Sadakazu Uyenishi
Encyclopedia
Sadakazu Uyenishi was amongst the first Japanese jujitsu practitioners to both teach jujitsu and to compete using the art outside of Japan.
in Honshu
, the main island of Japan
. His father, Kichibe Uyenishi, had been a famous athlete, noted for his unusual physical strength and skill at kenjutsu
, horsemanship, swimming
and sumo
wrestling.
Sadakazu’s first martial training was in kenjutsu. As he was contemplating a military
career, his father encouraged him to begin training in jujitsu and he enrolled in a local dojo
, likely that of Yataro Handa in Osaka. Uyenishi later referred to having won several jujitsu competitions during his teen years.
Uyenishi was also a skilled exponent of rokushakubo and hanbo
(combat techniques with a six-foot and three-foot staff, respectively).
at the invitation of Edward William Barton-Wright
, the founder of the eclectic martial art of Bartitsu
. Soon after his arrival in London, Uyenishi joined fellow expatriate Japanese wrestler Yukio Tani
on the teaching faculty of Barton-Wright's Bartitsu Club in Shaftesbury Avenue
. Tani and Uyenishi also began to distinguish themselves as professional wrestlers, competing successfully against much larger opponents in the contests promoted by Barton-Wright.
After the Bartitsu Club closed down (circa 1902), Uyenishi continued his work as a professional wrestler and also taught jiujitsu classes at the self defence academy that had been established by his former Bartitsu Club colleague, Pierre Vigny
. His abilities as a teacher were often remarked upon, and by 1903 he had established his own dojo, the School of Japanese Self Defence, at 31 Golden Square, Picadilly Circus.
Uyenishi adapted enthusiastically to life in Edwardian London society. He was an exotic “character” whose stylish dress-sense and gentlemanly bearing were considered noteworthy by several interviewers.
In 1905, with the assistance of his student E.H. Nelson and writing under his professional wrestling alias of “Raku”, Uyenishi produced his Text-Book of Ju-Jutsu, which became a popular reference work. Within, his credentials were listed as:
"Instructor to the following Colleges in Japan:Riku-gun yo-nan gako (The Military College for Officers);
Tai-iku-kai (The Imperial Military College of Physical Training);
Shi-han-gako (The School of Instructors);
Jun sa ki-shun-sho (The Police Training School);
All Government Schools in Osaka;
And to
The Army Gymnastic Staff, Head Quarters Gymnasium, Aldershot"
Three years later, while continuing his wrestling as a sideline, Uyenishi was also employed as a hand-to-hand combat instructor at Aldershot Military School and at Shorncliffe Army Camp.
, who went on to establish jujitsu classes for members of the militant Suffragist movement; and Mrs. Emily Watts
, whose 1906 book The Fine Art of Jujitsu was the first English work to record Kodokan
judo
kata
.
Some contemporary English judo and jujitsu clubs can trace their teaching lineage back to Sadakazu Uyenishi.
Early years and martial arts training
Uyenishi was born in 1880, probably at Osaka PrefectureOsaka Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...
in Honshu
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, the main island of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. His father, Kichibe Uyenishi, had been a famous athlete, noted for his unusual physical strength and skill at kenjutsu
Kenjutsu
, meaning "the method, or technique, of the sword." This is opposed to kendo, which means the way of the sword. Kenjutsu is the umbrella term for all traditional schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration...
, horsemanship, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and sumo
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestling.
Sadakazu’s first martial training was in kenjutsu. As he was contemplating a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
career, his father encouraged him to begin training in jujitsu and he enrolled in a local dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
, likely that of Yataro Handa in Osaka. Uyenishi later referred to having won several jujitsu competitions during his teen years.
Uyenishi was also a skilled exponent of rokushakubo and hanbo
Hanbo
The hanbō is a staff used in martial arts. Traditionally, the hanbō was approximately three shaku or about long, half the length of the usual staff, the rokushakubō . Diameter was...
(combat techniques with a six-foot and three-foot staff, respectively).
Life and work in England
In the year 1900, aged twenty, Uyenishi travelled to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the invitation of Edward William Barton-Wright
Edward William Barton-Wright
Edward William Barton-Wright C.E., M.J.S. was a British entrepreneur specialising in both self defence training and physical therapy...
, the founder of the eclectic martial art of Bartitsu
Bartitsu
Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defence method originally developed in England during the years 1898–1902. In 1901 it was immortalised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories...
. Soon after his arrival in London, Uyenishi joined fellow expatriate Japanese wrestler Yukio Tani
Yukio Tani
was a Japanese jujutsu instructor and professional challenge wrestler.The precise details of Tani's early jujutsu training in Japan are unclear, but he is known to have studied at two Fusen-ryu dojo as well as at the "Handa School of Jiujitsu" in Osaka...
on the teaching faculty of Barton-Wright's Bartitsu Club in Shaftesbury Avenue
Shaftesbury Avenue
Shaftesbury Avenue is a major street in central London, England, named after Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, that runs in a north-easterly direction from Piccadilly Circus to New Oxford Street, crossing Charing Cross Road at Cambridge Circus....
. Tani and Uyenishi also began to distinguish themselves as professional wrestlers, competing successfully against much larger opponents in the contests promoted by Barton-Wright.
After the Bartitsu Club closed down (circa 1902), Uyenishi continued his work as a professional wrestler and also taught jiujitsu classes at the self defence academy that had been established by his former Bartitsu Club colleague, Pierre Vigny
Pierre Vigny
Pierre Vigny was a French master-at-arms who was active during the late 19th century and early 20th century. He specialised in the French savate style of martial arts and in the art of stick fighting known as La canne which he heavily modified to better suit his theories of effective self...
. His abilities as a teacher were often remarked upon, and by 1903 he had established his own dojo, the School of Japanese Self Defence, at 31 Golden Square, Picadilly Circus.
Uyenishi adapted enthusiastically to life in Edwardian London society. He was an exotic “character” whose stylish dress-sense and gentlemanly bearing were considered noteworthy by several interviewers.
In 1905, with the assistance of his student E.H. Nelson and writing under his professional wrestling alias of “Raku”, Uyenishi produced his Text-Book of Ju-Jutsu, which became a popular reference work. Within, his credentials were listed as:
"Instructor to the following Colleges in Japan:Riku-gun yo-nan gako (The Military College for Officers);
Tai-iku-kai (The Imperial Military College of Physical Training);
Shi-han-gako (The School of Instructors);
Jun sa ki-shun-sho (The Police Training School);
All Government Schools in Osaka;
And to
The Army Gymnastic Staff, Head Quarters Gymnasium, Aldershot"
Three years later, while continuing his wrestling as a sideline, Uyenishi was also employed as a hand-to-hand combat instructor at Aldershot Military School and at Shorncliffe Army Camp.
Return to Japan and death
In late 1908 Uyenishi returned to Japan, leaving his Golden Square school in the charge of his senior student, William Garrud. Little is known of his life after that date, but British jujitsu authority Percy Longhurst, in writing an updated biography of Uyenishi for the 9th edition of his “Text-Book” published just after the Second World War, noted that Uyenishi had died “some years before”.Legacy
Notable individuals who were directly influenced by Sadakazu Uyenishi's teaching included William Garrud, whose book "the Complete Jujitsuan" (published in 1914) became a standard reference work on the subject; Edith GarrudEdith Margaret Garrud
Edith Margaret Garrud was among the first female professional martial arts instructors in the Western world. She is remembered for having trained the Bodyguard unit of the Women's Social and Political Union in jujutsu self defence techniques.- Early life :She was born Edith Margaret Williams in...
, who went on to establish jujitsu classes for members of the militant Suffragist movement; and Mrs. Emily Watts
Emily Diana Watts
Emily Diana Watts was among the first female instructors of the Japanese art of jujitsu in the Western world. She was also an innovator in the field of physical culture....
, whose 1906 book The Fine Art of Jujitsu was the first English work to record Kodokan
Kodokan
, or the Kodokan Institute, is the headquarters of the worldwide judo community. Literally, kō means "to lecture" or "to spread information," dō means "the way," and kan is "a public building or hall," together translating roughly as "a place for the study or promotion of the way." The Kodokan was...
judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
.
Some contemporary English judo and jujitsu clubs can trace their teaching lineage back to Sadakazu Uyenishi.