Koho Shiatsu

Keiraku - Front View

While Hakkoryu applies pressure techniques on Keiraku to defend oneself or pin down an opponent when one is
being attacked, applying pressure techniques on Keiraku is also the essential theory of Koho Shiatsu.
In Hakkoryu, one is learning a martial art while at the same time practicing Shiatsu techniques. Koho Shiatsu, as a
solid therapeutic method, is perfectly complementary to the techniques of Hakkoryu, as a martial art.

History Of Hakkoryu Koho Shiatsu

Shodai Soke Okuyama Ryuho, the founder of Hakkoryu Jujutsu and Hakkoryu Koho Shiatsu, established the final
methods for both systems. He was also an active member of political parties whose aim was to reform Japanese
society from decline and improve very difficult social conditions.
He was born in Yamagata Prefecture in 1901. When he was five years old, he contracted meningitis and suffered a
great deal. He miraculously recovered from the illness with the ancient treatments of traditional oriental medicine.
After this experience, he took a strong interest in oriental medical theory and practice.
After graduation from the Tokyo School of Government, he moved to Hokkaido, the northern island, where amongst
his numerous political activities, he founded and managed a shiatsu clinic. During this period, he traveled widely and
studied traditional oriental medicine and martial arts seriously and enthusiastically from numerous pre-eminent
teachers

Keiraku - Back View

After many years of medical study, he achieved a high level of mastery of traditional oriental medicine and
established a private school he named, Koho Gijuku, to teach traditional medicine in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
during the early Showa period. He became famous through his efforts and was able to train many therapists at his
school. He also was engaged in many public lectures within the city. Around 1932, he was inaugurated as the
President of the Asahikawa Therapist Association because of his high skill, knowledge, and dedication to traditional
oriental medicine.
Shodai Soke Okuyama Ryuho eventually completed establishing his own styles of self-protection and medical
methods and techniques, which were both very unique and effective, calling his systems, Koho Shiatsu and
Hakkoryu Jujutsu.

Before the end of World War II, he moved to his native Yamagata Prefecture, staying at Hagurosan (Mt. Haguro)
where Shinto priests and ascetics (the Mt. Haguro Shugendo sect) meditate and study at the Hagurosan Shrine.
During this period in the mountains of Haguro, Shodai Soke diligently studied, and continued to sharpen the
techniques of Hakkoryu Jujutsu and Koho Shiatsu.
In 1947, following the end of the War, Shodai Soke moved again and established his private school, the Hakko Juku
Hombu Dojo, in Omiya City (now knows as Saitama City), Saitama Prefecture. He began again teaching Hakkoryu
Jujutsu and Koho Shiatsu on a regular basis.

Method Of Medical Treatment and its Principle Remedies

The first method of examination in Hakkoryu Koho Shiatsu is called Myakushin (palpation or pulse diagnosis).
Myakushin takes about ten minutes and is used to diagnose exactly what is wrong with a patient and which Keiraku
(meridian) should be treated. Then without touching the affected, injured, or painful part of the body, Nidai Soke
applies Koho Shiatsu treatment to the appropriate Keiraku, which will be one of the regular fourteen Keiraku in
traditional oriental medicine. Myakushin, in Hakkoryu Koho Shiatsu, relies on the traditional Keiraku and are used to
diagnose each of the twelve major Keirakus strengths and weaknesses. To determine which of the Keiraku, such as
the lungs, the heart, etc. are related to the patients chief complaint is the goal of Myakushin.
This therapy diagnoses general pulse beats, but does not merely count the pulse beats. Rather, it diagnoses the
harmony or disharmony between the breath and pulse and observes blood pressure. Furthermore, both wrists are used
to diagnose the three positions of pulse to determine their relational equilibrium, disharmony, and/or abnormality. The
three conditions of Myakushin determine how a Keiraku will react to appropriate treatment. It is often surprising
what such diagnosis reveals, which went undetected using Western medical techniques.

Obijo
Koho Shiatsu is applied using the head of the thumb, avoiding pressing with the nail. This is the general method, but
for patients who experience difficulty in turning or changing their body position, use the index and middle finger to

get at hard to reach Keiraku. The center of the thumb should be applied to the appropriate Tsubo (pressure point) on
the relevant Keiraku, and pressure should be applied at an angle to give a sensation of pain. Koho Shiatsus method of
using the thumb is to lightly touch the skin first, second to press, and third to release very quickly. This is the way to
apply the best stimulation.
There are other Koho Shiatsu techniques used to stimulate specific body parts and help address particular diseases.
Pressing a Tsubo for two or three seconds is one of them. The principle method of Koho Shiatsu is to apply pressure
to the Tsubo of the appropriate Keiraku while avoiding the damaged, diseased, or painful area.
Thus, Koho Shiatsus principle methods not only treat various diseases, but they also prevent many kinds of illnesses
from actually occurring in the first place. Also, Koho Shiatsu energizes the patient by stimulating and thereby
encouraging the circulation of ones Ki (vital energy), which reinforces all the Keiraku internally and externally
related to ones organs that keep a person both mentally and physically in good health.
Hakkoryu Koho Shiatsu uses more than just the particularly reacting Keiraku to treat diseases. It considers the
principle of universal gravitation for the treatment from the upper body to the lower body, or the origin of the
Keirakus Ki flow (Tanden or Hara) to the end.
When applying pressure to Koho Shiatsu points, the direction of pressure and treatment may be reversed if there is a
strong or unusual reaction in the patient. Manifestation of pain, discomfort, or some kind of disharmony may occur
when applying treatment to particularly out-of-balance Keiraku. During treatment, almost no power is used to press
the Tsubo. Rapidly applying pressure with rhythmic momentum can effectively heal or cure many kinds of serious,
painful, and acute illnesses. Thus, Hakkoryu Koho Shiatsu has many unique features.
Nidai Soke says, I do not use any physical force when applying Koho Shiatsu treatments to my patient each day.
Rather, I abandon force and routinely stimulate certain Keiraku, which results in a sensation of pain. A typical
treatment takes only twenty minutes or so. If I administer a Koho Shiatsu treatment much longer than this, patients
may find the pain sensation to be too strong or severe. To apply this kind of pain on certain selected Keiraku, while
avoiding pressing on affected or painful parts of the body, is the basic approach of Koho Shiatsu. Thus, my Shiatsu
treatment is different than other styles of similar therapy because, while abandoning force, I apply my treatment only
on selected Keiraku, while at the same time, avoiding the damaged areas meridians.
He continues, Hakkoryu Koho Shiatsu involves the practice of avoiding using ones own personal force. This
conservation of energy is the way in which we attain the martial arts status of Zanshin (clear mindedness or
selflessness). To live in a state of mental and spiritual freedom, freedom from all social problems, is the philosophical
goal of traditional Japanese martial arts. This approach has produced magnificent healing results, which cannot be
explained or understood by Western medicine, however, Koho Shiatsu achieves both lasting and effective results.
There are a lot of successful reports and appreciation letters sent to Hombu Dojo from patients who, because of Koho
Shiatsu, have recovered from their health problems and diseases.
*The following conditions have benefited and shown great improvement as a result of Hakkoryu Koho Shiatsu:
Hypertension, Neuroses, Palsy, Lumbago & Low Back Pain, Gastroptosis & Gastritis, Gastroenteritis, Gastric Ulcer,
Tuberculosis, Painful Joints, Gallstones, Shingles, Tonsillitis, Kidney Stones, Appendicitis, Presbyopia, Asthma,
Infantile Paralysis, Common Cold & Flu, Rheumatism, Fever, Hemorrhoids, Sciatica, Uterine Fibroid, Irregular
Menses, Arthritis, Nephritis, Constipation & Diarrhea, Impotence, Bronchitis, Insomnia, Allergy, Bed Wetting,
Vertigo, Hernia, Whiplash Injury, Tinnitus, Headache including Migraine, Anxiety, Abdominal Pain, Rhinitis, Stroke,
Sprains, Diabetes, Hypotension, Eczema, Frozen Shoulder, Tennis Elbow, Etc.

Hakkoryu Unites Martial Arts And Oriental Medicine So As To Show

Clearly That They Are But One And The Same

The prominent feature of Hakkoryu Jujutsu is to totally abandon physical power, to relax completely, and then apply
techniques to opponents in order to defend oneself. Most other martial arts commonly aim to defeat or destroy an
opponent, but Hakkoryus exponents, while completely relaxed, uses the attackers force and strikes a vital point on
Keiraku to instantly freeze, stop, pin down, and/or control the movement of the opponent. As most everyone knows,
in a Judo match, a physically smaller person experiences great difficulty in winning a match if he encounters an
opponent of much larger size. Hakkoryu has no problem with such physical differences. In Hakkoryu, gentle, swift,
and efficient maneuvers reign supreme over hardness, strength and body size.
Translated by: Dr. Murakami Shuzan, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.
From: A Guide Book of Folk Remedies
Editorial Supervisor: Mr. Ueno, Keiichi, Director of the Japan Holistic Medical Association
Written by: Minkan Ryoho Kenkyu Kai (Folk Remedies Research Association)
Published by: Toyo Keizai Shinpo-Sha, 1996
From interviews conducted with Nidai Soke Okuyama Ryuho at the Hakkoryu So Hombu Dojo and Kaiden Shihan
Dr. Obitsu, Ryoichi at his private hospital, Obitsu Sankei Byooin