In the age of the Japanese civil wars, the ancient Samurai developed fighting methods with and without the use of weapons. These methods were called Jujitsu, yawara, kogusoku, kumiuchi, torite, taijutsu, etc. In the 15th century, Takeuchi Ryu Jujitsu was established. This was the first known established beginning of Jujitsu. In the 16th to 18th century, over 20 styles of Jujitsu were developed.
In most martial arts, there are different branches or versions of the same martial art. These different styles generally come into being when an outstanding student of one martial art, who usually has also studied other martial arts, develops hislher own theories, both in the physical techniques, where they often combine what they feel is the "best of the best" of the arts they have learned; and on a mental or spiritual level, where they distill, or sum up what they have learned into their own particular definition or ideal.
In addition, even if a martial art is not a whole new branch with a new name, it is constantly evolving. New outstanding practitioners build upon what they have learned, and then make their contributions to the art, continually refining it.
The particular style that is taught here at Kin- Tora is known as DanZan Ryu, developed by Master Henry Seishiro Okazaki. Okazaki, born in Japan in 1890, moved to Hawaii as a teenager and at the age of 16, learned he had tuberculosis. Through hard training in the martial arts, he recovered completely and vowed to dedicate his life to propagating Judo and Jujitsu. (Interestingly, if you read the life stories of many of the most well known, and high ranking martial artists, you will see many instances of great masters who originally became involved in part to help overcome a serious physical illness.)
During the years 1927-28, Okazaki developed a complete, integrated martial arts
system: DanZan Ryu Jujitsu. A synthesis of several older styles of Jujitsu, Okazaki included in the system elements of his studies of Okinawan Karate, Chinese Kung-Fu, Hawaiian Lua, Filipino knife fighting, boxing and wrestling, as well as traditional Japanese restorative massage and healing techniques. The "Kodenkan" (translation - "School of the Ancient Tradition" or "School in Which Senior Students Transmit the Tradition") was the name of Okazaki's school in Hawaii. The method of instruction requires senior students to teach less advanced students in the spirit of Kokua -a Hawaiian word meaning "to mutually help one another".
Jujitsu techniques include throwing, breaking, joint locks, chokes, strikes, and grappling. At advanced levels, students are taught defenses against gun, knife, staff and sword and a system of resuscitation and restorative massage techniques. Jujitsu is not practiced as a sport but as a self-defense and fighting method. However, there are tournaments and competitions consisting of freestyle contests -which are unrehearsed self-defense demonstrations during three one-minute rounds, and Kata contests -which are formal demonstrations of the fundamental techniques.
DanZan Ryu Jujitsu members throughout the country maintain contact via newsletter, E-mail, and through camps and clinics held throughout the year. These clinics give students (and our teachers) access to higher ranking practitioners who have devoted much time and effort to DanZan Ryu and have continually refined it They have been most generous with their knowledge and are a great resource to us.