JAPANESE MEDICINE HISTORY
The records, scrolls and words of the present grandmaster of the “Hichi Buku Goshinjutsu tradition” (Natural medicine tradition) indicate that around 2,500 years ago a person from what is now termed the Indus valley (Bordering, India and Siberia, on the Silk trade route) entered Japan and passed on his knowledge and skills in life.
Whilst in Japanese folk lore - the princess Amatsuratsu (A goddess) passed on the knowledge and skills of life thousands of years before this - at the beggining of human life. Coupled with archeology research and documents - Japan has an indegenous population which has recieved immigrants from 10,000 yeas ago - all bringing their own understanding, knowledge and experince.
Jomon is the longest and the first recorded culture in Japanese history. Ruins and relics of the Jomon are found throughout Japan revealing how the culture flourished and spread. The invention of earthenware was the most significant turning point in the development of Jomon Culture. The Jomon culture is also known as the tree culture because they created wooden crafts such as canoes, bows, buckets, combs, bangles, and ignition tools. These tools were sometimes lacquered. The Jomon knew the characteristic of the trees very well as was reflected through their woodcrafts. For example, the chestnut tree was used for building houses because the tree is hard and durable.
About 2,500 years ago mass migrations came into Japan from China and Korea due to famines and warfare. With them came bronze and iron work, as well as an advanced process of rice cultivation. These waves gradually pushed back the resident Jomon until only Hokkaido Island has current populations which are now named Ainu. A technologically advanced immigration is able to push back the existing stone age culture. DNA shows that Jomon and Ainu are the same and links to American Indian groups such as Navaho are documented.
According to Dr Hatsumi the present 'head' or linieal heir (Soke - Grandmaster - head of a tradition/familly/culture) "these peoples and their history was brought together in a set of 'scrolls' termed the "Amatsu Tatara Hibuni" (Heaven sent way of natural life) written in the writting of the 'Gods' (A mixture of sanscit, hylographics and arabic type writting) which cover;
How to bring the people of a community and country together
The understanding of nature and its cycles
Preventative ways of living in harmony - including medicine and life skills
Recovery from common ailments - how to help other people
Protection from the elements, wild animals, 'bandits' and life changes
These were originally written in different sets covering different things in life. The Medical spects were covered in the "Amatsu Ryoho" parts. Yet these were also covered in the aspects on "Survival" (Amatsu Bumon) and Philosophy and Spiritual ways (Amatsu Shumon) which are also covered inside the medical (Amatsu Ryoho) scrolls."
These ancient records include the use of massage, joint correction, deep breathing, abdominal massage, stimulation of certain points on the body, types of meditation, eating and avoiding specific foods, herbs and even prayer are listed in these records.
According to Japanese History - These scrolls were held by the Emperor of Japan and then four of the most trusted families of Japan. These families who became 'termed' the "Bushido" knights and nobles of Japan - therefore had the teachings of many cultures and their indegenous ways of their heritage.
By 1100 AD many of the Bushido families of Japan had integrated medical practitioners within their 'familly units' and most Bushido traditions include mediine as an important part of Bushido or martial arts training. In fact the older matial arts of Japan, China, Korea, India and other cultures have always had a link with medicine!
Most of these Japanese Bushido or noble traditions, of survival, medicine, attunement and natural life - which date back at least 900 years and often more passed down familly lines untill the political changes which occurred in Japan in the 17th to 20th Century. Until the 1600's most Bushido warriors were capable of treating themselves and others!
During 5,000+ years of experince, they developed ways of setting bones, healing sickness, preventing injuries and poor health, removing arrows, resuscitation, etc... whilst using these ways to develop their own potential and enhance their skills and abilities.
Some of these 'warriors' were very famous for their medical skills and one 'group' the "Yamabushi" (Wandering mountain Doctor/Warriors - Linked to Japan's Ninja) became famous for their "Tea" which helped so many people.
Nine of these 'Traditions' now headed by Dr Hatsumi of Japan, have within them, the ways of treating what are termed physical and internal conditions.
In the 1600's the first millitary ruler (Shogun) of Japan - fearing repriasals for the changes he wished to make for Japan, from the Nobles. Instigated a different 'warrior' tradition, where familly members could become "Samurai" - One who serves, millitary people!
In this 'new' system - only after many years of loyal service, was a Samurai allowed to learn the medical ways of Japan. Therefore the traditional Doctors became limited in number and highly sought by other people. Therefore the medical training also provided a 'retirement plan' for the loyal Samurai. But "Very rarely" were they taught both physical and internal medicine!
The 'older' traditions kept the medicine alive by passing it down 'in secret' from father to son or people who often married into the familly. So that these ways could be passed on.
Then in the 1800's Japan returned to a "Royal rule" with the Emperor Meiji - who by world changes had been educated in England (And Europe) who adopted the western political system and everything from the West. Which further decreased the Doctors of Traditional Japanese medicine. Yet the families (Who were decreasing in numbers) still kept it alive.
By the 1900's One familly - the Toda family, whos 'head' (Toda Sensei) who had been the head of palice security and advisor to the Emperor, retired to his clinic! Here he practiced his medicine as the Meiji government banned Japanese medicine in favour of western medicine.
Toda (Sensei) was the lineal head of 3 Bushido traditions (Including Togakure Ryu Ninpo) retired to his clinic and taught his grandson Toshigutsu Takamatsu medicine and martial arts.
Keeping these ways within the familly. Takamatsu's fathers familly are recorded as being the holders of the "Amatsu" scrolls and their copies are 'locked' within a shrine in Ise - Japan. Whilst Takamatsu (Sensei's) mother - was the daughter of "Toda" a familly which is well recorded in Japanese History. Bringing two of these traditional families together.
By the second world war, Japanese medicine almost became extinct, yet it is known that people like "Ueshiba" (The Developer of Aikido - Aiki Bujutsu) "Kano" (The Developer of Judo) who had learned from "Samurai Doctors" and heads of Ju-jitsu Bushido traditions, learned these ways and later instigated the development of Ki, Kiatsu and Seitai training schools.
After the second world war - Japan was controlled by Mc Arthur who had banned any martial arts. Thereby banning the medical and philosophical ways of life associated with these. Yet the families kept these ways alive within the familly and Bujutsu traditions.
After the 2nd world war; Many of Japans (Son's and daughters) of the older medical traditions of Japan, came together to achieve recognition and approval for their 'therapies' passed down to them by their familly and friends. Which lead to the registration and re-instigation of finger pressure (Shiatsu) which is derived from Anma (Chinese Tuina) acupressure, Japanese "Ampuka" (Visceral therapy) and "Taikyoku" (Healthy exercise - Japanese Tai Chi and Chi Gung) "Seitai" (Japanese Osteopathy/Chiropractic) with accupressure, etc...
Today in Japan - Seitai, Shiatsu, Sekkotsu ae recognized practices and there has been a re-emergence of using acupuncture and herbs, primarilly among the Doctors trained in Western medicine (Who recognize an integrated way of life!) and the pharmicists.
This returns us to Takamatsu 'Sensei' who as the Grandson of both the Toda and Takamatsu familly (Oh did you note his name? ) - Takamatsu - remembering the goddess Amatsuratsu!) who studied with his father, grandfather and the 'heads - soke' of nine different traditions - including the schools/traditions, studied by Ueshiba and Kano! Such as the Kukishin Ryu and the Takagi Yoshin Ryu, etc...
The young Takamatsu (Sensei - teacher and/or Doctor) grew up, initially in a Japan which abandoned its heritage and then was controlled by the American government! Unable to 'practice' his medicine - then spent more than 20 years travelling throughout China and Korea, meeting with local Doctors and Martial arts masters - sharing together, like nature!
During 60 + years the Young and then elderly Takamatsu (Sensei) spent his life linking Oriental medicine with western medicine - noting the effects of herbs, acupuncture and physical treatments from both an Oriental and Western 'Scientific' approach. In the 1960's Takamatsu (Sensei) taught the former Champion of Judo in Japan (Dr Hatsumi) the arts, crafts, philosophy and 'WAYS' of Japanese "Natural life" including the martial arts and medical ways.
Dr Hatsumi was originally an exponent of Judo and a devoted student to the theatre and drama. He earned or paid his way through college by teaching the occupying forces of Japan - Judo. But unable to cope with big and strong "Americans" who could "Lift hi up" he sought training from people skilled in the older mrtial arts of Japan - please note that at this point in his life he had no interest in the medical ways. Basically he wanted to go through college (Paid by his teaching of Judo) and become involved in the theatre.
On Takamatsu (Sensei's) advice, Dr Hatsumi became qualified in "Sekkotsu" (Ortheapedic medicine) and Chinese medicine, whilst also learning "Amatsu Ryoho" Japanese (naturopathic) medicine. This multiple qualification also permitted Dr Hatsumi to establish a clinic.
In the mid 1980's Chris Roworth (A student of martial arts) visited Japan for training with Japan's masters. After just two days of intensive training an old back condition (Two compressed discs - from a Parachute accident) Chris was in intense pain - but using pain killers, ventured along to watch Dr Hatsumi's martial arts class.
Unable to partake in the training he seated himself against a wall. When Dr Hatsumi arrived to commence the training - he greeted his students and then went directly to Chris. Shaking his hand Dr Hatsumi said "Oh you have pain would you like me to help?"
For the next 3 weeks Dr Hatsumi provided almost daily treatments on Chris and taught him self treatment ways to enhance his recovery. Having gained much from Dr Hatsumi's approach - Chris asked Dr Hatsumi to teach him Japanese medicine. Dr Hatsumi agreed on the condition that Chris 'first' qualified in Western Physiotherapy or Osteopathy.
On his return to England Chris begun learning both Osteopathy and Physiotherapy. During which he made annual return trips to study with Dr Hatsumi and other practitioners of the various therapies inside Japanese medicine. By 1991 Chris was qualified in Physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Hypnotherapy, Muscle testing and Homeopathy and had been allowed by Dr Hatsumi to integrate Japanese "Amatsu medicine" inside these therapies.
Through these therapies and martial arts, Chris met and trained with Dennis Bartram and William Doolan, who collectively researched and developed their skills and understanding of Japanese natural medicine (Amatsu medicine) which they collectively showed Dr Hatsumi in 1995. Dr Hatsumi was impressed by their understanding and development and provided one to one tuition with the three of them.
Dr Hatsumi then awarded the three of them "Menkyo Kaiden" Practitioner and teacher licence in the Hichi Buku medical (and life) tradition. In 1996 Dr Hatsumi gave Chris permission to award the same grade/achievement to other people. These 3 were then joined by Peter King - a qualified Osteopath, Physiotherapist, who had learned wit Chris, Dennis, William and Dr Hatsumi making 4 western qulified teachers of Japanese natural medicine.
Collectively these four hold qualifications in more than 30 therapies!