My Journey with Pekindo Asano-Style Acupuncture — Why I Chose the Path of Deep Muscle Needling
Over 18 years and approximately 35,000 treatment sessions.
At the foundation of every single one of them is a lineage called Pekindo Asano-style acupuncture.
I want to write about why this technique and philosophy captivated me — and what Pekindo Asano-style acupuncture actually is. If you’re a fellow acupuncturist or hands-on practitioner, this is written especially for you.
What Is Pekindo Asano-Style Acupuncture?
Pekindo is a lineage that brought acupuncture developed in Beijing, China to Japan and evolved it into a distinct clinical methodology.
Within this tradition, the Asano style — systematized by Sensei Shu Asano — is defined above all by an uncompromising commitment to going deep.
Where conventional acupuncture typically targets superficial layers — the skin and surface muscles — Pekindo Asano-style uses longer, thicker needles to reach the deep muscle layers: the psoas major, piriformis, multifidus, iliacus — muscles that hands simply cannot touch.
This direct stimulation of the deep musculature is what produces the kind of clinical results that other approaches cannot reliably replicate.
Meeting Sensei Asano
My encounter with this technique was one of the most significant turning points in my career.
The first time I witnessed Sensei Shu Asano work, I was confronted with a gap I couldn’t ignore — between what I had been doing, and what acupuncture could actually do.
The response of the patient when the needle reached deep muscle. The visible, immediate change in the body. “Is this really possible with acupuncture?” — that shock is something I still carry with me clearly.
From that moment, my direction as a practitioner was set without question.
“I want to bring needles that actually reach deep muscle to more people.”
Why Deep Muscle? — The Clinical Case
Sciatica. Chronic low back pain. Frozen shoulder. Tension headaches. Thoracic outlet syndrome.
What all of these conditions share is this: the root cause lies deep.
Sciatica, for example, is very often caused by the piriformis or psoas compressing or pulling on the sciatic nerve. These muscles sit far beneath the surface — beyond the reach of massage or shallow needling.
That’s precisely why directly accessing those muscles with long, thick needles is the fastest path to resolution.
“Why hasn’t this gotten better?” — in most cases, the answer is simple: the cause was never actually being reached.
Needling Deep Muscle — Safely
When people hear “needling deep,” the immediate question is often: “Isn’t that dangerous?”
It’s a fair question — and one I take seriously.
The deep muscle layers are surrounded by critical structures. The lumbar plexus runs near the psoas major. The sciatic nerve passes beneath the piriformis. The iliac vessels travel alongside the iliacus. Reaching these muscles effectively — without compromising these structures — demands a thorough command of anatomy and the clinical skill to apply it precisely, every single time.
Over 16 years of practice, I have developed a systematic method for needling deep muscle safely.
This involves calculating the depth and angle of insertion based on anatomical landmarks, then adjusting for each patient’s individual build, muscle tension, and body composition. Beyond calculation, there is feel — the ability to read the tissue through the needle as it travels through each layer. That sensitivity is not learned from textbooks. It comes from thousands upon thousands of treatments.
Chasing results and prioritizing safety are not in conflict. In fact, I believe that sustained results are only possible when safety is the foundation.
More than 35,000 sessions. That track record is not just a measure of experience — it is evidence that this approach, done correctly, is both effective and safe.
My Clinic — From Shuri, Okinawa
I currently operate Pekindo Acupuncture Shuri Iju Clinic in Shuri, Naha City, Okinawa, Japan.
With 16 years of clinical experience and approximately 35,000 sessions, I treat a wide range of conditions — from acute injuries to chronic and neurological presentations.
For acute conditions like sudden-onset back pain or wry neck, dramatic improvement on the day of the first visit is not uncommon. For chronic and difficult cases — persistent sciatica, frozen shoulder, nerve symptoms that haven’t responded elsewhere — deep muscle acupuncture consistently delivers results where other treatments have stalled.
My Goal: Spreading Deep Muscle Acupuncture
As a practitioner, I carry one clear vision:
“A world where every city has at least one acupuncturist skilled in deep muscle needling.”
This technique is learnable. It is reproducible. Which means it shouldn’t stay locked inside any one clinic or practitioner — it needs to be taught, shared, and built upon.
That’s why I’m investing in training the next generation of practitioners, and actively planning seminars and educational programs, both domestically and internationally.
A Message to Practitioners Abroad
Through a patient connection, I’ve recently developed a growing interest in building bridges with the practitioner community in San Francisco and beyond.
Pekindo Asano-style deep muscle acupuncture is not yet widely known outside Japan — but I am convinced that its effectiveness and reproducibility translate anywhere in the world.
If you’re an acupuncturist or therapist who is curious about this approach, I would genuinely love to hear from you.
I’m looking forward to building something — a seminar, a workshop, a clinical exchange — together.
Kazushige Iju, L.Ac.
Pekindo Acupuncture Shuri Iju Clinic
Shuri, Naha City, Okinawa, Japan
[Website]：https://www.pekindou-syuri-iju.com/
[Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/pekindou_syuri/
[Instagram②]https://www.instagram.com/pekindo_shuri/
[Contact] kariyushic@gmail.com