The History and Development of Japanese amatsu ryoho, The history of amatsu medicine, amatsu therapy, how Japanese integrated medicine came into the west. Amatsu medicine from the Hichibuku goshinjutsu tradition. The history of the UK school/academy of Amatsu...
Japanese Natural and Integrated Medicine - History and Development
Modern Development - into the Western world
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Background; Chris had been a member of the Parachute Regiment and had previously injured his back during "Free fall" parachuting with the "Red Devils" (Compressing two discs in the spine) when his Parachute had 'failed' and he survived by using his reserve parachute. Since this 'accident' Chris had 'tried' to maintain "Fitness and Mobility" but found running, Judo (Which he had previously enjoyed) and the "Gym" caused more "After exercise" pain. But he found that he could train in "Aikido" (Japan's gentle martial art) especially because his 'choosen teacher' (Mr Shepherd) also suffered with back pain and helped Chris
Chris suffered for 9 years (1977 - 1986) but found great relief from the treatments that his martial arts teacher (Mr Roy Shepherd) gave him, the practice of martial arts and the treatments provided by Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and Chiropractors.
In Japan (and excited) Chris embarked on a 'strenuous' training programme, attending 5 martial arts classes on his first day! That night he suffered intense pain.
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The next day he 'hobbled' along to watch a Grandmaster of the martial arts (Dr Hatsumi) teach a group of his senior students. Arriving early he seated himself against a wall and awaited the begginning of the class. When Dr Hatsumi arrived he greeted his students and then walked over to Chris offering his hand and saying "Welcome to Japan" followed by "Oh you are in pain, can I help you" |
During the next 3 weeks Dr Hatsumi treated Chris about 9 times, whilst also teaching him a "Self treatment routine" and a "Balancing routine" (Shoden no maki) with the reccomendation that Chris should teach these to his friends so that they could help each other.
On his return to the UK Chris taught these ways to his friends (Alan Thomass, Clement Kielly, Phil Knox, Roy Shepherd, Peter King, etc) these ways - forming the first UK group.
The next year (1987) Chris returned to Japan for 3 months of training and treatment with Dr Hatsumi. Learning more about medicine and the martial arts from Dr Hatsumi. Prior to leaving Japan he asked Dr Hatsumi if he would teach him the complete medical tradition. Dr Hatsumi answered "OK but if you learn Physiotherapy or Osteopathy"
On his return to England Chris became a student of both Physiotherapy and Osteopathy. Each summer returning to Japan for more training with Dr Hatsumi.Each year Dr Hatsumi taught Chris about the different aspects of the Hichibuku, showing him acupuncture, explaining about herbs and nutrition, the mind balance, ergonomics, etc...
By 1991 Chris was a Physiotherapist and Osteopath - in addition Chris had qualified in Hypnotherapy, NLP, was learning Chinese acupuncture and tuina, and yoga!
Chris was then selected to be one of the first natural medicine practitioners to work within the NHS (working at Ruislip health centre and teaching at Hillingdon hospital) and was invited to Join the Manchester school of Osteopathy as a teacher.
Each year that Chris returned to Japan for more training with Dr Hatsumi and his envolvement in the English NHS encouraged him to learn and study more!
In 1995 Chris returned to Japan with two fellow Osteopathic teachers (Mr William Doolan and Mr Dennis Bartram) who were also martial arts students of Dr Hatsumi. Chris explained to Dr Hatsumi that Dennis had taught him Cranial Osteopathy and Kinesiology and that they had been working together to understand more about 'his medicine'
During the next 3 weeks - Chris, Dennis and William recieved private tuition from Dr Hatsumi and during the martial arts classes they were taken to 'one side' and shown the correction methods for martial arts injuries.
Then one morning Chris was invited back to Dr Hatsumi's house - where Dr Hatsumi first treated Chris and then asked Chris to treat another person, during which Dr Hatsumi asked him many questions. After several hours Dr Hatsumi congratulated Chris and told him that he was going to award him with a practitioner and teachers Diploma in the Hichibuku tradition of Amatsu medicine. Chris then asked about William and Dennis. Dr Hatsumi then told him to go and get them and return to his house that evening.
That evening he awarded all three of them with "Menkyo Kaiden" (Teacher/Practitioner) licenses in the Hichibuku Goshinjutsu tradition, numbering them;
Christopher Roworth (No1) Dennis Bartram (No2) William Doolan (No 3)
From 1995 Chris, Dennis and William have continued to return to Japan for more training with Dr Hatsumi. During which they established the Amatsu natural medicine association (A.N.M.A.) to teach primarilly the Physical therapies of Amatsu medicine from the Hichi Buku Goshinjutsu tradition.
In 2004 Chris went to stay in Japan with Dr Hatsumi (staying for 18 months) during which he also trained with other practitioners of Japanese natural medicine.
On his return to the UK Chris established (2009) the Amatsu Ryoho association and teaching school / academy to pass on the complete Hichi Buku system of health and life
Chris established the Amatsu Ryoho association; to re-group and bring together the 'therapies, modalities and treatments' of Japanese Integrated Natural Medicine - rather than just 'focussing' on the Physical aspect of health.
Chris after many conversations with Dr Hatsumi understood the importance of 'balancing' the "Godai" (Big five factors of health and mobility) and established the Amatsu Ryoho association.
In addition Chris reccomended Mr Peter King (an Osteopath, Physiotherapist, Acupuncturist, Cranial Osteopath, a good friend and teacher of Dr Hatsumi's martial arts) in 2003 for the award of Menkyo Kaiden.
Dr Hatsumi
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Learned martial arts and Japanese integrated natural medicine (Amatsu Ryoho from the Hichibuku Goshinjutsu tradition) From "Sensei" Toshigutsu Takamatsu, who's Grandfather (Toda) was a "Bone Doctor" and Grandmaster of 3 martial arts traditions. |
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The martial arts tradition of "Toda and Takamatsu" have a long recorded history of the use of physical therapy, self treatment, acupuncture, herbs, moxibustion, nutrition, ergonomics, etc.
In fact they have 'written records' dating back more than 1000 years.
Historical Development
Japanese medicine is believed to have developed during the Jomon Period (13000 BC to 300 BC), the inhabitants of the Japanese islands were gatherers, fishers and hunters. During which they used specific foods, massage and exercise for prevention and recovery.
Acording to the records of Japanese natural medicine "In 500 B.C. King 'Mima' entered Japan with a small group of people - bringing thier health system with them into Japan, which was amalgmated with the indegenous ways. These were then known as the ways from the sky harbour (Heaven)"
Then in the Yayoi Period (300 BC to 300 AD), the rice culture was imported into Japan (around 100 BC). With the introduction of agriculture, social classes started to evolve, and parts of the country began to unite under powerful land owners. The Yayoi period brought also the introduction of iron and other modern ideas from Korea into Japan. Bringing medicine and 'arts' from India, China and Korea - which were again amalgamated
During the "Feudal era" of Japan, the "Warrior" classes integrated these medical practices from other countries, with thier own indegenous ways, whilst developing natural treatments for wounds, broken bones, dislocations and common battlefield injuries.
This led to the development of a Natural health tradition called "The Hichibuku Goshinjutsu tradition" literally "The secret flower opening tradition for the protection of the self" This tradition can still be found within many of Japans martial arts traditions (which date back at least 900 years) and was traditionally pased down from master to master. Please see our page on the Hichibuku Goshinjutsu tradition...
The Present day head of this tradition is Dr Massaki Hatsumi, who learned this tradition from Toshigutsu Takamatsu - who's familly line can be traced back hundreds of years as the head of this tradition and different martial arts traditions. Martial arts and medicine have always been closely linked throughout asia...
Under Dr Hatsumi's wishes -
Only Menkyo Kaiden's are permitted to teach this tradition!