Ohana

Ohana is a Hawaiian term literally meaning “family” and includes blood relatives, adoptive, and intentional members. It also includes those who are “hanai”, informally adopted persons, a common practice in Hawaiian culture.  As it relates to the Kodenkan/Danzan Ryu world, it is a gathering of those family members who are considered practitioners, followers and/or supporters of this system of self defense and philosophies as espoused by Henry Seishiro Okazaki, the founder and creator of Kodenkan/Danzan Ryu Jujitsu.

Over the years, the Ohana Celebration has been the one constant event which has attempted to unite the various organizations attributing their roots to H.S. Okazaki. Supporters come from many places to share their knowledge, gain insights, participate in training and do a myriad of things in order to propagate the teachings of Okazaki.

Ohana was the brainchild of several visionaries. Professors Mike Chubb and William Fisher of Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai were the main hosts for the first event and are credited with its founding. Professors Joe Holck and Carl Beaver of Kodenkan Yudanshakai, were also instrumental in the early planning stages of the event. 

In the early years, the event was held over the Labor Day Weekend. We are proud to say that we have supported every Ohana since its humble beginnings and will continue to do so in an ongoing effort to promote the teachings of Henry Seishiro Okazaki.

We were unable to host Ohana 2020 in Hawaii due to the unexpected COVID-19 Pandemic. We hope that you will take advantage of all that the event offers and that you will enjoy meeting new people, sampling new techniques and enlarging your own Ohana!

Aloha,

Daniel W. Saragosa
President
American Jujitsu Institute