Category of Arts
Before an explanation is given as to what Shobudo is, an explanation must be given to those that are new to the martial arts community and want to learn one of the hundreds of styles available and the names associated with them. Choosing an art can be extremely confusing, but all can be broken down into three categories.
1. JUDO: Mainly a sport with emphasis placed on leverage locking, throwing and choking techniques in combination with one another. Striking, kicking and joint locking applications are prohibited! Although Judo is a derivative of Ju-Jutsu a combative/ and self-defense form is taught known as Goshin-Jutsu.
2. KARATE (family): I say family as there are many styles and forms, several
of which do not mention the title of Karate, but have three things in common
which put them into this second category. No matter what it's called, emphasis
is placed on blocking, striking and kicking … just the opposite from Judo!
Depending on their origin (Japan, Okinawa, Korea or China) some styles are very
strong, hard & keep their kicks low. Others utilize high jumping roundhouse
kicks while others are very free, flowing and lose. Today many circuit the sport
& competitions of the art while many still practice the self-defense aspect
of it. Whatever the medium or purpose, emphasis is placed on blocking, striking
& kicking in combination with each other. Most are not taught in great detail
the elements of Judo. The most popular known & taught system today is one
of several forms of TAE-KWON-DO from Korea. Although its not specifically called
Karate, it falls into the Karate category.
3. JUTSU (family): Again I say family, as there are as many styles and names
applied here as mentioned above. Most if not all Jutsu's originated in Japan.
Many in particular specialized in armed forms of combat, which included (Kyujutsu)
or Archery, (Sojutsu) Spearmanship, (Bajutsu) Horsemanship and (Bojutsu) art
of the Staff … just to mention a few. Of course the spear, sword and horse
has given way to modern warfare and are now obsolete, but many still practice
these once honored arts. Survived today as taught in the past are the un-armed
forms that defended themselves against those that were armed as mentioned above.
One of the oldest schools (Daito-Ryu) founded by Minamoto Yoshimitsu (1056-1127) passed down his art to the Takeda family in 1163. Since this time Daito-Ryu, now known as Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu has been in the Takeda family until the late Tokimune Takeda passed away on December the 2, 1993. Soke Takeda Tokimune was the son of the famed Takeda Sokaku (1859-1943). The prestigious past of which many modern Jutsu arts came from is now in the guided hands of Kondo Katsuyuki sensei. The modern derivative of Daito-Ryu and most popular known and practiced art is Aikido founded by Ueshiba Morihei (1883-1969). The term Jutsu refers to art or science and emphasis is placed on joint locking applications to the body taking advantage of weak areas at those points, which are painful and controlling! Along with this are strikes, takedowns, chokes and throws … kicking is not normally stressed like it is in Karate. Of course the three above category breakdowns as described are in simple terms, each involves many complexities and takes years to perfect!
Special Note: Controversy over the usage term of Ju-Jutsu vice Ju-Jitsu! Classical Japanese arts use the term Jutsu and modern terminology uses Jitsu, both of which use the same kanji figures as noted above. Classical practitioners have told me that if one who uses the term Jitsu, one must have learned from a non-Asian Soke or Master! If this is true, how does one explain the term as used in Dan Zan Ryu Ju-Jitsu founded by Henry S. Okazaki! Others of Asian decent also use the term Jitsu. Is one unable to break or dislocate a joint because the art is called Ju-Jitsu? … I think not! Most traditional, classic or old School (Ko-ryu) arts had to learn forms, kata's or techniques in a regimented order without deviations. As time passed so did the need for certain changes in applications. Adapting to newer and better strategies for today's society caused the change of classical art forms and I suppose this is where the term Jitsu arose. Overall, it's really a case in semantics!
Today many arts have and are combining several styles and forms into one in order to have a more rounded and diversified system. Karate's have incorporated some form of Jitsu and Jutsu/Jitsu's have incorporated styles of Karate to include the weapons (Kobudo) of Okinawa which by tradition, are (see Mijikai Shaku-Bo) Okinawan! By doing so, changes have been made in one's art name to include a few techniques of another in order to entice the public's interest and retain students. This is also where the many different names come into play and make it so difficult to choose. Aikido started out as one name and style, but now there are dozens. Take away the terms (Kai, Kan, Ryu, Bu, Ju), innovations, add on's, break away's and commercialism and one is back to the original Aikido form from which it started! Hopefully by now, you will have a better understanding and picture of what makes up the martial arts and will be able to make a logical choice that's best for you!
Best Regards,
Robert Morton (Kaicho)
Shobudo BuJitsu Kai