The Japanese characters for Wa (和 harmony) and Jū (柔 softness / gentleness) are often seen as interchangeable, not least because they can both be pronounced as Yawara. However, there does seem to be a fundamental difference between them The Shinkage-ryū Tsuki no Shō (新陰流月之抄) written by Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi (柳生 十兵衛 三厳) in 1642, […]

‘The contribution of Jigō Tenshin-ryū’s Uchida Ryōhei to the formulation of the early kata of Kōdōkan Jūdō and how the origin of those techniques would have been Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu.’ Following on from my last post relating to the Jigō Tenshin-ryū and how it could be seen as a following on version of the Ryōi […]

Regarding the differences and divergence between Ryōi Shintō-ryū (良移心当流) and Jigō Tenshin-ryū (自剛天真流), it seems that this was actually quite minor. It should also be appreciated the last part of the Ryōi Shintō-ryū - Menkyo Kaiden (免許皆伝) level is called "Jigo Nami Tenshin" (自剛並天真 - self hardening together with heavens truth) and thus even the […]

In 2024, it will be 100 years since Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流 柔術) was first introduced in to the United Kingdom by Takeda Tatsu Sensei (武田 辰 先生). We will be gearing up to celebrate this centinuary with amongst other things a Ryōi Shintō-ryū Taikai (良移心当流 大会).

‘Jujutsu Hottan - Fukuno Shichirouemon no den’ (date & author unknown - supplied by Tsukuba University, Kenkyo-jo and partially translatied by Dr. John Breen) mentions the following with regard to Ryōi Shintō-ryū founder - Fukuno’s character and physical aptitude in relation to martial arts: “He was an intrepid character with his great strength he lifted […]

Further to my previous post, here are a few of the pages from ’Combat Jiu Jitsu’ by S. R Linck (1943). The pictures suggest a limited technical sophistication, but even given that, there some principles and techniques that are vaguely reminiscent from the perspective of Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流 柔術). It is interesting that Linck, […]