Authentically japanese jujutsu
There are many types of Jujutsu around the world including Yoroi Kumiuchi (also called Kogusoku) which is the oldest type of Jujutsu and was for Samurai wearing armour, next is the lightly armed Chinese based styles such as Yawara, Hakuda and Kempo. The later Jujutsu system for peacetimes were called Suhada Jujutsu. These are all types of Japanese Koryu Jujutsu.
Next there were modern (Gendai) styles that developed in the 20th century from influences from Budo such as Judo and Aikido.
Many of the styles exported around the world like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the British Jiu Jitsu of the World Jiu Jitsu Federation are very much Gendai systems.
The Japanese organisation Kokusai Budoin (International Martial Arts Federation) formalised a Nihon-den Jujutsu (authentically Japanese Jujutsu) division which was led by masters such as Minoru Mochizuki, Osano Jun and Shizuya Sato.
When IMAF GB broke away from IMAF and became the UKBF, the organisation has maintained its focus on Nihon-den Jujutsu and this focus is key to the British Jujutsu Federation.
Next there were modern (Gendai) styles that developed in the 20th century from influences from Budo such as Judo and Aikido.
Many of the styles exported around the world like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the British Jiu Jitsu of the World Jiu Jitsu Federation are very much Gendai systems.
The Japanese organisation Kokusai Budoin (International Martial Arts Federation) formalised a Nihon-den Jujutsu (authentically Japanese Jujutsu) division which was led by masters such as Minoru Mochizuki, Osano Jun and Shizuya Sato.
When IMAF GB broke away from IMAF and became the UKBF, the organisation has maintained its focus on Nihon-den Jujutsu and this focus is key to the British Jujutsu Federation.
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Simon Keegan is international director of the United Kingdom Budo Federation and runs its Karate Jutsu division (International Toshu Jutsu Federation) and its Jujutsu division (British Jujutsu Federation). He teaches a highly effective system of Karate and Jujutsu called 'Hakuda Kempo Toshu Jutsu.'
Simon was born in Liverpool in 1979, the 8th generation of his family to practice the fighting arts. His first contact with martial arts was learning Jujutsu and Karate techniques from his father and boxing in his grandfather's back garden. He joined his first club as a 10 year old in Wigan. Simon's great uncle was one of the country's first Jujutsu blackbelts and his father had trained alongside one of the country's first Karate clubs.
By the time he was 16 Simon came under the influence and teaching of Sensei Steve Bullough, training in Bushido (essentially Jujutsu) and Karate classes. Bullough's first teacher in the 1970s who took him for his Kyu grades was Mike Newton who had been taught by the late Vernon Bell, founder of the British Karate movement.
By 1996, Simon was learning Karate, Jujutsu, Aikido and Kobudo techniques with the Bushido Academy, was also serving in the territorial army and studying French and Spanish fencing. By 1998 Simon was an assistant instructor in Karate and competing at a high level in Karate, Kobudo (Iaido) and Kickboxing winning several British trophies. In 1999 he began studying Yang style Tai Chi formally having previously been shown the forms by his father. That year he was awarded his 1st Dan in Bushido/Karate.
In 2000 he established his own club Bushinkai at the Northwest College of Martial Arts and was training in a variety of martial arts including with Bob Carruthers (Shotokan), Steve Brennan (Karate Jutsu) and on seminars with Jaimie Lee-Barron (Jujutsu), Joe Carslake (Hakuda) and George Scarrott (Aikijujutsu).
In 2003, aged 24. Simon saw Japanese master Mitsuhiro Kondo in action and was motivated to join the Japanese fraternity Kokusai Budoin (IMAF), which had included the likes of Hironori Ohtsuka, Gogen Yamaguchi and Minoru Mochizuki. His grade (2nd Dan at the time) was recognised in Hirokazu Kanazawa's Shotokan division and Shizuya Sato's Nihon Jujutsu division. The organisation was also presided over by Japan's hereditary shogun Tokugawa Yasuhisa. Simon was awarded his 3rd Dan by Kyoshi Reiner Parsons (a student of Tadanori Nobetsu and graded by Ikuo Higuchi). Simon was made a regional director of IMAF and was in line to become UK Secretary before there was a schism in the group that some him become international director of IMAF GB which later became the UKBF. He had chance to meet and train with masters like Nobetsu, Sato, Kondo, Li and Zhang.
Meeting Hanshi Terry Wingrove he became a member of Karate Jutsu International and also studied Yawara with Hanshi Wingrove who introduced him to many interesting masters including Hanshi McCarthy (Koryu Uchinadi), Hanshi Tattersall (Dai Nippon Butokukai) and Shihan Ruddock (Aikido).
Simon promoted a masters course in 2006 attended by masters from Dai Nippon Butokukai, Kokusai Budoin and the Seibukan, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Karate in Britain and the British Jujutsu Federation.
He was also invited to sit at the launch of the English Karate Federation as a founder member of the new governing body and soon after was awarded 4th Dan by the World Karate Association. Simon severed ties with the EKF and WKA and continued to work towards establishing UKBF as a governing body for the traditional arts.
Simon's passion is Karate as a martial art not sporting Karate. His research and specialist study of Karate has seen his articles published internationally and in 2007 as a 4th Dan he devised a system which combined his Karate Jutsu and Jujutsu training into a self defence method called Hakuda Kempo Toshu Jutsu.
Also being awarded the grade of 2nd Dan Judo and 2nd Dan Taiji Quan as well as training in other arts like Escrima, in 2010 he was presented with the traditional Dai Nippon title of Renshi, previously held by the likes of Gichin Funakoshi.
He holds the grade of 5th Dan Shobukan Karate and 4th Dan Freestyle (Karate/Jujutsu).
Now in the 15th year of teaching the Bushinkai Method, he teaches all over the country and runs lively classes at Manchester's premier martial arts centre Hakutora.
He is also the editor of Martial Arts Guardian.
Simon was born in Liverpool in 1979, the 8th generation of his family to practice the fighting arts. His first contact with martial arts was learning Jujutsu and Karate techniques from his father and boxing in his grandfather's back garden. He joined his first club as a 10 year old in Wigan. Simon's great uncle was one of the country's first Jujutsu blackbelts and his father had trained alongside one of the country's first Karate clubs.
By the time he was 16 Simon came under the influence and teaching of Sensei Steve Bullough, training in Bushido (essentially Jujutsu) and Karate classes. Bullough's first teacher in the 1970s who took him for his Kyu grades was Mike Newton who had been taught by the late Vernon Bell, founder of the British Karate movement.
By 1996, Simon was learning Karate, Jujutsu, Aikido and Kobudo techniques with the Bushido Academy, was also serving in the territorial army and studying French and Spanish fencing. By 1998 Simon was an assistant instructor in Karate and competing at a high level in Karate, Kobudo (Iaido) and Kickboxing winning several British trophies. In 1999 he began studying Yang style Tai Chi formally having previously been shown the forms by his father. That year he was awarded his 1st Dan in Bushido/Karate.
In 2000 he established his own club Bushinkai at the Northwest College of Martial Arts and was training in a variety of martial arts including with Bob Carruthers (Shotokan), Steve Brennan (Karate Jutsu) and on seminars with Jaimie Lee-Barron (Jujutsu), Joe Carslake (Hakuda) and George Scarrott (Aikijujutsu).
In 2003, aged 24. Simon saw Japanese master Mitsuhiro Kondo in action and was motivated to join the Japanese fraternity Kokusai Budoin (IMAF), which had included the likes of Hironori Ohtsuka, Gogen Yamaguchi and Minoru Mochizuki. His grade (2nd Dan at the time) was recognised in Hirokazu Kanazawa's Shotokan division and Shizuya Sato's Nihon Jujutsu division. The organisation was also presided over by Japan's hereditary shogun Tokugawa Yasuhisa. Simon was awarded his 3rd Dan by Kyoshi Reiner Parsons (a student of Tadanori Nobetsu and graded by Ikuo Higuchi). Simon was made a regional director of IMAF and was in line to become UK Secretary before there was a schism in the group that some him become international director of IMAF GB which later became the UKBF. He had chance to meet and train with masters like Nobetsu, Sato, Kondo, Li and Zhang.
Meeting Hanshi Terry Wingrove he became a member of Karate Jutsu International and also studied Yawara with Hanshi Wingrove who introduced him to many interesting masters including Hanshi McCarthy (Koryu Uchinadi), Hanshi Tattersall (Dai Nippon Butokukai) and Shihan Ruddock (Aikido).
Simon promoted a masters course in 2006 attended by masters from Dai Nippon Butokukai, Kokusai Budoin and the Seibukan, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Karate in Britain and the British Jujutsu Federation.
He was also invited to sit at the launch of the English Karate Federation as a founder member of the new governing body and soon after was awarded 4th Dan by the World Karate Association. Simon severed ties with the EKF and WKA and continued to work towards establishing UKBF as a governing body for the traditional arts.
Simon's passion is Karate as a martial art not sporting Karate. His research and specialist study of Karate has seen his articles published internationally and in 2007 as a 4th Dan he devised a system which combined his Karate Jutsu and Jujutsu training into a self defence method called Hakuda Kempo Toshu Jutsu.
Also being awarded the grade of 2nd Dan Judo and 2nd Dan Taiji Quan as well as training in other arts like Escrima, in 2010 he was presented with the traditional Dai Nippon title of Renshi, previously held by the likes of Gichin Funakoshi.
He holds the grade of 5th Dan Shobukan Karate and 4th Dan Freestyle (Karate/Jujutsu).
Now in the 15th year of teaching the Bushinkai Method, he teaches all over the country and runs lively classes at Manchester's premier martial arts centre Hakutora.
He is also the editor of Martial Arts Guardian.