Jissen Kobudō Jinenkan is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, study, and authentic transmission of Jissen Kobudō — the practical classical martial arts of Japan. It was founded in 1996 by retired Lieutenant Colonel Manaka Unsui, who established the organization to provide a serious and uncompromising path for the study of traditional battlefield arts as they were originally practiced and transmitted.
The name Jinenkan (自然舘), translated as “Hall of the Natural Way,” reflects a central principle of its training philosophy: movement and response should arise naturally, efficiently, and without artificial force. Training emphasizes refined body mechanics, timing, distance, structure, and strategic awareness rather than reliance on strength alone.
Jinenkan preserves and transmits multiple classical Japanese martial traditions (Ryū-ha), each maintaining its distinct technical structure and strategic identity. These traditions include:
- Jinen Ryū
- Kukishin Ryū
- Gyokko Ryū Kosshijutsu
- Koto Ryū Koppōjutsu
- Takagi Yōshin Ryū Jūtaijutsu
- Shinden Fudō Ryū
- Togakure Ryū Ninpō
Among these, Jinen Ryū holds a unique position within the organization. Created by Manaka Unsui, Jinen Ryū is a comprehensive weapons system designed to transmit the fundamental principles of classical Japanese martial movement through structured armed practice. Rooted in traditional methodology and informed by the founder’s extensive experience in historical lineages, Jinen Ryū provides an organized framework for studying weapon integration, distancing, timing, and body alignment.
The system includes training in multiple classical weapons such as sword (including single and dual sword methods), staff, short blade, chain weapons, iron fan, and other traditional implements. Through Jinen Ryū, practitioners develop a cohesive understanding of armed combative principles that reinforce and support the study of the older transmitted traditions.
In December 2025, Manaka Unsui formally retired and appointed Mario De Mol of Belgium as his successor. He now serves as the Kancho (Head of the Organization) of Jinenkan and Sōke of Jinen Ryū. With this transition, the Honbu Dōjō of Jinenkan was established in Belgium, marking a new chapter in the organization’s international development while maintaining continuity of its teachings and traditions.
Training within Jinenkan encompasses both unarmed disciplines (Taijutsu) and traditional weapons arts (Bukijutsu). Instruction follows a structured progression rooted in direct transmission, emphasizing fundamentals as the foundation for deeper understanding and long-term development.
Beyond physical technique, Jinenkan cultivates composure, discipline, adaptability, and integrity. Through consistent practice and dedicated study, practitioners pursue lifelong refinement in the spirit of Japan’s martial heritage. Today, there are multiple affiliated dōjō around the world where students can train and continue this tradition under authorized instruction.
Jinenkan Training Around the World 