Rembukan Admittance in the 70's

Draeger S. Performing Oku with Shimizu S.

Foreigners hoping to study Shindo Muso Ryu at the original Rembukan Dojo in Tokyo, Japan were interviewed by both Shimizu and Draeger Sensei.  Donn was responsible for all non-Japanese students of SMRJ. 

Below is the text that each non-Japanese had to read and sign prior to being allowed entry into the dojo.

This process was taken very seriously.  Each student had a sponsor that the teacher would communicate through. 

Author's NOTE:  My Sempai Bruce Brown's guarantor Mr. Horii and I met in April 2015 at the Tokyo Budokan.  Still active within the Jodo Division of the Kendo Renmei, Horii San and I enjoyed coming full circle after all of these years.

Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo, Jodo, or “the way of the stick” is a classical martial discipline based on the Japanese sixteenth century combative style of stick tactics known as Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu.  Jodo has for its purpose the training of the individual spirit through the medium of combative tactics.  Jodo is not a game; nor is it a sport.  Jodo is completely under the technical direction of the headmaster of the Shindo Muso Ryu: currently that person is Takaji Shimizu, the legitimate 25th lineal descendant of that Ryu.

Jodo is bounded by very specific traditional formalities and procedures which make it quite different from newer and more commonly-known systems such as Judo or Karate-do.  If you are interested in studying Jodo, it is essential that you understand that you will be expected to abide by all Jodo formalities and that your final acceptance as a pupil by the Headmaster depends largely upon your demonstration that you are able to and will do so.  Begin your application by reading this introduction very carefully.  Then fill out the below questionnaire-application form.  Detach it and bring it first to any of the senior foreign Jodo instructors who will advise you of the procedure to be followed in order to complete your application.  You will not be permitted to receive Jodo instruction until you are approved by the headmaster for study.  This process may take some time.  If you are accepted you will be notified and requested to appear at the dojo (training hall) for instruction. Your initial training will be conducted at dojo locations and times where regularly-scheduled Jodo instruction is given weekly. These locations and times as well as other essentials will be clearfied {author’s spelling} for you by a senior foreign Jodo instructor after you have been notified of acceptance.

Bruce Testing at the Rembukan in Tokyo in front of Kaminoda, Yoneo, Shimizu, and Hiroi Sensei