A Brief History

The Style we train in is a Classical format. Let us enlighten you as to the difference between modern, Traditional, and Classical. Modern Ju-Jitsu [jiu-jitsu, et al] has nothing more than a vague reference to the name, in common with Classical Ju-Jutsu, and owes more to Judo and Karate, and Western style boxing, than to any Traditional Art.

Traditional Ju-Jitsu uses Western style boxing punches, retains some of the old kicking and hand strikes, retains some of the old Kata, and teaches weapons skills. Modern Styles have no weapons requirement. Classical Ju-Jutsu retains the old Kata, teaches the weapons relevant to the Style, and also teaches an in-depth knowledge of the Jintai Kyusho [vital points] both striking and pushing. We were formed in 1993 from a break up of the North Leinster Martial Arts Association [now jiu-jitsu Ireland] the break up was over standards of performance.
The Style was founded by Joe and Martin Carslake, who had, at the time, 53 years of Martial Arts training between them.

Joe had studied Karate, Ninjutsu, Aiki Ju-Jutsu, Kobujutsu, Hakuda, and had 12 years of training in Ju-Jutsu, under genuine Sensei, among them Prof John Hilliard Palmer, from Scotland, Sensei Michel Hillier, from France, and Prof Fintan Holland, from London Japan Society.

Martin had studied Karate, Ninjutsu, and also had 12 years of Ju-Jutsu training, under various Sensei’, before studying under Joe, and together the Style was developed, under the advice and guidance of Tanaka Yoshie, 10th Grandmaster of the House of Seibutsu Yanagi Aiki Ju-Jutsu, and Sensei Jean Toolard, his Sempai, living in Ireland.

From its formation, we have gone from strength to strength, and are growing steadily, despite defections by students incapable of the commitment needed to develop the Classical skills.
Learning a Classical Martial Art is not easy, there are over 4000 techniques in the Style, and then there is the Seibutsu Yanagi Skills to master as well.

We teach nine weapons skills.
But only in the context of the Style. Any single weapon can be a lifetime study in its own right, so we teach weapons for 30 minutes in each class, and then two weapons seminars during the year.

The weapons are taught, because it is impossible to defend against a weapon you know nothing about. So you learn the strengths and weaknesses of the specified weapons.
We also teach Kuatsu, which is a form of healing. This is a type of first aid, and is meant to assist the Sensei in good health care of his/her students.

Ju-Jutsu, Classical Ju-Jutsu, is not “all that stuff on the ground”. All that stuff on the ground is now commonly called rolling, and while demanding tremendous fitness levels, and giving very good grappling skills, it is not a Martial Art, they are combat sports, as is Judo, and to a large extent also, Taekwondo.

In any Art, when you put in a restriction and say, “you cannot do this, because it is against the rules” you have watered down the Art, and it is no longer a Martial Art, but a combat sport.

If it is a Martial Art, how can you say it, if all you do is fight for trophies?
It is not wrong to compete, it is admirable, and we provide a facility for those who want to compete. But it is not what we are about. We are about teaching the Art, as it was, and as a growing number of people want to learn it.
If any student has an urge to try another Martial Art, all they need do is ask, we will send them to the best.

If they don’t come back, well, it is sad, but we also feel we have helped a student find a new Path.

Remember these words, they were said by Tanaka Sensei to me a long time ago.
“The most precious gift in the world, outside of love, is knowledge, knowledge demands a sacrifice, and every prize, in life, demands a price, be sure the prize, is worth the price, and the longest journey you will take in your lifetime, is the six inches between your ears”.