Danzan Ryu
From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source
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Danzan Ryu is a type of Jujutsu that originated in Hawaii. The name of the style is derived from tan shan (sandal wood) which is the Chinese name for Hawaii. Danzan Ryu's techniques are entirely borrowed (though slightly modified) from its predeccesor, Jujutsu. Danzan Ryu was founded by Professor Seishiro Okazaki (1890-1951) in Hawaii.
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History of Danzan Ryu's Founder, Sensei Okazaki
Early Life
Seishiro Okazaki was born in Japan on January 28, 1890. In 1906, he and his family settled in Hawaii. It was during this time that young Okazaki began to study under a Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu sensei by the name of Kichimatsu Tanaka in Hilo.
In 1924, Okazaki returned to Japan and studied the various schools, or ryu, of the most popular Jujutsu styles of the time: Yoshin Ryu, Namba-shoshin Ryu, Iwaga Ryu, Kosogabe Ryu, Kodokan Judo and several others. When he returned to Hawaii later that year, he continued his study of Jujutsu under the various masters who had come to Hawaii from Japan. Borrowing elements from Hawaiian Lua, Okinawan Karate, Filipino Eskrima, Chinese Kung Fu and American wrestling, he created an eclectic system which he called "Danzan Ryu."
World War II and afterward
Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941, Okazaki, along with many Japanese-Americans, was interned for six months. During wartime, Okazaki continued teaching and also assisted the US military in creating a hand-to-hand combat curriculum (based largely on the 120 Commando Techniques list). Ironically, at the same time, Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern Karate, was responsible for the hand-to-hand training of much of the Japanese military.
Okazaki suffered a stroke in July of 1948, from which he recovered somewhat in 1949, when he continued teaching. Sensei Okazaki died on July 12, 1951, at the age of sixty-two. He left a rich martial arts legacy which has grown and evolved sice his death.
Modern Danzan Ryu
The original Danzan Ryu Organization was the American Jujitsu Institute, founded by Okazaki in 1932. The AJI still exists, under the direction of Sam C. Luke, Charles Lee, and Daniel Saragosa. The largest is the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation (AJJF) founded in 1948 by Bud Estes, Richard Rickerts, John Cahill and Ray Law. There are many other Danzan Ryu and Danzan-influenced organizations. Wally Jay (ret.) is the founder of Small Circle Jujitsu. Michael Chubb founded the Shoshin Ryu.
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