Richard has been training in martial arts since 1985. He spent 15 years training in Japan studying the ancient arts. He was awarded the License of Mastership in Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu (The mother system of Aikido), the License of Mastership in Seigo-ryu Battojutsu (art of drawing the sword), and an Instructors License in Shinkage-ryu Hyoho (the most famous school of Japanese martial strategy – sword/staff school). He also holds the Practitioners License and is a Certified Instructor in Sotai-ho physical therapy, and has created a unique method of therapy, called Shinkai-ho, which is based on the common essence found in both healing work and the deeper principles of the martial arts. Richard has a martial arts dojo in Medford, Oregon called Shinkai-kan, where he teaches sword, staff and open-handed martial arts as well as practices and teaches Shinkai-ho Energy Therapy.
TRAINING HISTORY:
– Shihan of Ikkokukan Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu (open handed self-defense) under Osaki Shizen Sensei (Japan)
– Shihan of Seigo-ryu Battojutsu (sword drawing) Marobashikai under Osaki Shizen Sensei (Japan)
– Mokuroku of Shinkage-ryu Hyoho (sword fencing) Marobashikai under Osaki Shizen Sensei (Japan)
– Advanced practitioner of Shinkage-ryu Jojutsu (cane and staff) Marobashikai under Osaki Shizen Sensei (Japan)
– Certified Instructor of Sotai-ho (method of physical therapy) (Japan)
– 2nd degree black belt in Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Roppokai under Okamoto Seigo Sensei (Japan)
– Trained 2 years under Headmaster Kuroda Tetsuzan of the Shimbukan Dojo Japan (Komagawa Kaishin-ryu Kenjutsu, Tamiya-ryu Iaijutsu, Takuma-ryu Jujutsu) (Japan)
– Trained for 2 years in Jeet Kune Do
– 1st Degree black belt in American Kenpo Karate
Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu (open-hand self-defense)
The predecessor of Aikido, Daito-ryu is a Japanese system of open-handed combat said to have been a secret art only taught to the direct body-guards of the Daimyou (Lord) of Aizu Castle, the Lord himself and his immediate family. The Aiki techniques of a Master of Daito-ryu are so effortless that even after being thrown or pinned to the ground many times, people still can’t understand how it happened. Shinkai-kan’s Daito-ryu comes from the lineage of Horikawa Kodo Sensei and as such focuses expressly on the Art of Aiki as well as it’s advanced applications. Much of the art of Daito-ryu is still held in secret and is not shown publicly.
Yagyu Shinkage-ryu Hyoho (sword fencing/strategy)
The most famous of sword schools in Japan. Shinkage-ryu was born 500 years ago during the Warring States period. A teacher of Shinkage-ryu so impressed the Shogun “Supreme General of Japan” with his ability to disarm the Shogun, who himself was an advanced swordsman, bare-handed that Shinkage-ryu became the official sword school of the Shogun henceforth. Shinkage-ryu is the mother system of many other subsequent sword schools and is to this day revered in Japanese culture.
Seigo-ryu Battojutsu (sword drawing)
Battojutsu is the art of drawing the sword. Seigo-ryu Battojutsu is an art that was incorporated into the Shinkage-ryu curriculum to deal with situations where one is attacked by an opponent who has already drawn his sword while you have not. While training in this art one is placed in many disadvantageous positions in which one must prevail. This art teaches one to delve the depths of every single movement of the body and mind to improve.
PacMAC Instructor – 2013