Sekiguchi Shin Shin-ryū

The Sekiguchi Shinshin-ryu is a comprehensive martial art that was developed by Sekiguchi Juushin, a member of the Imagawa family of Suruga, at the beginning of the Edo period. After traveling around the country for martial arts training, he founded Sekiguchi Shinshin-ryu, which is based on the three arts of Jujutsu, Kenjutsu, and Iaido. The principle of "using soft power" is at the core of this style, which systematizes techniques based on "Ju" (softness or flexibility), emphasizing a mindset and physicality that does not resist external forces. It was later patronized by Tokugawa Yorinobu, the founder of the Kishu Tokugawa family, and has been passed down as the official style of the Kishu domain for over 400 years. During the Edo period, the style gained nationwide recognition and became known as one of the three major schools of the era. The techniques of Sekiguchi Shinshin-ryu have influenced various other schools, and styles that have been influenced by it, such as the Higo Sekiguchi-ryu Iaido (sword-drawing techniques), continue to exist in various regions to this day. It is also the first school to use the terms "Ju" and "Jujutsu," and for this reason, Sekiguchi Juushin is often referred to as the founder of Jujutsu. Additionally, the school is known for creating the concept of "Ukemi", the art of falling safely, which is not only used in traditional martial arts but also in modern Judo.