SAMURAI  WARRIOR
TRADITION

Welcome to the Kamakura Renbukan Dojo which was founded by David Barber - Shihan in 2010, under the auspices of the late Saito Satoshi - Soke. A student of Funakoshi Gichin, Naruse Kanji & Fujita Seiko, Saito Satoshi (1922-2014) is credited as the father of modern-day shurikenjutsu. Saito inherited the koryu teachings of Yamamoto Ryu Iaijutsu & Negishi Ryu Shurikenjutsu from 3rd Generation Soke, Naruse Kanji and later formed a close bond with Ninjutsu Legend, Fujita Seiko. A lifelong member of the Japan Kobudo Promotion Society (Est. 1935), he became the organization's President and held the leadership role for 17 years, until his passing in 2014. 

 

As a direct student and the former instructor at Saito-sensei's headquarters dojo in Tokyo, I was privileged to have spent many years under his caring tutelage. After performing my first enbu alongside him, Saito-sensei presented me with my first sword. I was honored to have been chosen as 1 of only 3 people to receive Shihan licensing from Grandmaster Saito. Subsequently, upon founding the Kamakura Branch of Negishi Ryu, sensei presented me with a second sword from his personal collection, a Masamune blade forged in Kamakura. Saito-sensei awarded me an honorary budo-name, "出人" which reads as "David" and literally means "Leaving the Gate". On the day of Sensei's passing, I had accompanied him to an outdoor demonstration of Negishi Ryu shurikenjutsu in Tokyo, Japan. To this day, I hold many dear memories close to my heart. Rest in peace dear teacher, never forgotten.