Santa Clarita Valley School of Jujitsu

Happy Birthday 🎂 Professor Okazaki

Happy Birthday to the founding father of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu.

Seishiro "Henry" Okazaki (January 23, 1890 – July 12, 1951) was the founder of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. He was a Japanese American, legendary martial artist and gifted healer. Born in Kakeda, Date County in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, he immigrated to Hawaii in 1906. At the age of 19 he learned he had tuberculosis. Through hard training in the martial arts, Okazaki recovered completely and vowed to dedicate his life to propagating jujitsu and judo. From 1927 to 1928, Okazaki developed a complete, integrated martial arts system: Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. A synthesis of several older styles of jujitsu, Okazaki included in the system elements of his studies of Okinawan karate, Chinese kung-fu,Hawaiian Lua, Filipino knife fighting (escrima), boxing and wrestling, as well as traditional Japanese restorative massage and healing techniques (Seifukujutsu).
Okazaki initially faced opposition within the Japanese-American community for teaching outsiders Japanese martial arts. This changed after World War II. Like tens of thousands of other Japanese-Americans, Okazaki was interned during the war. Unlike others, however, his home and property were not looted; his students guarded them during the war. Upon their release, Okazaki helped support others in the Japanese-American community. For this he ultimately gained their respect.
Gradually, Okazaki developed a system comprising courses for men, women, and children. In his system, he stressed the ancient system of philosophical and moral training within the martial and restorative arts. He is credited with being the first to teach the full jujitsu course to non-Asians. He also taught perhaps the first women's self-defense course in the country. He founded the American Jujitsu Institute in the Territory of Hawaii in 1939. This is the original Danzan Ryu Jujitsu organization and remains in operation to the present day. In addition to his work in martial arts, he was also very well known for his healing arts.

Teaching Oku at Ohana with Prof. Delina Fuchs. Instruction in Komiiri, Sumigaeshi and Arashi Otoshi

Some photos from Jujitsu at the Beach
Hosted by Prof. Geoff Lane and Monica Medina.

Prof. Don Cross visiting SCVJ

It’s really nice when old students come back after being gone 5 to 6 years. Welcome back home Mauricio Arbulu and Haykaz Sarkisyan. Had a fun class with you tonight and Glenn Deitsch.

First workout of the new year with Tara Hodgetts, Mary Angelino and Kerry Sego. Today’s practice was the first half of Shinyo. All three women had such focus and drive. Congrats to Mary and Tara for being able to do Saru Shime in the high position for the first time. They trusted their Uke and they trusted themselves. Great day at the dojo.

It is nice to award Brittany Christensen, Joshua Pizano, Stephen Anthony Jones their AJJF Nidan Certificates after almost 2 years since the last in person National Convention. Looking forward to many more workouts together.
Thanks to Kerry Sego and Gregory Poretz for being at the workout and their promotion night on Dec. 12th.

On Nov. 4th father and son, Tony and Elijah Mims tested for their Brown Belts. They both did a fantastic job demonstrating all of Yawara, Nage, Shime, Goshin and the first 10 of Oku. They also demonstrated Knife and Club defenses. Thank you to the examiners Glenn Deitsch, Kerry Sego, and Professors Jane Carr and Sheryl Hager.
A very memorable evening. Congrats.

A great day of jujitsu at Oxnard at the Beach. Thanks for hosting it again Geoff Lane and Monica.

What a joy to have my student Ed Hoeffliger in town from Oregon for the weekend. Lots of working out and mat time to catch up on. With Cindee Hoeffliger