Aiki-Jujutsu History

 

 

 

 

AIKI-JUJUTSU ( Art of Spirit and Harmony ) is an advanced martial art form of Jujutsu which emphasizes the 'early neutralization' of an attack. Like other forms of jujutsu it emphasizes throwing techniques and joint manipulations to effectively control, subdue or injure an attacker. It emphasizes using the timing of an attack to either blend or neutralize its effectiveness and use the force of the attacker's movement against them. It is characterized by the ample use of atemi, or the striking of vital areas, in order to set their joint locking or throwing tactics.

 

Daito-Ryu

 

Takeda Sokaku

 

Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu, originally called Daito-Ryu Jujutsu, is a Japanese martial art that first became widely known in the early 20th century under the headmastership of Takeda Sokaku. Takeda had extensive training in several martial arts (including Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryu and sumo) and referred to the style he taught as "Daito-Ryu". Although the school's traditions claim to extend back centuries in Japanese history there are no known extant records regarding the ryu before Takeda. Whether he is regarded as the restorer or founder of the art, the known history of Daito-Ryu begins with Takeda Sokaku. Perhaps the most famous student of Takeda was Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido.

There are a number of martial arts in addition to aikido which appear or claim to descend from the art of Daito-ryu or the teachings of Takeda Sokaku. Among them is the Korean martial art of hapkido founded by Choi Yong Sul, who made unverified claims to have trained under Takeda Sokaku, Hakko Ryu founded by Okuyama Yoshiharu who trained under Takeda, Nippon Shorinji Kempo founded by Nakano Michiomi (So Doshin) who is known to have trained under Okuyama. Several other modern schools of Aiki-Jujutsu such as Yamate-Ryu and Takeda-Ryu also claim a connection to Daito-Ryu. Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu is not the sole art that refers to Aiki-Jujutsu (or its derivatives).

The term Aiki-Jujutsu (variations Aiki-Jutsu and Aikijutsu) in a number of cases have been adopted by newly synthesized martial arts and refer to Aikido techniques performed in a "harder" manner such as Tenshin-Ryu, Senso-Ryu, Shindo-Ryu. It also relates to arts that teach Jujutsu with an aiki application.

 

Senso-Ryu

 

 

 

Richard Behrens

 

In the late 1960’s, after studying various Japanese martial arts and meditative disciplines, Grand Master Richard Behrens felt that something was missing. Each individual martial art had its benefits and focused on one or two particular elements of self defense. Some focused on grappling, some on toe-toe fighting, some on weapons, some on projections or throws, etc. He believed that if you combined the best of these styles, you could come out with one all encompassing martial art. On top of this, the main focus was to be full contact training dealing with realistic attacks and a strict adherence to meditation. He called his Ryu “Senso Aiki-Jujutsu”. Senso Aiki-Jujutsu loosely translates to “battle art of spirit and harmony.” He felt that the term “Senso” or “War” was appropriate because of the aggressive nature of the system.

Master Behrens was not the first nor the last person to combine or modify existing martial arts to create a new system. Many famous systems such as Judo and Aikido were started the exact same way. The ironic thing was that modern systems like Judo and Aikido where created by removing the combat effectiveness of those original arts (jutsu) and creating sports (do). This was not the intention of Master Behrens. It seemed to him at the time that all martial disciplines where becoming sports. What set his Ryu apart from some of the other composite arts was the aggressive non-sport style of training, the meditation, and the higher level techniques.

One of the main differences was that great emphasis was placed on how the student attacked his fellow student in training. In a lot of martial arts, the attacks were very static, predictable and unrealistic. In Senso Aiki-Jujutsu, the attacks were wild and much more realistic. Another main difference was the idea that without an internal discipline such as meditation, martial arts was nothing more than aerobics. You need to be relatively calm at the moment of danger in order for the techniques that you had learned to come out, so to speak. Instead of freezing in fear. This was nothing new. meditation was taught in conjunction with the Japanese martial arts since feudal Japan. It has been lost in modern systems due to ignorance or religious intolerance .

Master Behrens began teaching his art in New York City in the early 1970’s. He taught many people during this time including police officers from the NYPD. Some of these students who trained under Master Behrens back in the 70’s are continuing to teach today in one form or another. In 1983, he and his family moved to South Florida where he continued teaching.

 

Ted Hanulak studying at Master Behrens' dojo cir. 1984

 

In 1982 Ted Hanulak moved to Florida from New York City. In 83' he began his studies under Master Behrens. Training was very rough. The Master taught privately out of his home and had no interest in acquiring a lot of students. His teaching style and demeanor was very much like the masters of old. He did not teach everyone. The students he did accept were expected to be the most dedicated and have the most heart. Each class was 2-3 hours long, 4 days a week. You were required to attend every class. Excuses and nonsense was not tolerated.

Hanulak, who had trained in various martial arts such as Karate, Judo and Taekwondo, was pleased to have finally found a martial art that was taught for realistic self defense and not just a sport. He was becoming a police officer and knew the importance of hardcore training for his own survival. This was not a time for playing around at the martial arts. He trained under Master Behrens for 9 years.

In 1992, Ted Hanulak Sensei began teaching, opening the first South Florida Dojo. Taking his experience from being a decorated police officer and head of security / bouncer in various nightclubs in South Florida for many years, he continued to “battlefield test” the art so to speak and to evolve it into a modern system of self defense through out the 90′s.

"A teacher should always add his own personal experiences into whatever they teach. Just simply passing on a martial art that never evolves will ultimately render it ineffective." - Hanulak Sensei.

Hanulak Sensei also knew the importance of continuing to teach in a traditional fashion. The art had become the perfect blend of old and new. Senso-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu was born.

In 1999, he and his family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and opened the 1st. Indianapolis Dojo on the Southside of the city. In 2002, he moved the dojo into his home on the northside of town where it continues today as the Sensokan Dojo Indianapolis.

Master Behrens, now retired, is the author of a number of books, both fiction and non fiction. Hanulak Sensei continues to teach Senso-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu at the Sensokan Dojo Hombu or headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Hanulak Sensei's fellow students Shahab Mahidashti and Ivan Browner teach Aiki-Jujutsu at the Aikijutsu Budokan of South Florida. The Art continues to evolve and grow and owes a great debt of gratitude to Master Richard Behrens.

 

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