History

The Origins of Hakko ryu Ju Jutsu

Okuyama Yoshiji (Shodai Soke Ryuho Okuyama – Founder of Hakko-ryu Ju Jutsu. 1901-1987) studied under Sokaku Takeda and eventually received the techniques of the secret art of Daito Ryu. Mr. Okuyama studied traditional oriental medicines such as Chinese Yin/Yang theory, acupuncture, acupressure, massage and diet. One of the more exotic remedies that Okuyama studied was "western" style medicine.  Mr. Okuyama also studied martial arts including sword drawing, sword techniques, stick techniques, sickle chain techniques, spear techniques and throwing weapons.  In 1936, Mr. Okuyama received an instructor's certificate in Daito-Ryu and began to study the secret techniques of the school from Sokaku. After two more years of study, Mr. Okuyama finished his studies of the secret techniques of Daito-Ryu and then focused on the creation of Hakko-ryu.

On June 1, 1941 at the Shiba Tenso Jinja, Okuyama held the Hakko-ryu Kaiso Hokokusai (A ceremony proclaiming to the Shinto Deities the Birth of Hakko-ryu Ju Jutsu).  Mr. Okuyama practiced and taught this art to the elite of Japan from 1941 until his death in 1987. In 1945, Mr. Okuyama fled Tokyo to avoid the bombings and went to the region of Yamagata.  Eventually, after the war, Mr. Okuyama settled in Omiya City and established the Honbu Dojo or headquarters of Hakko-ryu Ju Jutsu where it exists today and is taught by his son.  Before his death, Mr. Okuyama personally supervised the training in the secret arts of Hakko-ryu Ju Jutsu to all the master practitioners of the world. Once a year the Okuyama family gave a demonstration of their art for the general public.

 

Hakko Denshin Ryu and the KoKoDo Renmei

On August 5, 1997 at a meeting of shihans in Akron, Ohio, a new organization was formed. The KoKoDo Renmei, or The Organization of the Imperial Light Way, consists of shihans from around the world, mainly of previous practitioners of Hakko-ryu Ju Jutsu. The organization appointed three directors, Shihan Yasuhiro Irie for Asia, Shihan Michael J. LaMonica for North and South America, and Shihan Antonio Garcia for Europe. Permission was immediately granted for Shihan LaMonica and Shihan Garcia to form their own schools of Ju Jutsu. In a spirit of cooperation, they have chosen to call their new style by the name of Hakko Denshin Ryu, or The heart of the Eighth Light School. It shares many stylistic elements with the art of Hakko-ryu, going back to the origins of that art in Okuyama Yoshiharu.

Mr. LaMonica is the Director and Chief Instructor of the Hakko Denshin Ryu Ju Jutsu Federation for North and South America and continues to teach Hakko Denshin Ryu at his dojo in Copley, Ohio. He has promoted Hakko Denshin Ryu and the martial arts, bringing information about this unique art to students locally and around the world. Shihan Garcia and Shihan Yasuhiro also continue to teach at their respective dojos.

 

KoKoDo Ju Jutsu

Sensei Yasuhiro Irie is the founder of
the KoKoDo Ju Jutsu

Soke Irie Yasuhiro started his training in the Martial Arts in the Hakko-ryu Ju Jutsu under Shodai Soke Ryuho Okuyama the founder of the Hakko-ryu.

Soke Irie studied the physical skills of the Hakko-ryu system. In 1971 Soke Irie reveived the Shihan title and he taught many students at the Hakko-ryu Honbu Dojo. Yasuhiro Irie was such an excellent student that he was the head teacher under Okuyama Ryuho in the Hakko-ryu Honbu Dojo for several years.

In 1977 Irie Sensei received the highest rank in the Hakko-Ryu Ju Jutsu. At that same year he received the honour title of "Jodai" from Soke Ryuho Okuyama

(Jodai is an old Japanese term what means Castle value)

Only the most technically proficient and trustworthy Shihan were awarded this title. Irie Sensei was head-instructor at the Hakko Ryu Honbu dojo till 1993. In 1990 Soke Irie opened his KoKoDo Clinic where he teaches and practices the acupuncture, bone setting, moxa and shiatsu.

In 1995 Soke Irie Yasuhiro started his own KoKoDo Ju Jutsu.

Sensei Irie is the first (Shodai) Soke of the KoKoDo Ju Jutsu.

KoKoDo Ju Jutsu is a traditional martial art, specialized in wrist locks and pressure points, the origin of this art can be found in the old or Feudal Japan. These systems were studied and practiced by the Samurai. KoKoDo Ju Jutsu is a traditional martial art which emphasizes a series of prearranged techniques (kata), similar to Daito Ryu. These are model attacks and defenses in which each student knows what action the other will take and no major alterations are made.

There are 6 levels which are taught to the students in this system.

First four are black belt levels: Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan. The last levels: Shihan, Kaiden Shihan can only be given and authorized by the founder in the Honbu Dojo in Saitama Omiya Japan. The belt color for the last levels are purple, in KoKoDo Ju Jutsu government the highest belt. This color also stands for faithful and honor in Japan

 

KoKoDo Kyu Shin Kai Organization

School of Understanding the Heart of KoKoDo Ju Jutsu

The KoKoDo Kyu Shin Kai organization was founded by 3 Shihans with the same objective, to attach traditional Ju Jutsu to values such as: Friendship, Respect and Harmony.

The KoKoDo Kyu Shin Kai Organization was born on 30 March 2005. This organization has the aim to instruct the KoKoDo Ju Jutsu style of Soke Yasuhiro Irie. To attain this objective the way of Soke Irie will be followed conscientious, by studying and training in a regular manner at the KoKoDo Honbu Dojo in Japan.

 

The three basic values of the KoKoDo Kyu Shin Kai are:

FRIENDSHIP, RESPECT AND HARMONY

 

The founders of the KoKoDo Kyu Shin Kai Ju Jutsu.

From left to right:

Kaiden Shihan Etienne Beynaerts

Kaiden Shihan Ivo Belmans

Kaiden Shihan Erik Melotte