Budokai South Defensive Arts Institute

Specialties

Budokai South is a martial arts school located in Aiken that offers unrivaled, traditionally-​styled, reality based self-​defense instruction. Our school offers instruction in the Japanese martial arts of Jujitsu and Aikijujitsu. With our class sizes being smaller, we are able to provide every student with more personalized instruction. The range and type of techniques includes comprehensive instruction in striking, throwing, joint-​manipulation, choking, and ground-​defense, all under the premise of real life self-​defense.

History

Established in 2005.

Budokai South has existed in the Aiken, SC area since the 90’s, changing venues until finally settling on the head instructors private property in 2005. The business has always been run by Sensei James Barry, with the help of his wife and other instructors throughout the years. The final move was a result of focusing on the education of the students instead of trying to pay for commercial property.

Meet the Business Owner

James B.

Business Owner

The chief instructor at Budokai South is Sensei Barry. Sensei Barry has trained under several prominent instructors, including Sensei Dan Ustie, Russ St Hilaire, and Donn Schucker, as well as many other instructors in various arts from his travels to different training camps and seminars over the years. Sensei Barry started his training in the mid 1980s in Kempo Karate, but when he needed to defend himself against an attack, he learned quickly he was not properly trained to handle self-​defense. After healing from his injuries he visited all of the martial arts schools, finding only one school that taught realistic self-​defense techniques: Aiki Budokai Aiki Jujitsu in Danbury, CT. Sensei Barry has been learning and teaching Jujitsu and Aiki Jujitsu ever since. Sensei Barry currently holds the ranks of Rokudan (6^th Degree Black Belt) in Aikijujitsu, and Yodan (4^th Degree Black Belt) in Judo.