Our contact email is manabimasho@yahoo.com

To contact by phone: In NC. call 919-753-7964, in Ohio call 740-867-8000

Welcome to the Manabi-Masho Ju-Jitsu Federation Homepage.  This website represents the Manabi-Masho Ju-Jitsu Federation, Soke Casarez's Tri-City School of Martial Arts, Shihan Mark Murdock's Southern School of Martial Arts and Rivers Edge Bujinkan Dojo. (For more information on each, please click on the links at top of the page). 

Manabi-Masho has a Ju-Jitsu and Judo base with the best modified and blended techniques of Aikido, Aiki-Jujutsu, Karate, Eskrima and Ninjutsu. These techniques are blended to create a specialized reality based blended martial art. Manabi-Masho is not a traditional asian martial art and we do not practice any kind of asian religion. Manabi-Masho is strictly an American martial art using and blending techniques from several Japanese martial art styles and several techniques from many other country's martial arts styles. Manabi-Masho is a Christian based martial art.

You will learn a blend of martial arts techniques and flow that is unique and effective.  In our art we teach both standing and ground grappling, various arm bars, wrist, finger and other joint locking techniques, close quarter striking, kicking, elbow and knee striking, combative striking with weapons, weapon disarms from standing and from the ground, various throwing and take down techniques. There is sparring in Manabi-Masho, with and without resisting attackers. The student's rank and skill level will determine how intense the sparring will be. When using more intense techniques and weapon techniques the sparring will be slowed and controlled to avoid injury to the student and their training partner. Our students have the option to skip the sparring if they're not comfortable with it.

Manabi-Masho is not a sport martial art. It's a realistic self defense art. However, many of the techniques can be use in sport if modified. It's important to learn all aspects of self defense whether it's on the ground or standing.

As Grandmaster Casarez says, "We don’t win trophies, we win lives!"  We teach realistic and practical life saving self-defense from a blend of real martial arts; most anyone, regardless of age or physical condition, can learn to defend themselves through Manabi-Masho Ju-Jitsu.  We offer a modified approach to those with limitations, so please contact us for more information.  If you choose to train in Manabi-Masho, you will notice improvements in coordination, more self-confidence, increased self discipline, a better physical fitness level and an increased endurance level.  We welcome you to come try a class for free with no obligations! We encourage potential students to get on the mat and try it out instead of sitting and watching from the side. Most potential students become actual students when they discover how easy and effective this martial art can be.

We appreciate your interest in our martial art system.  The Manabi-Masho style of Ju-Jitsu was created by Grandmaster John H. Casarez in 1968. It was internationally recognized by the WHFSC in 1993, Manabi-Masho Ju-Jitsu is currently taught in Ohio, North Carolina, Kentucky and West Virginia. Manabi-Masho Ju-Jitsu is as truly dynamic as is the founder, Grandmaster John H. Casarez. He has over 62 years in martial arts. He's a living legend that is admired and respected by all. Soke Casarez still teaches all classes at the Hombu (home) dojo in Chesapeake, Ohio. 

For training in Southern Ohio, please call Grandmaster Casarez at 740-867-8000.  He also offers private sessions and seminars, but due to his demanding schedule, you must book early!

For training in East Central North Carolina, please call Shihan Mark Murdock at 919-753-7964.  Shihan Mark Murdock also offers private sessions and seminars, at your location or at our dojo. 

The information below is a historical definition of where several martial art styles got their start. This includes the martial arts that form Manabi-Masho Ju-Jitsu. Manabi-Masho Ju-Jitsu is a non-traditional blend of the martial arts below.

Many students wonder what the difference is between Aikido, Ju-Jitsu (Jujutsu), Judo, and Aiki-Jujutsu. The short answer is that all of them are "grappling" martial arts, i.e., they all deal with grabs, locks, and throws, but each emphasizes a slight different aspect of grappling. The long answer is much more complicated.

Ju-Jutsu (also written Ju-Jitsu, or the more common modern name Jiu-Jitsu) refers to Japanese hand to hand methods that existed hundreds of years ago. In samurai times, the techniques of Jujutsu were used to grapple with an opponent (either with armor or without) after the warriors got too close together to use their weapons. There were many ancient family systems of jujutsu that included strikes, joint locks, throws, pins, and various armed techniques. Some systems have become extinct, but others are still practiced today, such as Hozoin Ryu, Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage Ryu, Kyoshin Meishi Ryu, and Ono Ha Itto Ryu. A well known modern descendant of Japanese Ju-Jutsu is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Their focus is mainly ground grappling and sport mixed martial arts fighting.

Aiki-Jujutsu refers to a form of Jujutsu that emphasizes timing and strategic use of angles and circles to neutralize an attack, and control the attacker. Its movements are somewhat more circular than many of those found in the older Jujutsu systems, but still include strikes, joint locks, throws, and pins. The man credited with establishing aiki-jujutsu was Takeda Sokaku, who lived from 1849 until 1943. He had a reputation as a fierce fighter, but continues to be one of the most important figures in early 20th Century martial arts development.

Aikido is a more modern offspring of Jujutsu, created by a student of Takeda Sokaku named Ueshiba Morihei. Aikido emphasizes harmonizing with an opponent's attacking energy, using circular stepping and timing to apply the attacker's momentum in such a way as to overcome him or her. Aikido practitioners work hard to maintain a calm spirit and to cultivate a loving mindset. Current major schools of Aikido include Aikikai, Hombu Aikido, and Yoshinkan Aikido.

Judo is a subset of Jujutsu techniques selected and refined by Kano Jigoro. Originally developed as a form of physical education, Judo has become one of the most popular sports in the world. In Judo, players grasp each other's uniforms and attempt to apply throws and takedowns. A full point throw wins a match. Judo concentrates on full body throws (in which the training partner falls on his back), and pins. It is one of the most physically demanding martial arts, and is very popular with children.

Karate is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called te, and Chinese kenpo. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes are taught in some styles. Karate was developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom prior to its 19th-century annexation by Japan. It was brought to the Japanese mainland in the early 20th century during a time of cultural exchanges between the Japanese and the Ryukyuans.

In 1922 the Japanese Ministry of Education invited Gichin Funakoshi to Tokyo to give a Karate demonstration. in 1924 Keio University established the first Karate club. In this era of escalating Japanese militarism, the name was changed from Chinese and to empty hand, both of which are pronounced Karate, to indicate that the Japanese wished to develope the combat form in Japanese style. After the Second World War, Okinawa became an important United States military site and Karate became popular among servicemen stationed there.

The martial art movies of the 1960's and 1970's served to greatly increase it's popularity and the work Karate began to be used in a generic way to refer to all striking-based Oriental martial arts. Karate schools began appearing across the world, catering to those with casual interest as well as those seeking a deeper study of the art.

Eskrima, Arnis and Kali refer to a class of Filipino martial arts that emphasize weapon-based fighting with sticks, blades and improvised weapons. Although training starts with weapons, empty hand techniques, trapping and limb destruction are core parts of these arts as the weapon is considered merely an extension of the body. Eskrima and Arnis are the most common among the many names often used in the Philippines today to refer to these arts.

The teaching of the basic skills in Eskrima are traditionally simplified. With limited time to teach intricate moves, only techniques that were proven effective in battle and could easily be taught en masse were used. This allowed villagers, generally not professional soldiers, a measure of protection against other villages, as well as foreign invaders. This philosophy of simplicity is still used today and is the underlying base of Eskrima. Because of this approach, Eskrima and the Filipino martial arts in general are often mistakenly considered to be "simple". However, this refers only to its systematization, not effectiveness. To the contrary, beyond the basic skills lies a very complex structure and a refined skillset that takes years to master.

Ninjutsu was developed by groups of people mainly from the Iga Province and Koka, Shiga of Japan. Throughout history the shinobi have been seen as assassins for hire, and have been associated in the public imagination with other activities which are considered criminal by modern standards. Although thought to have come from Chinese expatriates Ninjutsu is believed by its adherents to be of Japanese origin. It is believed to be strongly influenced by the strategic principles of Sun Tzu. Throughout history many different schools (or ryu) were developed which taught their unique version of Ninjutsu. An example of these is the Togakure-ryu. This ryu was developed after a defeated samurai warrior called Daisuke Togakure escaped to the region of Iga. Later he came in contact with the warrior-monk Kain Doshi who taught him a new way of viewing life and the means of survival (Ninjutsu).

Ninjutsu was developed as a collection of fundamental survivalist techniques in the warring state of feudal Japan. The ninja clans used their art to ensure their survival in a time of violent political turmoil. It also included methods of gathering information, non-detection, avoidance, and misdirection techniques. Ninjutsu can also involve training in disguise, escape, concealment, archery, medicine, explosives, and poisons.

Skills relating to espionage and assassination were highly useful to warring factions in feudal Japan. However, because these activities were seen as dishonorable, Japanese warriors hired people who existed below Japan's social classes, literally called "non-humans", to perform these tasks. At some point, the skills of espionage became known collectively as ninjutsu, and the people who specialized in these tasks were called shinibi no mono, and later, ninja.

Ultimately, the skills of Ninjutsu were so essential to conducting warfare that some samurai began to practice their techniques, as well incorporating ninjutsu into their formal schools of martial arts (ryu).

To avoid misunderstandings, "ninjutsu" should just refer to a specific branch of Japanese martial arts, unless it is being used in a historical sense.

Ninjutsu: 18 Schools

According to Masaaki Hatsumi and other Bujinkan Shihan, the eighteen disciplines (juhakkei < juhachi-kei) were first stated in the scrolls of Togakure-ryu and they became definitive for all ninjutsu schools, providing a complete training of the warrior in various fighting arts and complementary disciplines.

Ninja juhakkei was often studied along with Bugei Juhappan (the "18 samurai fighting art skills"). Though some of them are the same, the techniques of each discipline were used with different approaches by both samurai and ninja.

The 18 disciplines are:

1. Seishin-teki kyoyo (spiritual refinement)

2. Taijutsu (unarmed combat, using one's body as the only weapon)

3. Kenjutsu (sword fighting)

4. Bojutsu (stick and staff fighting)

5. Shurikenjutsu (throwing shuriken)

6. Sojutsu (spear fighting)

7. Naginatajutsu (naginata fighting)

8. Kusarigamajutsu (kusarigama fighting)

9. Kayakujutsu (pyrotechnics and explosives)

10. Hensojutsu (disguise and impersonation)

11. Shinobi-iri (stealth and entering methods)

12. Bajutsu (horsemanship)

13. Sui-ren (water training)

14. Boryaku (military strategy)

15. Choho (espionage)

16. Intonjutsu (escaping and concealment)

17. Tenmon (meteorology)

18. Chi-mon (geography)

**Today the main focus of modern Ninjutsu deals with the techniques relevant to armed and unarmed combat.

Manabi-Masho Ju-Jitsu is a reality self defense mixed martial art that has it's roots in Ju-Jitsu with several other martial art styles (mentioned above) blended in. This makes for a very effective and superior martial art system.