Martial Arts Blog

A system of Japanese martial arts divided into 36 categories, genbuken is sometimes called the “ninja sanjurokkei” (sanjurokkei being the Japanese word for “thirty-six”).

Shoto Tanemura is credited as being the founder of the system, which he formalized in 1984. A descendant of an old and respected samurai family with roots tracing back to the imperial family of Japan, Tanemura began his training in armed and unarmed techniques at the age of nine. His given name was Tsunehisa, but he later took the name “shoto,” meaning “law of the sword.”

Armed and unarmed combat

Genbuken focuses on a number of ninja like skills and includes the study of taijutsu, bojutsu and the use of traditional weapons. The unarmed aspects of the art include striking, blocking, kicking, and punching, alongside a number of joint-manipulation and throwing methods. Chokes are a favorite of the system as are nerve and pressure-point attacks and bone breaks.

Weapons grades

There is a ranking system for weapons training that follows a progressive system of colored belts and includes the 10th-dan grading system, which ranks black-belt holders. Those of 4th dan or above are permitted to open schools.

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Jinenkan

A hybrid system, set up in 1996 by Fumio Manaka, jinenkan is influenced by taijutsu, the unarmed combat of ninjutsu, and the weapons training that Manaka studied under the tutorage of the feted Japanese ninja Masaaki Hatsumi.

Military influence

Manaka spent 39 years in the military, he explored and developed simple techniques, also influenced his system, which stresses the importance of understanding and mastering the basics.

Nature’s way

After 37 years studying ninjutsu, he established his own organization, taking on the name “Unsui,” meaning “cloud and water.” The philosophy of flowing freely informs much of the system, and the symbol of the school has a three-layered cloud, three streams, and the three characters that make up the name “jinenkan,” totaling nine objects. The number nine has a mystical meaning in Japanese culture.

Fumio Manaka began training in martial arts at the age of 14 and holds certificates of mastery in a number of the arts, and formal training in many others. He founded jinenkan in 1996 with the goal of allowing students to study the old martial ways (the “Kobudo”) of Japan unhindered under his tutelage. He has spent much time in Europe and the United States, in order to raise the level of training in these areas.
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