History of Amatsu

Hichi buku goshin jutsu ryu (the tradition of the secret flower opening school for the defence of the self) is the ancient traditional healing art of Japan, the main purpose of which is the restoration of the body's ability to heal itself through gentle manipulation of ligaments and skeletal muscular systems.

 

Amatsu Tatara (meaning "Sky Harbour", or literally Divine Residence / God's Port) is a collaboration of martial arts, medicine, philosophy, strategy and religion that has been practised in Japan for over 2000 years. Its principles and practices have recently been rediscovered in he West and clinically evaluated.

Dr Masaaki Hatsumi

Is the current Grand Master of Amatsu. Born in 1931, he studied many martial arts including Judo, Karate, and Kobudu from an early age. His apprenticeship of Amatsu began in his 20’s and continued for 15 years before he became the current Grand Master.

 

Dr. Hatsumi is a Grandmaster of nine other schools/methods in Japan He is listed by the Japaneese Government as a National living treasure. Now these ancient time tested teachings are available through the development of its Masters both as a Therapy and a movement management system.



He preaches the importance of understanding the principles underlying the techniques, not just the mechanics.

Amatsu’s breakthrough in the West

Amatsu emerged from deep studies of Japanese Martial Arts which are dedicated to the protection of body, mind and spirit. For almost 2,000 years its practice was centred in Japan and only in the 1980s were its secrets opened to the West.

 

Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, Dennis Bartram and William Doolan pioneered the development of Amatsu in the West after realising that the therapy is soundly based on Western scientific principles of anatomy, physiology, bio-tensegrity and proprioception.

 

 

Amatsu today

The first teaching licences were awarded in the 1990s and William Doolan, who practices in Dun Laoghaire, is recognised as one of the foremost Amatsu teachers and practitioners in the Western World.

 


Ireland is to the forefront of Amatsu therapy in Europe. It is home to one of the few Teaching Centres outside of Japan and the number of accredited practitioners is growing steadily.