is a traditional Japanese martial art founded in 1650 that focuses on Kumi Uchi (jujutsu) and Koshi no Mawari (iaijutsu and kenjutsu). The title of the school also appears in ancient densho (scrolls documenting the ryuha) as Sà Âsuishi-ryà « Kumi Uchi Koshi No Mawari (Ã¥ÂÂæ°´å·æµÂçµÂè¨Âè °ä¹Âå»») and in the book Sekiryà «kan No Chà Âsen, which was approved and published by the Shadanhà Âjin Sekiryà «kan in 2003. In the Bugei Ryà «ha Daijiten, Sà Âsuishi-ryà « is cross referenced and listed under the entry/title of "Futagami-ryà «." It includes a brief categorization, history and description of the school.
The legend of the founding of Sà Âsuishi-ryà « dates back to Futagami Hannosuke Masaaki in 1650 CE. He was a district samurai living in the area of Bungo-Taketa, which was in the domain of Kuroda during the era called Sho-o. (now à Âita and Fukuoka). Masaaki, was a practitioner of his family martial art Futagami-ryà « (äºÂä¸ÂæµÂ) and a high-level student of Takenouchi-ryà «. He felt the techniques of Futagami-ryà « were imperfect, so in order to improve them he decided to travel all over Japan and train himself by going on a pilgrimage (Musha shugyà Â). At one point he went deep into the mountainous, rugged valley of Mt. Yoshino, where for thirty-seven days he trained and sought enlightenment. He refined the finer points of the technique of Futagami-ryà « and honed the secret teachings that he had studied. He then assembled them into what he believed were the best of everything he had learned. One day, while he was gazing at the Yoshino river, he noticed the water flowing and swirling together steadily. The training of his mind, body and spirit converged at that one moment. This event, called satori in Japanese, prompted him to change the name of Futagami-ryà « to Sà Âsuishi-ryà « in remembrance of his experiences at the Yoshino River.
Shitama Matashichi was a samurai originally from the Bungo-Takeda and a friend to Futagami Hannosuke Masaaki. Matashichi extended an invitation to Masaaki to come and stay with him in the Chikuzen (Nà Âgata area). It was there that Masaaki disclosed the teachings of his school Sà Âsuishi-ryà « to Matahachi. Since this time, Sosuishi-ryà « has been handed down and instructed by the Shitama family. On the five occasions where the Shitama family were unable to head the school, the ryà « had to be looked after by another until a male heir, bearing the Shitama name, could step in and inherit it. On occasion a "Yà Âshi" or "adopted son" from outside the family would be brought in to marry one of the daughters or cousins who had the surname "Shitama" in order to continue the lineage. After marriage the yà Âshi would change their surname to the wife's surname and inherit the ryà «, continuing the family bloodline for the next generation. (Note: This practice is common in Japan and is accepted today as a way of keeping family names from dissolving. It was established during, or perhaps well before, the feudal-era of Japan's history in order to keep family names intact after the loss of an only son). The art and family line continues in Fukuoka city today. The successor to Manzo Shitama is currently his son, Shusaku Shitama.
In 1888, a Menkyo Kaiden of Sà Âsuishi-ryà « moved to Tokyo and began teaching the martial arts to the Akasaka Police in Tokyo. His name was Matsui Hyakutaro Munetada.
Munetada was born native to Kyà «shà «, Japan in Fukuoka on February of Genji year 1 (1864). He was the first son of Matsui Kakitsu who was the samurai of Fukuoka han. As a boy he was fascinated with the martial arts so he started to train with his uncle Matsui Kà Âkichi, a Shingen No Maki (The term for Menkyo Kaiden prior to the Shà Âwa period), Menkyo Kaiden in Tenshin Jigà Â-ryà « and direct student of Sà Âsuishi-ryà « under 11th generation inheritor Shitama Munetsuna. Munetada also began training under Shitama Munetsuna and received a Shingen No Maki in Sà Âsuishi-ryà «. In Meiji year 16 (1883), when he was 19 years old, Munetada completed the Senbondori (1000 matches) in Fukuoka. In the year Meiji year 21 (1888), the Metropolitan Police Board invited Munetada a position training the officers of the Akasaka Police. He moved to Tokyo that year and opened a private dà Âjà Â, the Shobukan, on the premises of Duke Ichijo's Palace in Fukuyoshi-cho, Akasaka to teach martial arts. In Meiji year 38 (1905), he was given "Seiren sho" (recognition of good training/work) and then was awarded "Kyoshi-go" (head-instructor title) in June of Meiji year 42 (1909). He remained in his position for 30 years, until retirement. At the same time, he dedicated himself to opening a Seifukujutsu as a business for all Judo ka. He was the president of the Dai Nippon Judo Seifukujutsu until his death. The Butokukai awarded the title of Hanshi to him during May of Showa year 2 (1927). His line of Sà Âsuishi-ryà « is sometimes referred to as the Tà Âkyà Â-den or "Matsui-ha" and it continues in Tokyo today.
The following is an excerpt taken directly from the Shadanhà Âjin Sekiryà «kan website:
The techniques of Sà Âsuishi-ryà « correspond with other ryà «ha founded during the Keicho and the early Edo period of Japan. For example: atemi (striking) is used to distract the enemy; a lack of overly complex joint locking techniques; weapons retention techniques (including the use of both long and short swords); defenses against armed and unarmed enemies; and the use of defensive and offensive tactics. There are several basic and advanced techniques in Sà Âsuishi-ryà «, such as atemi, ukemi, tai-sabaki, kansetsu-waza and nage-waza. Some aspects are almost identical and directly correlate to those found in Takenouchi-ryà « such as: torite, hade, kogusoku and kumi-uchi.
The kata in Sà Âsuishi-ryà « encourages the practitioners to not only practice defensive tactics as the defender (ware or tori), but to also offensive and sometimes predatory tactics are used against the "attacker" (teki or uke). This method of learning is intended to create a heightened sensitivity, augmenting the awareness of body language and openings when attacking or defending.
Within the Sekiryà «kan, the Sà Âsuishi-ryà « syllabus consists of forty eight kumi-uchi kata, divided into five skill sets: Idori (seated methods) (å± æÂÂ)- 8 techniques; Tai-Toshu (unarmed methods) (対éÂÂæÂÂ)- 8 techniques with variations (henka waza); Yotsu-Gumi (armored methods) (Ã¥ÂÂçµÂ) - 8 techniques; Tai-Kodachi (short-sword methods) (対å°Â太åÂÂ) - 8 techniques; and Sonota (others) (å ¶ä»Â) - 7 techniques. In addition to its repertoire of close combat methods, the tradition also contains a number of iai and kenjutsu techniques contained under the collective umbrella term, Koshi No Mawari (è °ä¹Âå»») making the ryà «ha a sà Âgà  bujutsu (ç·ÂÃ¥ÂÂæ¦è¡Â) or "Comprehensive martial art".
Koshi No Mawari means "Around the hips" when translated into English. It refers to the concept that anything expedient around the area of the hips can be used as a weapon. As with most koryà «, this would commonly be a kodachi (short-sword) or an uchigatana/katana (long-sword), however upon exploring this concept, other weapons and objects can be utilized.
Today, Sà Âsuishi-ryà « has three schools in Japan.
The Shitama family line of Sà Âsuishi-ryà « is practiced at the Shadanhà Âjin Sekiryà «kan (社å£æ³Â人é»æµÂ館), the hombu (推) dà Âjà  (home dà Âjà Â) of the ryu, located in Fukuoka, Japan. It is headed by the current hereditary shihan (head teacher), Manzo Shitama.
And two groups that currently claim to be a representative of Matsui Hyakutarà Â's tradition, the Kà Âsonkai (å Âå°Âä¼Â) and the Seirenkan (渠漣館éÂÂå ´). Matsui Hyakutarà Â's first successor, Sugiyama Shà Âtarà Â, who also happens to be one of the founders of the Kobudo Shinkà Âkai, transmitted the school to Kitajima Kokà «. Kitajima Kokà « named the branch "Kà Âsonkai" and was later succeeded by Shimamura Takeshi, then Manabu Ito, and finally by Kimura Akio., current headmaster of the branch. The Kà Âsonkai is mainly based in Yorii machi (Saitama). The Seirenkan, led by Usuki Yoshihiko is an independent organization created after Usuki Yoshihiko left the Kà Âsonkai (after the death of Kitajima Kokà «). It is dedicated to the preservation of Sà Âsuishi-ryà «'s teachings as passed down from Matsui Hyakutarà Â. While these schools practice independently of each other, Manabu Ità  and Yoshihiko Usuki have traveled to the Sekiryukan to train with Shitama Sensei and view Manzà  Shitama as the hereditary Shihan of Sà Âsuishi-ryà «.
Sà Âsuishi-ryà « is taught in several dà Âjà  outside Japan.
In Australia, Sà Âsuishi-ryà « was represented by Patricia Harrington (Kuraizume) from 1965 until early 2016. Harrington studied Sosuishi-ryu Jujutsu under the 15th Inheritor, Shusaku Shitama in 1964. Harrington was supported by Betty Huxley and Michael Huxley (until they both died).
Since 2016, Sà Âsuishi-ryà « has been represented in Australia by Thomas Crooks, Gomokuroku and Kyà Âshi and Peter Williams, Gomokuroku and Kyà Âshi, founders of Kumataka Dojos. From November 2023 they are the Australia New Zealand Regional Directors of the Sà Âsuishi-ryà « Jà «jutsu Kai. Crooks and Williams are both direct students of Shitama Manzo Sensei. Dojos are located in Epping and St George, Sydney, Bayswater, Perth (Australia) and Mukdahan (Thailand). As of April 2018 the United States/Americas region is led by Sà Âsuishi-ryà « Regional Directors William Kinkel, Rokumokuroku, and Shihan, and Bill Williams, Rokumokuroku and Shihan. Both Bill Kinkel and Bill Williams are direct students of Shitama, Manzo Sensei, the hereditary Dai-Menkyo of Sà Âsuishi-ryà «. Bill Williams is the Owner and Chief Instructor at the Seibukan Dojo in Forest Hills, New York.
The Seirenkan dà Âjà  is led by Yoshihiko Usuki and is located in Tokyo, the Seirenkan also has International branch schools located in Singapore, Italy, the United Kingdom in the city of London and in the United States in Chicago, Illinois, North Carolina and in Portland, Oregon. The Kosonkai Dà Âjà  led by Kimura Akio has no international schools and is located solely in Saitama, Japan.