About Us

The Gi Yu Dojo has had many different names through the years.  It was the original Dayton Bujinkan Dojo (in the 80s) and then it was the first Jinenkan Dayton Dojo (late 90s) and then the Jinenkan Gi Yu Dayton Dojo (2004) and now finally it is just the Gi Yu Dojo (2007 and on).  Through these many phases, the dojo’s main philosophies have never changed.  Drill the basics over and over and make them second nature to your body. Develop students who are not just great warriors, but students with even better characters. And produce students with strong leadership qualities. We study a classical Japanese martial art (Kobudo), to help us attain those two qualities.  By also integrating real life scenarios (combat firearms street applicable examples) we feel we are helping create not just a strong warrior, but a warrior who knows right from wrong.

In 2004 Fumio Manaka (Kancho of The Jinenkan Organization) honored us by naming our dojo “Gi Yu”.  He always said he held our dojo to a higher standard than any other in his organization. Gi Yu translates to “Justice and Courage”, two qualities he believed exemplifies our training and spirit in our training hall 

GI (Justice) means to be completely honest with all people in all situations.  Belief of complete justice, not from any other person's perception, but of your own.  There is no gray area in justice, there is only right and wrong. 

YU (Courage) means to stand up when others back down.  To be above ordinary men.  To not be afraid to act.  A Budoka must have absolute heroic courage.  It is life or death, complete risk and complete danger.  This is not blind courage, it is absolute intelligence and strength.  Without    
                       courage, you are not truly living life                        completely. 

Bamboo symbolizes nature, which relates to using the martial art we study in a natural way.  No excess of movement, clear and direct.  Bamboo is both strong and very flexible and yet is always straight forward.  This also demonstrates the Gi Yu Dojo’s philosophy of integrity, honesty and straight forwardness.  A great warrior needs to be strong and flexible with their movements and thought process, yet their spirit is never wavering and direct.

                 “Budo” means the way of the warrior.  This is more of an intrinsic quality we are trying to develop at the Gi Yu Dojo.  This quality goes hand in hand with the physical training of Kobudo.  The process of refining one’s spirit and “polishing” ones character is a never ending venture.  Our instructors and students strive on a daily basis to not only become better fighters, but better people.  To become ”productive” members of our communities 
                  is a paramount ideal everyone should work                   towards.

“Nin Po” translates to the way of perseverance.  This is the “ninja” creed.  The military/ police in any country have a “standard” standing army and also a “special” forces division.  This is how ninjutsu and bujutsu go hand in hand as well (as the art of Kobudo).  At our training hall we study several classical Japanese martial lineages and a few of                         those are considered “ninja styles”.