Jujitsu America

04/07/2026

03/05/2026

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Professor John Chow-Hoon. One of the Co-Founders of Jujitsu America along with Professor Wally Jay, Professor Carl Beaver and Professor (Coach) W***y Cahill.

Thank you for sharing your arts with us.

03/04/2026

Reminder of upcoming 2 day seminar in Oregon with Wayne Sniffen.

02/24/2026

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/obituaries/bernice-tenn-jay-alameda/

Bernice Tenn Jay passed away Saturday evening at home in Alameda after having an eventful life of 103 years. She was a Mom to four children and one hanai daughter, a wife to an internationally reco…

02/17/2026

Happy Heavenly Birthday Professor Sig Kufferath (February 16, 1911- May 7, 1999)

02/11/2026

We received the sad news of the passing of Mrs. Bernice Jay, Wife of Professor Wally Jay this past weekend.

Mrs. Jay along with Professor Wally Jay and others attended the 1948 Okugi Class taught by Professor Okazaki in Hawaii.

We would like to extend our condolences and prayers to the Jay Family and the extended Jay Family at this time.

Thank you Mrs. Jay for sharing your knowledge and advise with us.

Aloha Mrs. Jay and rest in peace.

01/31/2026

Sensei Wayne Sniffen's seminar date has been changed.
Please refer to the flyer.

Thank you for your support

01/23/2026

Happy Birthday to the founding father of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu.

Seishiro "Henry" Okazaki (January 23, 1890 – July 12, 1951) was the founder of Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. He was a Japanese American, legendary martial artist and gifted healer. Born in Kakeda, Date County in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, he immigrated to Hawaii in 1906. At the age of 19 he learned he had tuberculosis. Through hard training in the martial arts, Okazaki recovered completely and vowed to dedicate his life to propagating jujitsu and judo. From 1927 to 1928, Okazaki developed a complete, integrated martial arts system: Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. A synthesis of several older styles of jujitsu, Okazaki included in the system elements of his studies of Okinawan karate, Chinese kung-fu,Hawaiian Lua, Filipino knife fighting (escrima), boxing and wrestling, as well as traditional Japanese restorative massage and healing techniques (Seifukujutsu).
Okazaki initially faced opposition within the Japanese-American community for teaching outsiders Japanese martial arts. This changed after World War II. Like tens of thousands of other Japanese-Americans, Okazaki was interned during the war. Unlike others, however, his home and property were not looted; his students guarded them during the war. Upon their release, Okazaki helped support others in the Japanese-American community. For this he ultimately gained their respect.
Gradually, Okazaki developed a system comprising courses for men, women, and children. In his system, he stressed the ancient system of philosophical and moral training within the martial and restorative arts. He is credited with being the first to teach the full jujitsu course to non-Asians. He also taught perhaps the first women's self-defense course in the country. He founded the American Jujitsu Institute in the Territory of Hawaii in 1939. This is the original Danzan Ryu Jujitsu organization and remains in operation to the present day. In addition to his work in martial arts, he was also very well known for his healing arts.

01/11/2026

Happy Birthday to Mrs. Jay.
Wishing her all the best while she celebrates with Family and Friends.
Thank you for all you done for those around you.

01/09/2026

2026 President's Message

January 7th, 2026

President’s Message for the New Year

As we step into a New Year together, let us strive to do so not as individual practitioners or separate schools, but as one extended Jujitsu America Ohana.

In Hawaiʻi, Ohana means family—not just those we are born into, but those we choose, train with, and learn from. Ohana reminds us that our strength comes from standing together. Across different regions, lineages, and styles, we are connected by our shared values of respect, discipline, and the lifelong pursuit of growth as martial artists.

This year, let us also embrace the spirit of Kōkua—the Hawaiian practice of helping, sharing, and lifting one another up. Kōkua calls us to exchange knowledge freely, to collaborate, and to support one another. When one of us grows stronger, we all do.


Although we may train in different places and express martial arts in different ways, these differences are not divisions—they are gifts to be enjoyed, offering us opportunities to learn, broaden our perspectives, and deepen our mutual respect.

By honoring both Ohana and Kōkua, we can look forward to a year of connection, collaboration, and growth.

Sincerely,

Professor Carla Bunch

President

Jujitsu America