Shinnin No Maki

Shinnin No Maki (orig. Shinnan No Maki)

Shin means “god, spirit", Nan means "man, male person" and Nin means "person". Prof. Henry Seishiro Okazaki originally named this list using the male specific title, but later changed its name to be non-sex specific. Together, Shinnin means "spirit-person" but does not imply any sacreligious notion. Instead, in this case Shin refers to "that which is above". This means that the person entering into Shinnin training has reached a high level of martial maturity.

In Prof. Okazaki's Kodenkan dojo, it was necessary for the student to master all 35 Shinnin techniques before taking their Shodan test. Before World War II, it was the practice to charge the students a fee of $25.00 to learn this list. This practiced was discontinued sometime after the war began.

1.	Isami Tsuki Nage	High diagonal over the shoulder throw
2.	Obi Hane Goshi	Bent knee throw using the belt
3.	Tsurikomi Taoshi	Feinting art
4.	Momiji Nage	Throw and choke
5.	Gyaku Hayanada	Surprise reverse arm bar
6.	Hiza Nage	Knee Throw
7.	Osaekomi Gyakute Tori	Throw and arm bar
8.	Kobushi Shime	Fist constriction
9.	Kesa Hazushi	Scarf escape
10.	Kubi Shime Tomoe Gyakute	Throw and counter choke
11.	Ninin Nage	Two-man throw
12.	Gyakute Gaeshi	Arm whip
13.	Hiza Ori Nage	Folded knee throw
14.	Gyaku Hagai	Reverse pinion
15.	Ushiro Kan Nuki	Rear arm lock
16.	Mae Kan Nuki	Front arm lock
17.	Hiki Tate Tori Shime	Ancient art
18.	Ude Garami	Arm entanglement
19.	Ebi Shime	Shrimp constriction
20.	Ushiro Ebi Shime	Surfboard hold
21.	Gyaku Eri	Reverse lapel hold
22.	Ushiro Nage	Rear throw
23.	Ude Shigarami Shime	Arm entangled constriction
24.	Ashi Kan Nuki	Indian death lock
25.	Kesa Koroshi	Killing art
26.	Handō Shime	Flying scissors
27.	Ashi Gyaku	Corkscrew leg lock
28.	Kabe Shime	Wall strangle
29.	Ashi Karami Tori	Grapevine counter
30.	Nidan Gaeshi	Arm whip and arm bar
31.	Satsuma Shime	Ancient art
32.	Tataki Komi	Reverse surfboard hold
33.	Ushiro Nage Tori	Rear throw and lock
34.	Saru Shigarami	Arm stretch
35.	Sandan Gaeshi	Three throws, three arm whips, leg lock

Note 1: Descriptions are not provided for these techniques.

Note 2: These techniques are not included in the Mokuroku scrolls which were awarded to instructors. Typically, Prof. Okazaki did not provide these to students who did not speak Japanese. Instead, they were only provided with the (sometimes misspelled) romanization of the names along with general descriptions. Going from a romanized Japanese word to the kanji without the correct definition is often very difficult and even impossible. The above kanji for the technique names were given directly to Prof. Sig Kufferath by his teacher, Prof. Okazaki. These (and those kanji for the Shinyo and Shingen lists) first appeared publicly on this web page in 1995.

Note 3: The kanji for "Shinnin" (as in Shinnin no Maki) can also be read as "Shinjin" and the two terms have the same meaning, "spirit-man". Prof. Okazaki, however, read it as "Shinnin". The term "Shinjin" has sometimes been incorrectly used for the later Danzan-Ryū list, "Shingen no Maki". The term "Shingen" means "original spirit". Other mistranslations have appeared for these upper boards, such as "confidence scroll", "faith scroll", "belief scroll". These translations assumed a different kanji for "Shin" than was used by Prof. Okazaki. Another translation was "Shi Nin", or "dead man". This is also incorrect. Another example of mistranslation in this list occurred with the first technique, Isami Tsuki Nage. The "tsuki" term was originally misread as "tasuke", which is a cord used to bind back the sleeves of a Samurai's jacket. The correct term as it pertains to the first Shinnin technique is "tsuki" and means "to thrust".

Note 4: In some schools, a thirty-sixth technique called Sannin Hazushi is practiced. This technique was sometimes taught at the Kodenkan, but the American Jujitsu Institute (AJI) standards committee did not include it in the testing standards. It is therefore not included here.

This page is maintained by George Arrington

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