Who we are

We are a martial arts school dedicated to the study and preservation of the art of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu also known as DZR.

Danzan Ryu Jujitsu is a comprehensive American system of jujitsu founded in the 1920s by Henry S. Okazaki, a Japanese-American martial artist in Hawaii. "Danzan" is the Japanese way to say “Sandalwood Mountain” which is a name for Hawaii (檀山).

It integrates traditional Japanese jujitsu with elements from other martial arts and various healing systems, making it one of the most complete and earliest martial arts systems in the U.S.

Core Principles

• Kodenkan Philosophy
  Professor Okazaki’s dojo was named Kodenkan, meaning “The School of the Ancient Tradition.” It emphasizes:

  • Ko-den (old transmission): Respect for traditional teachings.

  • Kan (hall or institute): A place of learning and moral development.

  • Another way of saying it is “The school of the senior student transmits to the junior student,” emphasizing mentorship and service.

• Seifukujutsu – Healing Arts
  DZR incorporates healing arts, rooted in the belief that one who can hurt must also know how to heal. This holistic philosophy is core to DZR.

• Comprehensive Curriculum
  DZR includes escapes, throwing, grappling, joint locks, striking, chokes, weapon defenses, and resuscitation techniques (kappo). The curriculum is organized intolists with techniques grouped by application and complexity.

• Service and Responsibility
  A major tenet is Kokua, a Hawaiian term meaning “to help one another”. Practitioners are encouraged to serve one another and their community.

What Makes DZR Unique?

• Diverse Lineage
  Professor Okazaki studied multiple styles of martial arts and synthesized them into a coherent system:

  • Japanese Jujitsu systems (Yoshin Ryu, Kito Ryu, etc.)

  • Kodokan Judo

  • Okinawan Karate

  • Chinese Kung Fu

  • Hawaiian Lua

  • Filipino Escrima

  • Western boxing and wrestling

• Structured and Progressive System
  Techniques are organized into progressive kata lists:

  • Yawara (basic escapes and holds)

  • Nage No Kata (throws)

  • Shime No Kata (chokes and constrictions)

  • Oku No Kata (advanced techniques)

  • Advanced Yawara (women’s and general self-defense)

  • Kiai No Maki (weapon defenses)

  • Black Belt Lists

• Seifukujitsu - Healing Arts
  Unlike most martial arts, DZR teaches healing arts as part of the curriculum. Students may learn:

  • Seifukujutsu (restorative therapy)

  • Kappo (resuscitation)

  • Herbal Medicine

• Multiculturalism
  DZR is one of the first modern martial arts to explicitly embrace multiculturalism—one of Professor Okazaki’s senseis, Wo Chong, was Chinese, and he broke tradition by teaching a Japanese student. Because of this and other experiences, Professor Okazaki carried on this generosity and taught students of all ethnicities. He incorporated Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, and Western techniques into DZR.

Danzan Ryu Jujitsu is not merely a martial art but a complete life system emphasizing self-defense, healing, esoteric principles, and community service. Its uniqueness lies in:

• The integration of martial and healing arts,

• Its multicultural foundation,

• A methodical, progressive teaching structure,

• And its commitment to personal development beyond the mat.