I'm just reading through 'Small Circle JuJitsu,' by Professor Wally Jay. (1989, Ohara Publications). On Page 16. it describes how Okazaki, the main teacher of Wally Jay was "ostracized," by the Japanese for doing "the unthinkable - he offered to teach Baron [a Caucasian] jujitsu.' The author continues,"In those days, judo and jujitsu were taught to the Japanese only. Systems and styles were closed to all but a select few."
Furthermore, "defying the traditionalists, Okazaki, for a time, was ostracized. He had broken tradition by teaching non-Japanese."
So a call to the traditionalists:
* If you received your belt from a non-Japanese: Give it Back. Only Japanese should receive ranks in jujutsu, jujitsu, or jiu-jitsu (I don't know how to write the Kanji).
* If you're really serious, behead with a Samurai sword any commoner who doesn't bow to you.
* Finally, work out which Shogun who owe loyalty to and then commit Seppuku , or ritual suicide, necessary to restore your and the Shogun's honour. (They all lost face after the U.S. turned up with gunboats and triggered the Meiji Restoration in Japan).
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Very interesting tradition. Though we must say that, judging by historical records, the Japanese themselves frequently broke this unwritten law. Before Tokugawa made Japan a closed country, he did something very unthinkable back then.. he selected an Englishman, Will Adams, as a trusted advisor, giving him the title "Hakujin Samurai". Also, another interesting thing.. another Englishman by the name of Barton-Wright actually learned Shinden Fudo-ryu in 1875. That means long BEFORE Takamatsu sensei did (Takamatsu was Hatsumi's teacher). In the 1920s, my step-grandfather, Raden Djoko Said, studied Jujutsu under Watanabe sensei in Kranggan, Surabaya. So, I guess the full command is "Don't teach non-Japanese.. unless you can trust them" :)
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