On the Transmission of Ittō Tenshin-ryū, Yamate-ryū, and Goseki-ryū
To preserve the integrity of the Ittō Tenshin-ryū, Yamate-ryū, and Goseki-ryū, it is fitting to declare where, and from whom, authentic instruction in these traditions may rightly be obtained.
Any individual claiming to teach these traditions without license, or without the authority of the headmaster, is not transmitting the living traditions themselves, but an empty shell, inhabited by their own interpretations. This is not a judgment of value, but it must be understood that it is not Yamate-ryū, Ittō Tenshin-ryū, or Goseki-ryū.
These martial traditions are lineages of direct transmission, flowing from sensei to deshi. It must also be understood that these are independent martial traditions; a license in one does not confer the authority or ability to transmit the other.
Dōjō licensed to share the Ittō Tenshin-ryū and Yamate-ryū do so under the authority of the headmaster of the tradition. Goseki-ryū is transmitted directly between sensei and deshi. A list of licensed dōjō and the traditions they share may be found here.
Ittō Tenshin-ryū®
Only two living people hold both Hanshi and Menkyo Kaiden in the Ittō Tenshin-ryū, and are therefore licensed to transmit the tradition:
Mr. Arvind Rajguru (四代範士免許皆伝) — current headmaster of the tradition.
Mr. Joseph Simms (六代範士免許皆伝) — deshi of Rajguru Sensei.
More information about the Ittō Tenshin-ryū and its lineage may be found here.
Yamate-ryū®
The final license in Yamate-ryū is Menkyo Kaiden. While multiple disciples may receive Menkyo Kaiden within a generation, only one is designated to carry the headship of our line of the tradition. Other recipients may remain within our line of the tradition or, should they choose to branch out, must clearly designate their line as a separate branch from our line of transmission.
The living holders of Menkyo Kaiden in the Yamate-ryū are:
Mr. Arvind Rajguru (免許皆伝) — current headmaster of our line of the tradition.
Mr. Joseph Simms (師免許皆伝) — deshi of Rajguru Sensei.
Mr. Andrew Stevenson (免許皆伝) — deshi of Rajguru Sensei.
Mr. William Maren (免許皆伝).
More information about the Yamate-ryū and its lineage may be found here.
Goseki-ryū®
In Goseki-ryū, the final license is Menkyo Kaiden.
Mr. Arvind Rajguru (弐代免許皆伝) — current headmaster of our line of the tradition.
Mr. Joseph Simms (四代免許皆伝) — deshi of Rajguru Sensei.
There are no exceptions.
The End
