Tomita Tsunejiro (and later his son Tomita, Tsuneo) told the story of an alleged match between Tomita and Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu Shihan - Nakamura Hansuke in 1886 (or possibly 1884). The story goes that as soon as the match started, Tomita immediately scored a ‘tomoe nage’, (a sacrifice throw) and then repeated the technique two […]

The Ryōi Shintō-ryū (良移心当流) - Atemi no Maki (当身之巻 - scroll of striking) features ‘Ryōken’ (菱拳), or alternatively ‘Hishi Kobushi’ (菱拳). The translation for which is ‘Diamond shaped fist’, or ‘Water chestnut fist’ and this utilises a protruding middle knuckle.  In Chinese Martial Arts there is ‘Tiě líng quán’ (鉄菱拳), which means ‘Iron diamond  / […]

I am very surprised and also grateful to Ted Gambordella for so kindly including me in his Vol. 35 of ‘The World’s Greatest Martial Artists’. I think that the title is far too grand and exaggerated for me, but I view as a fitting testament to my extraordinary teachers, as I humbly walk in the shadows […]