Yoshin Dojo

Very interesting, antique lock and key from Edo Period Japan. Quite clever mechanism and the key is even attached to a large wooden tag like a convenient store in the US to prevent people from losing it. ;-)

Beautiful hanging scroll (kakejiku) of a warrior painting (Mushae) with Mt Fuji.

Nice patina on this antique hand guard (tsuba) from Japan. This one included a nice box (kiri bako) as well.

Appreciated everyone's effort last night!

The youngsters did outstanding last night. A few of the more senior kids have been helping a lot recently with the newer kids. We welcomed Carina to the training last night. Warm ups and mount escapes were the focus. Congratulations to Jada, Jackson and Kenshiro for their promotions last night!

Adults warmed up with some spirited grappling and then moved into groups to work a variety of striking, joint locks and throws. Congratulations to Josh and Abby on their promotions!

After training at Yoshindojo.com tonight you can get home to view the UFC grappling event for free on YouTube!

Despite the storms, we had good training last night!

4 new youngsters joined the fun and did quite well. Jada and Jackson are several classes in now and showing good progress. We covered Morote gari (double leg tackle) and how to fall properly and then also worked positional sparring starting from side position.

The adult classes started with 30 minutes of Newaza and then we broke up into groups. Jujutsu (grappling), Bojutsu (staff) and Tantojutsu (knife skills) were all covered.

Below is an image of an antique Japanese tanto with silver inlay.

A beautiful, oversized Kakejiku (hanging scroll) of Daruma.

The original work was attributed to Kuki Ryūichi (九鬼 隆一; September 12, 1852 – August 18, 1931). He was a politician and a samurai.

"Yari Tameshi" 鎗試し

This scroll was written in December 1855 on Kukishin Ryu Nawa (rope binding). The scroll is well preserved and includes several sections of various binds. Most of the binds include an accompanying Nawa/take Ningyo ("rope/bamboo figure") serving as an example of the tie. They are made from wood, bamboo and h**p and serve as nice reminders of the binds within the scroll.

This particular tie shown in the image is called "Yari Tameshi" 鎗試し. Yari Tameshi essentially means "to test the spear". This is how someone would be bound so that the lance could be tested on them. Interesting connection to biblical concepts of crucifixion.

This bind is still passed on in some lines of Kukishin Ryu and other arts today. Our school teaches advanced students various arts of Hojo (binding) from various Koryu including Kukishin Ryu and Takagi Ryu.

Great classes last night!

The youth had lots of energy to burn. We had 3 new students take part in the fun. Plenty of warm ups and drills. They learned how to judge distance from an opponent to clinch while avoiding being slapped with foam pads and then just a bit of coached grappling towards the end.

The adult classes started with 30 minutes of sparring and then onto break out sessions for rank material. Wrist locks, throws and basics of ground work were all taking place at the same time!

Good training everyone!

Much better attendance last night.

The youth classes focused on some movement training with some added fun. Everyone did well!

The adult classes focused on the short, weighted chain (Manriki Kusari, Kusari Fundo, Sode Gusari, etc). We reviewed basic grips, directional striking, combination movements and how all of the movements are related to not only sword but unarmed movements as well.

The majority of our basic curriculum with the short chain comes from a school called Masaki Ryu (正木流). While various basics are taught at our general classes the full curriculum of this school is also taught in the traditional fashion for those interested. Our school is perhaps one of the only authorized schools outside of Japan that can teach the full curriculum.

The image below shows the 10th headmaster, Nawa Yumio sensei doing an arm entanglement.

#正木流