Great Falls Budokan

06/15/2026

The 2026 Ittō Tenshin-ryū Taikai will be held in Albuquerque NM during the weekend of October 17th/18th. Register now!

Ittō Tenshin-ryū® 2026 Taikai “Kokoro”Sandia Budokan, Albuquerque NMOctober 17 - 18, 2026 (Note: This site intentionally forgoes the use of diacritical marks in some areas to facilitate searchability.) Kokoro (心) — The Deciding Factor on the Field of Battle Mr. Bryan Godfrey, Dōjō-chō ...

06/11/2026

06/09/2026

Lovret Sensei demonstrates the source technique of Kote-maki, with Capt. (Ret.) William Knight is serving as uke.

In the Yamate-ryū, this is studied for several reasons, including the history of technique, mechanics, and attention.

In the kyōka of Ittō Tenshin-ryū, this technique appears in the Tedori-gaeshi section. These methods address actions to take when one’s sword arm is seized, representing a small component of the larger curriculum.

Techniques of this kind were common in many schools of Japanese swordsmanship and helped form the bedrock of what would one day become known as jūjutsu.

Some may suggest that opportunities to seize the wrist of a swordsman were rare. Yet one need only look at how often similar attempts occur with pistols to recognize that such encounters were not outside the realm of possibility.

To learn more about the Yamate-ryū or Ittō Tenshin-ryū, visit: https://heiho.org/martial-traditions

06/01/2026

Joshua Karrasch, CEO of Dynamic Specialties Group and a student of Ittō Tenshin-ryū at Great Falls Budōkan, discusses the impact of his training on leadership and life.

This article is for the leader who has ever looked back on a decision, conversation, or conflict and realized the problem was not a lack of intelligence. It was that pressure had taken the wheel.

05/29/2026

Some spirited kumitachi during our kenjutsu class. Ittō-tenshin ryū builds large, open, spirited attacks.

05/28/2026

Ittō Tenshin-ryū®
Rajguru Sensei with the late Mr. Fred Tart, circa 1982.

https://heiho.org/

05/26/2026

On the first weekend of May in 2026, the deshi of the Yamate-ryū gathered in Chicago as the guests of Mr. Ritacco and Dr. Musicar for an intense weekend of discovery and experimentation with hanasu.  Mr. Simms later informed me that this Taikai was more difficult to prepare than most.&n

05/24/2026

Classes at Great Falls Budōkan are cancelled on Memorial Day, Monday May 25th.

In this picture, two Yamate-ryū Aikijutsu students practice one of the many osae-waza in our inherited teachings. In this technique the arms of the opponent are crossed over his nose and mouth and held down by the body weight of the practitioner. The arm held high symbolizes a finishing blow with a blade.

05/20/2026

Great Falls Budōkan is honored to continue the tradition of instruction in the Washington D.C. area begun by Rajguru Sensei over 50 years ago. For more information about the martial traditions we teach visit www.heiho.org and www.greatfallsbudokan.com

The original Maryland Budōkan. Founded by Rajguru Sensei in 1974.

www.heiho.org

05/17/2026

This time of year brings reflection on what was, what is, and the ryū that endures through time.

We are not what we once were.

What is essential remains unchanged.

A new generation is forging its way.

To those who came before, we raise a glass to absent companions and offer gratitude for illuminating The Way.

Some will never understand that kind of dedication.

They will never understand loyalty beyond the self.

A ryū is not stagnant.

It lives through its ineffable essence, principle, and technique, carried forward by those willing to bear its weight.

This year, while expressing my deepest gratitude to those who came before, I say:

Here’s to the living!

To us and those like us!

Keep going!

We honor those who came before through our actions.

Fredrick John Lovret
July 1, 1941 - May 17, 2015

Savvas Philip Savopoulos
September 25, 1968 - May 14, 2015