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| HISTORY OF JUJITSU |
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| Jujitsu or Jiujitsu has its origins dating back at least 2500 years from exercises practiced in India, which spread to China. Legend has it that the arts developed for a time in China's Shao-lin temples, before traveling to Japan.
In Japan this system, a mixture of striking, catching and healing arts would be called Yawara. This system that would evolve along with the indigenous martial arts of Japan would become Jujitsu, “To conquer by yielding”. Or “The gentle art” as we know it today. Ju = suppleness Jitsu = art Jujitsu was taught exclusively to the Royal class of Japan including the elite soldiers the Samurai. The art would thrive in the Elite circles of Japan until the end of the Samurai area in the late 1800’s. Much of Jujitsu then fell into disrepute; unemployed ex Samurai began teaching for money anyone who wanted to learn. Contests were fought for money often to the death. While many of the smaller Ryu (styles) faded into obscurity several classical systems remained. |
| History of Danzan Ryu Founder Prof. Henry Seishiro Okazaki *
Okazaki was born on January 28, 1890 in the town of Date in the Fukushima Prefecture of Japan. In 1906, Seishiro moved from Japan to the big island of Hawaii and settled in Hilo. In 1909, he was examined by a doctor who diagnosed Seishiro with incurable tuberculosis. Either because of his diagnosis or in spite of it Professor Okazaki threw himself into the practice of Jujutsu at the Shinyukai dojo in Hilo under Master Yoshimatsu Tanaka and in Okazaki's words, "started to practice Jujutsu in earnest and in defiance of death." After some years of hard training Professor Okazaki’s health improved and he developed a strong iron-like body. Professor Okazaki believed that he owed his life to Jujutsu and devoted the rest of it to the teaching and promotion of the art. |
| While in Hilo, Okazaki mastered various Jujutsu techniques being taught at the Yoshin- Ryu, Iwaga-Ryu and Kosogabe-Ryu schools. He then combined these systems with Karate techniques from the Ryukyu Islands, (Okinawa) the knife techniques of the Philippines, Chinese Kung Fu and other styles to form the Danzan-Ryu school of Jujutsu. Okazaki named his school Danzan Ryu. Chinese for the Hawaiian islands, thus Danzan-Ryu is the Hawaiian school of Jujutsu. He also studied western boxing and wrestling. Okazaki incorporated all of these arts into his system.
In addition to the martial systems, Okazaki studied all the resuscitation arts of Kappo and Seifukujutsu, the Japanese art of physical adjustment and restoration. He was a firm believer that one of the virtues of Jujutsu was its techniques of restoration from disabling blows. |
| In September of 1922, a heavyweight American boxing champion named K.O. Morris visited the islands and began to challenge Judo and other martial arts. His claim was that his boxing was superior to any Japanese fighting art. When the challenge was answered in the Hilo arena by several Japanese martial artists, they were defeated by Morris, causing them to lose face. Okazaki then challenged Morris to a match. Okazaki reportedly suffered a broken nose in the first round. He then retaliated with a reverse arm lock , which severely wrenched Morris' arm and caused him to faint from the pain. Okazaki later said, "I enhanced the reputation of Japanese Jujutsu by defeating him with much splendor." Okazaki received a gold watch from the Japanese community for restoring its honor. Okazaki would personally treat Morris for his injuries.
In 1929, Okazaki moved to Honolulu on the island of Oahu. It was here that he opened the Okazaki "Sefukujutsu In", or Okazaki Adjustment and Restoration Clinic which would eventually be called the Nikko Restoration Sanitorium. At the same time, he opened his Kodenkan Dojo to teach his Danzan-Ryu Jujutsu while still testing and improving his system. People came in droves to the Sanatorium with so-called incurable nerve disorders, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Incidentally, President Roosevelt offered Okazaki a job at the White House as his private therapist. Okazaki, not wanting to leave the islands, declined the offer. Okazaki was one of the first teachers to break from tradition and teach Japanese martial arts to non-Japanese. In fact, it is reported that in 1922, Okazaki taught Judo to two students, Dr. Baldwin of Hilo and Chief Fatoio of Samoa. For this he was severely reprimanded by his contemporaries. Okazaki believed that everyone should have the opportunity to learn Jujutsu, regardless of his or her heritage. It is my honor to continue in this tradition. • Some material reprinted from www.danzan.com. Maintained by Professor George E. Arrington III If you have any questions regarding Danzan Ryu Jujitsu or training at the Kenshokan please feel free to contact us at 818-347-3656 or visit our studio at 21151 Victory Bl. Woodland Hills Ca |