Welcome

Welcome to the webpage of Kashima-Shinryu in the Netherlands

Kashima-Shinryu is the oldest traditional Japanese martial art (koryu). It was established around five centuries ago by Matsumoto Bizen no kami Ki no Masamoto together with Kunii Genpachiro Kagetsugu. The roots of the school lie in a thousand or more years old Kashima-no-tachi, and its philosophy and techniques were well-systematized in the Asuka Era (ca. 645) by Kuninazu no Mahito who was a priestly celebrant of the Kashima Grand Shrine. Present head of the school, Dr. Seki Humitake, is the 19th generation headmaster (Shihanke).

In 1964 Seki-sensei was awarded the rank of Menkyo-Kaiden in Kashima-Shinryu. During the same year, the then current headmaster, Kunii Zenya officially nominated Seki as his successor. Before Seki-sensei Kashima-Shinryu was a closed school. It was difficult to become a member of the school for ordinary citizens. For a foreigner it was virtually impossible. In 1976 Seki-sensei started to give Kashima-Shinryu instruction in the University of Tsukuba. Just a couple of years later the first non-Japanese were allowed to begin their Kashima-Shinryu studies.

Kashima-Shinryu can be studied not only in Japan but also in the United States, in Europe and in Israel. In the USA Kashima-Shinryu is taught in Athens, Bozeman, Eureka, Fortuna and Los Angeles. European chapters are located in Breda, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Ljubljana, London and Tampere. In addition, satellite schools exist in Germany and in Israel.