COLM DREW


The journey towards Amatsu Therapy in the west began in 1969 when Dennis Bartram qualified in Swedish remedial Massage.

This introduction inspired further studies and in 1974 he studied sports massage and manipulative therapy and in 1984 qualified as an Osteopath.

Denis also studied in the U.S.A and U.K on advanced techniques of body alignment including; Chiropractic Research, Sacro Occiptial Technique, Applied Kinesiology, Touch for Health, Reflexology, Visceral Manipulation and Cranial Balancing.

The breakthrough for Amatsu in the west happened in 1986 when Dennis first discovered Dr Masaaki Hatsumi (Phd), who would become his future mentor. Dr Hatsumi is listed by the Japanese government as a national living treasure. He is the author of numerous books and is the 34th Grandmaster of ancient martial and medical systems.

He is now in his mid 80’s and still teaching to this day.



Hatsumi in his day job was a Sekkotsu Japanese Osteopath in which he used the principal of movement called ‘Taijutsu’. (Budo Taijutsu-Japanese martial art) Denis was intrigued because at this time he was a practicing Osteopath but wanted to move away from structural manipulation.​ Denis began to apply these body movement skills of the training to benefit his therapeutic work for several years and he asked Dr. Hatsumi for guidance. After watching Denis work in this way, Dr. Hatsumi broke with protocol, (which dates back to a 2000 year heritage of practice in Japan) and decided to take Denis and two other Westerners on as personal students, and in 1995 all three made history when they became the first westerners granted Menkyo Kaiden (full teaching rights) of these ancient healing arts and Natural Movement principles.



Over the last 30 years Denis has continued his research and his personal tuition from Dr Hatsumi, gaining depth, knowledge and certification on the ancient concepts of Traditional Japanese Medicine. He has underpinned this work in a modern western scientific framework, including the scientific work on Biotensegrity by Dr Stephen Levin (MD). Denis as created the safe and dynamic therapeutic approach that we know as Amatsu. Today Denis is the ATA’s Amatsu Therapy Association's principal researcher and teacher. He is a senior practitioner and advisor with the British Register of Complementary Practitioners (BRCP).

In 2000 Dennis was given a Bujinkan gold medal for his services to mankind and in 2003 Dr. Hatsumi presented Dennis with an honorary doctorate in traditional Japanese medicine.


Call: 087 2368114
Email: colm@bodyalignment.ie

Wharton House, No. 8 Catherine St. Waterford City





© 2023 Colm Drew
The Body Alignment Clinic
Waterford