Michinoku refers to Japan’s medieval period name for Fukushima Prefecture. Fukushima was a feifdom far north of the main political struggles that shaped Japan and was considered as a seperate kindom. It is also the birthplace of the Shorinjin Ryu Saito Ninpo, Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu and many others. Michinoku Ryu Bugei is a way of paying hommage to these arts and is a cullumnation of the over 30 years of martial arts research, training and experience of McGovern Sensei. This is not a creation of a new system since all arts taught give full credit to their originators and McGovern Sensei takes no credit for their creation. It is merely a method of presenting the arts taught at Tenkobushi Budokan under one name. Sensei is not “Soke”or a “Founder” nor does he claim the title of “Master”. In fact he adopts the same view of his long time teacher and friend Segung A. Flane Walker in that he will be a Master 1 minute after his death.
The arts taught in Michinoku Ryu Bugiei nclude: Saito Ninpo, the foundation of Tenkobushi Budokan’s teaching. Aiki Okami Jujutsu, Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu, and Kenjutsu/Iaido/Battojutsu, traditional Japanese swordsmanship heavily influenced by Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, Eishin Ryu, Toyoma Ryu and soon to present a very rare and seldom seen Okinawan form of Batto-do, Toono Jigen Ryu (Toono was an Okinawan Karate Master and a Master of the Sword). Additionally several Chinese arts are taught.