meet the teacher
TONBO DOJO HEAD INSTRUCTOR
Matt Carlson began studying Nami Ryu in 2008 while living in Seattle. He has been an instructor under Josh Ross sensei at Sato Bu Kan since 2016. Upon moving to Michigan, Josh Ross sensei sponsored him to start a study group under Josh's direction, as an extension of his role in that dojo.
His martial arts studies include Okinawan karate and kickboxing, and more recently includes Systema, western broadsword, and pugilistic boxing.
Matt has a background in medicine, and practiced as a natural primary care doctor and acupuncturist for 5 yrs in Seattle, then changed careers to software engineering. His hobbies include wood working, guitar, and playing the board game Go.
Matt (center, right) at a Nami Ryu instructors seminar with James Williams Sensei (front, center). Hombu dojo, Encinitas California - 2012.
About tonbo dojo
Tonbo Dojo is a school for samurai martial arts. We study Nami Ryu Aiki Heiho under the guidance of Sensei Josh Ross in Seattle.
We hosted a seminar by Sensei Ross in June of 2022.
We will continue hosting seminars with Sensei Ross every year - please email us for info on the next seminar.
About nami ryu
Nami Ryu means “wave style” and refers to the fact that energy travels in waves. The wave effect is one of the underlying principles of our art.
Nami Ryu as a martial arts system is comprised of unarmed techniques (Aiki-jujutsu) taken directly from the study of Japanese sword arts (kenjutsu and iaijutsu) and knife arts (tantojutsu).
Nami Ryu principles and techniques originate in ancient martial arts (bujutsu) and strategies (heiho, or hyoho) that were exclusively used by the samurai.
Our curriculum covers a wide range of bugei (Japanese martial arts), which encompass skills that were once necessary for the samurai warrior in the performance of his martial duties.
These principles also apply to the study of jujutsu. Jujutsu comes from the study of the sword; both use the same “operating system”.
The result is that studying sword arts and jujutsu become the same, with a single system that guides both armed and unarmed training. These practical skills are translated into teachings applicable in modern times.
history / lineage of Nami ryu
Yoshida Kotaro
Yoshida Kotaro was a gifted martial artist who was well known in pre- and post-war Japan. He was an associate of many of the most important people in Japanese martial traditions of the 20th century, both old and new.
Yoshida Kotaro was involved with Takeda Sokaku, who brought classical Samurai martial traditions into the 20th century. He was also directly instrumental in Ueshibia Morihei, the founder of Aikido, meeting and training with Takeda Sensei.
The knowledge that Ueshiba gained from Takeda Sokaku was the foundation of his development of Aikido as a major modern martial art.
Yoshida Kenji
We have no known record of Yoshida Kotaro Sensei passing on his family art to anyone in Japan. The only person that we know of who had knowledge of these family traditions was his son Yoshida Kenji, who came to the United States prior to the Second World War.
Don Angier Sensei
Yoshida Kenji Sensei, having no relatives in the United States and no contact with Japan, taught and passed his art on to Don Angier. Don Angier Sensei dedicated his life to the study of Yanagi ryu, which was the family art of the Yoshida clan. Angier Sensei passed away in October, 2014.
James Williams Sensei was a student of Angier Sensei for many years.
James Williams Sensei
James Williams is the President of Bugei Trading Company, Inc. He has been studying martial arts since 1960 and teaching since 1975. James has trained, competed in, and taught a number of different martial disciplines: Japanese, Okinawan, Chinese, Filipino, as well as the Brazilian system of Jujitsu as taught by Rorion and Royce Gracie. His experience includes western wrestling, which he also coached, as well as competing in boxing and kickboxing.
His love of samurai martial traditions came with his study of the Yanagi ryu of the Yoshida han under Don Angier Sensei and the martial traditions of the Kuroda-han as taught by Kuroda Tetsuzan Sensei.
James also studied Daito ryu Roppokai with Okamoto Seigo Sensei.
James teaches Close Quarters Combat to police and military both foreign and domestic. The method used, “The System of Strategy,” is based on those skills developed and cultivated by ancient warriors. He is the designer of tactical flashlights and knives, including the “Hissatsu,” a close quarter battle knife that is produced by Columbia River Knife and Tool.
James is certified as an instructor of Systema (an ancient Russian Martial Art) by Mikhail Ryabko and Vladimir Vasiliev. Williams Sensei teaches Nami Ryu Aiki Heiho, (kenjutsu, iaijutsu, tanto jutsu and aikijujutsu) and The System of Strategy in Encinitas, California.
Kuroda Tetsuzan Sensei
Kuroda Tetsuzan Sensei of the Shinbukan Kuroda Dojo, is the Soke (familial inheritor) of several ancient Samurai military disciplines. Kuroda sensei inherited this knowledge through his family line and is the headmaster of the Kuroda family martial legacy. The arts that he has inherited include:
- Komagawa Kaishin ryu kenjitsu – Shishin Takuma ryu jujitsu
- Tamiya ryu iaijitsu – Tsubaki Kotengu ryu bojitsu
- Seigyoku Oguri-ryū Sakkatsujitsu
Kuroda Sensei began his training at the age of 5 and was trained by both his father and his grandfather Kuroda Yasuji.
Komagawa Kaishin ryu kenjutsu was founded by Komagawa Tarouzaemon-kunikichi in the 16th century.
Kaishin is composed of two words, kai and shin. Kai means change and shin means mind or spirit. Kaishin means changed mind or spirit. The Kuroda family styles of jujutsu, kenjutsu, and iaijutsu were founded 450 years ago.