Kaze Arashi Ryu History

Although the roots of Kaze Arashi Ryu stretch far back into Japans feudal past, the person responsible for formulating the system as it is practised today was Nishiyama Shiro Sensei (1846-1932). Orphaned as a young boy he was brought up and educated by priests of the Shugendo sect at the Dewa Shrine on Mount Haguro. Such priests were sometimes referred to as Yamabushi (mountain warrior monks) and were often feared by those outside the sect. Part of the Young Nishiyama’s training involved the study of the martial arts of the sect which date back to the ninth century. Photo 1 Nishiyama Aki hiro Sensei (1901 – 1979)

Tanomo Saigo (Oshikiuchi)

Upon completion of his studies Nishiyama became an instructor at the Chidokan, a school in Tsuruoka devoted to teaching feudal ideas to upper class members of the Sakai clan. When the school was closed in 1873 Nishiyama travelled and worked as a personal instructor to high government officials and elite military personnel. He eventually arrived at the Nikko Shrine where he met and studied with Saigo Tanomo, remembered today as the instructor of Takeda Sokaku, the founder of Daito Ryu.

In the fullness of time Nishiyama married, had a family and eventually became a grandfather. When one of his sons died he took on the responsibility of raising his grandson, Nishiyama Akihiro. The young Nishiyama excelled in the practice of the arts taught to him by his grandfather, despite having been born with a slightly hunched back. Like his grandfather before him he began his professional life as an educator and rose to become a school principal. He also travelled widely in Japan and observed many martial arts schools. Because of the cultural changes in Japan in the early part of this century most martial arts students were only interested in learning the new ways and arts. Almost all the people who wished to study with Akihiro asked only to be licensed in individual techniques rather than the various arts or the whole system itself. Nishiyama became extremely disappointed in the lack of interest in classical martial arts. He enforced study of the arts of the Shugendo sect on his daughter, Akemi, as well as on members of his school’s staff. On doing this he shortened the name of the system bequeathed to him by his grandfather from Kazemura Yama Arashi Ryu (mountain village wind storm system) to Kaze Arashi Ryu (wind storm system).

Nishiyama Akihiro Sensei (1901 – 1979)

In order to facilitate learning (as he was an educator) Nishiyama went about reclassifying the knowledge passed down to him. The empty hand studies were renamed Aiki Ju Jutsu and Atemi Jutsu; all lengths of sword and bladed weapons were categorised in the Ken Jutsu syllabus and all lengths of staff and staff-like weapons, with or without a blade, fell under the heading of Jo Jutsu.

Nishiyama visited many schools in Tokyo but was welcomed by none. He was disappointed by what he saw and said "They see everyone from other schools as enemies, other arts as dark clouds over their school, they are frightened and curious of each other yet they boast of being better. Their techniques look powerful, and physically they are, but they lack spirit and without spirit they would tremble and fall before a superior warrior".

After World War II Nishiyama was asked to demonstrate his ancient martial arts techniques at a Judo and Kendo exhibition. The intention of the promoters apparently was to contrast the primitive, "rough and tumble" fighting arts with the greater sophistication of their modern variants. Many instructors had even renamed their arts and modified their techniques to meet the changing needs of the people in post war Japan.

As is often the case, the unexpected happened. To everyone’s surprise it was Nishiyama’s demonstration which drew the most appreciation and the modern systems with their simple techniques which seemed primitive by comparison. Even so, perhaps because of the complexity of the system and the fact that classical martial arts were not in vogue at the time, Nishiyama did not attract many Japanese followers. But one American marine, already a holder of Black Belts in Judo and Kempo, knew he had stumbled upon something special.

David Lee Samuel had watched the demonstration and, in his own words, "During the sword and body techniques Nishiyama was easily parrying and moving about as though he were performing a dance. He was throwing but not in the traditional way. It seemed as though he was just extending his hand, moving low or out of the way and bodies were flying. This was too much for me to believe. I and several others decided to see if it were true. Even though I tried to attack that little man as hard as possible and tried to resist I was still being hit, controlled and thrown. I was grabbing and hitting thin air and seeing shadows passing by. I wasn’t able to see the techniques, if any, that were being applied".

Samuel followed Nishiyama and asked to become a student but Nishiyama kept on walking and ignoring the bad Japanese accent. The more Nishiyama ignored him, the more persistent Samuel became. Finally, after testing his determination and having received recommendations from other instructors, the master invited Samuel to attend a session at his dojo.

Having been accepted as a student Samuel came in for a big surprise. Standing 6’ 4", weighing 230 pounds and having a background in martial arts he thought he could easily handle almost any training. He soon found out that his training would not be as easy as he had imagined: "At the beginning of a lesson I stood like a giant before a dwarf. After my first attack Nishiyama Sensei would evade me like a shadow, then have me in a control. As soon as his vice grip hands would close I was on my knees in pain, looking into his expressionless face. He would then relax the pressure, let me rise, and throw me and bring pressure once again. When he was through with me I was on the ground, looking up at a giant".

Samuel’s persistence and hunger for the knowledge which Nishiyama Sensei possessed eventually paid off. In 1962 Samuel was awarded the Menkyo (licence) diploma in all the arts of Kaze Arashi Ryu. By this time he was employed as a training advisor to the U S Secret Service. He returned to the United States in 1968 and opened a school in New York City.

On beginning his studies Samuel was treated like a member of the Nishiyama family and was given certain responsibilities, one of which was to train Nishiyama’s daughter, Akemi. In addition to her normal schooling Akemi was obliged to train constantly in the arts of Kaze Arashi Ryu. During her growing years she was the victim of constant ridicule for her practice of martial arts and admits to hating the practice and begrudging the time spent at it. Due to Samuel’s innovative teaching methods, however, her attitude changed and she took to the task her father had set her.

In 1974 Nishiyama Sensei came to New York to work with Lee Samuel and his advanced students. When Nishiyama passed away in 1979 the system was bequeathed to Samuel Sensei who was its head until just prior to his death in 1988. Nishiyama’s daughter, Akemi, then inherited the system and is the current head of Kaze Arashi Ryu. She is assisted in her duties by three holders of the Kaiden ("everything passed") diploma, Rene Barjaval, Miriam O’Toole and Henri Robert Vilaire.

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