When some individuals, younger ones in particular, visit a koryu jujutsu dojo they often have the wrong expectations. Many state they want to do real japanese jujutsu. However, not having done significant prior research, they often think they'd find some kind of 'enhanced' judo. This is because judo is the closest thing many westerners have seen to Japanese jujutsu. These individuals often quickly realise that they've walked into something quite different. Authentic jujutsu i

The question arises about striking in koryu jujutsu and specifically Shibukawa Ichi Ryu. Depending on the style, striking may be taught as stand-alone techniques or they may be integrated as a part of a larger technique or both. This is the case with our koryu style, Shibukawa Ichi Ryu jujutsu. Several of the kata incorporate strikes as part of a bigger sequence of moves eg. a throw followed by a kick. Other kata focus soley on teaching individual striking techniques against

In Japanese martial arts the word shin 心 may be used to described the heart and mind. Shin may also be loosely interpreted to mean 'spirit'. While many martial artists are often greatly focused on the movements of their body to overcome an opponent, they seldom give sufficient attention to training their spirit. In combat or practice sparring, martial arts practitioners also pay a great deal of attention to the movement of the enemy. One may wait for the opponent to move, or

This January, the Kan-oukan organisation hosted a Basic International Seminar (koshukai) in Hiroshima prefecture Japan where koryu styles of jujutsu and swordsmanship were taught to members and specially invited guests. Koryu refers specifically to styles that were derived prior to the meiji-restoration of 1867, in the era of the samurai. Where one koryu martial art is often enough for a life-time of study, Kanoukan is very unique in that it teaches three separate koryu arts.