Children at the Sennin Foundation

Since 1981, the Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts as been offering a fun and well-structured program in Japanese yoga and martial arts for children age five and above. These affordable classes are taught by experienced instructors and are non-competitive. Class sizes are small, and instruction is personalized.

The Sennin Foundation Center presents training in Saigo Ryu aiki-jujutsu, a traditional martial art. While many Westerners use “jujutsu, jujitsu, or jiu-jitsu” to describe their art of self-defense, most of these methods bear little resemblance to the original Japanese jujutsu, Japan’s oldest martial art. Both aikido and judo stem from jujutsu, and our dojo is one of few in the USA to offer authentic Japanese jujutsu.

Our class features a wide variety of powerful throwing, pinning, and grappling techniques stemming from older methods (kobudo) originating in the Aizu-Wakamatsu area of Japan. Saigo Ryu also features advanced training in the sword, spear, staff, short stick, iron fan, and other weapons. It is unique and distinct from many more well-known martial disciplines (like karate-do, kendo, and iaido). While training is dynamic, and the practiced self-defense techniques effective, the emphasis is on subduing an opponent without unnecessary injury. Children improve their health while learning martial arts as meditation, which helps them to remain calm under pressure. Some students have likened training in our dojo to “moving Zen.”

Instruction in the Shin-shin-toitsu-do system of Japanese yoga and meditation is included at no extra charge. Japanese yoga training makes it easier to master the martial arts, and it helps children to realize their full potential in other activities as well. Studying Japanese yoga and aiki-jujutsu gives young people a great opportunity to develop self-discipline, self-confidence, willpower, respect for others, as well as a stronger mind and body. Children learn meditation, stretching, breathing exercises, mind and body coordination drills, along with valuable self-defense techniques. Training in Japanese martial arts is vigorous, but due to the disciplined nature of our classes, we have few injuries. Parents report that their children show increased calmness at home, confidence in social situations, and better grades in school.

As someone who began studying Japanese yoga and martial arts as a child, H. E. Davey Sensei, one of the highest ranking traditional jujutsu teachers outside of Japan, was ideally suited for creating a program for children. Under his guidance, and with the help of his staff of expert teachers, young people from Albany, Berkeley, and the Bay Area have discovered their true potential and hidden talents for many years.

Parents can learn more about our program for children by visiting Martial Arts & Kids. Give us a call at 510-526-7518, and we’ll be happy to discuss how we can help your son or daughter to become healthier, safer, and more confident.

Traditional Japanese Martial Arts for Kids & Adults

The Sennin Foundation Center presents instruction in Saigo Ryu aiki-jujutsu, a traditional and non-competitive martial art, for children and adults. While many Westerners use “jujutsu, jujitsu, or jiu-jitsu” to describe their art of self-defense, most of these methods bear little resemblance to the original Japanese jujutsu, Japan’s oldest martial art. Both aikido and judo stem from jujutsu, and our dojo is one of few in the USA to offer authentic Japanese jujutsu.

Our class features a wide variety of powerful throwing, pinning, and grappling techniques stemming from older methods (kobudo) originating in the Aizu-Wakamatsu area of Japan. Saigo Ryu is a sogo bujutsu, an “integrated martial system,” and it also features advanced training in the martial arts of the sword, spear, staff, short stick, iron fan, and others. It is unique and unlike many more well-known martial disciplines (like karate-do, kendo, and iaido). While training is vigorous, and the practiced self-defense techniques effective, the emphasis is on subduing an opponent without unneeded injury. Students improve their health while learning martial arts as meditation, which helps them to remain calm under pressure. Some students have likened training in our dojo to “moving Zen.”

Our instructors also teach methods for cultivating ki (chi in Chinese). Ki is the life energy that animates human beings, and an understanding of it is useful in both martial arts and daily life.

H. E. Davey Sensei, the primary instructor at the Sennin Foundation Center, is the author of numerous books, including Unlocking the Secrets of Aiki-jujutsu and Living the Japanese Arts & Ways. He began studying the Saigo Ryu tradition at just five years old. He received the rank/title of Nihon Jujutsu Kyoshi from the Kokusai Budoin, which defines Kyoshi as a “Master’s certificate and equal to modern ranks of sixth- to eighth-degree black belt.” Kokusai Budoin was founded over 50 years ago in Japan, where it is affiliated with the Japanese Imperial Family, and where it functions as an international federation for most budo, or martial arts. In 1995, Davey Sensei and his students became the first Westerners permitted to give their own demonstration of aiki-jujutsu at the Kokusai Budoin’s annual All-Japan Martial Arts Exhibition. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Shudokan Martial Arts Association, which has given him a seventh-degree black belt and a Shihan teaching license.

Instruction in the Shin-shin-toitsu-do system of Japanese yoga and meditation is included at no extra charge. Japanese yoga training makes it easier to master the martial arts, and it helps us to realize our full potential other activities as well. Give us a call at 510-526-7518 to find out how aiki-jujutsu can help you toward self-protection and self-perfection.

Sennin Foundation 27th Anniversary

“Serving Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Kensington, Oakland, Richmond, Martinez, San Pablo, Hercules, Pinole, El Sobrante, Emeryville, San Francisco, San Rafael, Piedmont, and the Bay Area since 1981.”

In November, the Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts celebrated its 27th anniversary with separate workshops in Japanese yoga/meditation and martial arts. Practice kicked off with martial arts training that focused on Saigo Ryu aiki-jujutsu, a traditional Japanese martial discipline. This was followed by Shin-shin-toitsu-do (Japanese yoga) practice, which began with 30 minutes of meditation, followed by mind and body unification training.

A special lunch took place at the nearby Ruen Pair Thai restaurant. To learn more about the Sennin Foundation Center and its classes in Japanese yoga and martial arts for children, visit www.senninfoundation.com.

Sennin Foundation Offers Children a Free Trial Month

For a limited time only, the Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts is offering a free month of instruction for children age five and above. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and you'd like to get more details about this offer, visit http://www.senninfoundation.com/ or call 510-526-7518 (evenings).

The Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts has a special program for children. Since 1981, we've specialized in teaching young people traditional Japanese yoga and martial arts via fun, carefully structured classes. These classes present effective methods of controlling an opponent without excessive violence, and our overall emphasis focuses on the realization of each child's full potential. We stress learning to unite the mind and body in daily activities through practicing Japanese yoga and martial arts (jujutsu), which can in turn result in the discovery of our greatest human power.

The Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts

The Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts offers a special program for children ages five and above. Since 1981, we've specialized in teaching young people traditional Japanese yoga and martial arts via fun, carefully structured classes. These classes present effective methods of controlling an opponent without excessive violence, and our overall emphasis focuses on the realization of each child's full potential. We stress learning to unite the mind and body in daily activities through practicing Japanese yoga and martial arts, which can in turn result in the discovery of our greatest human power.

H. E. Davey Sensei and our instructional staff are black belt instructors, certified in Japan, who have extensive experience working with children. In fact, a number of the kids in our classes have visited Japan and demonstrated martial arts at the Kokusai Budoin Sogo Budo Taikai, an annual all-Japan exhibition held in Tokyo. What's more, several members of our adult program started practicing with us as children and now help teach our classes for kids. We offer instruction that can provide tangible benefits throughout the course of your life.

Our classes for kids have a number of important points to recommend them:

* Instruction in genuine jujutsu--one of the world's oldest and most effective martial arts

* Including Japanese yoga: stretching, meditation, breathing exercises, and more

*Small non-competitive classes, individualized instruction, private lessons, and multiple month discounts

* Separate classes available in Japanese systems of yoga, healing arts, martial arts, and fine arts (painting and calligraphy) for Mom and Dad

We think you'll find our patient staff of instructors can help your child cultivate confidence, concentration, and physical fitness. These are benefits that will clearly aid any young person in school, sports, or family life. If you're interested in giving your son or daughter an added advantage in life, contact the Sennin Foundation Center for information about an affordable martial arts program that teaches self-protection and much, much more. Parents can reach us at http://senninfoundation.com/.

Selecting a Martial Arts School

Japanese martial arts schools in the West range from dojo (schools) that are focused solely on sport and competition, to studios emphasizing street fighting, to training halls concentrating on martial arts as moving meditation. Both parents and children need to consider what they are looking for . . . not just in a Japanese martial art, but also in a martial arts school.

How long has the school been established? Martial arts schools, like most other businesses, sometimes close up shop. A dojo with a lengthy history may be less likely to go out of business a few months after you join.

How long has the teacher been training? More experience may mean better instruction, although this isn’t inevitably true.

How large are the classes? Unless a sizable number of assistant instructors are present during each class, huge numbers of students during each training session often means watered down instruction.

Are the classes competitive or noncompetitive? If you and your child are interested in attending tournaments, choose a martial art with a sport element. Bear in mind, however, that sports must be regulated by rules, and the methods of safely training in a martial sport doesn’t necessarily relate to self defense (where rules are rarely present). Noncompetitive martial arts, on the other hand, allow students to practice techniques and defenses which might be deemed “illegal” in competition, and they sometimes place a greater emphasis on “inner development.” On the other hand, they may lack some of the excitement associated with tournament competition.

Are the classes primarily physical in nature or is there an emphasis on spiritual development? Simply wearing a Japanese style gi (“uniform”) and engaging in Japanese forms of etiquette like bowing is no guarantee that any profound personal growth is taking place. Instructors that concentrate primarily on rolling, grabbing, and hitting often produce students that only know how to roll, grab, and hit. Monkeys can do as much, but monkeys aren’t practicing a genuine Japanese martial art, which should contain methods of training the mind along with the body. If personal development via the martial arts is important to you as a parent, look for a teacher who includes instruction in meditation or in some other manner deliberately helps children in his or her dojo to cultivate their spirits.

The Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts was established in 1981. It offers personalized instruction for children in Japanese yoga and martial arts. Classes are small and taught by experienced teachers. Instruction is noncompetitive in nature, with a heavy emphasis on cultivating mind and body unification. Through coordination of mind and body, each child is able to realize their full potential more easily and effectively in the martial arts and in daily life as well. To find out more, drop by http://senninfoundation.com/classes4kids.html

About the Japanese Martial Arts

The Japanese martial arts enjoy immense popularity throughout the world, especially among children. However, not every parent knows much about these arts or how to select the best school for their child.

The original Japanese martial arts are commonly known in Japan as koryu bujutsu, the “ancient systems of martial arts.” These are the martial disciplines developed by the samurai, or warriors, of old Japan. Included among the koryu bujutsu are arts like jujutsu, which emphasizes predominantly unarmed grappling, kenjutsu (“the art of the sword”), sojutsu (“the art of the spear”), and others.

In time, these arts evolved into gendai budo, “modern martial ways,” which placed a greater emphasis on personal growth as opposed to focusing solely on combat. The movement from bujutsu to budo accelerated after the abolition of the samurai class and the Japanese feudal system in the late 1800s. Examples of modern budo are judo, aikido, and karate-do.

After World War II, many of the budo placed a greater emphasis on sport-like competition in their dojo, or training halls. Influenced by Western culture, some converted into pure sports as opposed to martial arts or ways.

Japanese martial arts schools in the West range from dojo that are focused solely on sport and competition, to studios emphasizing street fighting, to training halls concentrating on martial arts as moving meditation. Both parents and children need to consider what they are looking for . . . not just in a Japanese martial art, but also in a martial arts school.

The Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts offers a well-established program for children, which includes instruction in Japanese yoga and jujutsu, a traditional Japanese martial art. To find out more, go here: http://senninfoundation.com/classes4kids.html