CERN Yagyu Shingan Ryu School

Welcome to the CERN Bujutsu Club

The CERN Bujutsu Club welcomes you on Tuesday 12th September 2017 for a new season.

NEWS : The CERN Bujutsu club will restart its activities on Tuesday 12th September 2017.

We are always welcoming new members to the club. Come and train with us at anytime, no matter your level of expertise. Simply bring comfortable clothing.

Established in June 2005, the CERN Bujutsu club teaches a Japanese martial art known as Yagyu Shingan-ryu (YSR) Heiho Jutsu following the principles transmitted to our instructors by Shimazu Kenji Sensei, the 19th and current Headmaster of the style in Japan.

Classes are conducted in both French and English.

Contact Us

Feel free to contact us at club.bujutsu@cern.ch before you attend. You can consult the calendar of upcoming training sessions to know when the next training session is due to take place.

You can also subscribe to our members mailing list club-martial-arts-members@cern.ch on CERN E-Groups (the CERN mailing list server) to receive special announcements relating to the club.

Teaching Principles

Stretching (Doin-jutsu) Soft stretching that extends and relaxes muscles and tendons.
Strengthening (Kufuden / Tanren-jutsu) Improve your posture and reinforce your body structure.
Coordination (Suburi) Foundation forms of the style that intensify coordination capabilities and unifies the movement of the body.
Self Defense (Jujutsu) Techniques still practiced to this day by Japanese police, effective in numerous situations.
Traditional Swordsmanship (Kenjutsu) A swordfighting discipline specific to Yagyu Shingan Ryu.
Weapons & Striking Techniques (Bukijutsu / Atemi-jutsu) A variety of other weapons including long staff, short sword, dagger and striking of pressure points.
Healing Techniques (Kappo-jutsu) Ancient techniques for twists, sprains, bruising, bleeding and many other ailments.
Cultural Etiquette (Reiho) Japanese traditions of respect within a training hall.
Japanese Language (Nihongo) Terminology relating to techniques to deepen the understanding of their meaning and origin.

History

Originally known as Shingan Ryu, the style was developed by the samurai warrior Takenaga Hayato of the Sendai province.
The style was based on battlefield strategy dating from the latter half of the Sengoku Period; a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict in Japanese history that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century.

In the development of Shingan Ryu, Takenaga mastered four styles of bujutsu, however still with a sense of incompletion and dissolution, he left for the capital Edo and became a servant in the house of Yagyu.

Due to his outstanding skills, Takenaga's existence was soon noticed by the famous swordsman Yagyu Munenori who challenged him to confirm his ability. Due to his high potential, Takenaga was accepted under exceptional circumstances as a direct student of Munenori and showed incomparable dedication to his training. Yagyu Shinkage Ryu was the sword school assigned to the protection of the Shogun and despite the many students who were trained in the school during the life of Munenori, we only find this one and unique example of a student being allowed to use the Yagyu name, hence the birth of the Yagyu Shingan Ryu.

Overjoyed with his accomplishment, Takenaga returned to his Sendai province to live out his life passing on what he had learnt. He took on an abundance of students including the foot soldier warriors known as the '55 men', after which the village they lived in is still named today. It is said Takenaga retired to the mountains and taught the ways of the spiritual warrior in his old age.

The tradition of Yagyu Shingan Ryu has been closely guarded since and survived down through the generations with some 130 names recorded in the lineage to the present day headmaster Shimazu Kenji Sensei.

Instructors

SHIMAZU KENJI SENSEI - School Headmaster

The school of Yagyu Shingan Ryu Heihojutsu Kyodensho Chikuosha is led by the 19th headmaster Shimazu Kenji Sensei who was born in Showa 13 (1938). Following a lengthy period of harsh training at a young age under Aizawa Tomio Sensei, Shimazu Sensei opened a Yagyu Shingan Ryu Heihojutsu dojo during the year Showa 38 and in Showa 50 he added the name "Kyodensho Chikuosha", which refers to the place of true transmission and identifies Shimazu Sensei's dojo, named in honour of the founder Takenaga Hayato.

A high profile bone-setter by trade, Shimazu Sensei studied several styles of the tradition and received mastery of the Yagyu Shingan Ryu Heihojutsu tradition namely from Aizawa Tomio and Hoshi Kunio. Shimazu Sensei's dojo is located in Tokyo where he continues to head the school in Japan and its international branches.

Shimazu Sensei is well loved by all who are fortunate enough to train with him, he is a most generous and warm hearted instructor and at the same time a living example of the lethal potential for which the school is renowned.

Shimazu Sensei instructs a summer camp most years in Europe, open to all members of the CERN dojo. Instructors at CERN train intensely with Shimazu Sensei either here or during regular trips to Japan.

Per Eriksson - Northern Europe Shibu Head

PER ERIKSSON was born in 1973. He entered the Yagyu Shingan ryu dojo - Australia branch of Shimazu Kenji in 2002, following several years of training in Nihon Taijutsu. At this time he was studying at the University of Western Sydney Australia. He was initiated into the tradition on the 27th July 2004 and is one of four direct foreign students to Shimazu Kenji.
Today Per Eriksson is the branch Headmaster of the Northern Europe Shibu where he directs his dojos in Sweden and Switzerland.

Per Eriksson regularly conducts seminars in Yagyu Shingan ryu. His seminars have been very well received by practitioners of the classical and modern martial arts. Per Eriksson have also instructed personnel within the Swedish Police Force and Military. He still instructs personnel within the Swedish Police Force. He completed his National Service as Sergeant in the Swedish Military Forces. Per Shihan was awarded a direct teaching license by Shimazu Kenji in 2013. Today he works as a teacher at Karlskoga folk high school. He has a Master Degree of Education and is currently teaching history, religion and Budo. He also conducts courses and lectures about health and personal development.
(Per's biography kindly contributed by Phil Hinshelwood Sensei)

Sylvain de Boissieu - Switzerland Shibu Head

Founder of the club in 2005, Sylvain began training at age 10 and has trained under the guidance of Shimazu Sensei for the past 26 years. Sylvain teaches all aspects of the art specializing in anatomy and physiology and the healing aspects of the art with a deep understanding of the esoteric and philosophical teachings within Yagyu Shingan Ryu.

Xavier Chami - Guest Instructor

Xavier began training in Martial Arts at 17 with his father in Shotokan Karate, as well as sword and knife fighting.
Xavier has trained under the guidance of Sensei Shimazu for the past fifteen years and considers Yagyu Shingan Ryu like the school of his heart.
His interest in Yagyu Shingan Ryu focuses on Kempo and Koppo jutsu.

Stéphane Réveillé - Guest Instructor

Stéphane started martial arts at 7. He began Yagyu Shingan in 1993 and has been training under the guidance of Shimazu Sensei since 1994. He has a deep understanding of the historical background and inner teachings of Yagyu Shingan Ryu and focuses on the details in the techniques.
His interest lies in the transmission of this martial art, as accurately as possible.

Brice Copy - Dojo Manager

Brice has been training under Sylvain's instructions since 2005. He manages the club and coordinates its activities, communication and budgets.

The Club

Training Programme

Our training sessions start promptly at 17h45, to open the training hall, get changed, lay the training mats and get warmed up.

17h45 : Meeting at the training hall (Bldg 216)
18h00 : Reinforcements (TANREN) for 30 minutes
Improve your posture and reinforce your body structure.
18h30 : Coordination (Suburi - 21 Katas) for 60 minutes
Foundation forms of the style that intensify coordination capabilities and unify the movements of the body.
19h30 : Odachi katana practice for 30 minutes
Practice with heavy bokkens, designed to reinforce the forearms and improve aiming precision
20h00 : Self Defense (Jujitsu) / every other week for 60 minutes
Techniques still practiced to this day by Japanese police, effective in numerous situations.
20h00 : Traditional Swordsmanship (Batto Jutsu) / every other week for 60 minutes
A swordfighting discipline specific to Yagyu Shingan Ryu, practice with light bokkens.
21h00 : Session ends

Contact Us

Feel free to contact us at club.bujutsu@cern.ch before you attend. You can consult the calendar of upcoming training sessions to know when the next training session is due to take place.

You can also subscribe to our members mailing list club-martial-arts-members@cern.ch on CERN E-Groups (the CERN mailing list server) to receive special announcements relating to the club.

Membership and fees

In order to become a member of the Bujutsu club, please print and complete the following membership form.

Initial trial session is free of charge.

Club Subscription

Quarterly Subscription : 80 CHF
Annual Subscription (September to September) : 200 CHF

CERN Staff Association members get a 10 CHF rebate on subscription fees (applicable only once in a given year)

Non-CERN employees must have insurance against accidents relating to the practice of sports and leisure. CERN members are automatically covered by their UNIQA contract.

Training Calendar

Direct Link to our calendar (if the frame above is empty).

CERN Martial Arts Club

Welcome to the CERN Bujutsu Club

NEWS : The CERN Bujutsu club will restart its activities on Tuesday 12th September 2017.

Contact Us

Teaching Principles

History

History

Instructors

Instructors

SHIMAZU KENJI SENSEI - School Headmaster

Per Eriksson - Northern Europe Shibu Head

Sylvain de Boissieu - Switzerland Shibu Head

Xavier Chami - Guest Instructor

Stéphane Réveillé - Guest Instructor

Brice Copy - Dojo Manager

Club

The Club

Training Programme

Contact Us

Membership and fees

Training Calendar

Photo Gallery

Trip to Japan 2013

2012 Seminar Photos (Ambilly, FRANCE)

Training Photos 2011 (CERN Meyrin - Building 216)

Trip to Japan 2013

Training Sessions 2011

Martial Arts Seminar 2012 (Ambilly)