Learn about Danzan Ryu - American Martial Arts Style

Danzan Ryu is an American martial arts and is a hybrid form of Jujutsu. It is also known as Kodenkan and Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. This martial arts was created by Henry Seishiro Okazaki in Hawaii during the 1920s and 1930s.

History of Danzan Ryu

According to the American Jujitsu Institute, "Henry Seishiro Okazaki was born in the town of Kakeda, Fukushima Perfecture, Japan, on January 28, 1890. He migrated to Hawaii in 1906 and settled in Hilo, Hawaii. At the age of 19 he was diagnosed as having a lung disease thought to be tuberculosis. As a desparate measure to combat depression, he began his study of Judo under the tutoralage of Master Yoshimatsu (Kichimatsu) Tanaka at the Shinyu Kai Dojo in Hilo. The arts fascinated him and eliminated his frustration over his illness. He practiced with all of his strength and being. Strangely, his devotion led to a complete recovery form his illness. In his own words he became the 'The owner of a body as if made of iron." Thereafter, he dedicated his entire life to Judo.

Okazaki studied various arts including Namba-Shoshin Ryu, Tenshin-Shinyo Ryu, Yoshin Ryu, Kodokan Judo, Iwaga Ryu, Kosogabe Ryu, Ryukyu Karate Jutsu etc. He returned to Japan in 1924 traveling from as far north at Morioka City to as far south as Kagoshima City, visiting more than 50 schools. He studied Okugi, considered the very secret techniques. He eventually acquired six hundred and seventy five techniques and earned a third rank in Judo. Professor Okazaki eventually returned to Hawaii and formed an eclectic system called "Kodenkan". This system included Judo, Jujitsu, Hawaiian Lua, Okinawan Karate, Chinese Kung-Fu, and American Wrestling. Breaking with tradition, Okazaki taught not only the Japanese, but any and all races.

He gave the name Danzan Ryu to his school of Jujitsu. He gave it that name for two reasons. One was in honor of an old Chinese man whom Professor Okazaki was indebted to (Wo Chong). At that time, the Chinese refered to Hawaii as Danzan for reasons explained later in the AJI manual. The second reason was that most of Professor Okazaki's studies had taken place in Hawaii."

Danzan Ryu Techniques and Structure

The system is broken up into "boards" as the original techniques were supposedly written on planks of wood. The first board is called Yawara and is mostly hand techniques and escapes. Nage No Kata is next and is comprised of sweeps and throws. Shime No Kata follows and is mostly ground techniques. Oku No Kata is a combination board. Weapon techniques are handled in Kiai No Maki. There are 3 boards at the black belt level: Shinnin No Maki, Shin Yo No Maki and Shin Gen No Maki. The last 2 are instructor arts and Shin Gen is only shown to select 3rd and 4th degree black belts. There are other supplementary boards such as Yo Nen Bu No Kata, which is a children's board, Keisatsu, which is police arts, Fusegi Jutsu which is a short course on self defense, Goshin Jitsu, which was designed as a ladies course and others. Some schools and organizations have alternate boards such as Nage 2 and Shime 2, but they were not part of the original course. Testing and belt colors in Danzan Ryu vary to some degree by organization and sometimes by school.

In some schools Seifukujitsu is taught and is required to obtain Shodan. Though the term "Seifukujitsu" is largely unknown in this country, it is immediately recognized in Japan and Hawaii as an alternative therapy that often works where other, less-tested therapies fail. Restoration therapy has two goals: to balance the energy in the body (the "Ki" in Japanese or "Chi" in Chinese), and to break down soft tissue areas of the body that have been injured to allow them to properly heal.

5000 For over 5,000 years, Chinese medical practitioners have proven that health problems will occur when the body's natural energy flow is interrupted. Restoration of the natural flow eliminates the problem. Again, thousands of years of Asian experience has proven the value of deep tissue work, and the "deep work" done at the Kodenkan Clinic is like no other. Combined with herbal formulas, our success in treating difficult ailments is enviable. Hundreds of our clients will attest to the soothing and beneficial Seifukujitsu therapy.
With the techniques, even injuries from five years ago or more that are still painful or bothersome can be restored - often, to its fully healed, pre-injured state. This is unheard of in traditional therapy, but occurs regularly with Seifukujitsu.

The History of Restoration Therapy

The founder, Henry Okazaki was the foremost exponent of Restoration Therapy in America, creating his Nikko Restoration Sanatorium in Honolulu in 1929. In fact, President Franklin Roosevelt, a polio victim, was treated by Prof. Okazaki…and Roosevelt said Okazaki was the only person who actually helped him with his ailments!
Okazaki also treated dozens of other politicians and celebrities like George Burns, Charlie Chaplin, Carol Lombard, Johnny Weismuller, and many others. Whether for Jujitsu training or Restoration Therapy, these celebrities often made Prof. Okazaki their first stop in Hawaii.

The tradition of experience, success, and learning, was passed down from Okazaki to Sig Kufferath, the professor's number one student. And again, this rich experience has been handed down to Clinic founder Tony Janovich, Kufferath's number one student. - (Janovich, A.)

List of Danzan-Ryu Techniques

YAWARA

1. Katate Hazushi A
2. Katate Hazushi B
3. Ryote Hazushi
4. Morote Hazushi
5. Yubi Tori Hazushi
6. Momiji Hazushi
7. Ryoeri Hazushi
8. Yubi Tori
9. Moro Yubi Tori
10. Katate Tori
11. Ryote Tori
12. Tekubi Tori A
13. Tekubi Tori B
14. Imon Tori
15. Ryoeri Tori
16. Akushu Kote Tori
17. Akushu Ude Tori
18. Akushu Kotemaki Tori
19. Kubi Nuki Shime
20. Hagai Shime

NAGE NO KATA

1. Deashi Harai
2. Sasae Ashi
3. Okuri Harai
4. Soto Gama
5. Uchi Gama
6. Soto Momo Harai
7. Uchi Momo Harai
8. Ogoshi
9. Utsuri Goshi
10. Seoi Nage
11. Ushiro Goshi
12. Seoi Goshi
13. Tsurikomi Goshi
14. Harai Goshi
15. Hane Goshi
16. Uki Otoshi
17. Makikomi
18. Kani Sute
19. Tomoe Nage
20. Yama Arashi

SHIME NO KATA

1. Eri Gatame
2. Kata Gatame
3. Juji Gatame
4. Shiho Gatame
5. Sankaku Gatame
6. Ushiro Gatame
7. Namijuji Shime
8. Gyakujuji Shime
9. Ichimonji Shime
10. Tsukkomi Shime
11. Hadaka Shime A
12. Hadaka Shime B
13. Hadaka Shime C
14. Dakikubi Shime
15. Osaegami Shime
16. Kote Shime
17. Tenada Shime
18. Do Shime
19. Ashi Karami Shime
20. Ashi Nada Shime
21. Ashi Yubi Shime
22. Momo Shime
23. Shika no Issoku Shime
24. Shidare Fuji Shime
25. Tatsumaki Shime

OKU NO KATA

1. Deashi Hayanada
2. Ogoshi Hayanada
3. Seoi Hayanada
4. Norimi
5. Sumigaeshi
6. Mizukuguri
7. Mae Yama Kage
8. Komi Iri
9. Kote Gaeshi
10. Saka Nuki
11. Gyakute Nage
12. Hon Tomoe
13. Katate Tomoe
14. Shigarami
15. Gyakute Shigarami
16. Kote Shigarami
17. Ko Guruma
18. Tora Nage
19. Tora Katsugi
20. Arashi Otoshi
21. Hiki Otoshi
22. Kine Katsugi
23. Kin Katsugi
24. Kaza Guruma
25. Jigoku Otoshi

KIAI NO MAKI

Chikara
1. Waribashi Ori
2. Karatake Wari
3. Harage Ishi Wari
4. Shiraha Watari

Tessen
5. Katate Hazushi
6. Mune Dori
7. Miken Wari
8. Uchikomi Dome
9. Katate Ori
10. Katsura Wari

Tanto
11. Hibara Hazushi
12. Katate Hazushi
13. Tsukkomi Hazushi
14. Ryote Dome

Daito
15. Nukimi Dome
16 Shiraha Dori
17. Suso Harai

Bo
18. Hanbo Uchikomi Dori
19. Rokushaku Bo Furi
20. Mune Gatame
21. Shiho Gatame
22. Futari Shime
23. Furo Shime
24. Shichinin Shime

Tanju
25. Gan Hazushi
26. Mune Hazushi
27. Hibara Hazushi
28. Ushiro Hazushi

SHIN NIN NO MAKI

1. Isami Tsuki Nage
2. Obi Hane Goshi
3. Tsurikomi Taoshi
4. Momiji Nage
5. Gyaku Hayanada
6. Hiza Nage
7. Osaekomi Gyakute Tori
8. Kobushi Shime
9. Kesa Hazushi
10. Kubi Shime Tomoe Gyakute
11. Ninin Nage
12. Gyakute Gaeshi
13. Hiza Ori Nage
14. Gyaku Hagai
15. Ushiro Kan Nuki
16. Mae Kan Nuki
17. Hiki Tate Tori Shime
18. Ude Garami
19. Ebi Shime
20. Ushiro Ebi Shime
21. Gyaku Eri
22. Ushiro Nage
23. Ude Shigarami Shime
24. Ashi Kan Nuki
25. Kesa Koroshi
26. Hando Shime
27. Ashi Gyaku
28. Kabe Shime
29. Ashi Karami Tori
30. Nidan Gaeshi
31. Satsuma Shime
32. Tataki Komi
33. Ushiro Nage Tori
34. Saru Shigarami
35. Sandan Gaeshi

SHIN YO NO MAKI

1. Gyaku Hiza Guruma
2. Tsuki Hazushi Kotemaki
3. Tsukkomi Dome & Deashi
4. Sune Shime
5. Saru Shime
6. Tobi Tsuki Tenada
7. Obi Otoshi
8. Sennin Kage
9. Mune Dori
10. Tsurigane Otoshi
11. Inazuma
12. Denko
13. Kasumi Dori
14. Shi Shi Otoshi
15. Tawara Gaeshi
16. Tonbo Gaeshi
17. Keri Komi
18. Ryuko
19. Haya Nawa
20. Katate Tai Atari
21. Tsuki Mi
22. Atemi Ichi-Go
23. Zo Kurawase
24. Tora Nirami
25. Kiai Dori
26. Senryo Tomoe
27. Yuki Chigai
28. Munen Muso

SHIN GEN NO MAKI

1. Tento
2. Ryomo
3. Kasumi
4. Cho To
5. Jin Chu
6. Matsukaze
7. Gebi
8. Murasame
9. Hi Chu
10. Danchu
11. Kyoto
12. Suigetsu
13. Myo Sho
14. Kyo In
15. Tsuki Kage
16. Ina Tsuma
17. Hoka Shaku Zawa
18. Uchi Shaku Zawa
19. Ya Ko
20. Sen Ryo
21. Uchi Kibisu
22. Ko Ri
23. In No
24. Dokko
25. Kai Chu
26. Mikazuki
27. Waki Kage
28. Wan Sho
29. Kyo Shin
30. Haya Uchi
31. Gan Ka
32. Kusanagi
33. Da Ko
34. Katsu Satsu
35. Myo Jo

References

1. American Jujitsu Institute, History, http://www.americanjujitsuinstitute.org/pages/organization/history, Added - 10/03/14
2. Seifukujitsu section - Janovich, A. Seifukujitsu: Effective Japanese Restoration Therapy http://www.kodenkan.com/restoration.html Retrieved on 10-23-14
3. Personal Notes of Chris Love, 4th Dan, Kyoshi http://www.coloradokodenkan.com