Meifu Shinkage Ryu California Branch

Happy New Year! The first membership cards of the new year have arrived. Thank you Soke, and thank you for the beautiful origami and Christmas card!

Two more folding jujiken are available for purchase! Last two until the new year.

I am very pleased to announce that we are now officially taking orders for our folding Jujiken! These Jujiken have been faithfully reproduced based off an original authenticated Edo period jujiken from my personal collection. Made from tempered carbon steel with a spring steel locking mechanism exactly like the original. Each one is hand made by master craftsman Iga Tengu to be sold exclusively through the California Meifu Shinkage Ryu Branch. *Price is $65 each plus $10 ship...ping anywhere in the US for the first 4 in the order. **To place an order please contact me with the number of jujiken you wish to order, your shipping address, and an email address I can send a PayPal invoice to. ***As each shuriken is hand made please allow a two week waiting time for your order to be made and packaged for shipment.

Examining rare and antique Shuriken with Otsuka Yasuyuki Soke during the New Jersey seminar!

Exciting training sessions the past few weeks as we prepare for the upcoming seminar in New Jersey with Soke Otsuka Yasuyuki. Training right and left hand throws as well as throwing from 2.5 and 3 ken. We also experimented with throwing MSR shuriken into steel frying pans to test the skill of the thrower and the strength and durability of the shuriken. This practice should only be preformed by advanced practitioners under proper supervision and using professionally tempered shuriken. The official MSR shuriken were used and suffered no damage during this experiment.

I would like to thank Ken and the blacksmiths affiliated with the MSR California Keikokai for their tireless work in providing authentic bo shuriken to practiti...oners, masters and enthusiasts alike. I had reached out to this Keikokai in hopes of obtaining a replacement for a set of bo shuriken I had purchased online several years ago. Ken was more than happy to put the time into explaining the diverse options available to me (as I am only a self-trained amateur, through books and videos). His prices are more than reasonable with affordable options for those of us on a budget. I opted for the US-forged MSRs. In a few days, they were shipped to me fresh from the forge. I am more than impressed with the quality of these shuriken. They seem to be much harder and require less maintenance (minor re-tipping and repair) than the cheaper shuriken I had previously purchased online. The weight and length is perfect and the tips are extremely durable. Ken was also kind enough to send me an authentic Yagyu Ryu jujiken. I have seen and held many of these types of star-shaped throwing weapons (this one is 4-pointed) however; none have been reproduced so faithfully to the depictions I have seen in pictures from museums and texts; both shuriken show a significant level of craftsmanship and care that is apparent upon inspection and use. I’ve spent countless hours looking for bo shuriken onlinethere are very few options available and of that small pool virtually none of them claim the level of authenticity to which MSR California Keikokai is able. I feel immense pride, when practicing, knowing that the tool I hold in my hand was forged by standards set and approved by Soke Yasuyuki Otsuka. I’m honored to support the disciples and leaders of this amazing and beautiful art. I hope this review can reach other practitioners and would-be followers of this art to provide a trustworthy source for authentic shuriken. Thanks again, Ken! And to the students of the MSR California Keikokaifor keeping the legacy of these practices alive and well!

The California MSR Branch was visited by my dear friend William Seiyo Sheehan of the Chicago MSR Keikokai. It was a wonderful Degeiko, we trained hard and reviewed much of the MSR curriculum as well as explored various weapons and other shuriken from various Ryu-ha. We delved into the true meaning of Zanshin and deeper aspects of the philosophy of the art. It was wonderful reconnecting!

Very exciting class today. We looked at the Jissen aspects of the fundo. Letting the weapon become alive with our movement and flowing from form to form. We also looked at various forms of yadone/shurikendome.

I am offering two rare antiques for sale, first come first serve. The first item is an antique Japanese nail, such nails were the source material of many koryu bo shuriken. The nail was removed from Hokyuji Terra in Matsuzaka; Nichirenshu branch during repair. They are at least 200 years old. I use one from my personal collection as a shuriken. The second item is a senbakoki blade. This blade was removed from a antique senbakoki rice threshing tool. These blades would be rem...oved to make a variety of weapons such as tekko kagi as well teppan shuriken. I personally use a set of teppan shuriken I made from these senbakoki blades for practice, and have presented a set to Soke Yasuyuki Otsuka as a gift. These two items are priced at $80 each with free shipping. Please private message me if you are interested. Again, first come first serve, but if there is enough interest, I may be able to part with one more of each.

Guests enjoying the first private lesson of the new year.

Preparing for the new year :)

Next MSR training session will be this Sunday the 27th. All are welcome! Feel free to contact me for more information.

Kashima Shin Ryu Shuriken from Japan

Next MSR classes will be held on June 19th and 29th. We will be honing Shomen-Uchi, Gyaku-Uchi, Za-Uchi as well as going over the Shodan Waza with the Fundo Kusari. Private lessons are also available, all are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me for the proper address and more information.

Next MSR classes will be held on May 22nd and 29th. We will be honing Shomen-Uchi, Gyaku-Uchi, Za-Uchi as well as going over the Shodan Waza with the Fundo Kusari. Private lessons are also available, all are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me for the proper address and more information.

I am very honored to announce my promotion to Shodan at the recent MSR seminar in Chicago. I have received the rank certificates from Japan. With this promotion Soke Otsuka Yasuyuki graciously also promotes the California Keikokai to the California Meifu Shinkage Ryu Branch! I am very honored by this and we will continue to strive to promote the MSR throughout California and support it's growth throughout the United States!

Just a reminder that due to the Easter holiday or next MSR class will be tomorrow, Saturday the 26th from 3-5pm

A very important message from our Soke https://www.facebook.com/ken.smith.10/posts/841728095938547

Due to the Easter Holiday the next MSR classes will be held on March 20th and 26th. We will be honing Shomen-Uchi, Gyaku-Uchi, Za-Uchi as well as going over the Shodan Waza with the Fundo Kusari. Private lessons are also available, all are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me for the proper address and more information.

Just a reminder that the next MSR Class will be held on February 28th. We will be honing Shomen-Uchi, Gyaku-Uchi, Za-Uchi as well as going over the Shodan Waza with the Fundo Kusari. Private lessons are also available, all are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me for the proper address and more information.

Next MSR Classes will be held on February 21st and 28th. We will be honing Shomen-Uchi, Gyaku-Uchi, Za-Uchi as well as going over the Shodan Waza with the Fundo Kusari. Private lessons are also available, all are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me for the proper address and more information.

I received a beautiful Christmas card from Otsuka Yasuyuki Sensei. I placed it on my shelf among the many wonderful origami gifts I received from Soke over the years. Thank you Soke and a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

Next MSR Classes will be held on December 13th, and 20th, we will be honing Shomen-Uchi, Gyaku-Uchi, Za-Uchi as well as going over the Shodan Waza with the Fundo Kusari. Private lessons are also available, all are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me for the proper address and more information.

Some photos from our recent MSR classes. I was working on grouping :) and we all enjoyed trying out the new jujiken hand made in Japan and various other shuriken. I'm very pleased with the development of skill and the dedication of our members.

Next MSR Classes will be held on November 15th, 22nd, and 29th, we will be honing Shomen-Uchi, Gyaku-Uchi, Za-Uchi as well as going over the Shodan Waza with the Fundo Kusari. Private lessons are also available, all are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me for the proper address and more information.

Next MSR Classes will be held on October 18th and 25th, we will be honing Shomen-Uchi and Gyaku-Uchi as well as going over the Shodan Waza with the Fundo Kusari. Private lessons are also available, all are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me for the proper address and more information.

Introducing a new shuriken available for order, the Jujiken. Hand made in the same forge in Japan that produces the official hand forged Meifu Shinkage Ryu shuriken and various other shuriken we offer for sale. The Jujiken is hand made in Japan and the tips are tempered, they are real weapons and intended for serious training! They are available in a thin or thick version, please feel free to contact me for prices and ordering details.

Next MSR Classes will be held on September 20st and 27th, we will be honing Shomen-Uchi and Gyaku-Uchi as well as going over the Shodan Waza with the Fundo Kusari. Private lessons are also available, all are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me for the proper address and more information.

A collection of various shuriken hand forged in Japan and made using traditional designs and dimensions. As the official United States distributor of these shuriken we are currently taking orders for these and other weapons the forge produces. Such as official hand forged Meifu Shinkage Ryu shuriken and Katori Shinto Ryu uchibari of the Yukihiro Sugino line. Certain sets of shuriken comes with a certificate from the forge, hand written by the Japanese blacksmith. The EMS shipping from Japan to our dojo will be $20, and I will cover the cost of shipping from me to you anywhere in the continental United States. International orders will have to pay the shipping costs. Please feel free to PM me for prices.

Our next MSR Classes will be held on May 24th and 31st, we will be honing Shomen-Uchi and Gyaku-Uchi as well as going over the Shodan Waza with the Fundo Kusari. Private lessons are also available, all are welcomed! Please feel free to contact me for the proper address and more information.

Dojo sign painted by our friend and keikokai member James Clum.