The origins of Small Circle Jujitsu are based on the 2,000 year old classical jujitsu, but the revelation of the small circle emphasis dates back to approximately 1944. The founder, Professor Wally Jay, studied a style known as Kodenkan Jujitsu from Professor Henry S. Okazaki in Hawaii. Professor Okazaki had studied classical jujutsu styles of yoshin, kosagabe and iwaga, as well as studying Okinawan karate, Filipino knife fighting, Hawaiian lua, the art of throwing a Spanish dirk, boxing, wrestling and kung fu. Professor Okazaki was somewhat of a rebel, as he broke away from tradition on several occasions. He developed his own style of jujitsu called Kodenkan Jujitsu, as well as teaching non-Japanese, which was unheard of.