is a ryū of jujutsu founded by Seishiro Okazaki (1890–1951) in Hawaii. Danzan-ryū jujutsu is of mainly Japanese origin but is most common on the West Coast of the United States. The Danzan-ryū syllabus is syncretic and includes non-Japanese elements.
History
Seishiro Okazaki was born in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan in 1890. In 1906, he immigrated to the island of Hawaii. Soon after, he was afflicted with a pulmonary condition which may have been tuberculosis. During this time, young Okazaki began studying under a Yōshin-ryū jujutsu sensei by the name of Yoshimatsu Tanaka in Hilo, Hawaii. Okazaki assiduously pursued his studies under Tanaka and after some time found that his respiratory condition had gone into remission. Okazaki felt that the study of martial arts had played a large role in his physical recovery and as a result, he decided to dedicate his life to the study and teaching of jujutsu and related disciplines.
Okazaki later adopted the Western first name, Henry.
In 1924, Okazaki returned to Japan and undertook a study of the various schools, or ryū-ha, of the then most popular Jūjutsu styles of Yōshin-ryū, Namba-Shoshin Ryū, Iwaga Ryū, Kosogabe Ryū, Kōdōkan Jūdō, and several others. Later that year when he returned to the Hawaiian Islands, he continued the study of jūjutsu under the various masters who had emigrated from Japan to Hawaii. Incorporating not only traditional jūjutsu, but also Lua, Shōrin-ryū Karate, Eskrima, Boxing, Chin Na and Folk Wrestling, he began to synthesize the most effective aspects of these various styles into an eclectic system which he called Danzan Ryū. Prof. Okazaki used this name to honor his Chinese martial arts teacher, Wo Chong. The Chinese name for Hawai'i is T'an Shan (檀山). When used in Japanese, these kanji are pronounced Dan Zan. Their literal meaning is "sandalwood mountain".
First classes Professor Okazaki's school was founded in Honolulu, Hawi'i. The name Kodenkan (古伝館) can be translated as 'The School of the Ancient Tradition'. Prof. Okazaki's method of instruction prescribed that the seniors teach their junior students in a spirit of mutual aid. Professor Okazaki declared this method of instruction to be the founding philosophy of the discipline.
This form of teaching perfectly embodies the KOKUA concept, which in Hawaiian means to help each other. Prof. Okazaki was willing to teach his arts to people of non-Asian origin as well as to women. This was frowned upon by the Asian community in Hawaii at the time. . By all accounts the original classes were grueling, and as below, Okazaki taught different courses to different individuals. Around the time of the founding of Danzan Ryu, it took approximately four years to earn a Shodan ranking. During this time students trained 6–7 days a week.
Seifukujutsu
"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 among 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, Prof. Okazaki was allegedly interned for six months. 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 internment camp. He was released relatively quickly because of the intervention of Curley Freedman who used his FBI contacts to aid in Prof. Okazaki's release. Curley was the first tile contractor in Honolulu, and installed tile in the homes and businesses of many Japanese. Because of his craftsmanship, he was well- liked and widely known. The FBI asked Prof. Okazaki for his assistance in identifying Japanese fishing boats that may have been contacting Japanese submarines and relaying information about U.S. Navy activity in Pearl Harbor. The FBI would also ask Bud Estes, who worked for Curley in the tile business, to assist in identifying drug dealers on another island during the harvest period. As Bud had knowledge of the island from his Salvation Army missionary days, he agreed and assisted the FBI until his cover was blown.
Prof. Okazaki was also fortunate in that his dojo was unmolested, 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, members of which had formerly shunned him. In this way he became accepted by them.
During wartime, Prof. 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. Prof. Okazaki is sometimes said to have been responsible for the WWII US Army Field Combatives Manual FM 21-150, but that manual credits members of the American Judo Club of New York City.
Illness and death Prof. Okazaki suffered a stroke in July 1948, from which he recovered somewhat in 1949, when he continued teaching. Prof. Okazaki died on July 12, 1951, at the age of sixty-two.
Today
There are many other Danzan Ryū and DZR-influenced organizations which 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, Jujitsu America, the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation, and Small Circle Jujitsu.
The American Jujitsu Institute The original Danzan Ryū organization was the American Jujitsu Institute (AJI) founded by Prof. Okazaki in 1939. The AJI is the oldest martial arts organization in the United States. The AJI has continued to the present day, and is currently under the direction of its President, Professor Daniel W. Saragosa and Vice President Sensei Scott Horiuchi. Its patronage and sponsorship of the major Danzan Ryu projects over the past two decades have proved crucial to its success.
The American Judo and Jujitsu Federation
The American Judo and Jujitsu Federation (AJJF) was 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. (Active Cal. Corp. C0353438, 4/21/1958; Cal. Sec. State, Business Search 5/19/2008)
The AJJF promotes Danzan-ryū jujitsu with a standardized curriculum used by a variety of jujitsu, judo and other dojos. This curriculum is intended to combine martial arts training with an ethical and moral philosophy.
Small Circle Jujitsu Wally Jay had studied boxing, weightlifting, judo and jujitsu from various instructors before 1944, when he received his black belt in Kodenkan Danzan Ryu Jujitsu from Okazaki. Small Circle Jujitsu™ evolved from combining many sources and elements, but owes its roots to Ken Kawachi, the Hawaiian judo champion for many years. Sensei Kawachi was a physically small man who stressed the use of the wrist action to gain superior leverage. So effective was he in using the subtleties of the grip and its leverage that he routinely dominated other judoka twice his mass and defeated many visiting wrestlers and other grapplers from the mainland. That wrist action became the key to Small Circle Jujitsu and continues to evolve as Jay and others enhance the style with their knowledge. In August 2002, Wally Jay held the ceremony officially handing the title of Grandmaster over to his son Leon Jay in his hometown of Alameda, California.
Kaito Gakko Kaito Gakko was formed under David Kawaikoolihilihi Nu'uhiwa, who studied with Okazaki starting in 1938, and John Cahill, (Danzan-Ryu's sensei, during Okazaki's internment.) After a fighting career with more than 100 consecutive undefeated matches, Professor Nuuhiwa blended his real world fighting experiences, including death matches in Africa and Asia, with his training in Danzan-Ryu Jujitsu, Karate, Aikido, Makaho, and Lua, and started teaching self-defense classes under the name 'Kaito Gakko', a title he was given in Japan in 1958, upon receiving a 12th Dan in karate. Kaito literally means “The Best of the East and West.” He was awarded the legendary Red Belt in Japan. At the time, he was one of only five in the world to hold this rank and the first American ever to hold this honor. David was also an expert in the ancient Hawaiian fighting art of Lua and a healing arts practitioner. Many professional athletes, including Sugar Ray Leonard, came to Nu'uhiwa for pre-fight training, or physical therapy. David Nu'uhiwa Sr. died on January 21, 2005, in Honolulu, Hawai’i after a courageous battle with cancer. Today, his Kaito Gakko school, aloha and teachings are carried on by Professor Nu'uhiwa's students: Kalani Akui (President of Kaito Gakko), Alyxzander Bear (Vice President of Kaito Gakko), Bruce Keaulani of 'Kaito Gakko Nu'uhiwa Ryu' in Oahu, Hawaii, and Carlos Gallegos of 'Kaito Gakko Martial Arts' in Orange County, California.
Kodenkan Yudanshakai The Kodenkan Yudanshakai, founded in 1967 by Joseph Holck, is a traditional martial arts association with locations in major metropolitan areas of Arizona. 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. The Yudanshakai teaches such martial arts as Danzan Ryū Jūjutsu, Shorin-ryū Karate, Matsuno Ryu Goshinjitsu, Nihon Jujitsu, Kodenkan Bokkendo, Hiraido Jujitsu, Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Judo, and other arts. The Kodenkan Yudanshakai has grown over the years and presently has dojos in Arizona, Hawaii, California and Montana, 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.
Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai was founded by Michael Chubb to provide an educational, athletic, and recreational outlet to aid the physical, moral, and social development of adults and children within the framework of the sport and martial art of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. It was incorporated in 1987 in the State of California and has been instrumental in the creation and maintenance of several inter-organizational projects, including the Ohana weekends, the Danzan Ryu Hall of Fame and the H.S. Okazaki National Jujitsu Championships.
Jujitsu America