The Story of Jin Shin Jyutsu

Jiro Murai, the discoverer of Jin Shin Jyutsu was born in Kaga City, Japan in 1886. He was born into a very well educated family of doctors and medical professionals. Murai was an avid reader and he absorbed information exceptionally well. Jiro’s father and elder brother were physicians, Jiro decided to take another path in his life and he received a degree in silk production through the rearing of silkworms.

In his youth, Jiro enjoyed a reckless party lifestyle. One example of this, was that he would enter into many dumpling eating contests. Owing to this excessive eating, at the age of 26 he was diagnosed with a serious illness to do with his digestive system. His condition became terminal. Murai resigned himself to death and was by choice, carried up a mountain where he stayed in his family’s cabin. There Jiro went through a series of practices including zen meditation, finger mudras and days of fasting. His aim was to harmonise his breath whilst holding specific points on his body to ease his discomforts.He recorded in his journal, a pulsating stream of fire through his body and after that all his ailments subsided. He was able to walk down the mountain and thus devoted his life to years of study in order to understand how he had been cured. He documented his experience through journal entries and illustrations, dedicating his research for the good of all humanity and this can be seen at the Imperial Shinto Shrine in Japan. He tracked the patterns and pathways of energy and fluids through the body. His detailed illustrations and documents fall part of the learning material in JSJ textbooks today. Through his knowledge of science, intimate understanding of anatomy and extensive practical experience on people and animals- Jiro had this profound ability to heal. He had discovered the early form of what Jin Shin Jyutsu is today. Jiro helped people from the homeless to the royal society and the Imperial families in Japan.

34 years after his initial discovery in 1912, Jiro began to teach others and to pass on the knowledge and methods of Jin Shin Jyutsu. He standardised his information into basic principles for the purposes of learning. With the intention to pass Jin Shin Jyutsu onto the rest of the world, Jiro Murai passed ‘the baton’ to a woman called Mary Burmeister. She was an American translator who complied Jiro’s teachings into a package ready for the ‘western world’. Mary met Jiro in 1940. In 1960 Jiro Murai passed away. Mary went on in America to teach Jin Shin Jyutsu and to treat people. Word soon spread about this Japanese woman with healing hands in Los Angeles and pretty soon Mary was working day and night. In 1965 Mary began teaching Jin Shin Jyutsu. She believed in peoples’ own inner ability to help themselves through harmonising techniques and their breath. Mary taught for many years and had a hand in creating many JSJ instructors and teaching material. Sadly Mary died in 2008 from an abrupt fall and this ended her teaching career and her life. Back in Japan; Haruki Kato, also one of Jiro Murai’s prodigies was named Jiro’s direct successor. One generation later his son, Sadaki Kato continues to share Jin Shin Jyutsu locally and internationally today. Information about his course offerings can be accessed online. 

In its simplicity, the essence of Jin Shin Jyutsu is about ‘being in the moment’. We sit quietly and listen. Using our breath together with our natural ability to help ourselves. We use our breathing, we use our hands and our innate life energy that we all possess.Jin Shin Jyutsu was intended by Jiro Murai to be a ‘gift’ to the world and it truly is.