Hakko Ryu
Encyclopedia
Hakkō-ryū or Hakkō-ryū Jujutsu is a school
or 'style' of jujutsu
related to Daito-ryu
founded in 1941 by Okuyama Ryuho (1901–1987) a student of Sokaku Takeda and a practitioner of shiatsu
. Many techniques of this school are very similar to those of the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.
The school is now headed by his son who took the name Okuyama Ryuho. The headquarters or hombu dojo is located in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama
, Saitama Prefecture
.
The Hakkoryu Kaiso Hokokusai (ceremony proclaiming the founding of Hakkoryu) was held on June 1, 1941 at the Shiba Tenso Jinja (Shinto shrine in the Shiba district of Tokyo), on that date Hakko ryu was formed and Okuyama took the pen name Ryoho (spin of the Dragon). The Hakkoryu Kobujuku (private school for Hakkoryu study) was located in Kanda district of Tokyo, during world war II the allied Bombing grew to close, Okuyama and his family fled and joined the Mount Haguro sect of Shugendo (a mixture of Buddhism and Shintoism) in Yamagata Prefecture. The Hakkoryu Kobujuku was burned down during the bombing of Tokyo. In 1947 he moved to Omiya City (Saitama City) and founded the Hakkoryu So Hombu Dojo (Hakkoryu Juku Hombu Dojo), this is still the home city of Hakkoryu today.
While Hakkoryu techniques are closely related to Daito Ryu it is the influence of Oriental medicine
and a strict moral code that distinguishes the style. The Koho Shiatsu system is taught to its members at the higher levels. The jujutsu system's emphasis is placed on pressure points and manipulation of the opponent's body through both the skeletal structure and the body's meridians, this helps give Hakkoryu its trade mark of looking weak but being very powerful in application.
The techniques of Hakkoryu are passed on in the form of Kata or waza sets known as Gi. Each kata has a number of Omote (surface) techniques that must be learned before the student can progress on to the next level. Each level also contains Kihon waza, which introduce the core principles of Hakkoryu to the student; the Omote techniques are not to be changed but only handed down to the next generation etc. They are as follows:
Besides the Omote, Kihon, and Gensoku Of Hakkoryu, some subjects obviously include such concepts as:
After Yondan the system uses the older Koryu
Menkyo
license, a student must be invited By Okuyama to train with him in the Menkyo waza sets, to obtain an invitation the student must be referred by a Shihan
in good standing with the Hombu, upon getting an invitation, the student would travel to Japan and live with the Okuyama family for a period of time and then receive Menkyo training.
Hakkoryu is a distinct and separate tradition from the more recently formed Hakko Denshin Ryu and Hakko Densho Ryu.
founder Doshin So
(宗道臣, 1911–1980) was a student of Hakkoryu.
Ryu (school)
A Ryū , or ryūha , is a Japanese word referring to a school of thought in any discipline...
or 'style' of jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
related to Daito-ryu
Daito-ryu
, originally called , is a Japanese martial art that first became widely known in the early 20th century under the headmastership of Takeda Sokaku. Takeda had extensive training in several martial arts and referred to the style he taught as "Daitō-ryū"...
founded in 1941 by Okuyama Ryuho (1901–1987) a student of Sokaku Takeda and a practitioner of shiatsu
Shiatsu
Shiatsu is Japanese for "finger pressure;" it is a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. There is no scientific evidence proving that shiatsu can treat any disease, but shiatsu practitioners promote it as a way to help people...
. Many techniques of this school are very similar to those of the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.
The school is now headed by his son who took the name Okuyama Ryuho. The headquarters or hombu dojo is located in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama
Omiya-ku, Saitama
is a ward of Saitama city, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It is in the Greater Tokyo Area and about 25 km north of central Tokyo. Ōmiya-ku is surrounded by Nishi-ku , Kita-ku , Minuma-ku , Urawa-ku , Chūō-ku , and Sakura-ku of Saitama city.Ōmiya-ku is the most active commercial and business centre in...
, Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
.
Meaning of the name
Hakkoryu comes from the Japanese language meaning "The Style of the Eighth Light." In the color spectrum there are seven color bands. It was believed that there was also an eighth very narrow invisible band: the Eighth Light. Schools of Hakkoryu Jujutsu exercise strategies that avoid conflict as much as possible, and employ techniques that do not use strength, but instead use techniques that work against the body's natural motions and movements to take down the opponent. These techniques are not very visible, but effective and strong, just like the eighth light.School
Okuyama was an instructor of Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu which he studied from two people Kyoju Dairi Matsuda (Toshimi) Hosaku and later Takeda Sokaku himself. In 1938 Okuyama finished his studied with Takeda and published a martial art text called Daito-ryu Goshinjutsu (The Daito System of Self-Protection), later Okuyama founded the Dai-Nippon Shidokai (Greater Japan Way of the Samurai Association) and began teaching what he called Daito Hiden Shido(Secret Daito-Ryu Way of the Samurai). Okuyama's first Dojo was located in Asahikawa and was called Nippon Shidokai Ryubukan, in 1939 he moved to Kanda and opened another dojo called Dai Nihon Shidokai, this marked the beginning of the split from Daito Ryu, by this time Takeda was very old and his son Tokimune was still very young, seeing no place for advancement in the Daito Ryu school, and being a skilled medical and martial person, Okuyama began to form his own system based on Daito Ryu Jujutsu and Daito Ryu Aiki no jutsu.The Hakkoryu Kaiso Hokokusai (ceremony proclaiming the founding of Hakkoryu) was held on June 1, 1941 at the Shiba Tenso Jinja (Shinto shrine in the Shiba district of Tokyo), on that date Hakko ryu was formed and Okuyama took the pen name Ryoho (spin of the Dragon). The Hakkoryu Kobujuku (private school for Hakkoryu study) was located in Kanda district of Tokyo, during world war II the allied Bombing grew to close, Okuyama and his family fled and joined the Mount Haguro sect of Shugendo (a mixture of Buddhism and Shintoism) in Yamagata Prefecture. The Hakkoryu Kobujuku was burned down during the bombing of Tokyo. In 1947 he moved to Omiya City (Saitama City) and founded the Hakkoryu So Hombu Dojo (Hakkoryu Juku Hombu Dojo), this is still the home city of Hakkoryu today.
While Hakkoryu techniques are closely related to Daito Ryu it is the influence of Oriental medicine
Oriental medicine
Oriental medicine is a collective term for several types of medicine practiced in the Orient and/or the East.Under Oriental medicine is understood:* Traditional Chinese medicine* Traditional Korean medicine* Kampo...
and a strict moral code that distinguishes the style. The Koho Shiatsu system is taught to its members at the higher levels. The jujutsu system's emphasis is placed on pressure points and manipulation of the opponent's body through both the skeletal structure and the body's meridians, this helps give Hakkoryu its trade mark of looking weak but being very powerful in application.
The techniques of Hakkoryu are passed on in the form of Kata or waza sets known as Gi. Each kata has a number of Omote (surface) techniques that must be learned before the student can progress on to the next level. Each level also contains Kihon waza, which introduce the core principles of Hakkoryu to the student; the Omote techniques are not to be changed but only handed down to the next generation etc. They are as follows:
- Shodan-Gi
- Nidan-Gi
- Sandan-Gi
- Yondan-Gi
Besides the Omote, Kihon, and Gensoku Of Hakkoryu, some subjects obviously include such concepts as:
- Kamae (combative engagement posture/stance)
- Hara/Tanden/Ki (center of gravity, how it may best be concentrated)
- Kime (focus)
- Tsukuri/Kuzushi/Kake (preparing/off balancing/executing)
- Maai (combative engagement distance)
- Sen (combative initiative or "timing")
- Suki (detecting weaknesses/openings)
After Yondan the system uses the older Koryu
Koryu
is a Japanese word that is used in association with the ancient Japanese martial arts. This word literally translates as "old school" or "traditional school"...
Menkyo
Menkyo
is a Japanese term meaning "license". It refers to the permission of education system for practitioners of various Japanese arts and ways in order to maintain traditions within the ryū...
license, a student must be invited By Okuyama to train with him in the Menkyo waza sets, to obtain an invitation the student must be referred by a Shihan
Shihan
- Title of "Master" is a Japanese Honorific Title, Expert License Certification used in Japanese martial arts for Master Level Instructors. The award of the Expert License Certification is if designated by the qualification by virtue of endorsement by the [A] Association of Chief Instructors or [B]...
in good standing with the Hombu, upon getting an invitation, the student would travel to Japan and live with the Okuyama family for a period of time and then receive Menkyo training.
Organization
Hakkoryu is governed by an autocratic nature, Hakkoryu Jujutsu and Koho Shiatsu medicine systems belong solely to the Okuyama family. Okuyama has total authority, while he is advised by senior Shihan and councils, his word is final. Hakkoryu demands total loyalty, you can not study another martial art at the same time, you can only study Hakkoryu, those studying something else are asked to leave, this rule has been hard for some to take but especially for non-Japanese, which has resulted in the expulsion of many over the years. There are only a few people outside of Japan that are in good standing with the hombu and are recognized as legitimate Shihan and teachers. An example of one not recognized is Hakko Denshin Ryu. Okuyama states that "Some may use the word "Hakko" in the names of their systems. Interested parties are advised that many have no relationship to Hakkoryu. The desire for legitimacy of such affiliation without the accompanying training, efforts, sacrifice, responsibilities, limitations, and burdens actual membership requires, this is true of those who have never had any training or affiliation at all with Hakkoryu."Hakkoryu is a distinct and separate tradition from the more recently formed Hakko Denshin Ryu and Hakko Densho Ryu.
Famous students
Shorinji KempoShorinji Kempo
was established by as a system for self-improvement and training in Japan in 1947 based on Shaolin kungfu ....
founder Doshin So
Doshin So
was the creator and founder of Shorinji Kempo and the doctrine .Born , So lived in the Manchuria region of China with his grandfather, and later from the mid 1920s to the end of the Second World War. During this time he practised martial arts under several masters while doing topography studies...
(宗道臣, 1911–1980) was a student of Hakkoryu.
Sources
- Secrets of Hakko ryu Jujutsu by Dennis G Palumbo, Paladin press 978-0-87364-422-8 ISBN 0873644220
- Secret Nidan techniques of Hakko ryu by Dennis G Palumbo, Paladin press 978-0-87364-455-6 ISBN 873644557
- Essence of Hakko ryu Sandan Gi techniques By Dennis G. Palumbo, Paladin press 978-0-87364-455-6
External links
- Hakkoryu So Hombu Dojo (Japanese)
- Hakkoryu So Hombu Dojo (English)
- http://www.aikidojournal.com/article?articleID=81&highlight=Hakko+ryu Aiki news interview part 1 (Soke-Nidai)
- http://www.aikidojournal.com/article?articleID=495&highlight=Hakko+ryu Aiki news interview part 2 (Soke-Nidai)