Danzan-ryū

Danzan-ryū

Seishiro "Henry" Okazaki (Photo courtesy of George Arrington, www.danzan.com)
Date founded	c.1925
Founder	Seishiro Okazaki

Danzan-ryū (檀山流, "Sandalwood Mountain School" from a Chinese name for Hawaii) is a Ryū of jujutsu founded by Henry Seishiro Okazaki (1890-1951) in Hawaii. Danzan Ryū is ubiquitous in the United States, particularly on the west coast.

For a Danzan Ryū syllabus, see Danzan Ryū Lists.

History

Seishiro Okazaki

Main article: Seishiro Okazaki

Seishiro Okazaki was born in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan in 1890. In 1906, he immigrated to the Island of Hawaii. At that time, he was afflicted with a pulmonary condition which cannot be accurately identified but was believed to have been tuberculosis. It was during this time, however, that young Okazaki came under the wing of a Yoshin-Ryū jujutsu sensei by the name of Kichimatsu Tanaka in Hilo. Okazaki began to study intensely under Tanaka sensei, and ultimately found that the lung condition went into remission. Okazaki felt that the study of martial arts had no small part in his physical recovery and, as a result, it is said that he decided to dedicate his life to the study and teaching of jujitsu and related disciplines.

In 1924, Okazaki returned to Japan and underwent a study of the various schools, or "ryū-ha" of the most popular Jūjutsu styles of the times: Yoshin Ryū, Namba-shoshin Ryū, Iwaga Ryū, Kosogabe Ryū, Kōdōkan Jūdō and several others. When he returned to the Islands later that year, he continued his study of Jujutsu under the various masters who had come to Hawaii from Japan. Incorporating, not only traditional Jūjutsu but also Hawaiian Lua, Okinawan Karate, Filipino Eskrima, Chinese Kung Fu and American wrestling, he began to "evolve" the best and most effective aspects of the several systems into an eclectic system which he called, Danzan Ryū.

First classes

By all accounts the original classes were grueling, and as below, Okazaki taught different courses to different individuals. One of the striking aspects of his philosophy was that he was willing to teach both people of non-Asian extraction and women the arts. This is said to have been frowned upon by the Asian community in Hawaii at that time. (Esmailzadeh 1) During the time of the original classes in Hawaii, it took around four years to get a Nidan and students trained 6-7 days a week. Sigfried Kufferath, later elected Professor by the AJI, received his Shodan in May of 1941.

Seifujitsu

The seifukujitsu was Okazaki's gift to honor the traditions of martial arts, from which he derived benefit in his initial study of martial arts after arriving in his new home of Hawaii. Shortly after arriving he contracted tuberculosis, which in those days was almost always fatal.

"Upon completing about a year of study," Okazaki wrote in his Esoteric Principles (contained in the mokuroku scroll given to his pupils who mastered his system), "I acquired a body of iron" (paraphrased), so he dedicated his life to the study of martial arts and the healing techniques associated with each style he took up. Some of his students carried on his healing traditions; in 1984, third and fourth generation devotees standardized his style of massage (from notes by Okazaki's students) into the AJJF certification program in Okazaki Restorative Massage (recognized by the AOBTA as ORM, but also known as Okazaki Long Life, Nikko Restorative Massage).

World War II and later

Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941, Okazaki, along with many Japanese, was interned for six months. (Note: This is alleged, but not substantiated through FOIA requests to the U.S. Government. It is possible that he was only held under arrest and not placed in an interment camp.) He was released relatively quickly because of the intervention of parties unknown. He was also fortunate in that his dojo was unmoleseted, as his students protected it from looters who ransacked Japanese homes and businesses. Because of the preservation of his assets, he was able to lend aid to the Asian community who had formerly shunned him. In this way he became accepted by them.

During wartime, Okazaki continued teaching and also assisted the US military in creating a hand-to-hand combat curriculum (based largely on the 120 Commando Technique list). Ironically, at the same time, Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern Karate, was responsible for hand-to-hand training of many members of the Japanese military (Funakoshi 88). Okazaki is sometimes said to have been responsible for the WWII US Army Field Combatives Manual FM 21-150, but there is no evidence of this (and substantial evidence to the contrary), and the techniques shown are only remotely similar to DZR. It is true that DZR was the basis for some Military Police training manuals in the 1950s, largely through the teaching efforts of Rickerts, one of Okazaki's most senior students.

Okazaki suffered a stroke in July of 1948, from which he recovered somewhat in 1949, when he continued teaching. Okazaki died on July 12, 1951 at the age of sixty-two. He left a rich martial arts legacy which has grown and branched for more than fifty years.

DanZan Ryu today

There are many other Danzan Ryū and DZR-influenced organizations which have have developed over time and are now separated into various schools of thought. The most widely-known international federations today are the American Jujitsu Institute, the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation, and the Bushidokan Federation.

The AJI

The original Danzan Ryū Organization was the American Jujitsu Institute, founded by Okazaki in 1932. The AJI still exists, under the direction of Sam C. Luke, Charles Lee, and Daniel Saragosa.

The AJJF

The American Judo and Jujitsu Federation (AJJF) founded in 1948 by Bud Estes, Richard Rickerts, John Cahill and Ray Law. In 1958, the AJJF was incorporated in the State of California as a non-profit organization. The AJJF now has dojo all over the country and looks after the interests of thousands of members. They have also created a standardized curriculum.

The Bushidokan Federation

The Bushidokan Federation is a union of dojos from around the world practicing the art of Dan Zan Ryu Zenyo Bujitsu. This system was originated by Herb Lague who began his martial arts studies in 1950, studying Boxing, Judo, Savatte, Aikido, Lama Pai, and Jujitsu. Dan Zan Ryu Zenyo Bujutsu was formulated from these systems and uses a framework of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu to teach the principles of Zenyo throughout the system.

Other Danzan Ryu organizations

Joseph Holck’s Kodenkan Yudanshakai, founded in 1967 as The Kodenkan of Tucson, is a traditional martial arts association with locations in major metropolitan areas of Arizona. According to one expert, the Kodenkan Yudanshakai was “[...] founded by Joseph Holck and his family in 1967 […]” to continue the school “founded by [Joseph’s Brother] Roy Holck in 1962” (Holck-Toomoka). The "Yudanshakai" teaches martial arts such as Danzan Ryū Jūjutsu, Matsuno Ryu Goshinjitsu (a form of Kajukenbo founded in Hawaii in 1947 of which Joseph Holck is a co-founder), Nihon Jujitsu, Shorin-Ryū Karate, Bokendo, Hiraido Jujitsu, Kung Fu, Kick Boxing, Judo and other arts. The Kodenkan Yudanshakai has grown over the years and presently has dojos in Arizona, Hawaii, California, Montana and Idaho, including six in the Tucson-Phoenix metro area. The organization continues its perpetuation of the martial arts under the guidance of Joseph Holck and his family; Vinson Holck, Barry Holck, Meleana Holck-Tomooka, Amy Holck, Aaron Holck, Emmet Holck, Joyce Holck, Wilbert Holck and Willard Holck.

Pacific Coast Kilohana founded by Sig Kufferath, James Muro, Russell Rhodes, Gerald McKenzie, Al Ikemoto, Robert Krull, Hans Ingebretsen, Robert McKean, Michael Esmailzadeh, Dale Kahoun, Debbie Mazzulla, Jack Carter, Russ Coelho, Kimo Hatchie and Mrs. Pauline Chow-Hoon.(http://www.kilohana.org/index.htm). The Kilohana Charter states the organizational goals are to perpetuate the teachings and study of Danzan Ryū Ju Jitsu, Ken Ju Ryu Kenpo Ju Jitsu, Kōdōkan Jūdō and provide an environment for the study of other martial disciplines to provide the widest possible exposure to all aspects of martial arts for Kilohana Students. Dale Kahoun (author of the Kilohana Workbook) was inspired by a comment from Sig Kufferath while they watched a Ju Jitsu Kata Competition together. Kufferath said "I do not recognize the techniques that these people are doing as Danzan Ryū. Danzan Ryū has been changed so much by so many people that it is almost gone." The workbook was written with the intention of preserving the study of the original techniques, as taught by Kufferath and Okazaki. The advanced version (prerequisite by rank)of the Kilohana Workbook includes detailed descriptions of Danzan Ryu techniques (with some variations and room for write-ins and notes) from Yawara to Shin'yō-no-Maki and the 65 throws of Judo. Each technique from the Mokuroku and the introductions to Shinnin no Maki and Shin'yō no Maki(on the originals)contained the stamp and signature of Kufferath. Each lists introduction states that the techniques as described were his (Kufferath's) preferences for rank examination and often noted as those taught to him by Okazaki. The Workbook was also endorsed by; Wally Jay, Willy Cahill, Joseph Holck, and James Muro. During Kilohana rank examinations there are no restrictions for the various Kilohana schools to adhere to particular techniques or variations for rank examinations, examiners may question those testing, request to see other variations and ask the purpose and intent of the technique during the examinations. There continues to be evolutions in technique and significant differences concerning instruction in the Kilohana family, as there is in all other Danzan Ryū Organizations. Most core Kilohana Dojos are based in Danzan Ryū Ju Jitsu. Associate Kilohana Schools might have their foundation in Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Eskrima, Hawaiian Lua, Chinese systems and Japanese Sword Styles while cross-training with Ju Jitsu (and the other styles). Danzan Ryū Students can (and do) cross-train in these other styles as intended by the Kilohana Charter. Kilohana schools are found located in California, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, the Mid-west and Europe. (Edit re-write approved by Kilohana Standards Board)

Kodenkan Hombu (Costa Rica), of Ramon Lono Ancho Jr. (deceased) and Bill Beach’s Hawaiian Jiu-Jitsu System, Inc., as well as The Southern California Jujitsu Association founded by Bill Randle.

The Christian Jujitsu Association was founded by Gene Edwards. The Christian Jujitsu Association is a Danzan Ryū organization including the Chrisitan philosophy.

The Kodenkan Danzan-Ryū Jujitsu Association was founded by Sig Kufferath, Tony Janovich, Ramon Ancho, and Doug Kiehl. The Danzan Ryū Yudanshakai was founded by David Bellman.

Wally Jay is the founder of Small Circle Jujitsu.

Michael Chubb founded the Shoshin Ryu.

The Matsuno Ryu Goshinjitsu was founded by Vinson Holck.

Quantum Jujitsu was founded by Jeremy Corbell in 1996.

Hiraido Jujutsu was founded by Mark Fitzsimmons-Cann in 1999.

DanZan Ryu events

The most focal event of the post-Okazaki era in Danzan-Ryū is the biannual Ohana Celebration. This event includes members from all of the organizations focused on the teachings of Okazaki. The organizations come together for a weekend of clinics, competition, and camaraderie to share the Kodenkan spirit. Ohana was founded in 1990 by Mike Chubb and Bill Fisher, and is hosted by a different organization each time. It is usually held on Labor Day weekend.

Other past events include the two Kodenkan Okugi (tm) classes held in Santa Clara, CA. These two events, one in the summer of 1993 and one in the winter of 2003, brought a number of Danzan-Ryū instructors together to learn the system from Sig Kufferath and his senior student Tony Janovich. Kufferath had been a graduate of the same class held in 1948 under the direction of Okazaki. Over the many years, the methods of performing Okazaki's arts had diverged into a number of different styles. This class, whose contents were designed by Janovich under the direction of Kufferath, was designed to show interested instructors how the arts had been done by Okazaki according to Kufferath, and how he had modified several arts. Students were instructed in all of the combat arts as well as the eleven required methods of resuscitation. The students who graduated from these classes were awarded with Kaiden no Sho, or complete transmission certificates, and were given the title of either Renshi (trainer), Kyoshi (teacher) or Shihan (master). Before Kufferath's death in 1999, he and Janovich had planned to hold a second class in 2003, ten years after the previous class. This had been the plan of Okazaki after his 1948 class, but his death in 1951 prevented this. Janovich carried out the plan and held this class in January and February of 2003. There are tentative plans for the Kodenkan dojo to hold another class in the future.

Note: Other classes that have been called "okugi" have taken place, but were not sanctioned by Kufferath.

References

• Arrington, George, The Danzan-Ryu Jujutsu Homepage, http://www.danzan.com

• Anon. 1 “History of Danzan Ryū.” Shinbukan.com. 15 May 2003

• Esmailzadeh, Michael 1. Lecture. Suigetsukan Dojo. Oakland. 2002

• Funakoshi, Gichin. Karate-Dō My Way of Life. 1946. Tokyo: Kodansha 3rd ed. 1984

• Holck, Vinson K. and Tomooka, Meleana. History of the Kodenkan Yudanshakai of Tucson. Date unknown.

• Kahoun, Dale. Danzan Ryū Workbook. Campbell: Kahoun. 1999

• Okazaki, Henry S. The Esoteric Principals of Jūdō. Late 1940s

External links

• The Danzan-Ryu Jujutsu Homepage
• American Jujitsu Institute
• American Judo and Jujitsu Federation
• Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai
• Jujitsu America
• The Ohana Alliance