The Budoshin Ju-Jitsu Lineage
Click on the item of interest below:
About Professor George Kirby
George Kirby 1-Page Bio [Rap Sheet]
About Professor Jack Seki
Budoshin Ju-Jitsu Lineage Chart

About Professor George Kirby



Prof. George Kirby [1944---], Black Belt magazine's "Instructor of the Year" for 2007, holds the rank of Judan, and is an internationally recognized martial arts instructor and author. He has been teaching Ju-Jitsu since 1967. He was the head instructor at the Burbank YMCA from 1968-75 and the Burbank Parks Dept. from 1974-96. He is currently teaching Budoshin Ju-Jitsu classes through the Santa Clarita Parks Recreation Dept., Santa Clarita, CA, [about 35 miles north of Los Angeles].

George Kirby was born in Los Angeles, CA, in 1944. He grew up in Burbank, CA, graduating from John Burroughs High School in 1962. He earned his BA in Social Science [1966], clear lifetime teaching credential [1967] and MA in Social Science [1969], all from California State University, Los Angeles. He also holds an administrative services credential from the state of California.

Prof. Kirby was awarded the title of Hanshi in 1997 and his Judan grade in 2000. He taught Ju-Jitsu at Olive Vista Jr. High School, Sylmar, from 1976-83, as an elective and alternative to regular physical education classes as a fully credentialed school teacher. He has taught seminars throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Israel.

Using his skills as an experienced professional high-school teacher, Prof. Kirby has had the opportunity to write a number of books, magazines, and even an 8-DVD/mp4 instructional series. His published books include:
      Ju-Jitsu: Basic Techniques of the Gentle Art [Ohara 1983]
      Ju-Jitsu: Intermediate Techniques of the Gentle Art [Ohara 1985]
      Jutte: Power of Ten Hands Weapon [Ohara 1987]
      Budoshin Ju-Jitsu; The Big Book 6th ed [2002]
      Jujitsu Nerve Techniques: The Invisible Weapon of Self-Defense [Ohara 2001]
      Advanced Jujitsu: The Science Behind the Gentle Art [Black Belt Communications 2006]
      Jujitsu Figure-4 Locks: Submission Holds of the Gentle Art [Black Belt Communications 2009]

      Ju-Jitsu: Basic Techniques of the Gentle Art - Expanded Edition [Black Belt Books 2011]

      Jujitsu: Advanced Techniques for Redirecting an Opponent's Energy[ Black Belt Books 2015] 

     Jujitsu: Toward One Technique [Black Belt Books 2019] 

 In 1992 Panther Productions released the 8-DVD instructional series, entitled Black Belt Ju-Jitsu. Prof. Kirby has also written numerous articles for Black Belt, Inside Karate and other martial arts magazines. In addition, Prof. Kirby has compiled an impressive list of additional instructional videos, available as MP4 files, which can be accessed by clicking here. There are additional short instructional clips on YouTube under the heading of "Budoshin Ju-Jitsu".

In addition to his instructional responsibilities, Prof. Kirby is very involved in the governance of Ju-Jitsu, serving as chairman, board of directors for the Budoshin Ju-Jitsu Dojo Inc. [a non-profit educational foundation]. He also served as chairman of the board of directors for the American Ju-Jitsu Association [an amateur athletic association and governing body for Ju-Jitsu and amateur competition in the U.S. as recognized by the U.S. government] from its inception in 1971 through 2016. He remains as their senior advisor. He is also the founder of the Budoshin Ju-Jitsu Yudanshakai, an educational foundation.

Prof. Kirby is also active in a number of other martial arts organizations. He is affiliated with the Shorinji Ryu JuJitsu Association, the World Head of Family Sokeship Council and is a Senior Advisor for the Institute of Traditional Martial Arts at the University of New Mexico. He is also the primary liaison between the American Ju-Jitsu Association and it's international affiliates, including the European JuJitsu Union [EJJU] and its Intercontinental Ju-Jitsu Organization [IJJO - founded 2010].

 

Official Affiliations
   

As a strong believer in community service, Prof. Kirby was selected to serve as a a Defensive Tactics Consultant for the Los Angeles Police Dept. in 1994, [after the Rodney King incident], serving on their Civilian Martial Arts Advisory Panel. In that capacity he was involved in developing and final reviewer for the new arrest & control program for officers. He was also the only martial artist involved in designing the officer A/C competency evaluation [testing] process.  He continued to serve the LAPD CMAAP until its termination in 2007. He also developed a Defensive Tactics program for the state of Nevada in the 1980's and has taught arrest control techniques to private security firms and a variety of local and national law-enforcement personnel. In 2006 Prof. Kirby became a certified POST [Police Officer Standards Training] instructor. In 2007 Prof. Kirby was selected to be a member of FLEOA [Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association] and ILEETA [International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association].

Prof. Kirby was a public school teacher for 39 years, since 1967 until his retirement in 2006. He has a MA degree in Social Science/Political Science, Standard Secondary Teaching Credential, Standard Jr. College Teaching Credential, and Administrative Services Credential from the state of California. He was the chairman of the Social Science Dept., U.S. Grant High School, Van Nuys, from 1992-2006, where he taught Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Honors Economics.

While Prof. Kirby may have retired from teaching for the Los Angeles Unified School District, he strongly believes that "retirement" is relative thus has not retired from teaching. In August, 2007, Prof. Kirby started teaching Budoshin Ju-Jitsu at College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, CA. The program was suspended due to state budget cuts in August, 2010. Students were able to take his class up to four semesters [state maximum] of this Physical Education Course, and earn CSU/UC transfer credit for each semester completed.

To contact Prof. Kirby by e-mail, click here .
or write to him at P.O. Box 801854, Santa Clarita, CA 91380

[Return to top of page.]


About Prof. Seki


Professor Sanzo Jack M. Seki, whose legal name was changed to Jack M. Haywood in 1943, was born in Los Angeles, CA., USA, on July 7, 1914. His father was Japanese his mother was of Irish American descent. Jack Seki moved to Japan at a very early age. Although Seki's father, Sanzo Seki [b:1888 - d:?], was a Ju-Jitsu master himself, he also sent Seki to study directly under the legendary Dr. Jigoro Kano, an expert in Tenjin-Shinyo Ryu Jujitsu [Hachinosuke Fukoda, Sensei and Masatomo Iso, Sensei] and Kito-Ryu JuJitsu [Tsunetoshi Iikubo, Sensei] and founder of modern day Judo. Some sources indicate that Seki was awarded a sandan in Judo by Kano although there is no documentation available. After studying under Kano, Seki returned to master the art as taught by his father. Some sources also indicate that he earned an Ikkyu grade in Kendo, but that is also unverifiable at this time. According to some sources Seki may have been enrolled at Doshisha College in Kyoto, Japan

Prior to World War II, Seki was given the option of being drafted into the Japanese army or emigrating to the United States. Fortunately he chose the latter and returned to the U.S. in the mid-1930's. With his martial arts training current information says that he worked for the U.S. Army Air Force as a weaponless defense instructor. It is also possible that he may have served as a translator in the Pacific theatre during the war. Information as of 10/26/2006, according to official records [releasable under the Freedom of Information Act] Seki served in the U.S. Army from 1941-1944 assigned to Company A, 34th Signal Training Battalion. He was awarded the American Defense Service medal, WWII Victory Medal, WWII Service Lapel Button and a Good Conduct Medal. His rank was private, 1st class. More detailed records were probably destroyed in a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center [Military Personnel Records, St. Louis, MO]. Another reliable source, US Army Signal Center, Ft Gordon, GA,11/14/06] indicates that the Company A, 34th Signal Training Battalion was stationed in Africa, Italy Sicily, thus probably discounting the verbal history that he may have served as a translator in the Pacific theatre during the war -- unless it was a cover.

 Some time after the war was over Prof. Seki went to work for Lockheed Aircraft Co., where he was officially employed as a manufacturing research mechanic [confirmed 2010] from 1952 until his retirement in 1986. At that time he retired to Bullhead City, AZ, where he worked for a helicopter company for a few years. In declining health from emphysema and severe pulmonary disease caused by years of smoking, Prof. Seki was eventually placed in a nursing home until he passed away on April 20, 1998.

Seki was an avid martial artist and dedicated instructor. His whole life revolved around Ju-Jitsu. He held yudansha grades in Judo, Karate, Aikido, and Ju-Jitsu, most of which he earned in Japan. He was ultimately promoted to Kudan [9th dan] in Ju-Jitsu. He taught at the Burbank YMCA in the early 1960's and then moved his instructional program to Los Angeles Valley College, where he taught Ju-Jitsu four nights a week [for $1.25/month] through their community service program. In the early 1980's he moved his program to the Victory-Vineland Recreation Center, Van Nuys, until his retirement from Lockheed in 1986.

 Seki was demanding on the mat. Although his physical workouts were strenuous, his demands upon students' mental attitude was even greater. The higher you were in rank the more you would be verbally harassed. Seki did this to weed out students [and black belts] who would get upset with his harassment. Seki said many times that if your "ticky-ticky" gets hurt by what people say about you [you get upset] you have no business being in the martial arts. This was his way of weeding out those who were weak in spirit and mind. He took this approach because Ju-Jitsu, as taught by Seki, was such a devastating martial art. He did not feel that students who couldn't control their emotions should study this gentle art.
[Return to top of page.]
Budoshin Ju-Jitsu Lineage
 

 


[Return to top of page.]



   
       
View George Kirby's profile on LinkedIn Martial Arts Site Awards