Shihan Thomas H. Ryan Jr.
Palmetto Jujitsu Academy & Healing Arts Center
I began my studies of martial arts in the 1960s with American wrestling and boxing. In 1972 I started training in Tae Kwon Do, Karate and later Kodokan Judo while in the United States Army. These were my searching years. I always felt something was missing. I then discovered Kodenkan DanZan Ryu Jujitsu in 1983. I was home. I received my Shodan in 1988 and am presently a
Rokudan (6th degree Blackbelt).
My studies have included Escrima, Wing Chun, Judo, Aikido, boxing, wrestling, Karate, Lua, Philippino knife and other styles of Jujitsu as well as the healing arts of many of those systems. It has become more and more about the common energetic threads in the techniques than the actual techniques. One frustration that I have is that there just isn't enough time to study it all.
I have had many sensei during my DanZan Ryu martial arts career. My first sensei was James Heidenger, Nidan (2nd degree Blackbelt) in Eureka, California. I trained with Sensei Heidenger from 1983 to 1985. My second sensei was Sensei Dave Gordon, Sandan (3rd degree Blackbelt) and whom I trained with in Livermore, California from 1985 to 1986. My third sensei was Sensei (now Professor) Robert Hudson, Hachidan (8th degree Blackbelt). I trained with Professor Hudson in St. Helena and Santa Rosa, California from 1986 until I moved to the east coast in 1993. There, I met Professor Ramon “Lono” Ancho Jr., Kudan (9th degree Blackbelt) and an original Okazaki student. The year was 1994. I was privileged to train with Professor Ancho for the next 10 years until his passing in January 2003.
Today, I am continuing to discover the inner secrets of DanZan Ryu by always training, always knowing there is more to find and never being content with how I am doing the techniques. Professor Ancho worked with me on the mental aspects of the DanZan Ryu arts. He was truly “the one” for me. He always encouraged me to go beyond my limits. He would always say " forget the politics and forget the socially correct thing. Just work on three things, train, train, and train."
I also attended classes with Professor Sig Kufferath , Judan (10th degree Blackbelt), another original Okazaki student. I was always amazed at his physical conditioning and the depth of knowledge in DanZan Ryu. Professor Kufferath was the only individual that received his professorship directly from Master Okazaki. Professor Kufferath awarded me the title of Renshi, "polished expert," after graduation from his 1993 Okugi course. At that time, there had only been 14 such titles given since 1949 in Kodenkan DanZan Ryu jujitsu. When Professor Kufferath passed away his senior student, Professor Tony Janovich, Judan, took over his system of DanZan Ryu. Keeping the tradition of holding an Okugi class every 10 years, Professor Janovich held an Okugi class in 2003. I received the title of Shihan (teacher of teachers or professor) at the 2003 Okugi class.
I am a Rokudan with the title of Professor in three organizations, Kodenkan DanZan Ryu Jujitsu Hombu,Costa Rica, the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation and the United States Judo Association, Jujitsu Division. In addition, I am a Sandan in Kodenkan Judo with the United States Judo Association and have a Blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do.
I graduated as a Certified Okazaki Restorative Massage Therapist in 1985 from the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation’s Okazaki Restorative Massage Program. I continued my training and received my Okazaki Restorative Massage Instructor Certificate in 1988. I received my Massage Therapist Instructor certification from the Human Touch School of the Healing Arts in 1990. I have been a Certified Instructor with American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) since 1993.
In 2005, I completed the course material to bring the healing arts of DanZan Ryu to the professional Asian restoration community. This was a 20 year project. In August of 2007, the American Organization of Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) accepted Pacific and Asian Restoration Therapies of DanZan Ryu (PART of DZR) as an Asian bodywork form. PART of DanZan Ryu is a 650 hour course of instruction in Master Henry S. Okazaki’s system of Kodendan DanZan Ryu Jujitsu healing techniques. This system is currently being taught nationally and internationally.
Professor Ramon “Lono” Ancho Jr. gave me many gifts and insights but there are two that are special to me. The first is my Rokudan certificate which is signed by five original Okazaki students from five different Kodenkan DanZan Ryu jujitsu organizations. There are only two such certificates in existence. The second is a certificate that he gave me that has both his and Professor Kufferath's signature, complete with their chops. He told me that one day I may need to fill the certificate in; however, I never will. It means so much more to me the way it is. I miss him dearly.
Some people are athletes, some are warriors, some are statesman but oh the "ONE." Professor Ramon “Lono” Ancho Jr. was the " One" in my eyes.
My greatest purpose or reason for studying and teaching martial arts is to strengthen my spirit for all of life's challenges, to develop discrimination so I can gain wisdom, to have a positive impact on the youth and adults in our communities and to become compassionate so I may serve others to the best of my ability.
Kodenkan DanZan Ryu jujitsu constantly reminds me of how much I do not know, by looking beyond the technique and discovering the concepts of its motions. It has opened up a new world for me in the martial arts and the healing arts community. I have learned how to seek knowledge by looking for the things that are common between different martial arts systems instead of the differences.