Issei Ryu
Bujutsu
A lifelong art
Our martial arts style was developed by Sensei Christian Oakley, and is taught exclusively at Martial Journey.
It is heavily influenced by traditional Japanese martial arts - Karate, Jujitsu, Ninjutsu. It is one cohesive style that covers defensive and striking techniques, locks, holds, throws, take-downs, ground defence, grappling, and weaponry.
Issei Ryu Bujutsu means, "a lifelong art" in Japanese.
Not Mixed Martial Arts
Issei Ryu Bujutsu is not considered a mixed martial art because we don't participate in competitions. MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is an arena where practitioners of different martial arts may compete and establish dominance.
We identify more with "Hybrid Martial Arts", as it blends techniques and philosophies from different systems to create something uniquely our own.
Philosophy behind Issei Ryu Bujutsu
Issei Ryu Bujutsu (Ee Say Ree-You Boo Joot Soo) is a new form of martial arts and was developed for self-defence. Our style flows seamlessly from stand-up striking, to ground defence, to weapon defence. We teach awareness and skills to safely navigate a wide range of threatening situations.
Our syllabus begins with evasive movements and striking techniques for defending against attackers at a distance. It then progresses to locks, chokes, and takedowns for when the attacker has closed the distance, and eventually to ground grappling and close-contact techniques for situations where the attacker is on top. As the distance closes, the level of threat increases; making respect, control, and resilience essential components of our training.
Issei Ryu Bujutsu evolves to stay relevant in modern life. The Japanese name, meaning 'a lifelong art', pays tribute to the traditional martial arts and culture that inspired it.
Real self-defence. No shortcuts
Martial arts training develops the muscle memory to respond instinctively, which is honed through consistent practice and repetition. Practicing under controlled, safe pressure trains you to overcome the freeze instinct in actual threatening situations.
Self-defence short courses can give a false sense of security. While they provide valuable knowledge and awareness, without regular practice, muscle memory won’t activate under pressure.
A path less travelled
Creating a new style of martial arts, rather than teaching something already established, took careful consideration. Bruce Lee faced this challenge when he developed Jeet Kune Do. He studied traditional systems deeply but chose to set aside what wasn’t useful, blending techniques and principles into a style that was practical, efficient, and truly his own.
Inspired by Bruce Lee, our Sensei chose the braver, less certain path; creating his own school to teach a style uniquely his own. Over twenty-plus years, the style has evolved through many iterations, and our syllabus has become more detailed and refined. We’re proud of the caliber of students we produce; excelling not just in skill but also in character. Their achievements give us confidence that Issei Ryu Bujutsu will be a worthy legacy.