History

In June 1941 Okuyama Yoshiharu (Yoshiji), otherwise known as Ryuho Okuyama, founded Hakko Ryu Ju Jutsu (Eight Light Art). Prior to founding Hakko Ryu,  Mr. Okuyama traveled and trained extensively is many various martial arts including Daito-Ryu. One of the instructors that Mr. Okuyama spent much time with was Daito-Ruy founder Soaku Tekeda, the last of the great swordsmen. 

In 1975 Mr. Okuyama invited Michael J. LaMonica to Japan to train with him. Mr. LaMonica traveled back to Japan on numerous occasions and ultimately was awarded the highest degree of San Dai Kichu. Mr. LaMonica was the first non-Asian to ever receive this title. 

Shodai Soke Okuyama passed away in 1987.

In 1997 Shodai Soke Michael J. LaMonica (America) in association with Antonio Garcia (Belgium) and Yasuhiro Irie (Japan), broke from Hakko Ryu to form Hakko Denshin Ryu Ju Jutsu (Heart of the Eighth Light Art). Each of them studied Hakko Ryu Ju Jutsu under Shodai Soke Okuyama Ryuho in Omiya (Saitama City), Japan. 

Soke Michael J. LaMonica was an Akron, Ohio police officer where he served as a patrolman, dectective, Intelligence commander and SWAT commander. He was later the Police Chief of Fairlawn, Ohio. Additionally, Soke LaMonica had a 1st degree black belt in Chinese Kempo and a 2nd degree black belt in Judo.  He utilized his experience to make Hakko Denshin Ruy Ju Jutsu practical to everyone. Soke LaMonica also emphasized it's usefulness to law enforcement as control techniques to minimize excessive use of force.

In October 2024, Shodai Soke Michael J. LaMonica passed, leaving  students around North America committed to preserving his legacy of Hakko Denshin Ryu.  

The Ninth Light Dojo shares in that commitment, teaching waza, a series of techniques used for teaching and learning, as well as henka, which are practical applications of these techniques. We are a non-competition dojo and have a philosophy of "no resistance, no injury". 

We are proud to be members of the Hakko Denshin Ryu Ju Jutsu Federation of North America and have a close alliance with the Hakko Denshin Ryu Ju Justu Federation of Europe.