I recently heard of Nami ryu and just wanted to know how the style differs from other samurai jujutsu arts.

Nami Ryu is a recently created American art. Not a Samurai Art.
it may be effective self defense, as it is allegedly based on ancient Japanese arts.
The main differences would be that the Samurai Arts were proven on the battlefields and Nami Ryu is just out there for you to take on the word of the person selling it.

Nami ryu was created by a student of Don Angier's. Angier studied an art which is claimed to be the family art of the Yoshida family and was taught by Yoshida Kotaro. Whatever the history, Angier knows budo.

Check interviews with Williams or Angier on Aikido Journal.

Great question! Let's see what a Sesei and expert in this system has to say



Sensei James Williams stated the following in Aikido Journal "..Nami ryu is based on the Yoshida han Yanagi ryu, that is really the basis of it. It also has a strong influence from Kuroda Tetsuzan Sensei with whom I have been privileged to train with over the last five years or so. There are also influences that have come from Systema. Odd as it may seem at times, but because we're not technique driven-- we're principle driven--so Systema has much to offer. To find principles that are the same in an old classical Russian art as they are in ancient Samurai arts was a revelation to me a few years ago. And certainly has impacted me in the sense that Nami ryu is more fluid, more relaxed, more spontaneous, and more operating system driven and not as rigidly technique based as many other Japanese arts are. My personal feelings are that the Samurai arts were much more fluid and spontaneous when they were actually being used for combat. The current rigidity, in my opinion, has much to do with the change in attitude in regards to combat function and also the methods of transmission that are being used..."

I hope this helped. Also check out the links I included
Take care,
Devin Willis

Resources
Interview with James Williams - Part One by by Stanley Pranin- Aikido Journal

N A M I R Y U A I K I H E I H O

On the 2004 The Bugei Sword Discussion Forum Sensei James Williams talks more about his system;0)

To the best of my knowledge, James Williams is the only person teaching Nami Ryu Aiki Jujutsu and he isn't trying to "sell it" to anyone. Of course I haven't been to his dojo for 6 or 8 months and things may have changed. But I've never viewed Mr. Williams as trying to commercialize Nami Ryu.

Chris

For those who are sincerely interested in understanding Nami Ryu Aikijujutsu better, please come to the next Nami Ryu seminar in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania on Jan. 21st to 22nd (Sat & Sun).

http://www.yrjj.net/Jan06Seminar.html

Focus will be on the Aikijujutsu and Kenjutsu aspects of Nami Ryu.

Another Aikjujutsu seminar in Pennsylvania on Saturday and Sunday of April 8 - 9, 2006

http://www.yrjj.net/Apr06Seminar.htm

Location of the dojo is the same as where you send the application to.

Here is an article on the origins of Nami Ryu.
http://www.dojoofthefourwinds.com/origins.html