to bear upon it. The degree of intensity of muscular effort determines the amount of blood which flows to the muscle. Vigorous contractions cause more blood to flow to the muscles than do light contractions. For this reason strength develops in proportion to the intensity and not to the duration of work. Frequent intense demands upon the strength of a muscle, when not too frequent or too intense, eminently occasion an increase in its power to meet the demand. We may state as a general law of muscular development that: intense use produces great development; moderate use, moderate development; little development (nor little use) No use at all, atrophy.

Exercise that is too strenuous or too prolonged is not helpful. Exercises or activities that are beyond the strength of the performer are so far as benefit is concerned, worse than no exercise altogether. To derive the greatest benefit from an exercise it should not be continued to the point of extreme fatigue. Although this is an almost necessary condition in many forms of competitive athletics, it is not conducive to the highest degree of health and strength. For the same reason, long hours of hard labor do not develop health and strength. There is a limit to the possibility for the acquirement of strength; but this limit varies much, depending largely upon the general physique of the individual. Perhaps it is nearer correct to say that the development a man can attain depends on the underlying bone structure. However, men with small bone structure may have the figure and proportions of an Apollo or a Mercury.

Much is said in many quarters about over-development. There is no evidence that I can find to justify the belief that over-development is a possibility. We fail to find a single fact in Nature that can legitimately be claimed to show that man is injured by reaching his maximum degree of physical fitness and development. Disproportionate development may easily prove hurtful, but this is something else.

Muscular strength has been defined as the ability of muscle to contract with great force, or to bear great strain without yielding or breaking. This definition omits the element of endurance – the capacity of a muscle or an organism for sustained effort. The type of exercise demanded to develop these two forms of strength are different and their effects are different.

The effects of exercises of strength are markedly different from exercises of endurance proper. Strenuous exercises, because they require considerable exertion, cannot be long continued and are not a drain upon vital vigor, as are exercises of endurance. To perform exercises of endurance the muscles need not be strong, as shown by the fact that frail women often possess more endurance than strong men. But to be able to lift heavy weights or do heavy work the muscles must be strong. There is no age of life when hard exercise should be discontinued. There are conditions of life that render hard exercise inadvisable, dangerous or even impossible; there are times when a prolonged period of rest is needed. But there is no period of life in which vigorous exercise will not be advantageous.

The frequent practice of any set of series of movements tends to mold the parts employed in the exercise according to the nature of the movements and the positions held while performing them and to train the parts to better perform the particular movements. In physical education the rule is that, within proper bounds, any form of activity develops the qualities essential for its execution. To illustrate: forms of activity requiring speed in their execution, develop speed; activities requiring elasticity, develop elasticity; activities requiring coordination, develop coordination; activities requiring skill, develop skill; activities requiring grace, develop grace; activities requiring poise, develop poise; activities requiring strength, develop strength; activities requiring agility, develop agility; activities requiring endurance, develop endurance. This rule applies to each and all of the muscular qualities one may desire to develop and maintain. “Do the thing and you shall have the power.” As one improves physically one finds that the exercises one took at first become easy of performance and it becomes necessary to increase either the vigor or strenuousness of the exercise, the number of repetitions or in some other manner to progress in order to gain further improvement.

Rational progression is essential to all-round effectiveness and to sustained interest. It is especially important to subjective motor training and no exercise program has much educational value if progression is lacking. If the individual finds nothing further to learn, or does not see his strength and ability daily increasing, if he does not progress to increasingly difficult tasks, his interest will lag. Exercise must satisfy the “instinct” for progression even if the purpose of the exercise is only for the sake of organic acceleration. To get the best results out of exercise, whether we seek to gain greater control over a part, to develop greater strength, to increase our speed, to improve upon grace and poise, to develop greater skill, or to develop any other quality, the principle of progression is of the greatest importance.

The principle that whatever is easy to do is not worth doing is good in physical education as elsewhere. In mental education we employ the principle of effort constantly progressing in intensity. There is not so much an increase in the amount of work, but an increased intensity of work. When the increased intensity ceases, progress ceases.  For instance, it requires effort and concentration to learn bookkeeping. Its practice is mechanical. There is no effort and therefore no progress. Progress is achieved by employing first these exercises that require the least amount of effort, mental or physical, and gradually changing to forms that require greater effort and concentration. Progression is valuable both in the daily schedule and in the monthly or yearly schedule. Progression may be from the simple to the complex, from the easy to perform to the difficult, from short periods of exercise to ever increasing lengths of the exercise period, etc.

Progression is based upon increased endurance, increased strength, increased skill, increased suppleness, increased speed, etc. It is not a matter of becoming “accustomed” to the exercise, but a muscular, nervous and organic improvement. Progress in exercise is accomplished in a number of ways as follows:

1. Perhaps the simplest form of progression is that of duration. This consists of increasing the number of times each movement is performed.
2. The next simple progression is that of changing the velocity of the movement. Movements that are most easily performed at slow, moderate speed are increased and those done most easily if done speedily are done at slow and still slower speed.
3. A more complicated form of progression is that of progression by series. This is accomplished by combining two or more simple movements into a series. Such a series is that of extending the arms forward, upward, side-ways, and backward. These movements should progress from the simple to the complex and more complex.
4. Progression is accomplished by changes in rhythm. If a movement is done by count, after it has been mastered the rate of speed for all or various parts of the movement is changed.
5. By shortening the base, progression is accomplished. The feet constitute the base. Within certain limits, movements are more easily made with feet apart than with the feet together. By bringing the feet closer together in the direction of the action the base is shortened. Bending sideways may be done first with feet apart, then with the feet together, then with heels and toes together.
6. Progression may be obtained by changing the length of the lever. The lever may be lengthened by raising the arms. Trunk bending sideways may be used as an example. It is easiest to do with arms hanging at the sides. From this we may progress to sideways bending with the hands on the hips. It becomes harder if the hands are clasped behind the head and hardest still if the arms are extended upward, that is, over head. The higher the hands, the longer the lever from the center of motion and raising the arms amounts to raising the mass of weight.
7. A combination of decreasing base and increasing lever gives additional progress. To these may be added changes in velocity, rhythm, complexity, etc. Almost infinite progression is possible, resulting in an almost infinite increase in control.
8. Progression is gained by going to a statical action. This consists in placing the body in some attitude which is to be retained while some active movement is performed.
9. Progression is gained by going from eccentric to concentric to static. Muscles have four principal forms of contraction: (a) Tonicity, or the at rest or relaxed condition of a muscle in which the muscle is slightly contracted involuntarily, giving the firmness always present in a normal healthy muscle; (b) Concentric contraction, by which the attachments are brought closer together while the muscle works; (c) Eccentric contraction in which the parts move apart, although the muscle is working; and (d) Static contraction (tensing) in which the attachments remain stationary although the muscle is working.

Examples of these forms of contraction are (a) concentric: lying on the back with the knees held straight, bring the legs and thighs up until they are perpendicular to the body; (b) eccentric: From this position slowly lower the limbs to the floor; (c) static: lying on the back with lower limbs held perpendicular, hold the legs off the floor and abduct or put them through a swimming motion. The muscles employed to keep the legs from the floor while the movements are performed are in static contraction.
10. Progression is achieved in certain types of movement by changing the movement of weight. For example, in balance movements, the relation the final position of a movement bears to the line of gravity, as well as its complexity, must be considered. Changing positions, altering the line of gravity, and calling more muscles into play while in a “balancing” position or movement brings out the highest development of coordination.

All progression is of a two fold nature: (1) from the standpoint of nervous training progression is made from the simplest to the most complex movements; that is from movements requiring the least to those requiring the most concentration and control; (2) from the standpoint of muscular training, progression is from the easiest to the hardest movements. The second develops increased power, the first increased skill. Progression may be from exercise to exercise in the same “lesson”, from lesson to lesson in the same “course”. Progression is from the general to the specific to the general. In working out a progressive series of movements from the standpoint of control, we begin with those movements that require the least amount of mental effort and gradually pass to those requiring greater mental concentration.

• SYMMETRICAL movements – movements in which both sides of the body perform the same thing – are first because it is easier to control the arms and legs if both arms and both legs perform the same movement.
• UNILATERAL movements – movements of only one side of the body with the other side resting – are next in order. This requires concentration and localizing of effort.
• BILATERAL movements – movements of both sides of the body, but with each side doing different exercises – follows only after control has reached a certain degree of proficiency. This requires greater concentration and develops greater control and coordination.

Progression has certain limitations set by the age, sex and intelligence and by the time and means (apparatus, convenience, space and dress) of the individual. There is, of course, a limit to the amount of force or strength anyone can develop, but there is almost no limit to the control one can attain. This means that the possibilities of the nervous system are almost limitless while the possibilities of the muscular system are sharply limited.

Civilized modes of living tend to increase sensory more than motor irritability. The inactive motor nerves undergo degenerative processes while the sensory nerves tend to become irritable. Exercise tends to maintain normal motor irritability and to maintain the balance of motor and sensory enervation essential to good health.
Nerve tissue must be used and not abused if it is to remain healthy. Its efficiency improves with use. The power of the nerves to respond to the will increases with exercises. Thus muscular activities requiring great concentration improve the brain-nerve-muscle affiliation. Use of the muscles gives command over the muscular system. Muscles become the servants of the mind.

Muscular contraction is induced by nerve impulse. Nerve impulse is controlled by the will. The stronger the impulse the greater and more forceful the muscular contraction. In order to raise a heavy weight, powerful enervation of the muscle is required. The will is called vigorously into action. Given two men of equal muscular development and equal bony structures, the one with the stronger will, will accomplish more than the other in a feat of strength, because he can send more never impulses to the muscles.

Men with a large amount of nerve energy can often perform feats of strength that are far beyond the powers of larger and stronger men. The muscles of men are stronger in proportion to their size than the muscles of animals, chiefly because man has greater nerve force and is able to concentrate his nerve energies to the highest possible degree. Less nerve energy is required to perform a given movement or feat after muscular coordination is established than before.

The young, inexperienced mechanic works himself into exhaustion in eight hours and accomplishes much less than the more experienced mechanic who has exerted himself much less. (Exercise and efficiency). Exercise develops muscular coordination. This adds to efficiency and efficiency adds to life. Considerable nerve energy is required to produce a new movement, but as the movement becomes automatic little nerve energy is required to execute it.

Exercises of strength have little influence on the brain. They leave the nervous and mental centers in relative repose, affecting the functions of nutrition more than those if enervation. They increase the size and contractile power of the muscles but do not greatly increase our conscious or even automatic control over them.
One of the objects of good exercise is to suppress all useless and awkward movements and to develop control. Useless and unskilled movements waste energy. Efficient coordination is conservation of life.

Coordination is either voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary coordination is under control of the will and involves the elimination of awkward and involuntary movements often accompanying a movement, and the localization of effort to any given region of the body. The development of good coordination and isolation of effort enables one to concentrate on the parts used and thus obtain the greatest result from the least effort. Educational Exercises aim at the cultivation of complete control of the muscular powers. “Timing”, so much talked about in jumping, pole vaulting, diving, etc., is just another name for coordination. In these cases there is close coordination between the eye and the muscles. The eye grasps the situation at a glance, and muscles that are under perfect control act almost automatically in performing the required movements.

Great strength depends as much upon muscular development and coordination as it does upon more bulk or size. The so-called naturally strong men, those who are strong but who never trained for it, are more often clumsy, bulky and do not know how to use their strength, while the muscles of the trained athlete are under perfect control and are extremely sensitive and obedient to the will.

Most systems of exercise attempt to develop the muscles individually. Some exercises are for one part of the arm, another for another part of the arm, and so on until the whole body has been exercised piece by piece. This does not teach the muscles to act together. Real coordination is not achieved. These exercises are good, but they are not sufficient.

The ideal of physical education is a harmoniously developed physique to serve as a tool under perfect control of the will. Strong muscles, to be of greatest service to their possessor must “respond readily to volition for power, speed, agility, gentleness or repose”. It is more important to acquire control of the forces we already have than to develop greater strength. The average individual has more than sufficient power latent within him if he only knew how to make it serve him. There is a limit, not only to the absolute force, but to the need of the force possible to everyone, but there is no limit to the possibilities of developing control of powers present or to be acquired, and good control is always of advantage. Without depreciating the acquirement of great strength, we can agree with this demand for the development of greater control over the strength we possess.

The aim of education exercises is to develop the body into a harmonious whole under perfect control of the will. It is not to produce great bulk of muscle, but to cause that already present to respond readily to volition; to improve the functional activity of the body; and to counteract and correct the tendencies to abnormal development, especially those resulting from the artificial life of civilization.

All physical exercise is health promoting, but not all such exercise is educational. To be truly educational, a movement must compel concentration for its performance. Once the movement has been mastered, so that its execution becomes automatic, it has little educational value. It is necessary to proceed to a more complex movement. This is the reason that automatic drills set to music are without educational value. Drill work is no more educational than the popular dances. In good exercises, an elementary movement is practiced until it becomes automatic, then we go on to the next, and then the next movement.

Drill work is likely to be performed in a routine manner, with a sense of unavoidable duty with the thoughts on something else and the eyes on the clock. Drill is valueless when it becomes a meaningless, unthinking process of repetition. This is as applicable to physical as to mental exercise. Active thought in doing exercise produces best results.

Mass drill or class work is never as desirable as individualized training. It is never possible to fit mass drill to the needs of all the individuals in the mass. In drill too, the instructor must adjust the severity and complexity of the drill to the capabilities of the average or even weaker members of the class. This compels the stronger and more skilled members to go through kindergarten stunts at a time when they should be going on. Mass drill is a bore to those performing and those observing it. It has been truly remarked that the fact that so many individuals are performing the same movements is the best evidence that they are easy to perform.

It would be a mistake to assume, from the foregoing, that drill work is without value, or that it does not have a legitimate place in exercises. Drill work may be defined as group coordination and this is certainly necessary and desirable. Drill work should be superimposed upon development and not made a substitute for them.

According to Tenjin Shinyo Ryu, the main point is as follows: (translation from the Founder)

When people fight with force, people reject with force

What is good about it? The techniques of Soldiers. The enemies always move around.

This is just like watching a Willow Tree shaking in the wind. I came to realize that Unity of the great realization of harmony and virtue. This is the first time I named Tenjin Shinyo Ryu.

Harmony is the flower of virtue.

Bujyutsu is the Guardian of virtue.

There is a mystery in it. The disciples of the later generations should respect this and keep it secret. The theory of the Willow Tree shaking in the wind is the fundamental essence of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu. The theory of strength is used in Atemi. This is characteristic of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu. Iso Mataemon went Kitano Tenmangu (shrine) in Kyoto, practiced and invented part of a new technique that he said was a revelation from God.

The ancestor of Iso Minamotoemon was born in Mikawa Prefecture (aichi area). He was loyal to Tokugawa Icyasu. They stayed in Edo and worked for the government continuously. Iso Mataemon’s adopted father’s name was Bungo. He belonged to the 8th generation of the Iso family. In 1830, he was selected to the group to maintain the Bullets and Gun powder. He was awarded 20 units of rice, which was a very large amount. In 1825 or 27, Iso Mataemon was adopted (married into) by Bungo’s family. In 1842, Bungo died. Iso Mataemon received the family fortune.

At age 54, on December 25th, Iso Mataemon retired from teaching because of his failing health. His second son became the heir. Iso Mataemon died in the 3rd year of Bunkyu at 76 years old.

Health Nourishment

The human body is a complex organism with the ability to heal itself – - if you only listen to it and respond with proper nourishment and care. In spite of all the abuse our bodies endure – - whether through exposure to environmental toxins, poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol consumption, or inactivity – - they still usually serve us well for many years before they start to break down. Even then, with a little help, they respond and continue to function.

Think of your body as being composed of millions of tiny little engines. Some of these engines work in unison, some work independently; they all are on call twenty-four hours a day. In order for the engines to work properly, they require specific fuels. If the type of fuel given is the wrong blend, the engine will not perform to its maximum capacity. If the fuel is of a poor grade, the engine may sputter, hesitate, and lose power. If the engine is given no fuel at all, it will stop. And in the same vain, if the engine is not started and driven, it will decay and become unresponsive.

The fuel we give our bodies’ engines comes directly form the things we eat. The foods we eat contain nutrients. These nutrients come in the form of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water, amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. It is these nutrients that allow us to sustain life by providing us with the basic materials our bodies need to carry on their daily functions.

Nutrition

The principal physical urge of the human body is for food – - and this is every day – - as long as life lasts. Why is this true? It is because the cells and tissues of the body demand material in order to carry on their proper functioning. This material provided in food will answer the need. Nothing else will. Everything else being equal, when these nutritional needs are met, the body is said to be nourished. In other words, good nutrition is the utilization by the body of those nutrients which it calls for to maintain itself in health and vigor.

It has been well said that the appetite will accept foods that do not supply the body needs, but the body will accept NO substitutes.

1. Good nutrition depends upon three factors:
2. Good, wholesome food.
3. A healthy digestive tract to prepare the food for acceptance by body cells and fluids.

The complicated metabolic system by which the digested food is absorbed and used within the body’s cells and fluid.

Most foods are eaten in forms very different from those which the blood can absorb. Almost all food is built up from very simple substances – - amino acids, simple sugars, fatty acids, and glycerol. Before the blood can absorb the foods we eat – - bread, potatoes, bananas, eggs, etc., they must be broken down into these simple forms. This takes place during the process of digestion.

There would be no digestion of food if there were no enzymes. And the enzyme are seriously handicapped in their action unless the food has first been broken down into a very fine form – - this is largely the responsibility of the mouth and teeth.

After this mechanical activity, the division and sub-division of the food into tiny particles, the enzymes go to work. These enzymes, which are produced in the digestive juices of the stomach, intestinal tract, and pancreas, are chemical substances which act upon the food, breaking it down into the simple nutrient forms. In these simple forms, the nutrients are absorbed through the walls of the small intestine. With them go the minerals and vitamins which were a part of the original food.
Many factors affect digestion and the digestibility of our meals. To some extent digestion is slowed down or speeded up according to what we eat and the form in which we eat it. Liquids digest faster than solids, but except in sickness this rapidity is no particular advantage. In fact, it is usually a disadvantage, because the stomach is emptied that much sooner, and we find ourselves hungry again.

The type of complexity of food also determine the rate of digestion. Carbohydrates alone, such as honey, fruit juices, or soft fruits, will pass quickly through the stomach. This time element is one reason why the orange juice and black-beverage breakfast leaves us feeling weak and spineless by mid-morning.

Protein alone, of which cottage cheese, without added cream, will take only slightly longer than the pure carbohydrate to leave the stomach. Fat alone, such as an olive, will require longer to digest than an equal amount of protein. A mixture of all three of these nutrients will require longer than any one of them alone. Almost always we prefer this mixture because we do not want to be hungry too soon after the previous meal.

The quantity of food eaten has a considerable effect. Too little leaves us feeling hungry very soon, while too much delays digestion and leaves us feeling over-full and uncomfortable.

Minerals and Nutrition

Minerals form a part of every cell and every fluid in the body, and it might be said that they control the vital processes of life. They are constituents of food which remain in the body after the other substances have been burned. They are as important to the welfare of the body as proteins and energy foods. Calcium is the chief constituent of bones and teeth. This and other minerals are important parts of all soft tissue. When dissolved in body fluids they influence muscle tone, irritability of nerves, and enable body fluids to carry nourishment to the cells. Daily loss of minerals through skins, kidneys, and bowels must be replaced by food and drink, and if not replaced the following conditions may develop.

• Headaches
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Constipation
• Anemia
• Food clotting will be increased

Gaining Energy

The body is in constant need of energy for heat and for activity without and within. This heat and energy comes from the burning of the fuel foods within the tissues of the body. Carbohydrate, or the starch and sugars of food, and fats are the fuel foods. If these are not in the diet in sufficient amount, proteins can also be burned to provide energy. But this need not occur for carbohydrate and fats are very prevalent in common foods.

Avoid the use of inferior foods. Do not be misled by advertising. For instance, white bread somewhat colored and showing a scattering of bran may bear the label “100% Wheat Bread” or “Whole Wheat Bread.” This means that nothing but wheat flour, even though mostly white, has been used. The label, though misleading, is technically true. Thus, some producers cleverly mislead the buyer and yet get by legally. Be watchful. Read the labels discerningly.

The remedy is to choose the major portion of our foods from natural sources. The more highly refined the foods we eat, the more likely we are to be using inferior food and thereby not getting the full energy value.

A Better Breakfast

Physically, there is no better way to begin the day than partaking of good food, physical sustenance – - breakfast! A good diet for the day begins with a good breakfast. The body is in need of food, after the fast of the night, more than at any other time of the day. Energy must be renewed, nutrients in the body tissues must be replenished, and vitamins and minerals, moisture and bulk must be present for their special functions. Stamina and strength for the hours ahead can be obtained in no other way.

The proper breakfast will furnish all of this, but if the breakfast is skipped or skimped, individuals will be cheated. Their bodies will have to call upon their reserves, which they have for times of special need. Even at that, they will feel a lack which shows itself in a number of ways – - lessened energy, lack of pep, headache, languor, even dizziness, a lower plane of physical and mental performance.

A poor breakfast, or no breakfast at all, usually means a poor total diet for the day. Since the breakfast should furnish a good supply of the day’s nutrients, it is almost impossible to make up for the neglected morning meal later in the day for a very simple reason: it is impossible to supply needs that exist in the past.
The feeling of well-being and zest for our work seems to parallel the blood sugar levels of the blood stream. An interesting study was made in which different groups were given different types of breakfasts. The blood sugar levels during the forenoon were then recorded and the condition of the subject noted. It was found that when the breakfast contained only foods high in carbohydrates, such as toast, butter, jam, coffee, cream, sugar, the blood sugar level rose quickly, but also fell quickly below the fasting level, and the subject felt the need of a mid-morning snack, the modern coffee-break.

But, when the breakfast contained in addition to the aforementioned items, foods such as an egg and cooked cereal with milk and added dry-skim milk, furnishing not only sufficient calories, but protein up to 17-22 grams, the blood sugar rose and remained well above the fasting level until lunch time, and even on into the afternoon past the lunch time, with the resultant feeling of well being and zest for work.

The conclusion drawn from this study was that the breakfast should contain not only adequate calories, but should also carry its share of the protein quota for the day.

TenJin is the “Kami” (Shinto God) of education . The original seed that created YoShin Ryu Jyujyutsu, 200 years earlier, was revealed to Hachiroji Okayama, at the TenJin Shrine at this time . After the creation and mastering of TenJin ShinYo Ryu Jyujyutsu at the TenJin Shrine was completed, Hachiroji Okayama,the Founder, tested every skill of this new System against Masters of other Jyujyutsu Schools throughout Japan, for 3 years . The fame, reputation of the Founder was throughout Japan, because of the impossible challenges that he overcame during this fighting pilgrimage.

GoShinjyutsu was transmitted to “Respect and Honor Human Life“, even when wounding an opponent in order to defeat them. GoShinjyutsu was extended over a large area, because of the thousands who learned from the Founder of TenJin ShinYo Ryu Jyujyutsu. GoShinjyutsu became widely accepted.

In a 1980’s magazine article, the question about TenJin’s Founder’s defeat of more than 100 bandits was presented in a article entitled “Fictitious Story.” The current Master, Kubota Toshihiro was asked to explain if the story concerning this great battle, was true . Kubota, Master is the authorized authority in Japan, who has sovereign power over TenJin ShinYo Ryu Jyujyutsu. He therefore, could provide the correct account of the events described . The Master confirmed that this event was true and revealed the skills used by the Founder, that resulted in the victory . The skills used, validated the “Truth” taught in making the TenJin skills superior. The multi-opponent fighting skills names were listed and 5 of them were illustrated and explained. A chart was provided to show the persons who were taught these skills . In addition to the Headmasters and Shihans, the Founders of Kodokan Judo and Aikido were listed.

TenJin ShinYo Ryu Jyujyutsu was very popular between 1848-64. It was said by most warriors that TenJin ShinYo Ryu was the best Jyjyujyutsu Style among more than 100 Styles of Jyujyutsu in Japan’s Feudal Era.

At the present time, Kubota Toshihiro is the Master of Tenjin Shinyo-ryu. Mr. Toshihiro, a student of Sakamoto Fusataro (of both Tenjin Shinyo-ryu jujutsu and Kodokan judo) received Shihan in 1975. He established the Tenyokai in June 1977 to continue Sakamoto’s teachings, holding a party at the Tojo Kaikan to commemorate the occasion.

The headmasters and senior exponents of many different koryu as a signal that they accepted the legitimacy of this position attended this event. Mr. Toshihiro has played an active role in teaching both judo and jujutsu over the past twenty-five years and been an active member of the Board of Directors of the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai (Society for the Promotion of Japanese Classical Martial Arts) and the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai (Japanese Classical Martial Arts Society).

Sakamoto Hanshi, was the Master of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu who taught both Judo and Jyujyutsu to Kubota Toshihiro; the current Master of the Ryu and the teacher of Calvin Lester.

– Entered the Kodokan in 1905
– Started training in Tenjin Shinyo Ryu from Torajiro Yagi in 1906
– Received the Menkiyo Kaiden in 1913
– Received the Hachidan in Kodokan Judo in 1955
– Received the Kudan in Kodokan Judo in 1972

Having actively taught for over 60 years, Sakamoto Hanshi, left behind an incredible legacy of training, teaching, and practicing both Judo and the Jyujyutsu of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu.

Kubota Toshihiro, taught at Sakamoto’s dojo for two years before Sakamoto Fusataro passed away in 1978.

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

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.

Yoshin Ryu Jyujyutsu

Always wanted to be in Bujyutsu. He studied and practiced continuously. One day, he saw the Willow Tree moving in the wind, flipping the snow away. He realized that the mind and the body can apply the different changes. This became the major principle of his School.

Yo ––> Willow
Shin ––> Heart or Mind

The characteristics are similar to Judo in that you adapt to an enemy without losing one’s body.

Becoming Famous

In the book, Bujyutsu Ryu Soroku in 1847, Yoshimosa Akiyama is recorded. Books in Kyushu has him as O’I Senbe or O’Sato Senbe. It was difficult to determine his real name until a book called Yoshin Ryu Seikan Nomaki was written. This book said that his real name is Yoshinmasa Akiyama. His second disciple was O’E Senbe Yoshitoki.

When Was Akiyama Active?

Bujyutsu Ryu Soroku mentions him as living in the Jokyo period, around 1600. In 1669, he became a Disciple. The founder lived during the 3rd and 4th Shogun period (3rd Iemitsu, 4th Ietsuna). Akiyama never stated his age. A person called Bukan became a disciple and learned three hands of Grappling and 28 methods of Killing While Keeping Alive.

Also, the secret methods book, of 1824, states:

“A doctor called Akiyama in Nagasotu Prefecture, went to China to practice medicine. He learned three hands of Jyujyutsu from a Chinese named Hakuten. The attacking methods in China at the tie were hitting and kicking methods. Akiyama practice the three right hands of Jyujyutsu and mastered the 28 secret skills. In Japan, he tried to teach these methods. Many people quit learning because he only had three hands’ methods and 28 secret skills.”

Shin No Shinto Ryu
Founder: Yamamoto Tamizaemon

Defeated Kito Ryu when he matched Yuken Takino. He defeated everyone in the dojo. He taught Yoshin Ryu principles that said to not fight force with force, but move along with nature. He attempted to set up Shodan (lower), Chudan (middle), and Jodan (upper) levels of training. According to Bujyutsu Ryu Soroku (book), Shinno Shinto Ryu Founder comes from Namihana in Sesshu Prefecture. He learned Yoshin Ryu and mastered the secrets and secretly named in Shinno Shinto Ryu. An outstanding disciple named Honma Takemon went to Edo and became famous. The Founder had many disciples.

Shinno Shinto Ryu is developed from Yoshin Ryu. Therefore, the skills are similar to Yoshin Ryu. They selected 303 hands in order of rank, beginning at the middle and upper level skills. The number of hands selected totaled 68. This is the origin of Shinno Shinto Ryu.