Sensei Jorge Kishikawa - Instituto Niten

Sensei Jorge Kishikawa

Menkyo Kaiden, 7th Dan Kyoshi in Kendo

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Sensei Jorge Kishikawa

Since early childhood, Sensei Jorge Kishikawa was given an education deeply influenced by the samurai way of life. Such traditional japanese upbringing was complemented at the age of 6, when Sensei started to practice Kendo.
Throughout his Kendo history, among many awards, Sensei was five times the Brazilian champion for two consecutive times (total of 10 championships), and unbeaten in nearly eighty matches. He also won second place in 1985 at the Paris Kendo World Tournament, and the third place at the Tokyo Kendo World Tournament in 1977. Sensei Jorge Kishikawa is also the first Brazilian to achieve the 7th Dan Kyoshi approved unanimously by an examination board of Japanese masters.


New Horizons
As the years went by, Sensei Jorge Kishikawa, who was already searching for the secrets of invincibility in combat, realized that his path could be broaden through the study of ancient samurai teachings.
With that in mind, Sensei began his relentless pursuit of the traditional art of the samurai sword, the Kenjutsu.


Japan
During his teenage years, in order to learn more about Kenjutsu, Sensei started to travel very often to Japan, willing to "drink from the source", to study under the best masters of Kobudo (Ko - meaning "Old", and Budo - meaning "Path of the Samurai"). By doing so, Sensei was introduced to the most secret teachings and techniques from the most traditional martial arts schools created by the samurai.
Amidst dozens of schools and techniques that Sensei practiced, some of the most famous include:
-Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu from Miyamoto Musashi, writer of the Book of Five Rings;
-Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo made famous by the graphic novel Lone Wolf and Cub;
-Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu from Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi;
-Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, created by Iizasa Choisai Ienao 700 years ago;
-Ishin Ryu Kusarigamajutsu (a style of chain and sickle)
-Ikkaku Ryu Jittejutsu;
-Uchida Ryu Tanjojutsu;
-Nito Shinkage Ryu Kusarigamajutsu;
-Kasumi Shinto Ryu Kenjutsu;
-Hojojutsu;
-Battodo, among others.
"This was the beginning of my Path in the search for kenjutsu origins and invincibility," said Sensei Jorge Kishikawa.


Kenjutsu
In ancient Kenjutsu, the traditional method of training was the kata (predetermined fighting techniques usually practiced unarmored and using wooden swords), and the samurai would then try to apply the techniques when faced with life and death situations such as fighting with real katana (samurai steel sword) . Now, these Kenjutsu techniques becomes alive again in the Niten Institute classes, thanks to Sensei Jorge Kishikawa, who adapted the practicing of the old kata in actual combat, while wearing modern body armor (Bogu) and using bamboo swords (Shinai).
Sensei travels to Japan every year to study under the masters of ancient styles in Shugyo - the pilgrimage made by samurai in order to improve their skills and their spirits.





Menkyo Kaiden
Within the way of the samurai, Sensei Jorge Kishikawa holds the title of Menkyo Kaiden, the highest degree, in Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu, the school created by the most famous Samurai of all time, Miyamoto Musashi, invencible in more than 60 duels.
Sensei Jorge Kishikawa is also recognized as Shihan (Master) of the 10th generation and Shidosha, (teacher and representative) for the Latin America of the schools mentioned above.


Medical Education
As a doctor postgraduated in Sports and Health Care at UNIFESP (São Paulo's Federal Unversity) and member of São Paulo's Doctors Associaton (APM, in portuguese), Sensei have practiced medicine within the army for several years.
"Safety in training, under a doctor’s point of view," that's the way Sensei handles teaching at Niten Institute.

Publications
In 2004 Sensei published the book Shin Hagakure: Thoughts of a Modern Samurai, reprinted and expanded twice: first in 2010 and again in 2016 (soon to be released in english). The purpose of the work is to nurture the daily decisions of the modern world with the universal teachings of the Samurai.


Hidensho

Sensei's enthusiasm towards his research doesn't stop at the philosophy and traditions of the samurai. Instead, it goes even further towards the secrets, strategies and spirit of the most famous and skillful warrior of the whole history, Following the path of the greatest samurai warriors such as Miyamto Musashi, Yagyu Munenori, Muso Gonosuke and many others, Sensei has gathered through the years the secrets of combat in a series of manuscripts, also known as Makimono. During the age of the samurai the students were expected to learn the path of invencibility from "makimonos" and then have this knowledge put at stake in Shinken Shobu (duels with a sharp blade, in wich death was very likely). During the Shinken Shobu, minor details would mean the difference between life and death.
Sensei's pursuit in learning Kobudo and reviving the Ancient Styles are present in Niten Institute classes and the students are expected to follow the path of improvement and pursuit perfection of both spirit and technique through dedication. Such teachings and the highest secrets of the samurai sword are gathered in the Shingi Hidensho (The secret manuscripts of the mind and technique).


The KIR Method
As the years went by, Sensei synthesized his teachings under the name of Ken (Sword) Intensive Recuperation Method, or, in short, KIR Method. It allows the practitioners to improve their natural capacities, their health and themselves throught the Japanese Sword.

The accumulated knowledge from over more than forty years of study in several ways of sword combat, his strict education, the daily life with the last remaining masters from Japan, his degree in medicine and experience as a doctor, plus ten years within the army, together with the fact of being Brazilian are the backbone of the KIR Method, making every teaching more intense and rewarding. A long journey in search of the essence of the sword as well as the samurai philosophy is assured.
Under this premise, the KIR Method is the indispensable tool to insert all the wisdom of the Japanese philosophy and culture in the everyday life of the practitioner, alowing him to gain peace of mind, willpower, discipline and self-confidence.

Sensei Jorge Kishikawa believes that constant training, the purity of heart and honesty are the key to dive deeply into the way of the samurai.
The target of the martial training, as tought by Jorge Kishiwaka Sensei, is to direct the student to pursue the invincibility in combat and such invincibility will in the future turn into a peaceful and secure social posture and the happiness regardless if the environment and life situations are favorable or not.
Such temperance, a mainstay of the Samurai Culture, is the core of Sensei's spiritual pursuit through the sword.


Social Recognition
The true dedication and efforts to spread the legacy of the samurai sword was recognized in the Brazilian cities of Piracicaba, Ribeirao Preto, Campinas, Guarulhos and the States of Parana, Amazonas and Santa Catarina through the creation of the Day of the Samurai, celebrated in the same day as Sensei's Birthday, every April 24th.

In 2008, Sensei had the honor of receiving the centennial medal, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Brazil, in an official ceremony witnessed by the heir of Japanese throne, Prince Naruhito.


Mission
Having in mind the duty of passing on such important legacies to the succeeding generations, Sensei Jorge Kishikawa has been, for several decades, pursuing the course of the invincibility in combat and therefore carring out his mission.
In his own words he is, “Teaching the art of the sword that gives life. In plenty."