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Yakami-ryu

Hassei-ryu Yashin Mon Yakami no Taijutsu means "To understand and learn the eight hearts' gates, through active physical, mental and spiritual display of the 8 powers united to one". Yakami-ryu consists of four main “step by step” systems - Yakami Shinsei-ryu, Hassei Yakami-ryu, Hassei Yakami no Taijutsu, Hassei-ryu Yashin-mon. Yakami-ryu is a total martial arts system containing armed as well as unarmed techniques.

History and Chronology

The chronology of the systems within Yakami-ryu is as follows:

System 4: Hassei ryu Yashin Mon from the year 999

System 3: Hassei Yakami no Taijutsu from 1450

System 2: Hassei Yakami-ryu from 1989

System 1: Yakami Shinsei-ryu martial arts systems from 1967

Hassei-ryu Yashin Mon: Evolved in the Heian period (794 to 1185) Hence the most ancient part of the Yakami-ryu martial art system. It was handed over the first time in the year 999 to the 2nd Soke. The system is mainly based on spiritual powers gained through the Budo and Bujutsu way. This is for very high ranked martial artist only, that meets the prerequisites as Menkyo Kaiden (densho).

Hassei Yakami no Taijutsu: Evolved in the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573). Is the “newest” part of the family system of the 34th great grandmaster Soke Tonegawa no Yukio Sensei. It is a traditional koryu bujutsu (ancient) system and developed especially for high ranked samurais to gain advantage in battle. It is based on 12 principles and 8 forces which are universal to all martial arts. The prerequisites for practicing this part of the system is Menkyo (densho)

Hassei Yakami-ryu: Evolved in the Showa period (1926 to 1989) by Soke Tonegawa Sensei as an entry level system and preparation to the old koryu bujutsu systems in Yakami-ryu. It is a karate do martial arts system containing "Enshin", which is the essence of traditional Chinese Kenpo systems.

Yakami Shinsei-ryu Karate-do: Evolved in the Showa period (1926 to 1989) The entry level system to the Yakami-ryu style. The main part of Yakami Shinsei-ryu karate do is traditional Okinawa karate, supported with good knowledge of the traditional martial art weapon and unarmed combat systems.

Ranks

The complete Yakami-ryu system contains martial sports as well as martial arts and therefore also different kind of grades. System 1: Yakami Shinsei-ryu Karate-do is measured in the traditional dan/kyu ranking system (invented by Kano Jigoro, the founder of judo). The kyu grades are from 10th kyu to 1st kyu and the Dan grades from 1st to 10th dan, and are equivalent to other martial sports systems.

Yakami Shinsei-ryu belt order

System 2,3 and 4 is measured in the densho grades. The main difference between dan and densho is that the densho grades contains knowledge and skills from more than just one kind of martial arts. This could be Ju-jutsu, Ken-jutsu, Iai-jutsu, aiki-jutsu, yari-jutsu etc. In the old days the high ranked samurai were skilled in several martial arts skills including different weapons. At the same time the densho grade is often explained as an expression and reflection of how far you are in your personal development meaning your spiritual and mental level (the koryu bujutsu philosophy).

Yakami Densho ranks

Schools and organization

Today Yakami-ryu is practiced within the overall Bujutsu Kodosokukai organization:

Bujutsu Kodosokukai is the main organization headed by the Soke (inheritor) of Yakami-ryu and this is the martial arts sports organisation practising different kind of martial sports. Under this main organization there are 3 independent organizations under the Jokokan organization, they are all martial arts organizations practicing the koryu bujutsu systems of Yakami-ryu. The European organization, Shindenkan is practicing martial sports as well as martial arts and has its own system names directly linked to the Yakami-ryu systems.

Timelines and lineage

The figure shows the link between three timelines Japan, Yakami-ryu and the schools at which Yakami-ryu is practiced and the development over time.

Yakami time lines

Living Great grand masters of Yakami-ryu

Soke Tonegawa No Yukio Sensei

Main titles:

• Muso (densho), 10th dan.
• Supreme Great Grandmaster, Jokokan Soke Sensei.
• Chairman and Bujutusu Kodosoku-kai Soke Sensei

Soke Tonegawa was born in the North of Japan in 1938, January 15 and was trained since the early age of 4 years old in the art of Jojutsu (short staff), yarijutsu|Yari jutsu (spears) Naginata-jutsu (halbard) and in the families traditional martial arts systems. Yashin Mon Yakami no Taijutsu is the martial art system of the family of Soke Tonegawa Sensei's through more than 1,000 years and Soke Tonegawa Sensei himself, is the 34th. Grandmaster in Yashin Mon, the 18th. Grandmaster in Yakami no Taijutsu and the 1st. Grandmaster in Yakami-ryu karate-do.

Kimu K. Yamana Itotani Bjarkmann, Sodenke Sensei

Main titles:

• Jokokan Sodenke Sensei, Inka (Densho, 2007)
• Kaicho, Chairman and Senior Grand master Shindenkan (2008, Sodenke line)
• Kaicho, Chairman and Senior Grand master Kaidenkan (2008, Sodenke line)
• 8th dan Menkyo Kaiden in numerous martial arts Budo & Bujutsu systems

Kimu Sensei was born at Glostrup (Suburb of Copenhagen the capital of Denmark) hospital on the 25th of June 1965. Kimu Sensei has been a martial art Budo & Bujutsu student with more than 50 training camps in Japan and Denmark with Soke Sensei Tonegawa since 1986. Kimu Sensei began he’s martial arts sport training in 1978.

Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollarbrand), Sodenke Sensei

Main titles:

• Jokokan Sodenke Sensei, Gokui Menkyo kaiden (Densho, 2009)
• Chairman and Senior Grand master South Africa (2000, Sodenke line)
• Chairman and Senior Grand master South Africa (2000, Sodenke line)
• 8th dan Menkyo Kaiden in numerous martial arts Budo & Bujutsu systems

Abdullah Sensei was born at Cape Town, South Africa, October 9, 1934. Because of apartheid, he had to live in Denmark and the US, but is now living in Cape Town. Abdullah Sensei has been a martial art Budo & Bujutsu student with Soke Sensei Tonegawa since 1967. Abdullah Sensei began he’s martial arts sport training in 1960.