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Before there was Judo... Before there was Aikido... There was a... "System of Self Protection"
Developed before Judo and Aikido in 1825, this self defense system of martial arts started a new way to protect yourself. Using both striking and grappling skills, and thus relying upon the natural weapons of the human body to attack and defend, this self defense martial art includes a specific Development Theory that ensures the success of the skills. In addition, students can learn a number of key systems derived from Bando, which in some respects can be compared to Karate.
TO REGISTER FOR CLASS Camden County College Phone: 856-227-7200 Tuition: $75 Call for Class Schedule
Tenjin Shinyo Ryu Jyujyutsu
Goshinjyutsu of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu"The softness conquers the hardness" Japanese Goshinjyutsu, of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu Jyujyutsu, is a highly effective and perhaps the most ideal self-defense system available today. It was developed specifically to defend against modern day situations, including knives, guns, and multiple attackers.
Although the system is over 150 years old, it has never been shared outside of Japan until October 1983. The first, and perhaps the only, person outside of Japan to earn the required license to teach the entire system is Mr. Calvin Lester. He earned these credentials while studying directly with Mr. Toshihiro Kubota.
The headmasters and senior exponents of many different koryu as a signal that they accepted the legitimacy of this position attended this event. Mr. Toshihiro has played an active role in teaching both judo and jujutsu over the past twenty-five years and been an active member of the Board of Directors of the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai (Society for the Promotion of Japanese Classical Martial Arts) and the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai (Japanese Classical Martial Arts Society). History of the Goshinjyutsu (Self Defense) Skills of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu Beginning in the Edo period, the disorder of war was gone. The use of armor for fighting was dismissed. People started to use the naked hand as weapons. Iso Mataemon focused on Atemi. He did extensive research. He founded Tenjin Shinyo Ryu. He became so famous in the entire nation that 5,000 people knocked on his door to become disciples. The skills of Atemi (striking skills), which respects people’s life and avoids the hurting of others, became widely accepted. This method of Atemi was invented by Hatamoto (3rd level government worker or personnel), which means origin of flags. Iso Mataemon was a Hatamoto in the late Edo period. Iso Mataemon’s personal history is written in detail by Bo’ Terasaki (highest disciple), who wrote a book called “Jyujyutsu Taiiroku,” which is the record of overall summary of Jyujyutsu. The contents of this book is described in a book called “Tenjin Shinyo Ryu Jyujyutsu Gokui Kyoju Zukai” (Gokui Kyoju Zukai – secret teaching and pictorial analysis), in November, 1894 by the fourth generation Headmaster, Iso Mataemon Masanobu, who was the third generation Headmaster’s (Iso Masatomo) highest disciple, Chiharu Yoshida. The founder was born in 1804, in Mie Prefecture in a city named Matsusaka. His family was Kishu Daimyo. Iso Mataemon’s name as a child was Hachiroji Okayama. He loved Bujyutus since a child. In 1818, at 15 years old, he traveled to Tokyo, called Edo. He became a disciple of Ichiyanagi Isobe Yoshimikhi. He learned “Yoshin Ryu Jyujyutsu” for several years. After his teacher died, he started training under Masato Takeemon Honma and learned Shinno Shinto Ryu Jyujyutsu and mastered it. He traveled and fought other Jyujyutsu experts throughout Japan. He was never defeated. During this pilgrimage, in a place called Kusatsu, in Shiga Prefecture, while teaching Jyujyutsu, he was in a situation where he, and his highest disciple, named Gekinosuke Nishimura, had to fight more than 100 bandits. During this encounter, they exhausted all of the secret skills practiced over the years and successfully expelled the bandits, and rescued the village. Through this fight, he realized that if he had not mastered Atemi, it would have been very difficult to win this fight. Afterwards, he developed more Atemi and opened a new field of study in Jyujyutsu.
Declaring the New System Iso Mataemon use the law of the “Softness Conquers Hardness,” which is used in different systems. He added a lot of new research into this concept. He added a new way of attacking and protecting yourself and called it “Tenjin Shinyo Ryu.” One paragraph that expressed Iso Mataemon’s feelings at this time, written by Ryunoske Nohara, highest disciple and best friend, says, “The Founder of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu, my great Teacher Iso Mataemon Minamoto No Masatari, learned Yoshin Ryu in the beginning, than Shinno Shinto Ryu, from the teacher of Yoshin Ryu, Ichiyanagi Isobe, who was the Retainer – soldier of Ichiyanagi Heibu Shonosuke. Later, he studied Shinno Shinto Ryu, from Honma Takeemon. Then he continued practicing Shinno Shinto Ryu and went on a fighting pilgrimage all over the states. While practicing in Kyoto, he had problems. He thought that if he practiced Shinno Shinto Ryu, his Yoshin Ryu Teacher would lose face. If he practiced Yoshin Ryu, his Shinno Shinto Ryu teacher would lose face. Finally, he brought both of the teacher’s highest disciples, Okada Honosuke and Nishimura Gaikinosuke, together to Kintano Tenman shrine in front of the alter, at Ema Hall (a wooden lapel of the Horse spirit). They practiced Jyujyutsu and invented some new skills. On the lapels they painted the words: Yoshin Ryu – Shinno Shinto Ryu Goryu (combined) Tenjin Shinyo Ryu. Iso Mataemon wrote a Tenjin Shinyo Ryu catalogue. The oldest one is called the volume of Heaven and Shinno Shinto Ryu Jodan (upper degree). This book was given to Tatsujiro Yamamoto by Okamoto Hachiroji Masatari in December, 1822. At the time, Okamoto was only 19 years old. The declaration of the name – Tenjin Shinyo Ryu – was in 1822 at Kitano Tenjin Shrine in Kyoto. Iso Mataemon continued to travel and practice all over the country. Iso Mataemon told his disciples that he was under Ichiyanagi isobe and Takeemon Honma for several years each. The total number of years was implied to be more than ten. When the author calculated the time from 1822, it is only three to four years.
The Activities of the Founder in Edo (Tokyo) After several years of pilgrimage, Iso Mataemon returned to Edo. He established a dojo of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu called “Iso dojo” at Otamagaite, located behind Shusaku Chiba’s house. He accepted many disciples and taught them. The ancestor of Iso Minamotoemon was born in Mikawa Prefecture (aichi area). He was loyal to Tokugawa Icyasu. They stayed in Edo and worked for the government continuously. Iso Mataemon’s adopted father’s name was Bungo. He belonged to the 8th generation of the Iso family. In 1830, he was selected to the group to maintain the Bullets and Gun powder. He was awarded 20 units of rice, which was a very large amount. In 1825 or 27, Iso Mataemon was adopted (married into) by Bungo’s family. In 1842, Bungo died. Iso Mataemon received the family fortune. At age 54, on December 25th, Iso Mataemon retired from teaching because of his failing health. His second son became the heir. Iso Mataemon died in the 3rd year of Bunkyu at 76 years old. Harmony is the Flower of Virtue The Bujyutsu is the protector of Virtue. According to Tenjin Shinyo Ryu, the main point is as follows: (translation from the Founder)
Harmony is the flower of virtue. Bujyutsu is the Guardian of virtue. There is a mystery in it. The disciples of the later generations should respect this and keep it secret. The theory of the Willow Tree shaking in the wind is the fundamental essence of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu. The theory of strength is used in Atemi. This is characteristic of Tenjin Shinyo Ryu. Iso Mataemon went Kitano Tenmangu (shrine) in Kyoto, practiced and invented part of a new technique that he said was a revelation from God. |
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