Origin and Development of Jujitsu

It is said that Jujitsu originated some one thousand nine hundred sixty years ago, in the year 23 B.C., when Nomi no Sukune grappled with a man named Atema Kerihaya and defeated him. Later, the Takeuchi school of Jujitsu was founded in the first year of Tenmon (1532 A. D.) during the age of Civil wars. During the Keicho period (three hundred forty years ago) , Chinese Kenpo was introduced to Japan by Chinese emigrants, followed by Cheng Yuan-ping of Ming China who taught techniques of arresting fugitives during the Shoho period (three hundred years ago ). These Chinese techniques were then combined with the traditional Jujitsu techniques of Japan to create a certain new style called Yawara , which is widely regarded as the genesis of today’s Judo. The Yawara style was further developed into various schools during the Edo period, including the following:

Takeuchiryu, Tsutsumi Hozanryu, Arakiryu, Musoryu, Miuraryu, Fukunoryu, Isogairyu, Seigoryu, Kajiwararyu, Sekiguchiryu, Shibukawaryu, Okitaoshiryu, Yoshinryu, Kyushinryu, Kanshinryu, Yoshiokaryu, Tamegaryu, Sosuishuryu, Iwagaryu, Naniwa-Shoshinryu, etc.

Many systems have developed out of Jujutsu – Judo, aikido, etc..  Modern Jujutsu (i.e. Brazilian) focuses on ground fighting (newaza).  All of these, plus the healing aspect, can be found in a traditional Jujutsu curriculum.

Danzan Ryu Jujitsu History

Danzan ryu Jujitsu was founded by “Henry” Seishiro Okazaki. 

Okazaki was born in Japan on January 28, 1890.  In 1906, he emigrated to Hilo, Hawaii.  In 1909, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and began studying Jujutsu at Master Tanaka’s Shinyukai dojo around 1910, in “defiance of death (Prof. Kufferath)”.

Okazaki mastered many styles of Jujutsu techniques from various Ryu (Yoshin, Iwaga, and Kosogabe) while in Hilo.  He combined these with effective techniques from Okinawan Karate, Phillipino knife techniques, and later the art of Lua, to help form Danzan-Ryu Jujutsu. 

Wo Chung, one of Okazaki’s instructors, called Hawaii “Danzan”, or sandle-wood mountain.  Okazaki respectfully dedicated the name Danzan to Chung’s memory.

In addition to the martial systems, Okazaki studied the resuscitation arts of Kappo and Seifukujutsu, the Japanese art of physical adjustment and restoration.  He was a firm believer that one of the virtues of Jujutsu was the techniques of resporation from disabling blows.

In 1924, Okazaki left Hilo and returned temporarily to Japan.  During this time, he visited many dojo’s (Kodokan Judo, Kiaijutsu, etc..) to incorporate into his Danzan ryu.  He returned in February of 1925 and began to teach his Jujutsu on the island of Maui.

In 1929, Okazaki moved to Honolulu on the island of Oahu.  He opened the Okazaki “Seifukujutsu In” or Okazaki Adjustment and Restoration Clinic.  It would later be called the Nikko Restoration Sanitorium.   Many famous people have come to his sanitorium, including George Burns and President Roosevelt.

Okazaki was one of the few teachers at that time to break from tradition and teach non-Japanese.  He was severely reprimanded by his instructors and ostracized by his community at that time.

Okazaki continued to share his Jujutsu to all and wanted to spread this to the mainland (America) as well.  In 1948, he held a special Okugi (inner mysteries).  The curriculum included the advanced katas Kiai No Maki, Shinnin No Maki, Shinyo No Maki and  Shingen No Maki, as well as commando techniques, serious and fatal blows and resuscitation. The graduation was held on February 22, 1948 where  each of the graduates received a Kaidensho and the title of  Shihan.  The Okugi class was to be held every ten years, but Okazaki died in 1951.  Professor Kufferath, Okazaki’s senior student and inheritor of the system, began the Okugi class again in 1993.  Tony Janovich, assisted Professor Kufferath with the class.  Professor Kufferath and  Professor Janovich began preparing for the next Okugi class in 2003.  Before that time, Professor Kufferath died.  Professor Janovich carried on the tradition and held the class in 2003.

Danzan ryu has flourished since its beginnings.  It can be found throughout the United States, as well in several other countries.

To find out more information on Danzan ryu, please go to the main Danzan ryu website at:  www.danzan.com

Credit for information on history goes to George Arrington and his Danzan ryu Jujutsu website (www.danzan.com).