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SENSO-RYU 戦争流
Senso-Ryu "war style" is a gendai sogo bujutsu or "modern mixed martial art" developed after the Japanese Meiji Restoration of 1868. It is an extremely effective martial art of self-defense which was contemporized by Richard Behrens Shihan in the mid 1900's. The current head of the Senso-Ryu for the last 30 years is Ted Hanulak Sensei, based out of the Sensokan Dojo Indianapolis.
While most martial art styles in the mid 1900's were becoming "sports", Senso-Ryu did the exact opposite. The emphisis is on realistic adult-only training, stressing the dangers of the physiological / psychological effects of violence and the importance of hard training and Zen meditation to deal with these conditions.
Senso-Ryu is not for everyone. In todays society, martial arts have become more of a passing fad primarily geared toward children or sport. Senso-Ryu is for the most serious of student who understands the importance of the mental as well as the physical training.
Senso-Ryu is taught privately by many people who do not seek attention or fame, generally teaching in a non-commercial setting.
Students who wish to train at the Sensokan must be referred by someone connected with the dojo who will vouch for them. Money is not accepted, either in tuition or donation.
All contact with Hanulak Sensei must be made by personal introduction as the Sensokan does not accept phone calls or email.
Below is a brief general explanation for the arts that are part of Senso-Ryu:
JUJUTSU - 柔術
"Ju" can be translated as "gentle, soft, supple, flexible, pliable, or yielding", and "jutsu" can be translated as "art or technique". "Jujutsu" thus has the meaning of "yielding-art", as its core philosophy is to manipulate the opponent's force against themself rather than confronting it with one's own force.
Jujutsu developed to combat the samurai of feudal Japan as a method for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no form of weapon. Because striking against an armored opponent proved ineffective, practitioners learned that the most efficient methods for neutralizing an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks, and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker's energy against them, rather than directly opposing it.
AIKI-JUJUTSU - 合気柔術
Aiki-jujutsu can be broken into three styles: jujutsu (hard); aiki no jutsu (soft); and the combined aiki-jujutsu (hard/soft). Modern Japanese jujutsu and Aikido both originated in Aiki-jujutsu, which emphasizes "an early neutralization of an attack".
An advanced form of jujutsu, it emphasizes throwing techniques and joint manipulations to effectively subdue or injure an attacker. Of particular importance is the timing of a defensive technique either to blend or to neutralize an attack's effectiveness and to use the force of the attacker's movement against him. Aiki-jujutsu is characterized by ample use of atemi, or the striking of vital areas, to set up jointlocking or throwing tactics.
KENJUTSU - 剣 術
Kenjutsu is an umbrella term for all schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration. Some modern styles of kendo and iaido that were established in the 20th century also included modern forms of kenjutsu in their curriculum. Kenjutsu, which originated with the samurai class of feudal Japan, means "methods, techniques, and the art of the Japanese sword".
Traditional Kenjutsu is practiced with "bokken" or wooden sword. Training includes kata (pre-arranged movements) and in some schools such as the Sensokan Dojo, free style multiple attack practice at the higher levels.