Burbank Judo & Jujitsu Kai

Ju-jitsu is the ancient Japanese art of unarmed combat, relying on flowing
technique rather than strength and aggression.
Ju-do is the “Tao” of Jujitsu. .. elevating the art to a means of
self-improvement and self-awareness.

Danzan Ryu Jujitsu includes escapes, locks, blocks, throws, strikes, kicks, submissions and weapon defense techniques - It isn’t simply ground fighting. It is an extremely efficient system of self-defense, especially against multiple attackers. Danzan Ryu Jujitsu can be learned by men and women of all sizes and ages because of its well thought-out training curriculum. Danzan techniques are devastating, so safety is always a priority in class. Jujitsu training will increase your flexibility, sharpen your mind and strengthen your self-confidence. Best of all, training in Danzan Ryu is by its very nature... healthy.

Click to View Danzan Ryu Demo

There are few reasons to fight, but there are many reasons to know how to fight. Jujitsu was never a sport, but rather a highly evolved form of combat demanding well conditioned reflexes and superb balance. Mastering Danzan Ryu demands systematic, slow and purposeful practice... cultivating both control and suppleness. The Japanese word “Jujitsu” can be translated as the “the art of nonresistance.” - the principle of Yin and Yang that allows the weak to overcome the strong.

Danzan Ryu was founded in the 1920’s by Master Seishiro Okazaki in the Hawaiian Islands. Along with Judo, Okazaki studied Chinese Kung Fu, Okinawan Karate, Hawaiian Lua and Filipino Kali. Today, Danzan Ryu is one of the most comprehensive and perfected styles of self-defense in the United States. It includes all the elements of a superior self-defense system as well as a complete system of resuscitation and healing arts. Scroll down further for a more complete history.

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History of Danzan Ryu

The history of Danzan Ryu Judo & Jujitsu began with Master Seishiro Okazaki. He was born in Kakeda, Date County, in Fukushima Prefecture of Japan. He immigrated to Hawaii in the 39th year of the Meiji period (1906 A.D.) . When he was nineteen years old, he became ill while living in Hilo and was diagnosed by a doctor to have been suffering from incurable tuberculosis. With the courage born out of desperation, he then knocked on the door of Mr. Yoshimatsu Tanaka who was then teaching Jujitsu at his Shinyukai Dojo in Hilo, and started to practice Jujitsu in earnest and in defiance of death. His frantic efforts and devotion to Judo not only miraculously healed his tuberculosis, but also enabled him to develop a strong, iron-like body.

Okazaki then realized that he owed his life completely to Judo, and decided to devote the rest of his life to the teaching and promotion of Judo. While he was in Hilo, he mastered various techniques of Jujitsu that were being taught at Yoshinryu, Iwagaryu, and Kosogaburyu schools. He then combined these techniques with the skills he had attained training in Karate, Kung Fu, Hawaiian “Lua” and Filipino Kali, and created his own Danzan-Ryu system of Judo and Jujitsu.

In September, 1922, when Morrison, then champion of American boxing, came to Hawaii, Master Okazaki challenged him to a match and enhanced the reputation of Danzan Ryu Judo by defeating him with “much splendor.” The well-publicized victory brought fame and respect to the new Danzan Ryu style of combat.

In 1924, he returned to Japan, traveled extensively while visiting more than fifty Jujitsu dojo that were scattered between Morioka City in the north and Kagoshima in the south, studying the Okugi (secret teachings), and mastered six hundred seventy-five techniques of Jujitsu. Upon his return from Japan with an official 3rd dan rank in Kodokan Judo in his credentials, he then started teaching on the island of Maui for a short period. In 1929, he moved to Honolulu where he bought the Nikko (Rays of the sun) residence from Mr. Chester Alphonse Doyle at South Hotel Street, converted it into the Okazaki Seifukujitsu In, (Okazaki Adjustment and Restoration Clinic) , while at the same time founded Kodenkan Dojo where he taught Judo and Jujitsu to all people until his death in 1953.

Read Master Okazaki’s esoteric principles of Judo

History of Jujitsu

The history of the martial art of Jujitsu (Gentle Art) can be traced back over 2,500 years. Jujitsu developed from many individual teachings that either started in Japan or found their way to Japan from other oriental countries. Going far back into Japanese mythology it is possible to trace Jujitsu to the ancient Japanese gods, Kajima, and Kadori, who supposedly used Jujitsu to punish the lawless inhabitants of an eastern province of Japan.

The first dated mention of Jujitsu was during the period of 772-481 B.C., when open-hand techniques were used during the Choon Chu era in China. In 230 B.C. the wrestling sport of Chikura Kurabe developed in Japan and was integrated in Ju­Jitsu training. A number of Jujitsu schools started from 230 B.C. on. During the time period around the B.C.-A.D. change in dating, it is also noted that wrestling and related techniques served as the origin of Jujitsu. There is also evidence that empty-hand techniques were used during the Heian period (ca. 784 A.D.) in Japan, but included with weapon training as part of the samurai warrior's training. In 880 A.D. Prince Teijun founded the Daito Ryu Aiki Jujitsu Dojo.

With the passing of the Tokugawa era, (ca. 1800), Japan became somewhat united and there were many changes in Japanese society. One of the results was the reduction of the samurai warrior to the status of the common citizen. In his new position the samurai could no longer carry a sword. He was forced to rely solely on empty-hand techniques as a means of defending himself.

The next mention of Jujitsu is in 1882, when Dr. Jigaro Kano developed his system of Ju-do (Yielding -Way) from Jujitsu. He did this to increase the popular perception of the martial art and to provide a safer system using selected techniques taken from old-school Jujitsu. The use of the term “Do” was to indicate the elevation of spiritual character via the following of the “Way” or “Path.” Sport Jujitsu was not his original intention however making it available and safe for children was.

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