Who we are?

The Nagano Ryu Heihou Kyokai is an independent governing body for Nagano Ryu Heihou. We do have affiliations and memberships with several other organizations but we maintain our own independent governance. We are a proud member of the following:

1. International Renshinkan Japan Bujutsu Federation 国際練心館日本武術連盟

2. North Carolina Martial Arts Association

3. Eastern United States Martial Arts Association

4. Makotokan Warrior Arts Association

Ellerbe Sensei holds an Annual Membership with the United States Jujutsu Federation.

OUR PROGRAM:

We teach Matsuda Den Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu & Nagano Ryu Heihou.

What is Matsuda Den Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu?

Renshinkan is a unique Daito-ryu school in that it mainly incorporates the methods of two schools:

- Shobukai - Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu by Hosaku Toshimi Matsuda Sensei;

- Shidokai - Jujutsu originating from Hakko Ryu Jujutsu founded by Okuyama Sensei .

It is recalled that Hosaku Toshimi Matsuda Sensei was one of only 18 Takeda students who received the teaching license, the kyoju-dairi 教授代理 certificate from Sokaku Takeda.

Another unique feature is the study of ancient parchments owned by Director Michio Takase Kancho, grandson of Sensei Takeshi Maeda heir to Matsuda Toshimi Sensei.

Technically, the Hosaku Toshimi Matsuda Sensei school is composed of many methods of jujutsu where most of them belong to the technical arsenal of Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu and part of other Jujutsu schools studied by Matsuda Sensei. Matsuda Sensei had a son, but he did not continue his father's studies and the original school did not survive. So thanks to Maeda Sensei who inherited the school continued the diffusion always in secrecy. Today open to the public thanks to his nephew Michio Takase Director of Renshinkan.

Founding of Nagano Ryū Heihō

Nagano Ryu Heihou is our primary martial art system. It is based on many Koryu arts of Japan. First and foremost, Nagano Ryu's curriculum is primarily based on Iwakuni Ryu Hyoho, Matsuda Den Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu and Asayama Ichiden Ryu.

Nagano Ryū Heihō was formally established by Jamie Ellerbe, Sōke, in Greensboro, North Carolina. The system emerged through decades of study, teaching, and refinement of classical Japanese martial traditions, particularly Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu and Asayama Ichiden-ryū.

In the mid-1990s, Ellerbe Sensei joined the World Martial Arts Federation (WMAF), where he both studied and instructed. Between 1994 and 1999 the WMAF served as the governing body overseeing the development of what would eventually become Nagano Ryū. During this period Ellerbe Sensei conducted numerous seminars and workshops while promoting the federation’s martial arts programs.

In 1995, Ellerbe Sensei introduced a martial arts course at North Carolina A&T State University. The initial curriculum consisted of fifty-four selected jūjutsu techniques designed specifically for a collegiate environment. These techniques drew primarily from Daitō-ryū Jūjutsu along with adapted methods derived from Asayama Ichiden-ryū. At that time, the deeper teachings of the Iwakuni Ryū family tradition were not included in the public curriculum and remained preserved privately within the Ellerbe family lineage.

By 2003, Ellerbe Sensei began teaching a more traditional curriculum rooted directly in the classical techniques of Daitō-ryū and Asayama Ichiden-ryū. During this period he undertook extensive research and refinement of combative principles, integrating the structural mechanics, control methods, and tactical strategies of both traditions. Through this process, new technical sets were developed that blended the strengths of the parent arts while forming a distinct system of application.

The development of these methods was influenced in part by the practical need for effective self-defense during a time when several violent incidents occurred in the surrounding university community. Motivated by a desire to help protect students, Ellerbe Sensei established a campus martial arts organization known as The Alliance of Intelligent Minds. This initiative provided free self-defense training to students and victims of violent crime. Working alongside campus organizations, fraternities, and campus police, the Alliance also helped coordinate safe transportation for students attending evening training sessions.

Following his involvement with the Eastern United States Martial Arts Association, and after receiving recognition and licensure from its governing board, Ellerbe Sensei formally organized the teachings into a comprehensive system in 1999 known as Nagano Ryū Heihō.

The structure of the ryū was preserved through a series of classical scroll catalogs (mokuroku), including:

Geden no Maki
Hiden Mokuroku
Chūden Mokuroku
Okuden Mokuroku

Each mokuroku preserves core teachings derived from the classical parent traditions while also presenting the original kata and waza developed within Nagano Ryū. The system expresses a synthesis of principle and application drawn from its sources, forming a cohesive martial method with its own identity and technical character.

Ellerbe Sōke sought to honor the legacy of the parent traditions while ensuring the development of Nagano Ryū as a distinct school. When observing the movement of Nagano Ryū, one can see the influence of its classical roots while recognizing the system’s unique methods and tactical expressions.

Nagano Ryū also emphasizes a deep appreciation for Japanese culture and the classical warrior traditions of the ryūha. Students are encouraged to study the language, etiquette, and historical context that accompany the martial arts they practice, ensuring that training reflects not only technique but also the spirit and culture from which these arts originate.

Ellerbe Sōke holds formal certification and licensure in the parent traditions that influenced the development of Nagano Ryū, including Daitō-ryū Jūjutsu and Asayama Ichiden-ryū. These classical teachings are personally transmitted by him to qualified students as part of their ongoing martial education.

Through this direct instruction, students gain exposure to the principles and methods of the parent traditions while developing a deeper understanding of the technical foundations that inform the Nagano Ryū system. This approach preserves the historical roots of the art while maintaining the integrity of its transmission.

The Name of the Art

The name Nagano Ryū was chosen in honor of the samurai heritage connected to the Nagano family and the warrior traditions of medieval Japan. The name pays respect to figures such as Kamiizumi Hidetsuna and Nagano Zaemon, who were counted among the famed “Sixteen Spears of House Nagano.” Through these historical connections, the tradition acknowledges the broader martial legacy associated with the Rokkaku clan, including the lineage of Nagano Narimasa.

In recognition of this heritage, the founder chose the name Nagano Ryū as a tribute to these warriors and the martial traditions that shaped their era.

The name also reflects the historic Shinano Province, located in present-day Nagano Prefecture, a region long associated with Japan’s warrior culture. This province was the site of many famous battles, including the legendary Battles of Kawanakajima, where the great daimyō Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin clashed in one of the most iconic rivalries of the Sengoku period.

Nagano Prefecture itself is a land of formidable geography and natural strength. It is home to many of Japan’s highest mountain ranges and is bordered by more prefectures than any other region in the country. Deep within its mountainous interior lies the point furthest from the ocean anywhere in Japan, emphasizing the region’s rugged and isolated character. These natural features symbolize endurance, resilience, and immovable strength—qualities that are reflected in the spirit of the ryū.

For these reasons, the system was named Nagano Ryū, honoring both the warriors of the past and the powerful landscape that shaped their history.

Technical Character of Nagano Ryū

The technical movement of Nagano Ryū places strong emphasis on attacking an opponent’s core structure and balance. Techniques focus on destabilizing the attacker through precise manipulation of posture, leverage, and timing.

The system employs refined small joint manipulation and isolation methods, allowing practitioners to control an opponent efficiently while minimizing unnecessary force.

Striking methods are integrated throughout the curriculum and are delivered across multiple levels of the body. These strikes are designed not merely to cause damage, but to disrupt the opponent’s structure and create openings for throws, controls, and immobilization techniques.

Throughout all techniques, practitioners are trained to maintain a stable and immovable center, enabling them to generate power while preserving balance and control.