Featured School
Interview with Dale Joseph of Jinenkan Butoku Dojo
Property Type: Kobudo
1. Who is the dojo’s founder and what prompted him/her to build the school? Is there any rich history behind its making?
I am the founder of the dojo. I started the school 10 years ago in hopes to offer and spread the teachings of my Sensei, Manaka Unsui’s Jissen Kobudo Jinenkan martial arts to the community and the world.
2. What forms of Japanese martial arts do you teach in your school? Can you please share with us the history behind them?
We teach Kobudo. The budo of the Jinenkan is made up of 6 traditional Japanese martial systems. And the Jinen Ryu which was founded by our Kancho Manaka Unsui. Except for the Jinen Ryu, the schools date back before the Sengoku Jidai period (Warring States Era) of Japan.
Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu was brought to Japan from China during the Tang Dynasty and it was handed down from generation to generation.
Koto Ryu Koppojutsu is considered the sister school of Gyokko Ryu and was formalized in 1542 by Sakagami Taro Kunishige.
Togakure Ryu Ninpo was founded by Daisuke Nishina of Togakure Village around the 12th Century in the Togakure mountains of his village. He was a samurai retainer for General Minamoto Yoshinaka.
Kukishin Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu is a well known Samurai tradition that was founded by Kuki Yakushimaru Ryūshin in the 14th Century. This system is considered to be a complete martial system as it has not only unarmed but many weapons are also taught in this lineage. This school has some of the richest history in Japanese budo as other famous well known martial arts masters such as Ueshiba Morihei also studied this lineage.
Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu was founded in the 17th century by Takagi Oriemon Shigetoshi. This school also has a rich and strong history in Japan. There are currently also 2 additional offshoots of this lineage: Hontai Yoshin Ryu and Hontai Yoshin Takagi Ryu which are also still practiced today.
Shinden Fudo Ryu was founded in the middle of the 12th century by Izumo KanjaYoshiteru. The system had significant influence in the development of Japanese martial arts. For instance, in more modern times Kuki Takei from the Kuki family of Kukishin Ryu studied this system under Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu. Takanaka Tetsunoke, senior student of Kano Jigoro, the founder of judo, was at one time a student at the dojo also lead by Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu.
3. What are the principles and concepts that you uphold and try to instill in your students?
The Jinenkan20Budokun…
a. Maintain your composure.
Anger and haste make you blind, causing you to lose the ability to move naturally.
b. Don’t be overconfident of your abilities.
Overconfidence will make you neglect to carefully take the proper steps to meet any situation.
c. Accept all natural phenomena with an open mind.
In doing so, you will be able to avoid being trapped.
d. Techniques must be executed flawlessly.
This prevents your enemy from capitalizing on your weak points.
e. Try to capture the exquisite character of each technique.
When you understand this, you will move in the best and most natural way.
f. Practice correct basic techniques repeatedly.
This type of practice will enable you to move naturally anytime.
We also instill Character development, integrity and confidence within our students.
4. Why do you think it is important for people to learn martial arts?
To protect themselves, their family and others in the community who cannot protect themselves.
5. What advice and/or insights can you share with our readers who want to pursue their interest in the Japanese form of martial 
arts?
Not all Japanese martial arts are the same. Especially when it comes to learning kobudo. Make sure that it is what you are interested in and looking for. Japanese budo has a strong and refined set of principles and application of techniques which will take a lifetime of study.
6. Can you give a short biography of your instructor(s)?
I started training in 1988 and have been diligently studying this martial art for close to 22 years now. I now study under the direct tutelage of Manaka Unsui Sensei of Nodashi, Japan.
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