Aiki jujutsu is a very refined and higher form of jujutsu. It has many similarities to Aikido. The difference is that Aikido is from the 20th century (founded by Ueshiba O-sensei around 1930) while Aiki Jujutsu is an art of self-defence hundreds of years old.

The typical features are hyper extension of the joints and mobilisation techniques. During the movement of the techniques the emphasis is not physical power but more the correct execution thereof. We assume Aiki Jujutsu was created within the Royal Seiwa family who reigned from 858 until 876 a.d. The system has been worked out by Shinra Saburo Minamoto no Yoshimitsu, a Samurai commander from the 11th century.

The bizarre fact of this Samurai was that he wondered around battlefields and places of execution to study killed soldiers and condemned prisoners or even to fully dissect them. He hoped to discover which blows, grips and locks had the most effect on a person and why that was the case.

Aiki jujutsu consists of 2 major styles: the Daito ryu and the Saigo ryu. Daito ryu was introduced to the general population through Sokaku Takeda (1860-1943). The story would not be complete without mentioning the role of Tanomo Saigo (1839-1903). Tanomo Saigo was the last Karo of the Aizu clan. He was an expert in Oshiki Uchi and Aiki Jujutsu. He had received his teachings from Soemon Takeda (1758-1853), who taught a system called Aiki-In-Yo-Ho.

The exact date of origin of Yoshin ryu jujutsu is historically inconclusive but most likely to be around the year 1723. We assume the Japanese medical doctor Akiyama Yoshitoki had learned his Jujutsu art from empty hand fighting in China but he concluded that the effective execution relied too much on physical strength. Back in Japan he secluded himself on a mountain and went into meditation. On a winter day with heavy snowfall he looked at a cherry tree and a willow. While the stiff branches of the cherry tree snapped, the willow’s branches bent under the weight and remained unharmed. This observation led him to retreat himself in the Tenmango temple and that is where he developed his 103 jujutsu techniques for self-defence. He called his method Yoshin ryu jujutsu which is founded on the principle: give in to overcome.

The foundation of Ju-no Kempto lies in the old Okinawa Ti 手. It dates back to the year 1609. Back then it was also called To-Te (Tuuidii). Later on, in the 18th century, the three larged provinces laid the basis of what would be known as Okinawa Karate/Kempo.

The three original main lines were: Shuri-Te, Naha-Te and Tomari-Te. Ju-no Kempo we practice in Fudoshin Ryu has it's roots in Shuri-Te and Naha-Te.

A typical exercise we practise often at Fudoshin ryu is Kakie. Kakie are pushing hands drills which allow you to experience the pressure and intention felt in hand to hand combat. Well known Okinawa karate schools like Goju ryu, Uechi ryu and the Jundokan also incorporate Kakie in their training.

Fudoshin ryu is characterized by open hand strikes and low kicks to anatomically weak parts of the attacker. Our blocks and atemi techniques are executed from a state of relaxness instead of tension. Typical are the short and fast kicks and strikes fired relentlessly

Ishiguro Ryu from Chiba dates from the Bakumatsu era. The founder most likely has been Ishiguro sensei. Bakumatsu (幕末 bakumatsu, "Tokugawa Shogunate", literally meaning end of the military camp/government) refers to the last years of the Edo era when the Tokugawa reign ended (1853 to 1867). Typical for Ishiguro jujutsu are the many ne-waza (ground) techniques.

Tenjin Shinyo-ryu (天神真楊流 Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū) which literally means true divine willow school, can be characterised as traditional koryu jujutsu. Founded by Iso Mataemon Ryukansai Minamoto no Masatari (磯又右衛門柳関斎源正足) in the 1830. This in Japan once very popular Jujutsu system has many well- known students who studied the art: Kano Jigoro, founder of Judo, and Moribei Ueshiba, founder of aikido.