Reddit reviews The Martial Apprentice: A Japanese Jujutsu Adventure

Last time I checked his autobiographical ebook on his early training is still free on amazon.

Here is the mobile version of your link

My pleasure. The True Believers was a great read, and I've recommended it to several people who were also involved in Seibukan Jujutsu. I've known Louis for some time and was actually there at the 25th anniversary celebration he discusses in the book.

There's no doubt that Seibukan Jujutsu founder Julio Toribio is a charismatic individual, and a masterful martial artist. I studied under him shortly after his break from Hakko Ryu Jujutsu, and founded the uchideshi program at the Hombu dojo in Monterey, California. I discuss this time in my first book, The Martial Apprentice:

https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Apprentice-Student-Japanese-Warriors-ebook/dp/B00BQNFKGE

Louis studied the art at a later timeframe, probably 2 generations of students later, and the art had gone through several changes. It was softer, the philosophy had expanded, there was new terminology, new katas, etc. Seibukan Jujutsu may not have the training method of BJJ, but it was closer to being a combat effective art because they encouraged strikes, unpredictable attacks, and improvisation. However, it gave ranks that did not always correlate to actual fighting skills, and I found this to be problematic, though this is hardly unique in the martial arts world.