Bushin Ryu Bujutsu-kai

Bushin Ryu Bujutsu-kai

What is Bushin Ryu Bujutsu-kai?

Hi, I am Simon Tarrant the main instructor at Bushin Ryu Hamilton, better known as Bushin Ryu Bujutsu-kai.

Sensei Simon 4th Dan Bushin Ryu, 4th Dan Ryukyu Kempo, that’s me.

Bushin Ryu Nelson

Bushin Ryu Bujutsu-kai is an off shoot of Bushin Ryu Health and Martial Arts, formerly of Nelson in the South Island of New Zealand.

Bushin Ryu was run by the formidable – Grandmaster Mike Addison Saipe.

Sensei Mike has been my instructor for 30 years. He retired from running the school in Nelson in 2021, he also stopped working full time in his clinic which was attached to the Bushin Ryu dojo.

Karate Jutsu

Bushin Ryu Bujutsu-kai is a style that has its roots in Funakoshi Gichin Sensei’s original Karate Jutsu.

Early in the 1900s Funakoshi Sensei moved from Okinawa to mainland Japan. His goal was to take Okinawan Karate to Japan and popularize it. Luckily enough he managed get it into the University system there – and gave birth to modern Karate-Do as we know it today.

The old form of Karate Jutsu ( the name of the first book Funakoshi Sensei published in Japan), was very different from what we know as Karate-do today.

Bushin Ryu Hamilton

In the original discipline there were grapples, throws and even some ground grappling. Bushin Ryu Nelson and Bushin Ryu Bujutsu-kai has incorporated these teachings into our schools.

We have taken our own knowledge of martial arts and martial science and brought these traditional arts into the modern age.

Our school is Kata based.

We lean through understanding the Bunkai – the application of kata based movements. These Bunkai were taught in the original art. With a modern mindset, and a deep understanding of anatomy and physiology, the self defense techniques of kata leap out.

Ju Jitsu

In addition to this, my own study of Ju Jitsu has informed my understanding of Bunkai.

Studying with Shihan Paul Reti of Fuji Ryu Goshin Do Ju Jitsu, grew my connection with the movements inherent in kata.

Humans have two arms and two legs, neck and backbone, and for the most part they bend in particular directions, they don’t like bending and twisting in other directions!!!

Nerves, tendons, blood vessels and the structural integrity of the body hasn’t changed in humans for many thousands of years.

What we aim to do is exploit these weaknesses.

In the light of this, first and foremost we need to be able to make contact with these weak points.

Theory is a huge part of our system, but… you MUST be able to make that contact, or all the theory in the world wont help.

Other resources

There are modern martial artists who have taken the teachings of the Old Masters and laid them out for those willing to see them..

They have brought them into the light and have to moved them into a modern context. This is the great advantage for us in the age of the internet. In years gone by you had to travel to another masters dojo to get their teaching…now ideas can spread at the speed of light.

Sensei Patrick McCarthy of Koryu Uchinadi.

Sensei Jesse Enkamp of KaratebyJesse.

Sensei Iain Abernethy of Practical Karate

These are three of the most well known, if you are interested.

In addition to this, we haven’t talked about the Dragon Society International. Likewise my training with Sijo Ian Waite 10th Dan of Dao Shield. Shihan Paul Reti 9th Dan of Fuji Ryu Goshindo Ju Jitsu who taught us at Bushin Ryu Bujutsu-kai has already been mentioned. There will be posts coming about these legendry martial artists.

Final Word

I have been training in these methods for over 40 years.

30 years of those at Bushin Ryu and around 13 years elsewhere. My own understanding of violence and brutality has been informed by my own wild youth and years of working the door in pubs and clubs.

You can see more about Simon in the ‘about me’ section of this website.

I am a life long martial artist and am happy to share my knowledge with those who are eager to learn.

The knowledge I wish to share is practical and useful. This is not only physically but also mentally – your spirituality is up to you.

“THERE IS A WONDERFUL MYSTICAL LAW OF NATURE IN WHICH THE THREE THINGS WE CRAVE MOST IN LIFE – HAPPYNESS, FREEDOM AND PEACE OF MIND – ARE BEST ATTAINED BY GIVING THEM TO SOMEONE ELSE.” Unknown author

There is much more to say and talk about, but there will be time for blogs at a later date.