Ryuho Okuyama (1901-1987)
Hakkoryu
Hakkoryu
Hakkoryu (Eighth Light System) was founded on June 1, 1941
by Shodai Soke Okuyama Yoshiharu (Yoshiji). On this date at the
Shiba Tenso Jinja (shrine in the Shiba district of Tokyo),
Okuyama sensei held the Hakkoryu Kaiso Hokokusai (ceremony
proclaiming the birth of Hakkoryu). After that point in time
Okuyama sensei used the pen name of "Ryuho" meaning "the Spine
of the Dragon".
Okuyama Yoshiharu was born on February 21,1901, in Yachi-cho,
Nishi Mu-Rayama, Yamagata prefecture, to a former samurai family
of the upper Mogami River. In his early years he trained in various
bujutsu and studied oriental medicine. In 1936, Okuyama sensei
was awarded an instructors license in Daito Ryu by Somi
Takeda, shihan. Okuyama sensei studied the okuden (secret
techniques) and helped Takeda sensei run his aiki association.
By 1939 Okuyama sensei moved to the Kanda District in Tokyo
and founded the Dai Nihon Shidokai (Greater Japan Way of the
Samurai Association). At this time Takeda sensei was advanced
in years and was being cared for by his family. This caused
the leadership of Daitoryu to be somewhat in question. This
environment set the stage for Okuyama sensei to formulate
his own distinct system which he named Hakkoryu.
Hakko - Eighth Light
Okuyama sensei philosophically conceived that there are nine
wavelength bands in the electromagnetic spectrum. He refered to the
eighth of these nine bands as the infrared (red) which holds
the secret of the power of Hakkoryu Jujutsu. This eighth band
that Okuyama sensei speaks of is seemingly weak in composition
but is surprisingly powerful. In this analogy, red symbolizes
the land of the rising sun - Japan.
Therefore, using this analogy used by Okuyama sensei,
Hakko reflects great national pride while it explains a main
concept of this style of self defense.
The KoKoDo Renmei
The KoKoDo Renmei is an organization of martial artists
mostly descended from Hakkoryu and is governed by three
directors, Irie Yasuhiro Sensei for Asia, Michael J. LaMonica
Sensei for North and South America, and Antonio Garcia Sensei
for Europe.
In 1997, Hakko Denshin Ryu was born under the Kokodo Renmei.
Permission was granted for both Michael LaMonica and Antonio
Garcia to start their own styles of jujutsu. In the spirit
of co-operation, they both called their styles Hakko Denshin
Ryu.
The Founding of Hakko Denshin Ryu
The name "Hakko Denshin" translates as "the heart of the eighth
light" or "dedicated to the spirit of the eighth light." This
refers to Hakkoryu which is the "school of the eighth light."
After the passing of Shodai Soke Okuyama Yoshiharu, his son
inherited the system and the title Nidai Soke. Between his
counsellors and advisors, a new direction for the ryu was
evolved.
Compounding the problems associated with the shift in
"administrative direction", is the demand made by Nidei Soke
that several conditions apply to all dojos where the Hakkoryu
system is being taught. Some of these conditions were:
1) no participation with any other school or system of martial
art, as in demonstrations, for other martial artists.
2) no teaching of police officers as individuals or for
departments, no jailers, no other law enforcement officers
unless they signed up for "complete" training with this system.
3) commercial teaching of the system was disapproved (i.e.
it is not appropriate to earn one's living teaching this system).
In current Western cultures, European and American, there is
concern on the part of the citizenry, as well as the
constabulary, for training in an effective self-defense system.
As taught by Shodai Soke, the Hakkoryu system is very effective
for both the average citizen and the police officer. Since the
orientation shift in the Hakkoryu system prevents its use,
the Hakko Denshin Ryu grew to fill the void. Hakko Denshin Ryu
teaches the original techniques as taught by Shodai Soke and
maintains the self-defense orientation originally found in
Shodai Soke's teachings
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| Church sensei with Okuyama sensei Japan, 1968 |
Church sensei (center-back row) and a very young Linda Church (center-front row), who is now married to Robert Kelly, during a group training session at Okuyama sensei's hombu dojo, Japan. |
