Feudal Japan
"Many martial arts were practised in Japan during it’s feudal age: the use of the lance, archery, swordsmanship and many more. Jujutsu was one such art. Also called taijutsu and yawara, it was a system of attack that involved throwing, hitting, kicking, stabbing, slashing, choking, bending and twisting limbs, pinning an opponent, and defences against these attacks.
Although Jujutsu’s techniques were known from the earliest times, it was not until the latter half of the sixteenth century that Jujutsu was practised and taught systematically. During the Edo period (1603-1868) it developed into a complex art taught by the masters of a number of schools." (Jigoro Kano). With the commencement of the Meiji era (1868), the modernization of Japan, and the popularity of Judo (founded in 1882), most of the old Jujutsu schools dwindled into obscurity or ceased to exist.
HISTORY
Meiji/ Taisho Periods:Seishi Teppei
1928 to 1947: Henry Johnston
The Seishi Teppei Jujutsu Kai traces its Japanese lineage back to Seishi Teppei Sensei, who taught Jujutsu to Henry Johnston in the 1920’s in Shanghai. At that time there were a number of foreign enclaves in the treaty ports on the Chinese Mainland, including Japanese, British and American.
In 1928 Johnston founded the Kodokwan Jujutsu Association, the first martial arts organization in South Africa. In 1947, after graduating from University with a medical doctorate, he transferred his dojo to his two most dedicated students, Dennys McCrea and George (Joe) Grant-Grierson. He moved to Gwanda, Southern Rhodesia, where he had a private practice, and also worked at Bulawayo General Hospital. He passed away in 1966. Johnston is remembered as a man who could inflict a tremendous amount of pain!
1947 to 1960: McCrea & Grant-Grierson
McCrea and Grant-Grierson commenced their Jujutsu studies with Henry Johnston in 1943, practicing several times a day, seven days a week! After Johnston left Cape Town, McCrea headed the organization and led instruction, as Grant-Grierson was sporadic in attendance due to his itinerant lifestyle.
MCrea actively taught the authentic Jujutsu lineage until 1965, where after he continued as the Honorary President of the South African Jujutsu Association until his death in 2006. Grant-Grierson moved up to Zambia, where he founded a dojo in 1954, teaching his own brand of martial art based on his studies in Jujutsu, Judo, Karate and Kung Fu. He was later very influential in the development of CQC in the South African Special Forces, and was the first martial arts instructor of the famous Steve Arneil, of Kyokushinkai.
1960 to 1988: Charles Gaven
Charles Gaven started Jujutsu classes in 1948 under McCrea and Grant-Grierson. He continued the unbroken lineage from Seishi Teppei, Johnston and McCrea when he took over as Head Instructor of the South African Jujutsu Association in 1960 after McCrea left Cape Town. He was a very powerful Jujutsuka, with a firm commitment to maintaining the authentic forms and their martial efficacy. His training partner, Louis Chananie also continued teaching until 1976.
In addition to Jujutsu, Gaven Sensei was a knowledgeable and respected Judoka, serving as chairman of the Western Province Judo Association (a province in South Africa), and also as chairman of their technical panel.
1998 to Present: Guy Taylor
Guy Taylor commenced Jujutsu under Charles Gaven in 1983, at the age of 15, with a busy schedule of two Judo and three Jujutsu practices each week. Taylor Sensei achieved Shodan in Jujutsu in 1991 and is currently ranked as Yondan (4th Dan) Jujutsu, having received his most recent grade from George (Joe) Grant-Grierson. He is also graded as Shodan (1st Dan) Judo. Taylor Sensei was chairman of the University of Cape Town Jujutsu Club from 1986-1991, achieved full Blues for Jujutsu at the University. He served on the SAJJA technical panel, and took over instruction at the Honbu Dojo when Charles Gaven's health began to fail in the mid 1990's.
He has conducted in-depth technical and historical research into Seishi Teppei Sensei’s system over many years, and is the foremost authority on the subject. He was also privileged to be the last Jujutsu student of both Dennys McCrea and Louis Chananie, and was frequently in communication with George (Joe) Grant-Grierson. The previous generations have sadly all passed away.
Taylor Sensei teaches the original system as received from Seishi Teppei Sensei, in his Honbu Dojo located in Cape Town, South Africa. The organization is named Seishi Teppei Jujutsu Kai in honour of this teacher.
(Footnote: A modern system, Gaven Ryu Ju-jitsu [sic], is maintained by other students of Charles Gaven within South Africa. Established circa 2000, it has a revised and condensed syllabus, incorporating Judo into the curriculum. This is not taught by the Seishi Teppei Jujutsu Kai, which maintains the traditional school and lineage, per the previous paragraph. It is worth noting that Gaven believed in the benefit of parallel but separate training in these arts, to not compromise the integrity of the respective styles.)
