Martial Arts

Odori means dance, and has two separate meaning in regard to the Orient. There are Odori which are part of ceremonial religious practices, especially of the animistic faiths of the Orient and in Japan connected to Shinto. There are some dances attached to Buddhist celebrations, such as the Obon festival, when the spirits of the deceased visits their family and friends. These dances have survived as ceremonial rites still associated with celebrations of many religious holidays.

Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei is a unique martial arts system, in that it recognizes the many influences which took place to create the unique Okinawan Bujutsu. There have been many influences upon the small island, beginning with whatever indigenous fighting style the original settles brought with them, to the twelfth century entry of Minamoto Bujutsu, to the fourteenth century Chinese systematic influences, to the seventeenth century entry of Jigen Ryu of the Satsuma clan, and ending with a renewed interest in Chinese boxing during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century.

Yamaoka Tesshu lived from 1836 until 1888 and was one of the most influential martial arts masters to help shape the future of Japan, as well as, prepare the martial arts for inclusion into modern society. Like many martial arts masters Tesshu wrote Doka, way poems, which comprised his philosophy about life and the martial arts. He was extremely talented, being a Zen artist, a statesman, a writer of poems, and practitioner of the martial arts.

When the great Kempo master from Okinawa, Choki Motobu, used to teach kicking to his students, he always stressed that it was necessary to snap the kick back faster that it was thrown out. This was a lesson that James Masayoshi Mitose passed on to his students as well. Unfortunately with the development of tournament Karate, kicks have been modified to be safe and effective for competitive play, which unfortunately has made them less than efficient for self defense.

James Masayoshi Mitose was the first person to teach Kempo in the territory of the United States. His training in Kempo combined the Mitose family art of Kosho Ryu Kempo Jujutsu which was very Japanese in orientation and included training in the Koga method of Ninjutsu. He also received training in Shorei Ryu Kempo Karate of Okinawa, it is believed from his maternal uncle, Choki Motobu.

In the Japanese martial arts terminology the term Kan is many times overlook by instructors of all types. Some say that the modern styles which have been created since the Meiji Restoration cannot possibly have developed this attribute due to the emphasis on competition. Yet this is an unfair assumption in that it is not so much the style that creates the concept of Kan, but rather the individual instructors personal knowledge and understanding of the concept.

The most famous story regarding the use of the weapon called the Jo, goes something like this, there once was a great master of the Bo who decided to challenge the great swordsmaster Miyamoto Musashi to a duel. This master, Gonnosuke Muso, had trained in Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu and Kashima Shin Ryu, and was involved in a Musha Shugyo, a warrior's journey of austere training. In this type of journey, a warrior would visit other martial arts schools, practicing their art and many times fighting challenge matches.

Without virtues there are no martial arts. This is one of the most important lessons that all martial arts instructors should teach their students. Being from a Kempo background it is easy to see the inherent truth in this statement, in that the very creation of Kempo stems from this idea. Looking at the beginning statement from a historical point of view gives it credence for the martial artists of the past and the present.

In the history of Japan there are many traditions. Prior to the development of Jujutsu as a separate art there were originally many variations of the empty hand arts in the country. It is said that the oldest primary fighting art was called Kumi Uchi, meaning grappling and striking. Once the Samurai took to wearing armor for protection against arms, the art developed into Yoroi Kumi Uchi, meaning armored grappling and striking.

How can I defend myself with the techniques I am learning? This is one of the most commonly asked questions by beginners in the martial arts. Even the most basic of martial arts begins with seven to ten techniques, some of the more complex ones can provide as many as fifteen or twenty techniques for a beginner to learn and perform on a test. When a beginner begins to prepare to take their test, the first thing they become aware of is how hard it is to remember their skills. This is especially true of those that teach actual self defense applications of their techniques.