Through the Shin Ryu Kan 心龍館 (Dragon Spirit Building), we are a pioneering effort in the United States of America in traditional Japanese / Okinawan Karate-Do 空手道, Ju-Jutsu 柔術 and Okinawan Kobu-Do 沖縄
古武道. The three disciplines offered at the Shin Ryu Kan are all inter-related through their history, traditions and points of origin. Our purpose is to promote the true spirit of the Japanese / Okinawan martial disciplines by offering qualified instruction, education and demonstrations in Soryu Karate-Do 総流空手道, Bai Shin Ryu Ju-Jutsu 梅心流柔術 and Matayoshi style Okinawan Kobu-Do 沖縄古武道. Family values are emphasized and membership is open to all individuals.
There was perhaps no group in Japanese society that exhibited Yamato Damashi 大和魂 (Japanese spirit) as much as the warrior class known as Bushi 武士 or Samurai 侍. The martial disciplines practiced by the feudal warrior served to prepare him for military combat. Their modern cognate derivations are completely different in philosophy and technique, but serve as effective forms of self-defense and as ways for cultivating a disciplined mind through the life long search for self-perfection.
The demonstration of an aesthetic martial style is the hallmark of an exponent who has effectively fused his mental and physical abilities. When practicing the martial disciplines, proper methods of execution and efficiency of human movement are always emphasized. Individual artistry and expression of spiritual élan are as significant as technical performance itself. Their purpose today is to develop a state of mind in which one is able to accept any of life’s challenges with calmness and resoluteness, especially during critical times. The Japanese expression for this is Yoshintanren 養親鍛連 (the cultivation of mind and the fostering of courage).
The training sessions stress condition through the execution of basic techniques and are unquestionably rigorous, both physically and mentally. Attainment of perfection involves a great deal of quick and reflexive repetitive movement. While such training is difficult, it serves to give the exponent both the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to advance to the higher levels of performance.
So that one may devote full attention to training, sessions begin and end with a meditation period during which one sheds the psychological attachments of life out of the Dojo 道場 (place of the way or training hall). Our training spirit is one of mutual respect and good nature fellowship. We encourage approaching our training with an open mind and sense of enjoyment. We seek to learn and grow by serving each other along Do 道 (the way). The literal translation of the word Do 道 means path or way, and suggests that the art is a means or way for the ultimate perfection of character. It is found suffixed to the names of many Japanese / Okinawn martial ways.