History of
Jishukan Ryu Jujitsu
in Japan

Jishukan Ryu Jujitsu originated during the reign of the Emperor Hirohito of Japan by Soke Shuho Sugita, the founder, first Principal and Head Master.

Soke Shuho Sugita was born in Shimozuki and brought up in Yokohama, Japan. He inherited his martial arts interest from his father, and commenced training in his early childhood.

He received direct training from Master Saito - one of the great masters of the classical martial arts - in Jujitsu/Kempo, Hai-a-na-wa (quick rope techniques) and Jojitsu (the stick art). At the age of thirteen he was granted an honourable certificate and went on to train at the Kodokan Takohasti Dojo, the Shiroken Dojo and the Kitoro Kodokan.

During his training he realised that "The essence of Japanese Martial Arts must be formed on the basis of Koryu or the Classical Martial Arts, and without practising the Koryu, a man cannot win overall". He went on a pilgrimage to many places searching for new instructors and new methods.

Soke Sugita was a practitioner of Kodokan Judo, Kempo, medical anatomical studies incorporating Moxibustion, and also undertook studies of Jojitsu and Hai-a-na-wa of an unknown ryuha but an art also strongly practised in the Takenouchi Ryu systems.

During the formation of Jishukan, Soke Sugita studied many of the koryu jujitsu and associated systems such as: -

	Daito Ryu Jujutsu, founded in the 16th Century, having many similar techniques as the present day Jishukan waza
	Takenouchi Ryu Bugei Ju Happen - the eighteen classical arts of koryu bujitsu also formed in the 16th Century and the main martial art system employed by the Tokugawa Shogun dynasty
	And the more recently formed 20th Century Hakkoryu Jujutsu, which also incorporated the art of Shiatsu.

After conducting extensive research into many martial arts, he combined his knowledge with Medical Science, Anatomy, Dynamics and Psychology to produce Jishukan Ryu Jujitsu in 1947 at Kanazawa, Yokohama, Japan. It was formed originally as an attack-defence Martial Art. As a rule it is practised without weapons and was one of the earlier martial arts permitted by General Macarthur under the Occupational Forces control of post-war Japan along with Master Morihei Ueshiba's Aikido system.
He retired from active instruction in early 1980 and assisted in the Jishukan clinic until his death in 1983 from lung cancer. Before his death, Soke Shuho Sugita arranged for a Permanent Council within Japan to guide Jishukan into the future.

In July 2002, the Kanagawa Police accepted Jishukan as a martial art to assist the Police in their personal protection without the use of weapons.

At present, Jishukan Ryu Dojo's exist in Yokosuka (Japan), Australia and in the USA.

History of Jishukan Ryu Jujitsu in Japan

History of
Jishukan Ryu Jujitsu
in Japan