OUR STORY

Sensei Cass Campbell, founded Muromachi Koto Ryu Aikijujutsu (our original name) more than 40 years ago until his retirement and ill health around 2010. Sensei Cass passed away in August 2023. 

He began his martial journey in the 60s, 5th Dan aikikai under Kazuo Chiba sensei,  4th Dan in kuk sool won hapkido with Master He-Yung Kim and Menkyo aikijujutsu - he trained daily and lived with his aikijujutsu sensei for 10 years in London in 70s - the late professor Shuichi Ishii- shihan in Saigo Ryu system of Hori Yamashita Sensei and representative of the Satsuma clan. Yamashita sensei founded the Daito Ryu Shodokai organsiation which follows the teachings of Shiro Saigo. Professor Ishii was unable to give official diploma as lack of permission to a non-Japanese person outside Japan. Muromachi Koto Ryu (traditional sword way) aikijujutsu was agreed. We are a real legitimate traditional system - and, most importantly, unique. 

For many years Sensei Cass studied Aikido, Aikijujutsu and Jujutsu with a variety of organisations but was instrumental in attempting to set up the United Kingdom Aikijutsu Association in the early 90s with Sensei Kirby Watson of the Kaze Arashi Ryu Aikijujutsu Organisation, Sensei Seigfried Kobilza of Takeda Ryu Aikijutsu Organisation and the late Sensei Gerd Kroll of Hakko Ryu Jujutsu.  This proved to be unsuccessful at that time.

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Shihan John Monaghan, 7th Dan Chief instructor, has more than 35 years of experience in Aiki arts (Aikido/aikijujutsu) and jujutsu. He is technical advisor for traditional aikijujutsu within the International Bujutsu Univeristy (IBU) organisation of Soke Yamaue. He began training in Aikido, attaining his 2nd Dan under the instruction of Senseis Dave and Don Mahon (and guidance of the late Sensei George Oughton and Master Andre Nocquet). Shortly after he discovered the effectiveness of Aiki Jujutsu which is his main art today. He has also studied Iaido and Kenjutsu since 1989.  Sensei John met Muromachi Koto Ryu founder, Sensei Cass Campbell in 1996 when he moved to Edinburgh. 

Sensei Rob Storey, 5th Dan Aikijujutsu, has trained with Sensei Cass and John since 1998.  He is currently residing in Bournemouth, England.

Sensei Richard Swanson, 2nd Dan Aikijujutsu, has trained with Sensei Cass and John since 1998. He is currently on sabbatical in Japan.

Sensei Callum Robertson, 1st Dan Aikijujutsu, has trained with Sensei Cass and John since 1998, but had a break from training for personal and professional reasons for around 10 years.

Sensei David Sennerlov, 5th Dan Jujutsu/Aikijujutsu, has trained with Sensei John since 2000. He leads in Sweden and is part of the Ronin Jujutsu club in Gothenburg.

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In 2000 Sensei Cass and Sensei John were invited by Soke Keido Yamaue to join the IBU and become technical advisors and uchideshi (inner students) for aikijujutsu.  This continued for Sensei Cass, who was chief, until he retired from active training/teaching duties in around 2010. Sensei Cass maintained an informal role of technical advisor until his passing in 2023.

Sensei John maintains regular contact and training with Soke Yamaue and has been his representative for over 20 years.

In 2022, Sensei John was awarded 7th Dan Shihan by Soke Yamaue within the International Bujutsu University.  This was a follow up to his 6th Dan award in 2016, for successfully developing and blending the Muromachi Koto Ryu syllabus with the Yamaue Ryu Aikijutsu syllabus of Soke Yamaue. The result was Koyama Ryu Aikijujutsu (小山流合気柔術), Sensei John is chief representative and founder of Koyama Ryu.  Sensei John travels all over the world teaching and training with some of the most senior instructors in Aiki. He is also an official representative of Daito Ryu Kidokan Aikijujutsu.

For many years Sensei John has been given the task of travelling to many countries to meet and train, by invitation only, with the Katori Shinto Ryu of Master Sugino, Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu, Takeda Ryu Aikijutsu, Kaze Arashi Ryu Aikijujutsu and the Aikikai.

No aikijujutsu group that we are aware of are characterised by active ki, and the goho (hard) training. We also are the only system that we are aware of that encourages training under duress as a matter of routine.  Hard and soft applications and oyo waza are the norm.

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I.B.U and Yamaue Ryu Aiki

International Bujutsu University (IBU) or, as its original Japanese name: Kokusai Dai Bujutsu Tachibana ni Kiku no Mon, was founded by Jimmy Keido Yamaue (⁰ 10 Dan and Soke of Yamaue Aikijutsu) in 1972. The entity is recognized by Daishoji Imperial Temple

The Imperial Daishoji temple belongs to the family of the emperor of Japan and is allowed to use the kiku on the mon (emperor's maximum symbol). In Japan, the power of the IBU is said to rival that of AIKIKAI.

Daikakuji Temple (Flower Palace) Soke Yamaue is a cultural adviser to this temple

IBU's biggest goal is to instruct, check degrees and internationally promote bujutsu

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Yamaue Ryu Aiki Jutsu History 

J.K. Yamaue, Soke 1, Founder of the Yamaue Ryu Aiki Jutsu System, has been training and teaching in the martial arts for over 50 years in Japan, China and Scandinavia.  It is difficult to say when he started his budo path in Aiki Jutsu as he was born in a Budo family, an uncle to his father Takuma Hisa (1895-1979) was one of the greatest Budo masters of Daito Ryu Aiki Jutsu, this in turn formed part of his Budo education throughout his childhood. Yamaue Aiki jutsu is related to Takeda Aiki Bujutsu- Daito Ryu Aiki Jutsu.

Within the Daito Ryu system there are many fascinating Waza-techniques but time changes. We cannot just teach these original techniques, as taught by the Masters, but need to develop them.

Great Masters like Takuma Hisa Shihan (one of a few Menkyo Kaiden successors of the Daito Ryu Aiki Jutsu), Professor Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido and Professor Wally Jay, founder of Small Circle Ju Jitsu never stopped developing or researching Budo Arts, and this is why they are great masters. 

Yamaue Ryu Aiki Jutsu is an active and effective self-defence system. Yamaue Aiki Jutsu is based on KI force, Yamaue Soke's 45-degree theory and the centripetal force; it is also based on the low of physics.

The basic movements are ENGETSU = Full moon, HANGETSU = Half moon. Apple, spade and heart.

Aikido techniques, contain lots of the centrifugal force principals.

In Yamaue Aiki Jutsu, opposite to Aikido, the use of centripetal force is the principal force, like a whirlpool in water or a black hole. One more characteristic within the Yamaue Aiki Jutsu system is the use of strong Kiai, the purpose of Kiai is to let KI force flow from one's energy centre Ô Seika Tanden to wherever one needs to affect the opponent.

The nerve attacking system is based on the Keiraku Ô electric meridian energy routes, to throw, to control, to knockout or to give the attacker extreme pain without causing damage to their body. Keiraku system is used to cure or heal people (acupuncture treatment, Shiatsu etc.), but can also be used in active Waza.

People who practice this system will get self-confidence and self-control; anyone can learn these elegant, flexible, effective and highly advanced Waza techniques.

The origins.

The origin of Yamaue Aiki jutsu can be traced back to the stone ages in China. Aiki Jutsu is an art of self-defence, which has thousands of years of history behind it.

The History of the development of Budo is equal to the history of mankind.

Stone age people did not have effective weapons, so they had to observe and learn how predators moved and behaved in order to hunt effectively.

Martial Arts (Attack and defence arts) become more and more effective due to the development of weapons.

Although in China, some people continued to develop the martial arts without using weapons. Ancestors of the Arts know that by studying animal behaviour this was the key to Budo = Sappo and Healing = Kappo.

The Kappo medical development followed Sappo (Martial Arts) development.

Approximately 1000 years ago, Do-In (Kappo = medical and healing techniques) and Bujutsu (Kung Fu, Chuan Fa, Wushu ) were transmitted to Japan.

Empty hand Bujutsu was adopted and practiced by the Samurai class at the beginning, later it was also used by the civilian classes.

There were two kinds of empty hand Bu Jutsu, A softer system called Yawara or Ju Jutsu and the other a harder system called Kempo (Chuan Fa , Kung Fu).

Kempo was not very popular in old Japan, but did however become very popular in the 20th century; we now have several Kempo systems such as Karate, Nippon Kempo and Shorinji Kempo.

The main reason why Kempo was not popular in old Japan was due to the Samurai class who always carried weapons (Tachi, Katana, Waki-Zashi and Tanto), so there was no need to train in open handed systems as they had weapons, it is not very easy to use an arm block to stop a Katana.

Wearing Kimono and Hakama (traditional Japanese Clothes) made it also difficult to kick. It is quite difficult to use Keri waza and Ashi Waza with a hakama on.

But that was not the case in old Japan, They practiced empty hand Bujutsu wearing Kimono and Hakama, in bare foot, so they could further develop advanced Ju-ho without Keri=kick and Tsuki (a few Tsuki-waza was used as Atemi waza).

This was called Yawara or Ju Jutsu (the Ju Jutsu grew in popularity in Japan between 17th to 19th Century).

At the End of the 19th Century, in 1882 Professor Jigaro Kano Founded Judo out of several Ju Jutsu Systems, without wearing a hakama but wearing trousers, this made the legs free and developed no kicks Keri-waza, but using a lot of Ashi-waza / nage waza using the legs and finally becoming a sport.

Almost the same thing happened to Aikido. Professor Morihei Ueshiba, an expert of Aiki Jujutsu and many kinds of other Bujutsu both with weapons and without weapons, also travelled to China and studied Kung Fu.  He Finally developed a fine art called Aikido in 1942. This art is totally different from Aiki Jujutsu.

Many effective but dangerous self-defence waza were taken away and aikido become a more and more religious toned budo with harmony of love and power, it became more religious than Bujutsu (Kung FU and Aiki Jutsu).

The basic Waza of aikido are taken from Aiki (Ju)jutsu, but both are quite different now.

Modern forms of Budo like sports Budo (Kendo, Judo, Karate-do etc) and the religious toned arts Budo (Aikido and Shorinji Kempo) have taken over in popularity of the Budo arts in Japan in the last 100 years, Many masters did continue to practise and teach the spirit and waza of Bujutsu.

The old Bujutsu including Aiki Jutsu, Ken Jutsu, Jujutsu and Shaolin Kung Fu have not disappeared yet, but to the contrary more and more of the classic Bujutsu arts have started to show up, even Ninjutsu, a classic and secret art has become quite popular all the world over.

It's a pleasure to see so many people in the West showing a tremendous interest in Japanese and Chinese old martial arts.

I believe that it is our Duty to preserve and transmit these arts, not merely as sports but as good arts”.