The following Documentation is of great historical importance to any Kenpo/Kempo historian.

THE TEXT BOOK
of
JU-JUTSU
as
PRACTICED IN JAPAN
by S.K. UYENISN

This JU JUTSU book was written when all of this information was current.

Kempo was a well known and established killing art!

In 1867 the Tokugawa Shogunate was officially ended after nearly 700 years of Shogun rule.

Click here to take you to an excellent web site giving you a short overview of the Samurai

In 1868 the new Japanese government eliminated two traditions: first they eliminated the Samurai as a class and outlawed their wearing of swords and at the same time ...... (KEMPO) was declared an illegal practice when the sanctity of human life was recognized under the new regime. Prior to this time the Samurai had the power of life and death over anyone of less rank. If they thought a commoner or peasant had offended them in anyway, they could kill that person with complete immunity.

For those of you who saw the TV show Shogun there is a classic example. In one of the opening scenes peasant does not properly bow to a Samurai - for this offense the offended Samurai draws his sword and beheads the offender. Wiping his blade of the blood he continued on his way.

The TV series was a 5 part mini-series: 12 hours. In Video they offer two versions: [1] A condensed 2 hour version for $18 (This series cannot be condensed to 2 hours and make any sense) [2] the complete series for $212 discounted!!! The best thing to do is when it comes out on video again (A&E), record it This is one of the best shows you will ever see on a very important part of Japanese history.

The book Shogun by James Clavell is a "Must" for your written library. This book is availabe from Amazon.
To buy this book - click on the cover

Several scenes are in the Yoshida castle ... our origin is through the Yoshida's ... A question is asked "What kind of person is Lord Yoshida? The answer: "A murdering Bastard"!

This JU JUTSU book also indicates that at this historical period Kempo was a well known (Deadly - Killing art). Also the Japanese were well aware of its Chinese origin. During this period in Japan's history they were trying to eliminate as many foreign influences as possible. At this same time they also outlawed the various sects of Zen and Buddhism and once again established "Shinto" with the emperor being a "God" as the official religion of Japan.

FIRST I HAVE SCANNED IN THE EXACT PAGES IN JPG format. Then using an OCR I have scanned in pages 15 in text form for you to print out.

THE TEXT BOOK
of
JU-JUTSO
as
PRACTICED IN JAPAN
by S.K. UYENISN

Click on each image for full size picture


This is the cover of the book	This is the fourth edition. Must have been a popular book back then
	THE TEXT-BOOK of JU-JUTSU As Practised in Japan Being a simple treatise on the Japanese Method of Self Defence By S. K. UYENISHI (Raku) Instructor to the following Colleges in Japan Riku-gun yo-nan gako (The Military College for Officers) Tai-iku-kai (The Imperial Military College of Physical Training Shi-han-gako (The School of Instructors) Jun sa kio-shun sho (The Police Training School) All Government Schools in Osaka and to The Army Gymnastic Staff Head Quarters Gymnasium, Aldershot With a Word Portrait of the Author by Percy Londhurst* Fourth Edition LONDON: ATHLETIC PUBLICATIONS LTD. 324 Gray's Inn Road, London, W.C. I
	As you can see, the author S.K. UYENISHI has very impressive credentials. His father Kichibe Uyenishi was also a great Ju-Jutsu instructor and practitioner. The father of the author was alive during this turbulent period (1867-1899) of Japanese (and Martial Arts) history were the old feudal system of Japan was replaced by the Meiji regime.
	This is page 15 - this is the important page! Click on the page to enlarge it.
below is the OCR text printable version I have added color to some of the main points

INTRODUCTION

One of the styles alluded to, known as the Kempo, which may be roughly described as a Method of killing people, possessed many points of resemblance to Ju-jutsu but was totally different in practice, being a system of self-defence against sudden attack with intent to kill and replying thereto in kind. It was certainly more closely related to ju-jutsu than are Boxing (even under the old Prize Ring rules) or le savate to Wrestling. It might perhaps be best compared to that very strenuous old Greek Physical Contest, which was known as the Pancration. By-the-way, I may here remark on the possible derivation of the old English phrase "Kempery man" and the Anglo-Saxon cempa, signifying "a warrior," from the Japanese Kempo. This is a point which should not be without interest to etymologists, and particularly to those who follow the late Professor Max Muller in his theory of the Indo-Germanic origin of the Anglo-Saxon Race.

Kempo, of course, was a system of attack and defence which branched off from ju-jutsu into the paths of strenuous endeavour, but, apart from the fact that it was less scientific than, ju-jutsu, it was declared an illegal practice when the sanctity of human life was recognised under the new regime.

Another analogous system, known as tori in some parts of Japan and as sbime in others, was an extension of ju-jutsu in, the department of ground work, and it is more than possible that many of the locks and holds of ju-jutsu were originated by exponents of tori. The last named system cannot, however, be compared with the "soft art" as a method of self-defence, as but slight importance was devoted to "throws," the modus operandi being mainly confined to falling to the ground yourself

©2000 al tracy all rights reserved - updated Tuesday, November 20, 2007