Shinken-Ryu AikiBudo 真剣流合氣武道

The name “Shin-Ken” 真剣 literally means “real sword” the kanji “Shin” means “true, genuine”. In modern Japanese, the term “Shin-ken” means “seriousness”. Although the system is not a new style of Aikido or Aiki-jujutsu, that term was used to define the system due to the Aikido’s Founder statement that Aikido supposed to be “Shinken Shobu” 真剣勝負 or “serious game, fighting with real swords, game played in real earnest of a ‘life or death’ outcome”. 

The Shinken-Ryu Aikibudo is a holistic-esoteric system that comprises various elements of Japanese culture, including the principles of Bushido (the way of the warrior), Shinto, Zen and other forms of  Buddhism, and traditional Japanese arts such as tea ceremony (chado), calligraphy (shodo), etc.

On the martial side, the Shinken-Ryu has modernized the self defense studying all kinds of different attacks, including the ones seen in the Mixed Martial Arts.  Regardless of the fact that the physical practice aims for an effective self-defense, the Shinken-Ryu preserves the Japanese culture in all its traditional aspects as well as the philosophical, mystical, and esoteric teachings.  This holistic approach ensures that practitioners develop not only physical prowess but also mental clarity, emotional resilience, and spiritual depth.  One of the most distinctive features of the Shinken-ryu is its integration with various aspects of Japanese culture and arts. Training sessions often include elements of traditional Japanese practices, teaching patience, mindfulness,  fostering concentration and artistic expression. This cultural immersion enriches the training experience, providing a deeper understanding of the values that define Japanese heritage transcending the boundaries of traditional martial arts, offering practitioners a unique path to self-discovery and mastery.  

It was founded by the Shihan HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII (nee. “Ahnume Guerios” the Portuguese transliteration of “Al-Numan Gharios”) internationally recognized as the heir of the Ghassanid Dynasty, one of the oldest and most powerful Imperial and Royal Arab Dynasties in history. The prince started in martial arts (Judo) in 1979 at only 5 years old, initially forced by his father. After that, fell in love with the Asian culture and all its aspects. He also studied Kung Fu, several styles of Karate, European fencing, Japanese swordsmanship, Jiu-Jitsu, Kali Silat, Kobudo, and his passion, the Aikido/Aikibudo. 

Started Aikido in 1986 (Shin Shin Toitsu/Ki Society) changed to Aikikai in 1989 and became an instructor for beginners in 1991. Got his first black belt in 1992 being registered in Japan in 1993. In the same year founded the “Bushido Budo Kai” (after 2002 “Shinken Institute”), operating schools of Aikido and Japanese Culture in five cities in Brazil.

One of the masters who most influenced him was Steven Seagal being Seagal's direct disciple, business associate, and personal friend for 5 years (1997-2002). Steven Seagal, well-known star of Hollywood is also a master of various martial arts styles and 7th. degree black belt in Aikido, and was (before the fame) the first Westerner to own and operate a school on Japanese soil. Gharios was the only teacher in South America to have such a relationship directly with Seagal. Even before meeting Seagal personally, Gharios standardized his schools with the "Tenshin Bugei Gakuen", Seagal's school through his "Dai Sempai" (main senior student)  Sensei Haruo Matsuoka hosting him to his very first seminar in the southern hemisphere in Brazil in 1997. After leaving personally Seagal in 2002, continued under another Seagal's senior student, Larry Reynosa until 2003. 

From 2003 until 2017 was a direct student of Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei 8o.Dan (1938-2023),  one of the direct disciples of the founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969). Gharios was a pioneer, being personally responsible for the promotion of Aikido (Aikikai) in Curitiba (Parana, Brazil) from 1991 until 2010. Is responsible for forming dozens of black-belt instructors that are active today all over Brazil. Even following politically Yamada Sensei, since he left Seagal in 2002, the prince started teaching what would become known as “Shinken-Ryu Aikibudo”, a perspective of Seagal’s Aikido combined with more effective combat skills, a style closer to the original Aikido taught by O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba before the WWII and the Daito-Ryu Aikijujustu created by HIH Prince Yoshimitsu Minamoto (a.k.a. Shinra Saburo 1045-1127) and disseminated by the Takeda family, becoming notorious by the grandmaster Sokaku Takeda (1859-1943) however, updated for the 21st century.