Wayne Muromoto Blog

SMAA Senior Advisor Wayne Muromoto has created a cool new blog called The Classic Budoka. Be sure to drop by http://classicbudoka.wordpress.com/ for fun and informative information about traditional budo and koryu bujutsu.

Mr. Muromoto received a Shihan teaching certificate and a sixth dan from the SMAA Jujutsu division, and he's a long time SMAA member. He teaches Takeuchi Ryu jujutsu in Hawaii.

Michigan SMAA Seminar

The recent SMAA seminar in Michigan was successful, with participants from several states in the USA attending. Instruction focused on Japanese swordsmanship: Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu iaido, kendo, and aiki ken (aikido sword). A full day of training resulted in tired, but happy, students.

We'll have a complete report in the next SMAA Journal, with perhaps more about this fun event in an upcoming SMAA E-mail Update. Thanks to everyone that participated in Ann Arbor, Michigan and to Nicklaus Suino Sensei for the use of his dojo.

Don't forget about the upcoming Europe SMAA Seminar in London this August, and the second SMAA seminar in California this November. We hope to see everyone at these important events.

Heard Sensei in Action--Part 3

In the first image above, Kevin Heard Sensei is throwing Troy Swenson with a Saigo Ryu technique called sukui nage. In the following images, he is performing one of the Saigo Ryu sutemi waza, or "self-sacrifice techniques," to dynamically throw Mr. Swenson, while he falls to the ground himself. Heard Sensei's more than 25 years of jujutsu experience are clearly evident in these photos.

Heard Sensei will be attending the second SMAA California Seminar this November. If you'd like to meet and practice with him, be sure to reserve your place at this special event soon. Below is all the information you'll need to practice Japanese yoga and martial arts with several advanced SMAA instructors:

SMAA California Seminar (2)—Dates: November 21 and 22. Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Albany, California). Featured Instructor: H. E. Davey (SMAA Primary Director and jujutsu Shihan/seventh dan). Attending Instructors: Kevin Heard Sensei (SMAA Senior Advisor), Ohsaki Jun Sensei (SMAA Senior Advisor), and Ann Kameoka Sensei (SMAA Senior Advisor). Subjects: Japanese yoga/meditation and Saigo Ryu aiki-jujutsu. Theme: “Meditation in the Martial Arts.” Contact: H. E. Davey (Telephone: 510-526-7518, E-mail: hedavey@aol.com).

Heard Sensei in Action--Part 2

The images above show Kevin Heard Sensei, SMAA Senior Advisor and SMAA Jujutsu Division fifth dan, demonstrating various Saigo Ryu immobilizing techniques. Troy Swenson is the uke, or "receiver" of these techniques.

Heard Sensei is one of the original members of the SMAA. He taught well-received classes in Saigo Ryu at the 2005 and 2006 SMAA Seminar & Conference, and he is one of the senior ranking members of the SMAA Jujutsu Division.

Heard Sensei in Action--Part 1

A San Francisco Bay Area native, Kevin Heard Sensei has been studying Japanese cultural arts for 25 years. He holds teaching licenses in Shin-shin-toitsu-do, a form of Japanese yoga, as well as related healing arts. He also holds the rank of menkyo chudan (a traditional teaching license roughly equivalent to fourth through sixth dan in modern ranking systems) in Saigo Ryu aiki-jujutsu.

Heard Sensei also serves on the SMAA Board of Advisors. He is the assistant editor for the SMAA Journal and the former webmaster for the SMAA website. He currently holds the title/rank of Fuku Shihan/fifth dan in the SMAA's Traditional Jujutsu Division.

He has also received rank and teaching licenses from the Nihon Jujutsu and Kobudo divisions of the Kokusai Budoin, an elite international martial arts federation headquartered in Tokyo. He has, additionally, demonstrated aiki-jujutsu several times at the Kokusai Budoin Sogo Budo Taikai, held annually in Tokyo.

The images above show Mr. Heard applying various Saigo Ryu techniques to Troy Swenson, SMAA associate member. The photos depict randori, training that is not prearranged (like kata). In Saigo Ryu randori, the opponent can attack using any type of assault, including punches, kicks, grabs, close-in grappling, etc. The defender responds with appropriate techniques that use the principles of Saigo Ryu.

Ohsaki Sensei in Action--Part 3

In the post Ohsaki Sensei in Action--Part 2, Mr. Ohsaki demonstrated a jujutsu throw commonly called kote gaeshi. It involves a painful bending of the assailant's wrist, along with a dynamic breaking of the attacker's balance.

Following such a throw, it is possible to roll the opponent onto his or her stomach. This face down position is often used in Nihon jujutsu ("Japanese jujutsu"), because it largely eliminates the attacker's ability to strike with their hands and feet. In the images above, Ohsaki Sensei is using ashi garami, "leg entwining," to bend the opponent's arm behind his back. This puts extreme pressure on the attacker's shoulder, causing him to lift one hip and shoulder to attempt to relieve the pain in his trapped arm/shoulder. Notice how Ohsaki Sensei is pressing one knee and his entire body weight onto the opponent's floating ribs. This stops him from escaping from the bending of his arm behind his back. Note as well that, once again, Ohsaki Sensei's hands are free to draw a sword, bind the attacker with rope, or fend off a second opponent. These type of advanced restraining holds are known in traditional jujutsu as mute gatame, "no hands pins."

In the final photo, the attacker attempted to hit or push Ohsaki Sensei with his free hand. Mr. Ohsaki caught the wrist and then locked the shoulder. This ending position places severe weight on the ribs via knee pressure, bends one arm behind the back, and strains the muscles in both shoulders. Escape would be difficult.

Ohsaki Sensei will be at the second SMAA California Seminar this November. If you'd like to meet and practice with him, read over the information below and reserve your place soon:

SMAA California Seminar (2)—Dates: November 21 and 22. Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Albany, California). Featured Instructor: H. E. Davey (SMAA Primary Director and jujutsu Shihan/seventh dan). Attending Instructors: Kevin Heard Sensei (SMAA Senior Advisor), Ohsaki Jun Sensei (SMAA Senior Advisor), and Ann Kameoka Sensei (SMAA Senior Advisor). Subjects: Japanese yoga/meditation and Saigo Ryu aiki-jujutsu. Theme: “Meditation in the Martial Arts.” Contact: H. E. Davey (Telephone: 510-526-7518, E-mail: hedavey@aol.com).

Ohsaki Sensei in Action --Part 2

In the preceding images, Ohsaki Jun Sensei, SMAA Senior Advisor, is seen demonstrating a version of kote gaeshi. Kote gaeshi goes by varying names depending on the martial art, but some version of it can be found in many different disciplines including aikido, jujutsu, aiki-jujutsu, and even in judo's Kodokan Goshin-jutsu kata. Ohsaki Sensei's opponent in the photos is Troy Swenson, SMAA associate member.

You can get a close up of the pictures by left clicking on them with your mouse.