OUR PROGRAM:

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

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                                                                         What is Matsuda Den Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Renshinkan USA?

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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. 

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Nagano Ryu Heihou is a martial art system based on many Koryu arts of Japan but is not a Koryu itself. First and foremost, Nagano Ryu is a Gendai Martial Arts system with its curriculum primarily based on Ganseki Ryu Hojojutsu, and Nagano Den Asayama Ichiden Ryu. 

 

   

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   THE FOUNDING OF NAGANO RYU 

 

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      In 1995 in Greensboro, NC Jamie Ellerbe, Sensei joined the World Martial Arts Federation where he taught and attended classes. The WMAF became the governing board for Nagano Ryu between 1994 & 1999. Ellerbe Sensei taught many workshops and seminars as he continued to promote the WMAF. During the period between 1994-1999 Ellerbe sensei did not teach from the Asayama Ichiden Ryu Mokuroku. At this time only 54 Jujutsu techniques were selected for the college class at North Carolina A&T State University.  The curriculum for the college class was simply a collection of techniques from Daito Ryu Jujutsu.

     It wasn't until 2003 that Ellerbe sensei began to teach the traditional techniques from Daito Ryu and Asayama Ichiden Ryu. It was during these years that Ellerbe Sensei began combining the Asayama Ichiden Ryu Jujutsu techniques with the Daito Ryu Jujutsu techniques forming several sets of new techniques. This was in response to a series of violent robbing's, assaults, and rapping's. During these years on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University there was several rape incidents that took place along with robberies and other types of incidents. Ellerbe Sensei was disturbed by this and after several instances of individuals attempting to rob him, Ellerbe Sensei's modifications proved to be very effective in stopping the assaults. It was at this time that Ellerbe Sensei decided to further develop Nagano Ryu and form his own Martial Arts Organization on campus called "The Alliance of Intelligent Minds". This initiative was designed to provide free self defense courses for rape victims and students who had experienced being robbed. The Alliance worked with several Fraternities and Campus police to provide safe transportation for students to receive training and safe travels to classes in late evenings. 

       After joining the Eastern United States Martial Arts Association and subsequently receiving Menkyo Kaiden from the EUSIAA Board, Ellerbe Sensei decided in 1999,to create the Nagano Ryu Heihou system. Four Mokuroku were created "Geden No Maki, Hiden Mokuroku, Chuden Mokuroku, & Okuden Mokuroku". Each Mokuroku includes all the core teachings from Daito Ryu, Asayama Ichiden Ryu, and Ganseki Ryu. Nagano Ryu has several series of Kata and Waza that infuses principles and techniques from all three parent arts making its own unique techniques. 

        Ellerbe Sensei wanted to pay respect to the parent arts by including their techniques in the each catalog (Mokuroku) but at the same time giving Nagano Ryu its own identity. When you see Nagano Ryu in motion, you see the fusion of its parent arts. In this way, Ellerbe Sensei was able to preserve the proud heritage without losing Nagano Ryu's own unique techniques. 

       We are passionate about the culture of Japan and its warrior traditions. Each student is immersed in Japanese culture and is learning to speak the language.  The founders dream was to infuse all the traditions into a single system where elements and principles of the parent arts can be seen in each technique.

  

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Our Art's Name:

 

            Ellerbe Sensei wanted to name his art after something connected to the warrior culture and its principles that could not be easily forgotten. The Shinano province, in Nagano Prefecture has a long warrior history including the well-known battles of Kawanakajima where Shigen Takeda and Kenshin Uesugi fought. He decided to use the Nagano prefecture as a powerful metaphor. 

   

          Nine of the twelve highest mountains in Japan can be found in Nagano prefecture. Nagano is also the prefecture which is bordered by the highest number of other prefectures in Japan and it contains the location which is the furthest point from the ocean anywhere in Japan and is completely isolated. The art was therefore named after this great wonder.

 

 

(NAGANO RYU)- “The Style of the 9 Mountains”. 

 

        In terms of movement, the techniques pour immense focus on attacking an attackers core structure while utilizing small joint manipulation and isolation. However, the striking methodology focuses on striking multiple levels to uproot an attacker while maintaining an immovable center.