Shinto Muso-ryu descends from a 400+ year lineage of teacher/student relationships, mainly in the Kuroda-han, which was in Fukuoka, Kyushu (southern Japan). This martial art was passed down among a relatively small group of people until the time of Shiraishi Hanjiro (1842 - 1927). The Meiji era (1868 - 1912) created an opportunity to teach Shinto Muso-ryu outside of its traditional domain in Kyushu, and beyond the samurai class. One of Shiraishi's principal students, Shimizu Takaji sensei was a major force in this spread of Shinto Muso-ryu Jo to Japan, and the world.
Here in the United States, Phil Relnick sensei, menkyo kaiden, leads our group in the study of Shinto Muso-ryu Jo. Relnick sensei spent over 40 years living and working in Japan after serving in the US Air Force in the late 1950's. He started with Judo in 1957 while stationed in Japan, and continued his Budo studies later during his entire residence in Japan.
When Relnick sensei returned to Japan as a civilian in 1961, Donn Draeger sensei helped him settle into his life in Japan. Draeger sensei was already a student of Shimizu Takaji sensei, introducing Relnick to Shimizu sensei in 1962. At that time Relnick sensei began Shinto Muso-ryu Jo under Shimizu Takaji sensei at the Tomisaka Police Dojo, and later the Tokyo Rembukan Dojo. And continued this training until Shimizu Takaji sensei's passing in 1978.
Relnick sensei is a graduate of Waseda University, and earned his Masters of Asian Studies from the University of Michigan. Relnick sensei worked for a large Japanese company before starting his own business consulting practice in Tokyo. During this time his primary martial arts studies included Kodokan Judo, Shinto Muso-ryu Jo, and Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto Ryu.
After Shimizu Takaji sensei's passing in 1978, Relnick continued his studies with Nishioka Tsuneo sensei, who was Shimizu Takaji sensei's longest practicing student at that time. Having started Shinto Muso-ryu Jo training with Shimizu sensei in 1938. Relnick sensei received menkyo kaiden from Nishioka sensei in 1994, and was the first non-Japanese to receive this.
Relnick sensei is also Menkyo in Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto Ryu, and a direct student of Otake Risuke. Today he teaches Shinto Muso-ryu Jo and Katori Shinto-ryu at his Shintokan Dojo in Woodinville, Washington.
Relnick sensei & Don Buck demonstrating Shinto Muso-ryu in 1968, with Shimizu Takaji sensei watching in the background.
Shiraishi Hanjiro Sensei (1842 - 1927)
Dedication of Gonnosuke Jinja in October 1967, on the grounds of Kamado jinja in Dazaifu, Fukuoka. Shimizu sensei & Otofuji sensei are in front row, left side. Relnick sensei is in back row/center. Along with Donn Draeger, Quintin Chambers, Shimizu Yuji, etc.
Shimizu Takaji sensei (1896 - 1978) | Nishioka Tsuneo sensei (1924 - 2014)
Tokyo Rembukan Dojo
back L-R: Phil Relnick, Quintin Chambers, Chic Eather, Kobayashi S.
front L-R: Donn Draeger, Shimizu Takaji Sensei, Martyn Gravenstein, Nobuko Relnick
Connecticut, USA 1970 - Left-to-Right: Nobuko Relnick, Kaminota Tsunemori, Shimizu Takaji sensei, Donn Draeger, Phil Relnick
Shinto Muso-ryu descends from a 400+ year lineage of teacher/student relationships, mainly in the Kuroda-han, which was in Fukuoka, Kyushu (southern Japan). This martial art was passed down among a relatively small group of people until the time of Shiraishi Hanjiro (1842 - 1927). The Meiji era (1868 - 1912) created an opportunity to teach Shinto Muso-ryu outside of its traditional domain in Kyushu, and beyond the samurai class. One of Shiraishi's principal students, Shimizu Takaji sensei was a major force in this spread of Shinto Muso-ryu Jo to Japan, and the world.
Here in the United States, Phil Relnick sensei, menkyo kaiden, leads our group in the study of Shinto Muso-ryu Jo. Relnick sensei spent over 40 years living and working in Japan after serving in the US Air Force in the late 1950's. He started with Judo in 1957 while stationed in Japan, and continued his Budo studies later during his entire residence in Japan.
When Relnick sensei returned to Japan as a civilian in 1961, Donn Draeger sensei helped him settle into his life in Japan. Draeger sensei was already a student of Shimizu Takaji sensei, introducing Relnick to Shimizu sensei in 1962. At that time Relnick sensei began Shinto Muso-ryu Jo under Shimizu Takaji sensei at the Tomisaka Police Dojo, and later the Tokyo Rembukan Dojo. And continued this training until Shimizu Takaji sensei's passing in 1978.
Relnick sensei is a graduate of Waseda University, and earned his Masters of Asian Studies from the University of Michigan. Relnick sensei worked for a large Japanese company before starting his own business consulting practice in Tokyo. During this time his primary martial arts studies included Kodokan Judo, Shinto Muso-ryu Jo, and Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto Ryu.
After Shimizu Takaji sensei's passing in 1978, Relnick continued his studies with Nishioka Tsuneo sensei, who was Shimizu Takaji sensei's longest practicing student at that time. Having started Shinto Muso-ryu Jo training with Shimizu sensei in 1938. Relnick sensei received menkyo kaiden from Nishioka sensei in 1994, and was the first non-Japanese to receive this.
Relnick sensei is also Menkyo in Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto Ryu, and a direct student of Otake Risuke. Today he teaches Shinto Muso-ryu Jo and Katori Shinto-ryu at his Shintokan Dojo in Woodinville, Washington.
Relnick sensei & Don Buck demonstrating Shinto Muso-ryu in 1968, with Shimizu Takaji sensei watching in the background.
Shiraishi Hanjiro Sensei (1842 - 1927)
Dedication of Gonnosuke Jinja in October 1967, on the grounds of Kamado jinja in Dazaifu, Fukuoka. Shimizu sensei & Otofuji sensei are in front row, left side. Relnick sensei is in back row/center. Along with Donn Draeger, Quintin Chambers, Shimizu Yuji, etc.
Shimizu Takaji sensei (1896 - 1978) | Nishioka Tsuneo sensei (1924 - 2014)
Tokyo Rembukan Dojo
back L-R: Phil Relnick, Quintin Chambers, Chic Eather, Kobayashi S.
front L-R: Donn Draeger, Shimizu Takaji Sensei, Martyn Gravenstein, Nobuko Relnick
Lineage (abridged) of Shinto Muso-ryu Jo tradition - Founded early 1600s
(1). Iizasa Choisai Ienao (1387–1488) Founder of Katori Shintō-ryū.
(2). Matsumoto Bizen-no-kami Masanobu (1467–1524)
1. Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi - Traditional founder of "True Path" 真道 (Shinto) Muso-ryu.
2. Obito Mogozaemon Yoshishige
3. Matsuzaki Kin'emon Shigekatsu
4. Higuchi Han'emon Katsunobu - The last headmaster of a unified Shinto Muso-ryu.
During this time (roughly from the 4th headmaster to 24th headmaster) the school branched into several but similar lines of Jojutsu, all within the Kuroda domain. These branches included the 'New Just', 'True Path', Jigyo, and Haruyoshi.
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"Way of the Gods" 神道 (Shinto) Muso-ryu - formed during the late 19th century and continues to present times. Mainly with the Jigyo and Haruyoshi branches joined into a single ryu under Shiraishi Hanjiro.
24. Shiraishi Hanjiro Shigeaki (1842–1927) - A warrior of lower rank, Shiraishi was an exponent of both the "Haruyoshi" and "Jigyo" traditions. After the fall of the Tokugawa and the Feudal-system, Shiraishi was issued a joint-license of the largest two surviving branches of the Kuroda-jō, the "Haruyoshi" and "Jigyo"-branches. The result of the merge is a new single tradition that was named "Way of the Gods" 神道 (Shinto) Muso-ryu, with Shiraishi sensei becoming its sole leader by the early 1900s.
Shiraishi Hanjiro [1]
25. Shimzu Takaji (1896–1978) - A student of Shiraishi Hanjiro. Shimizu sensei is referred to as the 25th headmaster of Shintō Musō-ryū. Responsible for bringing Shinto Muso-ryu out of Kyushu and to a wider audience in Japan, and eventually around the world.
Shimizu Takaji sensei
Nishioka Tsuneo (1924-2014) - Began training at the age of 14 in 1938 with Shimizu Takaji sensei and studied with him until his passing in 1978.
Phil Relnick (b. 1938) - a student of Shimizu Takaji sensei, and later Nishioka Tsuneo sensei. Relnick sensei began studying Jo in 1962 at the Tomisaka Police Dojo and Tokyo Rembukan Dojo under Shimizu Takaji sensei. He continued his Jo training under Nishioka Tsuneo sensei after Shimizu sensei's passing in 1978. Today he teaches Shinto Muso-ryu Jo and Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto-ryu at his Shintokan Dojo in Washtington state.
