Jigen-ryu Jujutsu

Jigen-ryu 自現流 is famous in Japan for its unique and aggressive form of Kenjutsu. This is an ancient Japanese swordsmanship school, also known as Satsuma Jigen-ryu, named after its inheritance in the Satsuma Domain. It is known for its unique “first strike kills” fighting method, emphasizing the power of the first strike and showing extremely high practicality on the battlefield.

Shihan Junji Saito learned a method of Jujutsu based on Jigen-ryu Kenjutsu from an 86 year old master of the school. His Jujutsu training consists of five secret forms that utilize the principles of the sword handling but in an unarmed fashion. This was the first school that Saito Sensei learned in Japan before joining his cousins school for Hakko-ryu Jujutsu. Saito Sensei taught that this system was very simplistic in nature and easy to learn. It allowed students to develop combat movements of their own by using the five forms themselves in a progressive series of stages of training. What is secret about these simplistic forms is how they are to be trained.

Jigen-ryu Jujutsu 5 Stages of Training

Stage 1 (Entering Techniques) In this first stage of training one first learns the 5 forms with their most basic applications as entering or opening movements against set attacks with set responses. Each entering form is used as a full technique.
Stage 2 (Finishing Techniques) This stage of training involves learning how to apply your own finishing techniques to the 5 basic entering forms. You begin with one of the 5 entering forms and then apply your own ending techniques naturally in an appropriate manner utilizing any methods you see fit. Any form of striking, joint locking, choking, and throwing techniques are applied after the entering techniques are done no matter what art or style you may know.
Stage 3 (Combination Techniques) In this intermediate stage you learning how to make combinations from the 5 forms only using the 5 forms themselves to formulate complete techniques. This level of training has a deep connection to old forms of striking arts that went into Hakuda, Shubaku, Koppo Taijutsu, Jujutsu, Kenpo, etc… The real essence of this line of Jigen-ryu Jujutsu is learned during this stage of training.
Stage 4 (Free Form Techniques) Now training involves learning how to apply the same 5 entering techniques to varied attacks different than the ones initially learned. This is the stage where one dissolves their preconceived ideas about the 5 forms. This level of training involves a break through to a mindset beyond mere physical ability and not confined to intellectual understanding. No matter how we are attacked we can defend with these five forms.
Stage 5 (Weapons Techniques) This stage consists of learning how to apply the weapons of the school to the 5 forms in “Muto Dori” fashion. Then one learns how to vary with the weapons in similar fashion to the previous stages. At the end of one of my Jigen-ryu scrolls is an image of the deity Marishi-ten. Notice that there are many weapons in the hands. (Two swords, rope, war fan, bow and arrow) No matter what weapon you face or no matter what weapon you need to use, you apply this system to those weapons to either defend against them or use them yourself naturally.