Jujutsu as the term is popularly used, is a generic term commonly used to describe the various methods of unarmed combat used by the samurai. Usually referred to as the “gentle art”, a more accurate translation would be “Pliable art” or “Flexible art”.

To discuss jujutsu properly, a short history recap is needed. Japan went through numerous periods of war from the mid-11th century up to the early 17th century and the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate.  In the course of these times, what we now know as “ryu” developed.

Ryu can be loosely defined as a "school" but is best thought of as comprehensive systems teaching use of weapons as well as empty hand tactics. Ryu developed out of necessity as a method of training others and to be able to survive conflicts. Each ryu had favored methods of movement, ideology, and philosophies, developed by the founder and his successors, which made the art unique.  Some ryu were very simple and direct, others had what may be considered more sophisticated methods.  Which is better is topic of debate, but the key factor that mattered back in the warring era of Japan was effectiveness and being able to pass along those skills.  Those teachers and systems that were able to accomplish this thrived and gathered in students. As time went by these methods became more systematized and formalized.

This section of the ryu with emphasis on unarmed combat is typically thought of as the jujutsu component of the ryu.  In some older arts, the term jujutsu may encompass the use of weapons as well.  (Note: There is no hard fast rule as to use of the term, it varies by each system) The emphasis on empty hand methods alone referring to jujutsu is more modern, dating back to the late 1800’s and the Meiji era reforms.

Daimyo (Literally Big Names, refers to the ruler of a geographic area) needed samurai with good combat skills to defend their own lands or to attack other Daimyo’s domains.  It was very common for each domain to have favored ryu that were sponsored by the Daimyo.  One of the most often cited examples is the Edo-Yagyu ryu as taught by Yagyu Munenori and favored by the Tokugawa shogunate.  Other ryu were also taught in a domain in addition to those favored by the Daimyo.

Other ryu were connected to temples, families, or locales. Examples are Tenshin Katori Shinto ryu, headed by a family and connected to a temple, Kashima Shinto ryu and Hozoin ryu which have connections to temples, and Maniwa Nen ryu which is connected to a specific location, Maniwa village in Gunma.  Many of these comprehensive systems are still practiced and are usually referred to as “Koryu” arts. 

As time went on and social conditions in Japan changed, many ryu died off, other adapted and changed the emphasis in their purpose for existence while attempting to preserve the techniques handed down from previous generations. These koryu arts today preserve part of Japan’s historical martial culture with their existence and efforts.

This change in emphasis, which can be regarded as a shift from practical functionality to a practice as a guide and way of life is simple but complex. Training is for the sake of training. The process of self-discovery is simply a part of the training process.  Regardless of how your chosen art classifies itself, bujutsu, budo, gendai budo, goshin budo, this will hold true for all arts.  You may be upholding a part of a tradition, honoring those who came before you, but it is still about proper training under a qualified instructor.

Today, the meaning of ‘jujutsu’ typically refers to the empty hand grappling and throwing methods alone, which became more popular in Meiji era Japan after the abolition of the samurai, wearing of swords, and the caste system.

Examples of these unarmed emphasis arts are Kito Ryu, Tenjin Shinyo Ryu, Yabe Ryu, and even Daito Ryu. (There is some dispute on origins of Daito Ryu, current research favors it being of more modern origins) While there are some weapon skills and defenses still retained, the majority of the art taught focuses on unarmed skills. 

Modern Judo is an outgrowth of these Meiji era arts. Aikido is another example of a modern day derivative of these jujustu ryu.  These modern day arts are commonly referred to as “Gendai Budo”.

Out of these gendai budo arts, came innovations and revisions that took place outside of Japan.  For examples, Danzan ryu, originated in Hawaii, Gracie jujutsu, originated in Brazil, Icho ryu, originated in the Northwestern United States. Though the use of Japanese terminology and clothing remain, these arts are not properly Japanese arts. More properly these arts developed outside of Japan which can clearly show a connection to Japanese heritage can be called “Goshin Budo”

There is no better or worse in distinction between koryu, gendai budo, and goshin budo.  What is important is your relationship with your instructor and training to learn what is taught.

Morihei Uyeshiba founded aikido as his vision of a budo that could bring more harmony and unity to people and society.  Uyeshiba, popularly called “O-Sensei” by the practitioners of aikido, consolidated his training background in various arts to form aikido.  The arts which can be verified in his training include: Tenjin Shin'yo ryu jujutsu under Tokusaburo Tozawa in1901, Goto Ha Yagyu Shingan Ryu under Masakatsu Nakai from about 1903 to about 1908, judo under Kiyochi Takagi in 1911, and Daito ryu under Sokaku Takeda beginning in 1915 in Hokkaido.  

Other influences, which can be seen in aikido, come from Kashima Shinto ryu, primarily a sword art.  Uyeshiba sent students to train in this art and he observed the training.  The kata taught by Morihiro Saito are almost identical to the kata in Kashima Shinto ryu.  There is some possible influence from Yagyu Shinkage ryu methods, as a result of Uyeshiba’s student Kosaburo Gejo, also student of that ryu.

Daito ryu however, was the major technical influence in the development of aikido.  Uyeshiba studied for varying periods of time in seminar settings under Takeda, as well as an extended period of time in Ayabe, and was one of the most distinguished students.  Uyeshiba was awarded the Kyoju Dairi certification in 1922.  At the time, the highest certification issued.

While the popular mythology of Daito Ryu origins claims to go back to Emperor Seiwa in the 800’s, research is unable to confirm the historical existence of Daito Ryu prior to Takeda Sokaku.  Stan Pranin, editor of Aikido Journal, has been a leading figure in the research of the history of aikido and Daito ryu. Stan is responsible for much of the discoveries in historical materials with the help of Takeda Tokimune, the son of Sokaku Takeda, and the current headmaster of Daito Ryu, Kondo Katsuyuki.

Daito Ryu is most likely a synthesis of Takeda’s martial experiences, based off his studies of numerous arts in the Aizu region of Japan. Since there are no verifiable historical references to prove otherwise, we may never know the true origins of Daito ryu.  What is known is Takeda was a highly skilled martial artist from the Aizu region and was involved with many highly ranked budoka of the era, among these were Taiso Horikawa and Kotaro Yoshida, who was responsible for introducing Uyeshiba to Takeda.  More of Takeda’s history can be found on the Aikido Journal website. www.aikidojournal.com

The Omoto Kyo religion and Onisaburo Deguchi heavily influenced aikido philosophy.  Uyeshiba lived and taught in the Omoto community in Ayabe from 1920 to 1927 as a close supporter of Deguchi. The Omoto Kyo had several conflicts and incidents with the Japanese government as a result of their beliefs. For more on the Omotokyo, visit the Aikido Journal  website.

Finally in 1927, Uyeshiba at the urging of his supporters, such as Admiral Isamu Takeshita, moved to Tokyo. He taught in varying locations and in 1931 he established the Kobukan dojo.  During this time Uyeshiba slowly separated from the Daito Ryu and Takeda, and began calling his art “Aiki Budo”.  The Kobukan remained active with Uyeshiba also teaching at military academies until his decision to retire to Iwama in 1942.  Some of the better known aikdoka such as Rinjiro Shirata, Gozo Shioda, Minoru Mochizuki, Koichi Tohei, trained during this time.

The basis for modern aikido developing took place in Iwama post WWII.  Uyeshiba spent the majority of his time in Iwama in training, farming, and personal meditation.  Uyeshiba has stated it was during this time period that he felt he perfected modern aikido.  Well known aikidoka such as Morihiro Saito and Hiroshi Isoyama studied during this time period.  In the later 1950’s O-Sensei gradually began to travel more often to Tokyo and the Kansai area teaching aikido.  In 1961 he visited Hawaii with Nobuyoshi Tamura and Koichi Tohei to teach aikido and celebrate the opening of the Hawaii Aiki Kai.

Uyeshiba received the Medal of Honor with purple ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun 4th class, awards for his efforts in the founding and spreading of aikido in the 1960’s.  He spent his last years in Tokyo and passed away in April 1969 of liver cancer. For more on Uyeshiba from Aikido Journal, please visit their website and online encyclopedia of aikido.

The popularity of aikido in the western world was due to the Aikikai sending young and charismatic yudansha abroad to spread aikido.  Among these were popular well-known aikidoka such as Koichi Tohei, Yoshimitsu Yamada, Mitsunari Kanai, Akira Tohei, Kazuo Chiba, to mention some of the well-known names in the Western Hemisphere for aikido.

Aikido in the United States was spread by students of Tohei from Hawaii moving to the United States mainland. Isao Takahashi, Ben Sekishiro, Tokuji Hirata, Clem Yoshida, Roderick Kobayashi and others relocated to California in the late 1950s and early 1960s when the Aikikai began to establish firm roots on the mainland.  Aikido in Hawaii continued to flourish with teachers such as Nonaka, Yamamoto, Yoshioka, and Suzuki. For more on Hawaii aikido history, see
www.trussel.com/aikido/history.htm and www.aikidohawaii.org/

Also active in the United States were Yoshinkan instructor Lloyd Eugene Combs, he and his students spread Yoshinkan aikido throughout California, and Jack Mumpower, a Tomiki aikido instructor in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.  Other Tomiki instructors arriving in the United States in the1960’s were Seiji Tanaka and Tatsuya Kibushi.

Today, aikido is a multi faceted art, with numerous groups teaching numerous variations of aikido. Aikido can be found which ranges from extremely soft and passive approaches to extremely vigorous training, philosophy oriented to little discussion at all of philosophy, and all variations in between.

Icho Ryu is the creation of Bernie Lau, a Seattle Police officer who felt traditional aikido as it was practiced did not meet his needs as a police officer or for self-defense for civilians despite the claims it did by many instructors. Lau began training in 1955 under Koichi Tohei and and later earned his shodan and nidan in Japan, his ranking certificates personally signed by Morihei Uyeshiba.

Lau despite his numerous years training in aikido, came to feel that the traditional views of the organizations that existed were counter-productive to the needs of Law Enforcement officers. He resigned from aikido to form the Washington Budokan, a private dojo, and develop tactics and techniques that would be more applicable to Law Enforcement personal and civilian personnel defense. The result of this effort was Icho ryu, a fusion of his training and influences in Aikido, Goju ryu karate, Danzan ryu jujutsu methods from Wally Jay, modern judo, aikijujutsu from the Yamate ryu and Shidare Yanagi ryu, and practical experience as an undercover police officer.  More on Bernie Lau, please see the following links:
    (Biography of Bernie Lau) in The Journal of Combative Sport
    (History of Icho ryu) in Black Belt Magazine
    (Little Bio on Bernie) from Xin Qi Shen Dojo
    (Bernie updates) from Xin Qi Shen Dojo

While Icho ryu maintains the use of many Japanese culturally derived practices, it’s is actually a goshin budo and has no connections to any Japanese organizations aside from friendships.

The goals Icho ryu seeks to provide the student are:
-Physical and psychological techniques for applications in self-defense situations and daily life.
-An understanding of how to recognize and diffuse a potentially violent situation.
-The ability to handle a situation that has turned violent, both psychologically and physically, as well as to deal with the aftermath.
-A methodology to deal with the everyday stresses of life.

Philosophically, Bernie Lau maintains the simpler the better.  Bernie’s creed for Icho ryu is simple ”Train your mind, Develop your body, Polish your spirit”. By regular practice, we seek to understand how to apply what we know better in our own lives.  Through the stresses of physical training, we are forced to confront ourselves on physical, mental, and spiritual levels and grow as a result.  This is budo as taught in Icho ryu.

In 2004, Bernie Lau officially retired and turned over responsibility for Icho ryu to the current chief instructor, Neil Yamamoto.  Lau still teaches seminars and can be contacted via Neil Yamamoto - neilyamamoto@comcast.net