Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu - Louisville

Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu - Louisville Traditional Japanese Martial Arts in Louisville, Kentucky. We offer instruction in Japanese koryu jujutsu, Japanese weapons, and zazen. Beginners welcome!

Katsujinken
"The Life-Giving Sword"

The Louisville, Kentucky, Branch is the main school for Hontai Yoshin Ryu in the USA. Head Instructor
Dr. Brian Barnes sensei
E-mail: [email protected] • (502) 338-1338

Classes offered in:
Classical Japanese Jujutsu
Iaijutsu & Iaido (Methods of Japanese Swordsmanship)
Ukemi (falling & rolling)
Practical self-defense for adults and children
Classical & practical weapons training
Zazen (traditional Zen meditation)
Newaza (jujutsu ground techniques)

No experience necessary. Adult classes: Wednesday 8:30-10 p.m. There is no enrollment fee. Adult classes are $50 per month. Students may begin training at 14 years old. There are no contracts, and there are no tournaments. If you are looking for an alternative to commercialized programs, drop by or give us a call. Private lessons are available. Visit our location at 999 Brent St. Behind Nitty Gritty — near the intersection of Barret Ave. & E. Kentucky St. (entrance is in the alley behind Nitty Gritty, which runs between Highland Ave. & Kentucky St.)

Congratulations to Almonte Covington for passing his Nidan examinations in Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu and Iaijutsu! Thank...
06/07/2026

Congratulations to Almonte Covington for passing his Nidan examinations in Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu and Iaijutsu! Thanks for your hard work and for your exemplary job representing The US at the Summer Taikai in Germany, Almonte!

Congratulations to everyone who passed their exams!

Happy training!

Training in Japan at Sohonbu Dojo is amazing, on and off the mat. Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome and excellent ...
05/30/2026

Training in Japan at Sohonbu Dojo is amazing, on and off the mat. Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome and excellent instruction, once again!

In March, we had a fun and informative visit with Frederic Roncioni Sensei, leader of the Belgian Branch of HYR. Everyon...
05/30/2026

In March, we had a fun and informative visit with Frederic Roncioni Sensei, leader of the Belgian Branch of HYR. Everyone benefited from his patience and kind instruction. We are grateful to Frederic Sensei for making the time to visit us, and we look forward to continued friendship, on and off the mat.

Suino Sensei has been an important influence upon many of us within US Hontai Yoshin Ryu. His leadership within The Shud...
10/07/2025

Suino Sensei has been an important influence upon many of us within US Hontai Yoshin Ryu. His leadership within The Shudokan Martial Arts Association (in which Fabian Sensei is a leader and others in our group have been members) has provided many outside Japan a place to anchor traditional martial practice. This has included the promotion of excellent training, the providing of strong mentoring opportunities, and the hosting of very interesting and challenging seminars. If you get a chance to train with him or would like to investigate The SMAA (https://www.smaa-hq.com/), don’t hesitate.

JMAC's leader Nick Suino Sensei, started in 1968. He fell in love with martial arts and never looked back!

You can read more about his long history here: https://www.japanesemartialartscenter.com/instructors/suino

Happy birthday to the leader of Hontai Yoshin Ryu, Inoue Kyoichi Soke! 🎉 The American branch is grateful for your leader...
09/24/2025

Happy birthday to the leader of Hontai Yoshin Ryu, Inoue Kyoichi Soke! 🎉 The American branch is grateful for your leadership and your example. Happy celebration!

Congratulations to our US students who successfully tested at The Hontai Yoshin Ryu Taikai in Belgium this weekend! Matt...
06/07/2025

Congratulations to our US students who successfully tested at The Hontai Yoshin Ryu Taikai in Belgium this weekend!

Matthew — Sandan in Jujutsu and Nidan in Iaijutsu

Ryanne — Shodan in Jujutsu and Shodan in Iaijutsu

Lamont — Shodan in Jujutsu and Shodan in Iaijutsu

Great job on your diligent preparations!

Deep gratitude to our local and worldwide family of Hontai Yoshin Ryu for guidance and support.

We train internationally with great people! Please join us to learn how you can travel and train as you learn this power...
04/01/2025

We train internationally with great people! Please join us to learn how you can travel and train as you learn this powerful and beautiful art.

Some great photos from the recent International Taikai in London.
07/20/2024

Some great photos from the recent International Taikai in London.

If you would like to learn, we are always accepting beginners.
06/17/2024

If you would like to learn, we are always accepting beginners.

Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu demonstration held during the 47th Nihon Kobudo Enbutaikai 2024 held at the Nippon Budokan on February 4th, 2024.--- SUBSCRIBE ---h...

Address

9103 Galene Drive
Louisville, KY
40299

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8:30pm - 10pm
Thursday 8:30pm - 10pm
Saturday 1pm - 2pm

Telephone

(502) 338-1338

Website

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