Spartaco Bertoletti 1941 -
“Italian Journalist and Passionate Martial Artist”
Spartaco Bertoletti is a martial artist practitioner in jujitsu, who trained in Japan in the traditional Yoshin Ryu style. He is International President of the World Ju Jitsu Federation (WJJF-WJJKO) and is based as the general secretariat, in Milan, Italy.
He began martial arts training at the age of 12, with Graeco-Roman wrestling and fencing (foil), and later with judo and kendo. In 1960 he practiced karate Shokukai, Sankudo and Sankukai with Master Jean Michael Baroche, one of the first black belt students of Master Yoshinao Nanbu. He practiced Shotokan in the school of Master Hiroshi Shirai (yudanshakai) and Masaru Miura, and Shito Ryu with So Shihan Ogasahara Eiji (Kenshukai).
In 1976, with the founding and leadership of the World Ju Jitsu Federation, he started his long trips in Japan along with Soke Robert Clark. He joined the school Hontai of Saburo Masanori Minaki, 17th Patriarch, thanks to the
presentation of So Shihan Eiji Ogasahara, where he remained until Soke Minaki’s death in 1986. In 1997 he received 8th dan by Soke/Sosai Kunio Tatsuno of the Sheshinkai of Osaka. In 2004 Paul Hoglund, President, International Ju Jitsu Federation, awarded him the 9th dan. His career culminated in Venice on April 2005, in the granting of 5th Shike title of the school Koden Enshinryu Honmon Enshinryu-Bujutsu, an honorary and dynastic title that only a few western persons have attained.
presentation of So Shihan Eiji Ogasahara, where he remained until Soke Minaki’s death in 1986. In 1997 he received 8th dan by Soke/Sosai Kunio Tatsuno of the Sheshinkai of Osaka. In 2004 Paul Hoglund, President, International Ju Jitsu Federation, awarded him the 9th dan. His career culminated in Venice on April 2005, in the granting of 5th Shike title of the school Koden Enshinryu Honmon Enshinryu-Bujutsu, an honorary and dynastic title that only a few western persons have attained.
Honai Yoshin-ryu is a traditional (koryu) school of Japanese martial arts founded by Takagi Shigetoshi. The present headmaster (soke) is Inoue Kyoichi Munenori who succeeded his father Inoue Tsuyoshi Munetoshi. The handover occurred on 16 January 2005. The system teaches unarmed grappling arts and various weapons arts including jujutsu, bojutsu, hanbojutsu, iaijutsu, and kenjutsu. Although there are a limited number of official Hontai Yoshih-ryu schools around the world, many westerners have benefited from study at the headquarters in Japan, and the influence on the development of modern jujutsu is significant. The Hontai stays true to its values and traditions and does not advocate commercialization.
Bertoletti’s legacy lies in the respectful relationship he has maintained with Japanese jujitsu masters, in the founding and worldwide development of the World Ju Jitsu Federation (WJJF), and in the thousands of students actively involved in learning and networking.
But the biggest contribution he has made to martial arts in all of Europe and especially in Italy is his magazine which is one of the first in all of Europe Samurai Sportifio which caters to all martial arts not just karate or Ju Jitsu.
