The Enlightened Warrior School
Bushi Satori Ryu, meaning "Enlightened Warrior School," is a unique martial art founded by Professor Joseph J. Truncale, combining traditional combat techniques with modern, reality-based self-defense tactics. As a Gendai (modern) school of combat jujitsu, Bushi Satori Ryu draws from a wide variety of martial arts, including Karate, Judo, Jujitsu, Kenjutsu, and Kobudo, creating a comprehensive and practical system for both personal protection and street survival.
The art is built around the concept of the "Enlightened Warrior," emphasizing not only physical strength and technical skill but also mental clarity, discipline, and situational awareness. The system is heavily influenced by Professor Truncale’s extensive experience in law enforcement defensive tactics, as he was a pioneer in police defensive training in the United States. Bushi Satori Ryu is designed to address the practical needs of modern-day combat, focusing on real-world situations and offering effective, adaptable strategies for self-defense.
The curriculum of Bushi Satori Ryu is robust, with equal focus placed on both empty-hand and weapons training. The system includes a variety of traditional weapons such as the sword, knife, and staff, as well as more modern tools like the baton. Bushi Satori Ryu is also the foundation for Pro-Systems Combatives, which is the civilian self-defense arm of the system, and Pro-Systems Defensive Tactics, the law enforcement defensive tactics branch. These arms of the system reflect Professor Truncale’s expertise in police tactics and weapon retention, providing essential training for both civilians and law enforcement personnel.
Professor Joseph J. Truncale’s background in martial arts spans over 45 years. He began his journey in combat sports with wrestling and boxing at the Chicago Park District in 1956. In 1959, he joined the U.S. Navy, where his martial arts training began in earnest with Judo and Karate while stationed in Japan. His dedication to martial arts continued through his military service and beyond, training with some of the world’s leading martial artists and law enforcement instructors.
In addition to his martial arts expertise, Professor Truncale has earned Black Belts in Jujitsu (Kudan), Karate (Rokudan), Judo (Godan), and Kobudo (Sandan), and has become a renowned figure in the martial arts community. Truncale was a founding member of ASLET and ILEETA. He is the creator of The Monadnock Defensive Tactics System, the Monadnock Expandable Baton program and the Persuader Mini-Baton Course, all of which have been taught to thousands of students world wide. Truncale has published over 50 books and manuals and has written thousands of articles and essays on martial arts, defensive tactics, and police training. His dedication to teaching martial arts and his contributions to law enforcement training have made him a highly respected figure in both fields.
Bushi Satori Ryu represents a fusion of traditional Samurai arts with modern combat techniques, providing a holistic and practical system of self-defense that prepares practitioners to face real-world threats with confidence and wisdom. It is a martial art for the "Enlightened Warrior" — someone who seeks mastery not just over their body but also over their mind and spirit.
