Uyenishi Sadakazu
Also known as
Description
Japanese jujutsuka, professional wrestler and a celebrated figure of Edwardian London from 1900 to 1908. One of the first Japanese jujitsu practitioners to both teach jujitsu and compete using the art outside Japan. His first martial art was kenjutsu; he then trained in jujitsu at the Osaka dojo of Yataro Handa, where Mataemon Tanabe taught. In 1900 he travelled to London at the invitation of E.W. Barton-Wright and joined Yukio Tani on the faculty of the Bartitsu Club. After the club closed (c. 1902) he taught at Pierre Vigny's self-defence academy and, by 1903, opened his own dojo, the School of Japanese Self Defence, at 31 Golden Square, Piccadilly Circus - the first jujutsu dojo in the UK. In 1905, writing as "Raku" with the help of his student E.H. Nelson, he produced the Text-Book of Ju-Jutsu. He later taught hand-to-hand combat at Aldershot Military School and Shorncliffe Army Camp, and in 1907-8 undertook a highly successful tour of Spain, Portugal and other European countries performing exhibitions and challenge matches. He returned to Japan in late 1908, leaving the Golden Square school to his senior student William Garrud, and died some years before the Second World War. His students included William and Edith Garrud and Emily Diana Watts.
Teachers (2)
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Tanabe Mataemonexpand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sourcesFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkUyenishi trained at Handa's dojo in Osaka, where Fusen-ryu master Mataemon Tanabe taught; the peer-reviewed Brough (2020) article states this directly, with EN Wikipedia as apud. The EN Wikipedia Tanabe article independently lists Uyenishi among his notable students.assessed by FSMverifiedFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialis -
Handa Yatarōsports_kabaddiSeibukan badgeexpand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
7 sourcesFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkAttested in the peer-reviewed Brough (2020) article and en/ja/es Wikipedia; the Bartitsu Society confirms the Handa school. The style is Handa Yataro's Daito-ryu jujutsu, distinct from the Takeda Sokaku lineage. Dojo location and period not precisely dated; the JA Wikipedia account dates the Seibukan to 1878.assessed by FSMverifiedFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialis"In a March 1904 interview with Uyenishi for Health and Strength Magazine, journalist J. St. A. Jewell wrote: "Uyenishi learned the art from Mr. Yataro Handa of Osaka, Japan" ... The Osaka dojo that Handa opened in 1897, however, seems not to have been affiliated with Tenshin Shin'yo-ryu, but rather a style called Daito-ryu... an obscure development of Sekiguchi-ryu jiujitsu."
"Uyenishi learned the art from Mr. Yataro Handa of Osaka, Japan, whose portrait I have been fortunate enough to secure (as quoted in Wolf 2016)."
Ranks (1)
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military_tech2 dan 2ProbableRank attested in Japanese Wikipedia, which cites the records of Daito-ryu jujutsu. The style is Handa Yataro's Daito-ryu, distinct from the Takeda Sokaku lineage.Dan-Kyu System
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 sourceFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkRank attested in Japanese Wikipedia, which cites the records of Daito-ryu jujutsu. The style is Handa Yataro's Daito-ryu, distinct from the Takeda Sokaku lineage.assessed by FSMverifiedFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialis
Students (4)
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Phoebe Robertssports_kabaddiSchool of Japanese Self Defence badge (1903-1907)expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sourcesFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkJoined Uyenishi's Golden Square School in 1903 and was promoted to instructor within a year; Callan/Heffernan/Spenn explicitly describe Tani and Uyenishi as her teachers. Corroborated by Brough (2020).assessed by FSMverifiedFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialis"By that time Roberts had joined the Golden Square School of Jujutsu, in Piccadilly, which was run by Uyenishi Sadakazu (aka Raku)... As one of the earliest female members, Roberts was a pioneer. Owing to her proficiency and marketing appeal as an Englishwoman, Roberts was promoted to an instructor within a year of training."
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William Garrudsports_kabaddiSchool of Japanese Self Defence badge (1903-1908)expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sourcesFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkGarrud was Uyenishi's senior student, took over the Golden Square dojo on his departure, and dedicated The Complete Jujitsuan to Uyenishi. Attested by Wikipedia, Brough (2020) and Garrud's own book.assessed by FSMverifiedFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialis -
Emily Diana Wattssports_kabaddiSchool of Japanese Self Defence badge (1903-1906)expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sourcesFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkBy 1903 Watts joined the Golden Square dojo run by Sadakazu Uyenishi and Akitaro Ono in Piccadilly; both Wikipedia and Brough (2020) state she joined in 1903.assessed by FSMverifiedFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialis -
Edith Garrudsports_kabaddiSchool of Japanese Self Defence badge (1903-1908)expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sourcesFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWikipedia states the Garruds studied under Uyenishi, initially at the Bartitsu club; Brough (2020) records they were students of Uyenishi and that he passed control of the Golden Square dojo to them on his departure; Callan/Heffernan/Spenn state they were originally trained by Uyenishi Sadakazu.assessed by FSMverifiedFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialis