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Tenjin
Ryū Jujutsu (天神流柔術),was constructed by Soke Anshu Christa Jacobson. Tenjin-ryu Jujutsu translates as: "Gentle Art of the Heavenly Divine".
It has its historical roots, classical kata and training methods dating back centuries to Japans warring past of the Sengoku
period (戦国時代) and can be classified as a traditional school of jujutsu.
Just as in the Koka-ryu school of Kempo, Soke Anshu wanted to share with her students all of the principals and strategies
that was taught to her from her masters and share that with them. She also wanted a specific method of jujutsu for the Budo
Ryu Kai that blends, flows and connects the other six traditions of the school together and can adapt in any situation. The
Tenjin-ryu school of jujutsu is the glue that connects the other traditions together within the Budo Ryu Kai.
Tenjin Ryū is best
known for its jūjutsu,
over which it covers an extensive curriculum. Its unarmed jūjutsu techniques include tehodoki (grip breaking), ukemi
(tumbling), nage-waza (throwing), kensetsu-waza (joint
dislocation), atemi-waza (striking weak points), shime-waza
(choking), ne-waza (ground
techniques) and kappō (resuscitation).
These are combined to form kata for
the various sections of jūjutsu
taught, including torite (capturing and restraining), hade
(attacking vital points unarmed), and kumi uchi (grappling).
Beyond
the core of jūjutsu, many different
weapons (kobujutsu) are taught. The sword curriculum is divided into three major
sections. (1) Kenjutsu covering basic swordsmanship against a similarly armed
opponent. (2) Saide
covering
grappling with the sword and (3) Iai covering the techniques of rapid
sword drawing and striking. Bojutsu
is central to Tenjin Ryū's study
of
movement, and as such forms an important part of the curriculum. Bojutsu work addresses various lengths
of staff, in particular the six shaku staff. Other sizes taught include
jōjutsu
and hanbōjutsu.
Tenjin
Ryū is perhaps lesser known
for its other weapons techniques, but it retains a number of weapons for use
both on and off the battlefield. The naginata and kusarigama are
covered, as well as the jutte (truncheon), shuriken (throwing
blades), and the tessen (iron fan).
There
are 4 primary areas of training in Tenjin-ryu
Jujutsu that the practitioner has to become proficient in; Jujutsu, Kobujutsu, Heiho and the Tenchijin. Each of these sections has its specific place
not just within war, but in the daily life of the samurai.
JUJUTSU
CURRICULUM -天神流柔術
In the Jujutsu
curriculum there are 4 sections of training.
Shoden Gata
(初伝形; initial
transmission) consist of San Mon, Kumite Dachi Waza, Kamae,
Uke Waza,
Taisabaki Waza, Nage Waza, Atemi Waza, Geri Waza, Buke Waza, Kyushojutsu, Kote
Waza, Rensoku Waza, Mamori Waza, Kobu Waza, Chi Kamae, Shime Waza and Kensetsu
Waza.
Chuden Gata
(中伝形; inside transmission) information on this level of
training is only for the students of the ryu
and is not open to the public; kuden
only.
Okuden Gata (奥伝形; heart
transmission) information on this level of training is only for the students of
the ryu and is not open to the
public; kuden only.
Kaiden Gata
(皆伝形;
great
transmission) information on this level of training is only for the top
students and is not open to the public; kuden
only.
Training
in the Tenjin Ryu school of Jujutsu is understood from the kanji Jujutsu (柔術). "Ju"
(柔)
can be translated to mean "gentle, supple,
flexible, pliable, or yielding." "Jutsu"
can be translated to mean "art" or "technique" and
represents manipulating the opponent's force against himself rather than
confronting it with one's own force.
Jujutsu
evolved among the samurai of feudal
Japan as a method for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses
no weapon, or only a short weapon. Because striking against an
armored opponent proved ineffective. Practitioners learned that the most
efficient methods for neutralizing an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks,
and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an
attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it.
The focus
of the training of the Tenjin Ryu
is not on "sport"
application, but the raw reality of life and death on the battlefield. These
methods of combat included striking (kicking and punching), throwing (body
throws, joint-lock throws, unbalance throws), restraining (pinning, strangling,
grappling, wrestling) and weaponry. Defensive tactics included blocking,
evading, off-balancing, blending and escaping.
Soke Anshu Christa Jacobson
is also a collector of ancient samurai makimono and densho (scrolls
and manuals) and has hundreds in her personal collection, some of
which are from ancient warrior arts that no longer exist. In the study
of Tenjin Ryu, she regularly displays
and reads these ancient texts to her students so that they can see first hand;
these historical references to the ancient history of the samurai, and reflect these teachings within the understanding of
the school.
HISTORICAL
DISCLAIMER:
When searching for information regarding secret societies and old
martial arts schools of training, it is very hard if not impossible to find all
of the information regarding the history of the arts. The information that I
have placed on all of
the seven traditions (ryuha) that are
studied within the Budo Ryu Kai (Koka-ryu Kempo, Tenjin-ryu Jujutsu,
Tomo-ryu Shinobijutsu, Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu, Koto-ryu Koppojutsu, Gyokko-ryu
Kosshijutsu & Togakure-ryu Ninpo Taijutsu) may be entirely wrong &
inaccurate. The information that I have
listed is the information that I gathered from my teachers, my training and my personal
research of the arts. This historical information
of the seven traditions taught within the Budo Ryu Kai I feel is
correct based on my personal training and research.
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