Origins and Attributes
Geijin Ryu Origins
Geijin Ryu is a martial art of Japanese origin. It’s roots, like many Japanese arts are probably Chinese. The art surfaced under Grandmaster Robert Law in the 1980’s. At that time he taught unusual self-defense techniques that resembled Aiki-Jutsu. The techniques were very painful and varied. It was hard to get an organized understanding from the formless style he taught. After many inquiries about what his art was called, he told us it was multiple arts together called Yoshin-Miji and Geijin-Kasuga Ryu. He further revealed that it was a form of Ninjutsu. Initially we trained out of a local Karate school, which had no connection to the art itself. Subsequently, he opened his own dojo and subsumed the other schools under Geijin Ryu.
The japanese Kanji for “Gei” is alternatively pronounced “Gyo” which may be of some significance. Grandmaster Law held seminars and camps through the end of the 1980s, into the 1990s and early 2000s. Interest if these events waned with that of the general public. Schools of Ninjutsu in Japan continued to have a relatively steady following for sometime and to some extent still do, but their media attention and presence in on-line forums etc has also faded. There are multiple reasons for this decline, including infighting, defamatory online gossip and the presence of fraudulent origin stories as multiple schools tried to outdo one another for public attention and what they conceived as necessary to establish credibility. Our school was also a target of attacks to which we largely did not respond.
Geijin Ryu like some of the others has quietly continued without much public attention. There is no actual documentation that this art is a form of Ninjutsu. This comes as no surprise as Ninjutsu, it is said, was largely undocumented by the families that taught it. Most historical Ninjutsu is believed to have gone extinct. What remains for public consumption are a few books by studious researchers from the 18th and 19th century that are very limited in content. In what regards the actual transmission of techniques, no one is really sure which martial arts are actually of “Ninja” (Shinobi) origin and it probably doesn’t matter to most except those interested in studying the Shinobi as a historical phenomenon. There likely were some differences between Shinobi arts and those of the classical Samurai bugei, and those can be deduced on a technical basis, without any documented corroboration. The inference is made when the techniques themselves are what one might expect from a Shinobi style of fighting, and interestingly there is a semblance with other similar reputed Ninjutsu styles.
In what regards other schools that promote their arts as Ninjutsu, we take the position that the individual seeking a school in which to study, if they are looking for Ninjutsu, will have to decide for themselves if they believe it is what they are seeking. The perspective we suggest is to ask why it is that you want to study martial arts, and once you have determined that, find one that best suits your needs and goals.
With the evolving reality that few really people care much about whether the art is based in Ninjutsu, Grandmaster Law has decided to explain it’s origin as being an art handed down through family connections or what used to be clans or tribes. To most of us who practice this art, we start with him as it’s only clearly known originator. There have been glimpses of his martial society connections which have provided little further information as to the arts origins. It appears unlikely that he will provide any further clarity and so we start with him.
Geijin Ryu is highly complex, and while Grandmaster Law has expounded on it’s depths, the idea that he invented it, or put it together by studying other arts would make him a sort of martial or kinetic genius. This possibility appears highly unlikely, if not impossible. Many practitioners train in multiple martial arts and when they demonstrate their skills, though individually variable, it looks nothing like Geijin Ryu. The previously mentioned arts said to be part of Geijin Ryu are thought of as branches from the same source, with Geijin Ryu providing the unifying principle or strategy. The fundamental difference of Geijin Ryu from other, even blended martial arts are that the core of the art as taught, is not a set of basic and structural techniques or “kata” (forms, patterns, self-defense scenaorios). It is the development of an understanding of the body, how it works and behaves and applying that to combative training and situations. While that is a succinct statement, it is not a simple thing.
So, like many martial arts, Geijin Ryu appears to have an obscure origin. But, it does not have an invented origin myth like some even traditional and other established arts do. There is no monk in a cave, no image of the Buddha in a waterfall, nor a famous battlefield warlord. For all practical purposes it begins with Grandmaster Law and survives in a group of practitioners you can count with your fingers. The number of people who trained in it in the past is much larger, but has no bearing on its continuation into the future.
Before explaining why it’s worthwhile to study Geijin Ryu, a few statements about what it is not are also important to make from the outset. Most prominently Geijin Ryu is not affiliated with any religious group, national identity or political philosophy, nor do it’s practitioners adulate others, alive or passed on. Some may think that is an unusual point to make. Perhaps it is. After years of teaching this art, studying philosophy, psychology, history and religion (mostly as a self-directed pursuit), I have learned that although many martial art schools are not attached to any established groups of these types, they organize and behave often militaristically and acquire paraphernalia from such groups . They extol the virtues of their Master, Grandmaster or originator, creating a larger than life history with the purpose of ascribing deeper virtues to be attained from dedicated years of practice, all of which come at high cost of time and money. They promise the attainment of psychological and spiritual benefits and martial skills at a high or transcendental level. They often sell books, art and merchandise, much of which promotes myths about their art. Recent attention to martial arts frauds and dramatic instances of reputed masters being beaten publicly by mid-level MMA fighters has had some effect on laying bare these manipulative practices. A number of alternative practices by various teachers have moved in to help the disenfranchised and skeptical, but self-defense seeking person, find something what actually works, to address the fundamental reasons most of us are drawn to martial arts.
Our school in Ohio does not tolerate any form of denigration or abuse of our students, in any form. Martial arts has a tendency to attract not only people looking for a fun and physical hobby, it attracts vulnerable and traumatized people too. Ironically, it also attracts narcissists and bullies. I can’t remember how many people (especially women) I have spoken to who have been sexually abused or harassed in martial art schools. There are many instances of predatory instructors and teachers out there, you can read about them online and I have been privy personally to these occurrences in my youth. Not surprisingly, such organizations are known as fertile ground for narcissists and sexual predators among their leadership. There are psychological effects of being in charge of a group that persons with sociopathic tendencies can gravitate to and exploit.
Most people joining a school are looking for a combination of self-defense, physical activity and a little culture. Many come to train because of some event or events in their lives, often they will not disclose these things to others. It may have taken a great deal of courage to come forward and learn. Imagine the disappointment and hurt when they discover that their martial art school is not a safe place. The intimate and up close techniques involved, the violent scenarios they address can all be triggers for traumatized people. Ground fighting is especially disturbing to some. The fact that martial arts are still largely male dominated remains an issue for many as well.
To help persons with a history of trauma benefit from martial arts requires specific knowledge and accommodations, including a dialogue with that person about their goals and at some level their vulnerabilities.
We do not specifically teach meditation and spiritual practices and do not associate with any specific religion. While there are psychological attributes learned in martial arts and these typically benefit people directly and indirectly through regulation of concentration, attention and indirect mind-body feedback we do not connect these with belonging to any religious group. We accept all faiths. That stated, like any workplace, the training place and practice is not a forum to promote ones faith, beliefs and even certain political views. These things can be discussed in a neutral and respectful manner among students, but that is not why we are there. We also don’t tolerate hate towards others. We do not publicly “trash talk” the martial arts of others. A learning place has to stay positive and enjoyable.
We do promote health and well-being. We promote intelligent use of martial arts techniques for self protection and preservation. It is not for sport or competition and all of it is intended to be combatively relevant.
Can everyone be taught martial arts? Theoretically yes, but practically speaking, some persons have serious barriers to learning and in reality teaching martial techniques to sociopathic individuals is dangerous and antithetical to the goals of martial arts. As stated in other writings (Draeger and Yang), and I am paraphrasing, martial arts exist to keep the violent and warlike tendencies of people in check. Because we can never eradicate them entirely (nor should we?) we need a process to regulate them. That is the societal role of martial arts.
If you are interested, please read the articles and view the sample materials. What is provided on the website is only a fraction of the repertoire practiced.
“Truth is a pathless land- Krishnamurti”