Formulation of Shinshin Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu

 

    Shinshin Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu is a traditionally-based Nihon Jujutsu developed from the martial arts of Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu, Daito/Hakko Ryu Jujutsu, and Seishinkan Jujutsu. In 1939 as a young boy, the late Albert C. Church, Jr., Dai-Soke, began training in Yoshin Ryu, Daito Ryu, and Judo. In those days, it was common for Japanese martial artists to cross train in arts such as these, especially if they trained at the Kodokan in Japan, as Kano Sensei (the founder of Judo) had teachers of many of Jujutsu arts teaching there. Church Sensei trained in these arts in Birmingham, Alabama between the years 1939 and 1946. In 1946, he opened a Judo/Jujutsu class at the local YMCA, continuing to teach these classes until he joined the US Marines in 1948.

   After returning from the Korean War in 1952, Church Sensei continued teaching these Jujutsu methods to his students until he left for Japan in 1967. One of the students of these teachings of Jujutsu was my teacher, Church Sensei’s Soke-Dai (inheritor elect), the late Harold Martin Sensei, who first met Church Sensei in late 1962. During Church Sensei’s 2-year stay in Japan, Martin Sensei taught Church’s Jujutsu as well as Motobu Ha Shito Ryu and Hakko Ryu under the Hakko Ryu Martial Arts Federation (HMAF). In Japan, Church Sensei trained with the late Shogo Kuniba Soke, in his various arts, one of which was his Seishinkan Jujutsu. This version of Jujutsu was a hybrid of Okinawan-te grappling, and the Yoshinkan Aikido of Gozo Shioda Sensei, both of which had influenced Kuniba Soke to varying degrees. Church Sensei eventually earned a Godan (5th Degree Black Belt) in Seishinkan Jujutsu under Kuniba Soke. During this same time, Church also trained in Hakko Ryu Jujutsu under the founder, Ryuho Okuyama, Shodai-Soke. Church eventually earned a Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) in Hakko Ryu Jujutsu, as well.

   After again returning to the United States in 1969, Church Sensei began teaching the Jujutsu that he learned in Japan during his stay. For the next few years (until approx. 1972) Church Sensei, and his Black Belt student instructors) taught primarily his interpretation of Hakko Ryu Jujutsu. In approximately 1972, the teachings of Seishinkan Jujutsu started appearing more and more. From approximately 1972 to 1974, Church Sensei started merging his Jujutsu teachings into his Kanshin/Kamishin Ryu. After 1974, his Jujutsu continued to evolve bringing in more footwork and body movement likened to his earlier training of Yoshin Ryu. As with most systems that underwent a time of evolution, many students that trained at differing times with Church Sensei or with his instructors, learned different versions of the waza, or even completely different Jujutsu Ryuha (sub-systems), depending on when they trained, or whom they trained with.

   The current version of Shinshin Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu, as taught by the current head-family of Shinshin Ryu, Darrell Collins, Soke, is the culmination of the evolution of the traditional Nihon Jujutsu waza that was taught to Church Sensei over the span of his life. These teachings were put together in a cohesive system of traditionally based techniques, principles, and concepts by Church Sensei and Martin Sensei. This system of Aiki-based Jujutsu has strong roots in the arts of Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu, Daito/Hakko Ryu Jujutsu, and Seishinkan Jujutsu, but has become its own distinct and beautiful system of Jujutsu, honoring the arts that make up its traditional roots.

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