Welcome to the home site of Nippon Goshin Aiki Jujutsu no Koryu. This is created for members to be able to come and check on the latest news as well as up coming events in our organization. Visitors are welcomed to see what we practice and are encouraged to contact any of the dojos within for further information.
Nippon Goshin Aiki Jujutsu no Koryu is an organization of martial artists teaching and practicing the Japanese art of aikijujutsu.
What is aiki jujutsu? Aiki jujutsu is the martial art or bugei that was used by the samurai on the battlefields. The principles and techniques are very much applicable in today's world.
Our link to the Daito Ryu.
The samurai clan of the Minamoto/Takeda developed the unarmed combative art known as Daito ryu. History tells us that General Shinra Saburo Minamoto Yoshimitsu had the bodies of fallen enemy soldiers disected for the purpose of learning the movements of limbs and their effects on the whole body. It is also said that the principles of aiki came from watching a spider capturing his prey in his web.
The art continued to be handed down, family member to family member, until, with the direction of his uncle Tanomo Saigo, Sokaku Takeda took on the mantle of Headmaster. Fearing that the art would end up going to the grave like so many other family arts, Tanomo Saigo urged Sokaku to teach people outside of the family so that the knowledge would continue to flourish.
Sokaku sensei was the last of the sword wielding samurai. He had mastered many bugei arts including the sword and spear, as well as Daito's oshikiuchi. In his younger days, he was known as the Aizu Devil. He was relentless in his search for martial knowledge.
Sokaku travelled far teaching many and being careful to teach only prominent citizens which included high ranking government officials, military and police officers. Teachers were also part of the group of people he taught. One such person was Kodo Horikawa. Horikawa carried on the teaching of Sokaku sensei and taught many. After his death, two of his students went on to form their own organizations - Seigo Okamoto formed Roppokai and Katsumi Yonezawa the Bokuyokan.
Prior to forming the Bokuyokan, Yonezawa sensei instructed John Denora, a retired U.S. Marine officer and attorney, awarding him Kyoju Dairi with a special certificate. Denora sensei's knowledge of the art as well as it's history, made him a sought after instructor who worked to spread the art. He formed the Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu United States of America and the Daito Ryu Budo Association for the promulgation and dessemination of Daito Ryu in the United States. Being respected in the martial art community, Denora sensei was promoted to 9th dan in Jujutsu by the International Jujitsu Association. He was also appointed to the Martial Arts Hall of Fame (Master's Group) for 2003. Denora sensei passed away on August 28, 2008.
It is through him that we have our link to the Daito ryu. As a student of aikijujutsu, Balanay sensei learned his art well, demonstrating great knowledge of the principles of aiki. As a leader, he assisted in promoting the Daito Ryu United States of America organization. Though we are no longer part of that organization, we are greatly indebted to Denora sensei. We continue to train traditionally and welcome you to join us.
We hope you enjoy our site and encourage you to visit regularly as updates will be ongoing. Check out our
News and Upcoming Events
page. Our newsletter, "Grab My Wrist" will be posted on a regular basis. Seminars and Taikai's (group gatherings) will be listed. If you live near one of our dojo's, you are welcomed to join and train with us. If you have any comments about our website or what we do, you can email us at .