What is Motoha Yoshin Ryu

Motoha Yoshin Ryu was founded in 1999 by Yasumoto Akiyoshi. The purpose of the organisation is to give students the opportunity to learn the original martial art of the samurai freely and without restriction. It is about fast, decisive defence against an attack. A small turn can already mean the optimal angle to the opponent. In a fight, a short grip and a well-placed strike are often enough. Efficiency counts! For the samurai it was vital for survival, and today it is the decisive advantage for prevailing in a threatening situation.

Motoha Yoshin Ryu teaches the authentic techniques of the Hontai Yoshin Ryu Takagi Ryu tradition. Soke Yasumoto Akiyoshi is the keeper of this ancient martial art and ensures that the techniques are passed on exactly as they originally were, and that students understand the context.

The black belt examination with Soke is regarded in Japan as admission to the Motoha Yoshin Ryu family. As a ritual, the Soke presents a scroll with the techniques taught, written by his own hand.

Motoha Yoshin Ryu is simple in principle, yet extremely fast, effective and applicable against all kinds of attacks. It works with speed, not strength. The body is relaxed and reacts in a flash at the right moment. The mind stays sharp and present; it does not let itself be distracted.

Decisive: balance. How do you take the attacker off balance? Once you manage that, victory is as good as certain.

Practising balance, movement and awareness can also give you advantages in everyday life. A shove in a crowd – and you decide whether to use the force of the push or to absorb it and let it run into nothing.

In the traditional art of Jujutsu, to which Motoha Yoshin Ryu belongs, you also learn to handle various weapons. A wooden staff, a short sword or a knife come into use. In training, body and weapon form a unit.

A fast strike is immensely important, because in a fight you cannot immediately see what weapon the opponent has. Before he can use it, the fight should already be over. For the samurai this was vital. Today, speed is what makes this martial art so efficient.

Hontai Yoshin Ryu (本體楊心流) is a sister school of Motoha Yoshin Ryu. Yasumoto Akiyoshi is Menkyo Kaiden of Hontai Yoshin Ryu. The current Soke is Inoue Kyoichi Munenori, who was Yasumoto Akiyoshi's direct uke and kohai for twelve years and trained under him. hontaiyoshinryu.com

Takagi Ryu (高木流柔術) is also a sister school of Motoha Yoshin Ryu. Yasumoto Akiyoshi is Menkyo Kaiden of Takagi Ryu. takagiryu.com