Katsukuma Ryu Jujitsu Kempo

Our Jujitsu is allowed and it is even supposed to progress, so modifications keep on taking place which can be seen when techniques are changed or new techniques are integrated. This is why we do not have more than twenty different low stands but modern, high stands like in boxing or kickboxing, which makes the fighter faster and more flexible.

The fighting techniques on the ground have become more realistic with experiences from different ways of Submission Fighting (Pride, Vale Tudo, UFC, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu etc.) and there are no more isolated locking actions, but combinations of locking, levering and techniques with fists, hands, knees, elbows and the head.

We completely eliminated the training of katas (Japanese = kata, Korean = hyong, Chinese = kuen, Philippine = anyo or saya, Indonesian = seni etc.). We did this because of our own experiences but especially because of the collection of experiences the Japanese police made with the Taiho Jutsu Kata and those the American military made with the Close Combat and Combat Karate kata.

We enhanced kicking and hitting by using kickboxing, boxing and Thai boxing techniques which are not only characterised by stronger kicks and punches. Automation has a very high priority, this is why we practice many loop drills. Wing Chun techniques and Philippine close combat drills have become part of our training, too.

Our Katsukuma Ryu Jujitsu Kempo is a wide spread martial art, which involves throwing, levering, hitting, kicking, throttling and transport and weapon techniques for self defence.

Katsukuma Ryu Jujitsu Kempo contains unarmed self defence (upright and submission fighting), the application of palm sticks (Japanese = kubotan, Philippine = dulo dulo), knives (Japanese = tanto, Philippine = baraw), batons (Japanese = hanbo, Philippine = olisi - baston), staffs (Japanese = bo - jo-bo, Philippine = lupon - tapato), bush knives (Philippine = bolo), swords (Japanese = daito, Philippine = kampilan - kris), flails (Japanese = nunchaku, Philippine = tabak tuyok) and side handle batons (Japanese = tonfa, Philippine = hawakan).

Attacks are possible from short, middle or long ranges, no matter whether standing or lying on the ground, whether armed or unarmed. Attacks can be, for example holding tight around the body, throttling, pulling the hair, different ways of grabbing arms/hands, punches and kicks, as well as armed attacks with batons, knives, guns or everyday objects like bottles or belts.

The aim of regularly practicing Katsukuma Ryu Jujitsu Kempo is fitness for the body and keeping up good health, as well as gaining the necessary self-confidence and mental maturity.

Katsukuma Ryu Jujitsu Kempo world wide is represented by Michael Kann. He is an acknowledged teacher for Jujitsu and has been honoured and decorated by different organisations, for example the US Martial Arts Association, the Special Forces Combat Karate Association and the US Combat Martial Arts Association, the Zen Kokusai Seibu No Budo Bujutsu Remmei Japan/Canada (used to be called Katsukumaryu Federation and Higashi College of Martial Arts), the Security Fighting Arts Service a Division of the Taiho Jutsu Institute Japan/Kanada, the International Budo Association, the Nippon Aiki Bu Jitsu Kai International Federation of Aiki Budo, the Zen Kobukan Nihon Bugei Kwai Okinawa an Okinawan Karate Kobudo Federation.

Since it is hard to find associations and organisations in Germany and Europe that are not commercially orientated Michael Kann decided in the nineties to teach a combat related style of jujitsu. Leaving the traditional „do“ which has been rated higher than self defence and made to a dogma by many masters and returning to the martial art (jitsu) which it used to be.

In our lessons all techniques are taught with their German names and internationally in English. Japanese is only used a little so as not to give up the tradition completely. The style is oriented to the West which surely disturbs many so called „traditionalists“.

There are no competitions within the system, but every member can take part in competitions in all disciplines trained (kickboxing, muay thai, taekwon do, karate, judo, ju jutsu, jiu jitsu, boxing, wrestling etc.). This is another difference between our system and others – free for everybody and right of free decision for all members!

Katsukuma Ryu Jujitsu Kempo is a part of the Progressive Self Defence System and is taught and examined according to its rules. There are nine student grades, one master student grade, one master grade, one master instructor grade and the honorary grandmaster. This stops the merchandising of master grades of up to twenty or more levels (but only five student grades).

Our motto is

„Be free in ones decisions, learn from others and train with others, make your own experiences, get along with one another and achieve things together!“