Nata (鉈) the literal meaning of the word is a hatchet, but was a term used in Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流 柔術), by James Shortt Sensei to mean a joint / bone breaking technique, usually in relation to the arm / elbow. I had never heard the term used in any othe Japanese martial art […]

(Also available online) Date: Sunday, 11th January 2026 Instructor: Peter King - Menkyo Kaiden (免許皆伝) Times: 11:00hrs - 18:00hrs (11am - 6pm) Cost: £35 Venue: Kemsing Pavilion, Heaverham Rd, Kemsing, Sevenoaks, TN15 6NE. Booking link: https://www.ryoishintokai.com/product/ryoi-shinto-ryu-jujutsu-one-day-seminar-online-streaming-11th-january-2026/

The influence of Ryōi Shintō-ryū Jūjutsu (良移心当流 柔術) on the development of Edo period (江戸時代) Jūjutsu (柔術) is often marginalised and the Takeuchi-ryū (竹内流) is held up as the 'Oldest School of Jūjutsu'. The reasons for this are at least two-fold. Firstly, the Chinse monk Chin Gempin (陳元贇) is shown in some documents, such as […]