An overview of the martial art Danzan Ryu Jujitsu
The martial art of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu has roots in both classical and modern systems. Founded in Hawaii in the 1920s by Professor Henry Seishiro Okazaki, DZR has direct roots in traditional Japanese jujitsu and was influenced by the arts that were practiced in the Islands at the time, such as Hawaiian Lua, Okinawan Karate, Filipino Martial Arts, Chinese Kung Fu, and American Boxing and Wrestling.
Through training, we develop technical martial skills and increase our health and strength, both physically and mentally. At the heart of our practice are the goals of continual improvement, personal development, and positive community building.
The techniques in the system can be broken down into five categories:
- Yawara: Escapes from holds and joint locking techniques (similar to Aikido)
- Nage: Sweeps and throws (similar to Judo)
- Shime: Pins and ground techniques (similar to Brazilian Jujitsu)
- Atemi: Strikes, blocks, and kicks (similar to Karate)
- Seifukujitsu: Massage and restorative healing arts (similar to Shiastu)
Note: Arts mentioned above are in a general sense to help visualize the types of techniques. Martial art systems are complex and extensive in their design and there are many similarities and overlaps in the curricula.
