elcome to the Harvard Kokushi Ryu Jujutsu Club (HKJC) Website. It is intended to introduce prospective members to the club, and serve the needs of existing members. If you want to find out if jujutsu is for you, attend one of our weekly practices. For practice times and locations, click here (updated January 12, 2006). If you have any questions about our club that aren't addressed on this website, feel free to contact Molly J. Markey or Joe Musumeci .

Jujutsu was the unarmed combat style of the samurai warrior. It is oldest of the empty handed Japanese arts, and it is the one from which Karate, Judo, and Aikido have been derived. Thus, it encompasses throws (nage), strikes and kicks (tsuki, keri), and joint manipulation. Because of this versatility, it is an extremely effective fighting style.

Kokushi-Ryu (loyal warrior) Jujutsu is a particular school of Jujutsu founded in the 1950's by sensei soke Higashi, a young judo master at the time. In an attempt to revive Jujutsu's original spirit, soke Higashi went back to the ancient samurai texts to find the building blocks of a new style. He then founded a dojo in New York City and began regular instruction of the form. When a student of his came to Harvard University as an undergraduate in the 1980's, the Harvard Kokushi-Ryu Jujutsu Club was born. Though the faces of the instructors have changed over the years, we remain a branch of the New York club and participate in tournaments twice a year at the original dojo under soke Higashi's instruction.

Kokushi-Ryu Jujutsu follows the tradition of Japanese martial arts in fostering a moral code and lifestyle. The central principles of our club are seii, meaning sincerity and trust, kinro, which means labor and endeavor, kenshiki, or knowledge and wisdom, and kihaku, or spirit and courage. Beyond this core motto, however, our highest values are safety and fun. We encourage anyone, regardless of size, shape, or physical condition to participate in our classes; we maintain a rigorous but informal atmosphere and take every precaution to avoid injury.

For more information about the Harvard Jujutsu Club, please contact Molly J. Markey or Joe Musumeci.