The Araki Ryu is an ancient Japanese martial art form stemming back to the 1570’s. The Araki Ryu was established after the ‘Warring States Period’ which was significant was struggles were concerned. The method is an old combat school and therefore also known as a ‘koryu’. Japan at the time of the inception of this martial form was full of internal feuds and battles from one warlord to another, each trying to gain supremacy over the other, and consequently become more powerful with each victory. Being triumphant in battle gave the obvious rewards of wealth, power to make decisions and respect. One of the major incidents following the creation of the Araki Ryu was the invasion of Korea in 1592 where Japan summoned its greatest warriors to enlist. General Hideyoshi managed to amass a huge and powerful army with the elite samurai warriors of the day at the fore. The competent warrior was a vital ingredient to military might. The attempted invasion of 1592 was repelled and this incredible feat was attempted again approximately six years later.

The creator and ultimate master of the Araki Ryu is attributed to Araki Mujinsai Minamoto no Hidenawa. It is said that he was a particularly well-versed combatant and duelled many times on the battlefield and records show he was held in high regard for his fighting skills by the leading ‘daimyo’ or Japanese for ‘family clans’ at that time. The skills he possessed were much sort after by his peers and thus the school established itself from the need for self-preservation. Honing all martial skills was relevant to both Japanese internal conflicts and when the citizens were called upon for war against other nations. Fighting skills, both practice and the instruction of, seemed to be a part of everyday life, which reflected the ‘bushido’ or ‘way of the warrior’ philosophy. Bushido was an ethical code of conduct that housed several tenets for the samurai to observe, for example, ‘yu’ or ‘courage’ and ‘meiyo’ which refers to ‘honour and glory’.

With this ‘battle-hardened’ training to hand the founder of the Araki Ryu devised and developed his own theories of warfare. The creator had the experience of battle, life and death situations, to draw upon and could relate the techniques accordingly. What would and would not be effective as a means of combat was systematically considered, for obvious reasons. Actual combat duels gave a better understanding of the techniques that could achieve the desired outcome.

Prior to the initiation of the system the founder calculated how one warrior could be an awesome fighter and have the combat tools to be ready regardless of the situation that was imposed upon him. The school specialises in wrestling or grappling with or without weapons, whilst wearing traditional body armour and protection. The armour gave the student a form of reality and understanding of the effectiveness of the school and its teachings, whilst dressed in standard military protective equipment. Techniques and fighting skills would be applied in a different way than if the exponent were not dressed in armour, thus the reason for wearing of the armour to practice in. The Araki Ryu philosophy constantly changed shape and instruction as the students were expected to add their own particular thoughts and practises. Individual interpretations and ideas assisted with the growth of the overall techniques and experience. A variety of weapons were utilised as well as the steadfast unarmed fighting skills. Having an in-depth grounding of combat situations from a variety of different circumstances was viewed as totally beneficial to the warrior...

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