| Okuyama Ryuho
Soke , was born in 1901 in Yamagata Prefecture. His given
name was Okuyama Yoshiji. A graduate of Tokyo Seiji Gakko
(Tokyo School of Political Science), he moved to Asahikawa,Hokkaido
where, in 1927, along with Mr. Namikoshi Tokujiro, established
a medical clinic. (Mr. Namikoshi was later to establish
the now famous Nihon Shiatsu School in Tokyo). |
During his early life,
Shodai Soke traveled extensively from his base in Asahikawa
studying many of the martial and medical systems. During
that period, the best way to find qualified teachers
of Jujutsu was to find good doctors of oriental medicine.
Included in his martial studies were Daito Ryu Aiki
Jujutsu (which he studied in Hokkaido with Kyoju Dairi
Matsuda (Toshimi) Hosaku and later from Daito Ryu Soke
Takeda Sokaku); Seigo Ryu Jujutsu (he studied in Kyoto),
Hasegawa Eishin Ryu (sword style studied in Hokkaido),
Nitoryu Kenjutsu (sword style studied in theKumamoto
area), Sojutsu (spear combat), Jojutsu (stick combat
studied inthe mountains of Niigata), Kyujutsu (archery
studied in Yamagata Prefecture), Shurikenjutsu (throwing
weapons studied in the mountains of Niigata), as well
as other lesser-known systems. In all, he studied under
twenty teachers of various Bujutsu Ryu. At the same
time, he had the opportunity to study with leading masters
of traditional Japanese medicine including circulation
(meridian-in/yo) theory, Shiatsu finger pressure medicine,
acupuncture, massage, and traditional herbs and diet.
He eventually.became an instructorof Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu,but
in 1939 he broke away from Sokaku Takeda Sensei, calling
what the art he taught "Meishido".
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| Finally, on June 1, 1941
he held the "Hakkoryu Kaiso Hokokusai"(Ceremony
Proclaiming to the Kami (Gods) the Founding of Hakkoryu).
Hakkoryu was born. Moving to the Kanda district of Tokyo,
he established the Hakkoryu Kobujuku (Private School for
the Classical MilitaryArt of Hakkoryu) where he operateda
popular training hall while alsoproviding direct instruction
to the police. |
| When the Allied bombings
of Tokyo became too severe, eventually burning the dojo,
he and his followers fled the cityand joined the Mount
Haguro sect of Shugendo (a mixture of esoteric Buddhism
and Shintoism) in Yamagata Prefecture. There he was to
stay, study, and teach until around 1947, at which time
he moved to Omiya City, Saitama Prefecture and established
the Hakkoryu So Hombu Dojo, sometimes referred to as the
Hakkoryu Juku Hombu Dojo. The dojo has been in this location
ever since. |
| The name "Hakkoryu"
is based on a philosophical Japanese view of the color
spectrum as being dividedinto nine bands of light. The
eighth shade is infrared, which is invisibleto the naked
eye but extremely powerful, as are Hakkoryu techniques.
The number eight in Japan also has associated with it
numerous philosophicaland religious meanings. |
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