The Satori Ryu Story

"Satori" - The Meaning

An opening of the mind and spirit resulting either from the accumulation of knowledge and its intuitive understanding or from a sudden experience which reveals the ultimate reality of beings and things, as well as their total identity with self and the universe.

One may experience numerous "Satori", as the state itself is not a definitive one but valid for one given time and circumstance. It is not an experience of ecstasy but a transformation of the very essence of thought.
The practice of any one of the forms of Budo should be able to bring about this transformation in those who follow their art sincerely. The experience of “Satori” is one of the major aims in Zen training, Za-Zen.

Satori Ryu

History is our roots, our foundations. My foundations began back in 1984 under an excellent Ju – jutsu Instructor by the name of Allan Clarkin. He gave me the firm foundation in the "Battle Field Art" of Ju – Jutsu. More importantly, he taught me "see yourself for who you are", "Improve your weaknesses and help others with your strengths", "With honour and for what is true".

As my life progressed and my hunger for martial arts knowledge increased, I studied many systems (Balintawak Escrima, Karate-do, Wing-chun, Hapkido, Aikido, Tai-chi, Judo, Western Boxing and Kick-Boxing) but I always studied and trained hard at Ju - jutsu which is my "first love". Using Ju – jutsu as a firm foundation to build on, has allowed me to be open minded and experience both pyhsical and spiritual aspects of all Martial Arts.

In the early 1990s I met Soke Martin Rogers who taught and studied Kenpo Ju – jutsu. It was then that my eyes were truly opened. After many years of training, I began to see how "deadly" Kenpo Ju – jutsu was (which included pressure point applications).

In 1997 I founded Satori Ryu Martial Arts, starting with just 2 students and over the years I have taught hundreds, ranging from children to adults and from beginner to Dan grades.

One should never think or speak badly of their Instructors, past or present, because if it was not for these people ,we would not be who we are today.

To master a technique, you must have what is commonly known as

"Attitude – No – Attitude"

That is to say, you must adapt from one technique to the next as a situation dictates, without thinking, so that your motion from the beginning of a fight to the end is one uninterrupted fluid motion, like the sea.

Yours In Budo
Shihan Steve Baker