Biography

Sylvain Guintard has practised martial arts for 27 years, and 12 of those while living in Japan as a permanent resident (1989 to 2001). He began when he was young, studying the kung-fu of Long-chuan, Tang-lang, Pagua, with asian masters Hoang-Nam, Willy Pham Loï, & Yuen Man Chen. At 20 years old, he became the student of Michel Coquet, a teacher of the Japanese sword from the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu and studied with him for 2 years. He began to go to Japan to study Taijutsu under the guidance of Masaaki Hatsumi. In 1989, with the rank of Hachi Dan (8th Degree Black Belt), he took his independence from Hatsumi’s organisation and left the Bujinkan Dojo. He went to live in Japan and stayed for 12 years.

In Japan, he studied the art of the short chain under Master Yumio Nawa : Masaki Ryu Manriki-Gusari Jutsu. With other Japanese budo masters, Sylvain (who became a yamabushi priest of the Shogoin Temple) studied the Kempô of the Namban Satto school until attaining the grade of Go Dan (5th Degree Black Belt), the highest possible in that system (Godan Gokui menkyo kaiden). He also studied the sword of the Yagyu Shinkagé Mitsutoshi Sengen ha and many other old and modern Japanese budo schools. Sylvain Guintard, with his extensive contacts in Japan, works writing many reports for the French budo magazine: Karate-bushido revue.

As of today Sylvain (Kuban) holds the following ranks :

• Hachi Dan (8th Black Belt) : Ninpo-Taijutsu
• Go Dan (5th Black Belt) Gokui menkyo kaiden : Namban Satto Ryu Kempô
• Certified Teacher Level : Manriki-Gusarijutsu (weight & chain), Shuriken (throwing blade), Kenjutsu (Japanese Sword) and many other types of Japanese Budo.
• Chief-Director for Europe of Byakuren Karate-Kempo under Founder / Master Masayasu Sugihara since May 2003.
• 4th dan in karate by the ministry of sport of France by the French Federation of Karate and Disciplines Affiliated (FFKDA)

Sylvain wants to promote budo as a part of a complete enlightenment system : “Bunppu-ittai”, Budo and Arts are one body!

During his 12 years of training in Japan, Sylvain Guintard received from his budo-masters, the budo-name of “Hyakkimaru Genrô” (Fire Wolf in English). The transcription of these 2 words are: Genrô (Magic Wolf) and Hyakkimaru (the one who was made by a hundred demons). Sylvain Guintard respects very much the ultimate fighting of the free-fighters of Pancrase, Shooto and mixed martial arts styles. In 2001, Sylvain had a very serious brain injury & now little by little he is rebuilding himself while writing many books on Japanese martial arts…