The Kashima-Shinryû Federation of Martial Sciences exists to continue the long tradition of the Kashima-Shinryû and to preserve and disseminate its legacies. Toward this end, it oversees training and study of Kashima-Shinryû martial art, principally at colleges and research institutions.
The Kashima-Shinryû Federation of Martial Sciences organization was inaugurated by KUNII Zen'ya's successor as shihanke, SEKI Humitake, on April 1, 1973. A copy of the constitution and by-laws for the organization appears in SEKI Humitake, Nihon budô no engen: Kashima-Shinryû (Tokyo: Kyôrin Shoin, 1976), pp. 16-18; an English translation of this document can be found in appendix II of Karl FRIDAY with SEKI Humitake, Legacies of the Sword: the Kashima-Shinryû and Samurai Martial Culture (Honolulu: University of Hawaii, 1997).
Today, the Kashima-Shinryû Federation of Martial Sciences has more than a thousand registered members and operates under the direction of its Director-General, SEKIYA Ryoichi (Metropolitan Police Department) and Secretary-General, AKAGI Kazuto (Tohoku University). All registered members enter the organization through affiliated local Chapters or Satellite Chapters. Chapters are authorized martial art training centers established at educational or academic research institutions or the equivalent. Satellite Chapters are authorized martial art training centers established by alumni of authorized Chapters for the purpose of continuing their training in locales where no regular Chapter exists. Affiliated local Chapters and/or Satellite Chapters exist in Japan and overseas in the United States, in Germany, in Finland and in Slovenia.
The Kashima-Shinryû Federation of Martial Sciences is a strictly non-profit organization, and does not, therefore, collect tuition from individual members or chapters. In order to support the publication of its newsletter (Kashima-Shinryû budô renmei kaihô), the production of membership lists, and other activities, however, all members are charged annual dues, payable in April of each year. Members are also liable for various other testing, diploma and licensing fees.
Kashima-Shinryu Organization Structure as of April, 2024
All persons seeking instruction in Kashima-Shinryû martial art must be admitted to membership in the Kashima-Shinryû Federation of Martial Sciences. Membership is normally restricted to students, faculty and staff at high schools, colleges and research institutions. The Federation reserves the right to accept or reject applications for admission, according to its own policies and criteria, which are subject to change. All persons accepted for membership and admission to instruction are required to sign the following pledge (kishômon), which is kept on file in the Federation's main office:
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Hyôhô Kishômon A Request for Instruction in the Warrior Arts
鹿島神流師範家殿 Addressed to the Kashima-Shinryû Shihanke | ||||||||||||||||||||
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click here to see a GIF image of Hyôhô Kishômon. |
The principal activities of the Kashima-Shinryû directed toward the public at large consist of demonstrations (enbu) conducted with the approval of the headmaster. Such performances include both demonstrations organized by the Federation itself and those orchestrated by local chapters. Important annual demonstrations include:
| Mid-February: | Dedicatory performance (hônô enbu) at the Mt. Tsukuba Jinja (Shrine) |
| Mid-June: | Dedicatory performance at the Kashima Jingû (Grand Shrine) |
| Late August: | Demonstration and dedicatory performance in conjunction with the Kashima-Shinryû Federation of Martial Sciences Summer Training Retreat (gasshuku) in Kashima City |
| November 3: | Dedicatory performance at the Sakuragawa Isobe Inamura Jinja (Shrine) |
| November: | Friendship demonstration at the Annual Meeting of the Shindô Musôryû Jôshinkai |
Leading publications and source materials concerning Kashima-Shinryû are listed on the page entitled "Publications & Resources".
Members of the Kashima-Shinryû Federation of Martial Sciences are encouraged to attend training at Chapters and Satellite Chapters other than those with which they are primarily affiliated, especially for special events and practices. Each year, the Federation sponsors an annual meeting and training session (gasshuku), held near the Kashima Jingû, in Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture. This training seesion is the Federation's largest and most important event, one that all members should strive to attend. In addition, local Chapters and Satellite Chapters often hold practices and demonstrations involving members of multiple chapters, for recruiting and other purposes. Such inter-chapter activities insure correct understanding of Kashima-Shinryû, foster friendship among members, and help maintain a high overall level of training.
Information for Potential Students:
Today the Kashima-Shinryû centers its activities on high schools, colleges and other educational institutions, because such places have been determined to be the most appropriate venues for learning and transmission of what is and must be a cultural contribution to society, rather than a one-dimensional combative art. Those interested in studying Kashima-Shinryû should contact one of the chapters listed below for additional information.
Annual General Gasshuku in Kashima City (August 2004)
About Chapters and Branch Schools
The day to day activities of the Kashima-Shinryû are carried out at chapters in various locations in Japan and abroad. The most active training locations are as follows:
represents "Global Standard Branch School", where legitimate Kashima-Shinryû martial art is lectured by our instructors from Martial Instruction Bureau.
(an association of three chapters and one satellite chapter in North America):
(an association of three chapters in Europe):