Only in Gion

Shoji Takagi’s Judo Therapy-based Tengu-Dou

Deep Healing and Stretch Massage

 

The scratch spin which the ice skater performs with their arms above their head turning continuously and fast about a vertical axis and the pirouette of the ballerina are examples of movement requiring exceptional talent. Also exceptional are the talents of the practitioners of Martial Arts who in ways that may not be quite so obvious, but profoundly effective, are able to repel an attacker. In Japan the prominent Martial Art is Judo and one may not know that as well as the exponents who are named judoka there are equally talented Judo therapists, sometimes referred to as Judo doctors, who are named judi-sefuku-shi. The judi-sefuku-shi have the same wisdom and understanding of the body as the judoka, however rather than competing their interest is focussed on healing injuries suffered by the judoka, or indeed anyone else. Shoji Takagi is a Judo therapist working in the beautiful cultural milieux of Gion, one of the so-called Flower Towns of Kyoto, Japan, and the motivation for this article is to share with others the value I have found in experiencing so-called Tengu-Dou, the Deep Healing and Stretch Massage that Shoji has developed.

 

     Along with Shiatsu acupressure massage, Acupuncture (including moxibustion) and Kampo (traditional herbal medicine), Judo therapy is one of the four main Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies that are potentially reimbursable for insurance claims within the health care system in Japan. In general, patients and clients in Japan prefer to receive CAM treatments within a hospital or clinical setting and so it is particularly fortunate for the visitor to Japan that Shoji has his practice centrally located in the tourist hotspot of Gion.

 

     I first met Shoji when I opened the door to his compact homely studio which I had discovered serendipitously, in an alley containing small shops and cafes a short step from the main road in Gion, whilst taking a walk one evening while on sabbatical leave from the University of Edinburgh at nearby Shiga University of Medical Science (SUMS). The client Shoji was treating, and who I would find out in due course had changed into comfortable loose fitting shorts and top that are provided, was lying supine and with a small towel covering his face and Shoji was crouched and attending to his head and neck (more later). Shoji simply said to me “fully booked today, tomorrow ok” and although my interest was piqued I was not sure I would come back, since rarely have I found it something I enjoy when at the end of a Traditional Thai Massage (TTM) attention is turned to the head or at the end of an oil massage perhaps turned to the face and neck. Fortunately, I did so, and when I could appreciate more fully the pleasant ambience of Shoji’s studio comprising a comfortable massage table, screened by a curtain and poster of a surfer riding a wave in Hawai’i. Having arranged a treatment and lying prone ready to receive the treatment I started to hear the music that was being played at a low level, and which contained rhythms and melodies that I would later find to be especially conducive to promoting peace and acceptance as the treatment unfolded.  

 

     Tengdu-Dou is offered in courses which last either 1, 2 or 3 hours, and begins in prone lying and proceeds through left-sided lying, followed by right-sided lying to supine lying and is characterised throughout by gentle focussed pleasant and interesting pressing, stretching and guided movements of the limbs and of the body. Except for the hands and feet contact with the body occurs through the clothing and over which a light towel is usually draped, and paradoxically because the touch is inherently deeper may feel to be even more direct than if it were with the skin.

 

     Readers may be familiar with Awareness Through Movement and Functional Integration developed by Moshe Feldenkrais and which also have their foundation and inspiration in Judo, and which alongside, for example, Rolfing and Alexander Technique are major practices that arose in the human potential movement of the twentieth century. It would be interesting to travel back in time to the 1960s and to witness Moshe or Ida Rolf giving demonstrations and training courses in their work at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, USA or to the 1930s and witness Frederick Mathias Alexander working with pupils and those he trained as teachers at Ashley Place, London, UK. I suggest that the work that Shoji Takagi is doing in Gion, Kyoto today, with foundations in Judo and other influences that are especially unique to Japan, is equally inspirational to witness, and more importantly to take the opportunity to experience.

 

     Shoji has named the massage that he has developed Tengu-Dou (meaning literally “the way of the Tengu”, where Tengu are supernatural beings who are protectors of nature and teachers of Martial Arts) and which for clients coming from overseas he translates as “Deep Healing Stretch Massage”. Having been developed in Japan, as might be expected Tengu-Dou has some overlap with Shiatsu and Anma Massage, and some similarities to TTM and Rolfing, although only tangentially with Swedish Massage or Aromatherapy. More particularly, of the basic massage techniques such as kneading (i.e. petrissage), rubbing and gliding to produce heat (i.e. friction), stroking (i.e. effleurage) and tapping (i.e. tapotement), only the first of these bears some relevance to Deep Healing and Stretch Massage, however it is performed in a manner which is much more akin to making contact with muscle and connective tissue at increasing depth beneath the skin rather than in making an intervention such as in Trigger Point massage or Deep Tissue massage.

 

     I have personally now received over 20 sessions of Tengu-Dou, and especially notable in my own experience are the following. Firstly, a pleasurable release, fuller breath and lengthening of the neck, back and leg muscles that occurs during towing-like extension of the limbs facilitated by prior preparatory positioning. Secondly, circular and flexion/extension type movements of the digits and limbs to explore the range of motion of joints, with use of points of fixation around the joint as pivots being especially characteristic. Thirdly, and this step is generally only included in the 3 hour course, is a period of about 30 minutes when elements of the above are combined and used with an exquisite knowledge of local anatomy to reduce tension and increase freedom in the head, neck and shoulders. The description of Tengu-Dou as being “Deep” takes on especially greater meaning at this point. In particular, enhancement of the flow of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), is now added to the prior release of muscles, potential easing of restrictions from scarring of the fascia and greater range of motion of joints and increased flexibility of the spine.

 

     Although there will likely be considerable variation between individuals, perhaps it is reasonable to suggest that 5 to 10 sessions of Tengu-Dou will lead to removal of longstanding pain and restrictions brought about by musculoskeletal injuries that may have occurred throughout life and which have been sustained and reinforced by unhelpful movement habits and slouching as a way of seemingly finding repose. Then, in the next 10 to 20 sessions the emphasis will likely be felt to shift from exploring the removal of restrictions to discovering enhanced flexibility, and which will ensure that benefits accrue and are sustained. Subsequently, regular but less frequent maintenance sessions will likely always bring new discoveries and be appreciated.

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     Interestingly, at the point where I was beginning to feel a new flexibility, I was fortunate to attend a performance of music and dance given once a year by the Geisha of Gion at the Kamishichiken Kaburenjo Theatre. I found the performance of a pas de deux particularly outstanding and moving. In particular, I was struck by the difference between the male and female roles of classical ballet, respectively involving, lifting by the male and portrayal of feelings by the female and corresponding interchanges of leading and following that had an equally beautiful aesthetic and story-telling charisma. I share this experience because perhaps the difference between lifting/portrayal and leading/following is akin to the difference between conventional massage/bodywork with a focus on doing and Tengu-Dou which has a focus on facilitating and allowing.

 

     Shoji offers a non-talkative, non-judgemental, assuring and reassuring presence and mostly speaks simply and directly through his thinking and healing hands. It is of course a secret whether his work plays any part in supporting the Geisha of the surrounding community to maintain their, so-called, flower and willow elegance. Whether or not this is the case the spirit of Tengu-Dou feels to be rooted in Gion and entirely in harmony with the grace of the strength and delicacy that the Geisha embody.

 

 

Neil Roberts

Professor of Medical Physics, University of Edinburgh,

United Kingdom

and Alexander Technique Teacher

 

Visiting Professor, Shiga University of Medical Science

(SUMS), Otsu, Japan

 

18 June 2025