Hontai Yoshin Ryu - Jujutsu
Official Koryu Since 1660
This ancient school of Ju Jutsu founded in 1660 by Oriemon Takagi, does not count on physical strength, but incorporates the philosophy of the willow that flexes in the storm: the most rigid trees are broken by the wind, while the willow dances in the storm remaining unharmed on its roots.
This is the philosophy of Hontai Yoshin Ryu, who today is a school of Ju Jutsu recognized, legitimized and protected by the Nihon Budokan of Tokyo
The philosophical premise of Hontai Yōshin Ryū lies in its name and includes the metaphor of the weeping willow - which bends in the storm remaining steadfast on its roots, without ever breaking
For 19 generations the Sokes of this school have continued to transmit the principles of Effectivness (HON), Concreteness (TAI), Flexibility (YO), and Integrity of Spirit (SHIN) which constitute the martial ideology underlying this ancient school ( RYU) of Ju-Jutsu
Effectivness
The techniques based on the principles of flexibility and softness are neither "yielding" nor "kind" ... softness to redirect the attack, power to overwhelm the opponent.
Tradition
The techniques transmitted over the centuries are the result of "natural selection" on the battlefields. Only the one that really worked was left in the school's martial curriculum. The rest was discarded.
Curriculum
A "DIFFERENT" school of Jū-Jutsu, in addition to bare-handed techniques, the use of traditional weapons is also studied - Kodaci (short sword), ChoBō (long stick), Hanbo (short stick) and Iaido (sword).
Born on solid historical and martial foundations, HONTAI YOSHIN RYU has grown and developed over four centuries.
Inoue Kyoichi Munenori – 19° Soke.
Today the school is in the hands of the 19th Soke - INOUE Kyoichi Munenori - a great Master who continues to walk in the footsteps of his ancestors.
The current headquarters (SOHONBU DOJO) is located in Nishinomiya in Japan, where Soke INOUE lives and teaches.
In addition to Italy, the foreign branches officially recognized by the Japanese Sohonbu Dojo are in Australia, Belgium, Finland, Estonia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the USA.
In Italy since 1982 - Stelvio Sciutto Sensei
Since then, an intense journey that has lasted for over 36 years has begun, allowing Sciutto Sensei to bring to Italy one of the oldest and most prestigious koryu of Nihon Kobudo Kiokai (Nihon Budokan), of which Sciutto Sensei is an officially accredited member.
In Italy there are several hundred students who practice Hontai Yoshin Ryu following the courses that Sciutto Sensei holds for Italy.
Belgium - Guy Buyens Sensei
The earliest Belgian connection with Hontai Yōshin Ryū dates from 1983 when I met Inoue Soke in Italy, during a demonstration tour of martial arts. I was very impressed by the way members of Hontai Yōshin Ryū approached Budō.
Today whenever Inoue Sōke is somewhere in Europe, some of us will go to meet him Each year, without exception for the last 25 years, a number of our members have gone to Japan and trained in the sōhonbu dōjo.
UK - Mike McClure Sensei
Soke Inoue, the 18th Soke of Hontai Yoshin Ryu Honbu Dojo, Japan, and his son Kyoichi Sensei (now 19th Soke) visited Europe including the UK in 1985 and a demonstration was seen by myself, at that stage a black belt in Western Jujutsu.
Recognising the quality of the Budo, I asked permission to visit the Honbu dojo to train in 1986. After a number of visits to Japan in the following years, I was given permission to start a new Hontai Yoshin Ryu UK Branch in 1988.
Finland - Mikko Sollinnen Sensei
The Hontai Yoshin Ryu Finland branch was founded in 1988 by Kauko Uusoksa. He returned form Japan where had lived for years and practised Hontai Yoshin Ryu since early 80’s. In the beginning there were only four students Sami Sallinen, Mikko Korppi,
Osmo Miettinen and me.
In 1991 Sami, Mikko and me visited honbu dojo in Japan for the first time. Since then the Finnish students have travelled there frequently. In the end of same year Inoue Kyoichi sensei and Mitsuyasu Yoshihiro sensei counter visited Finland. For the following 15 years these two great senseis came to Finland every year.
Sweden - Olle Borg Sensei
Since 2002 I have been the only one in Sweden, with permission to teach Hontai Yoshin Ryu. I became a very grateful student of Kauko Uusoksa, and a few years later of Mikko Sallinen untilIn in spring 2012, I was officially recognised as head of a Swedish sub-branch . Today Hontai Yoshin Ryu is taught in five dojos in Sweden.
Hontai Yoshin Ryu offers an endless source for development. There is no “end of the tunnel”. I can always be better and learn new things, as long as my legs keep me upright. There is also a genuine history in Hontai Yoshin Ryu. It is a certified koryu. This is why I have stayed, and why I will never leave Hontai Yoshin Ryu.
I am proud of every student...from the last one who joined the group, to the densho that have followed my way for years [...]. Each of them will carry on the work I started, guaranteeing continuity and growth to this wonderfull Ju-Jutsu School
Stelvio Sciutto
7° Dan, Okuden – Resp. Europeo Hontai Yoshin Ryu
