Posts Tagged ‘japanese’

American Kenpo

September 3rd, 2009
American Kenpo is oriented toward street-wise self defense. It is a martial art based on a rapid succession of strikes in sequential flow, which involves taking advantage of every conceivable natural weapon during the execution of a technique.American Kenpo blends circular motions and evasive movements with linear kicks and punches. It is similar to most Karate styles in its training mechanisms.
American Kenpo was developed by the late Master Ed Parker who took the more traditional Chinese Kenpo as taught to him by the late William Chow and modified it to suit the modern day needs. It is based on geometry and physics and not just history and tradition.
Began the codification process of his early understandings of Chinese Kenpo into a distinct evolving American interpretation. Here he dropped all Japanese – Chinese language and non-essential non-American cultural accoutrements. Notice the lack of the word “karate,” considered an insult to the Chinese. Some like Dave Hebler draw from the beginnings of this version.

American Kenpo is oriented toward street-wise self defense. It is a martial art based on a rapid succession of strikes in sequential flow, which involves taking advantage of every conceivable natural weapon during the execution of a technique. American Kenpo blends circular motions and evasive movements with linear kicks and punches. It is similar to most Karate styles in its training mechanisms.

American Kenpo was developed by the late Master Ed Parker who took the more traditional Chinese Kenpo as taught to him by the late William Chow and modified it to suit the modern day needs. It is based on geometry and physics and not just history and tradition.

Began the codification process of his early understandings of Chinese Kenpo into a distinct evolving American interpretation. Here he dropped all Japanese – Chinese language and non-essential non-American cultural accoutrements. Notice the lack of the word “karate,” considered an insult to the Chinese. Some like Dave Hebler draw from the beginnings of this version.

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Aikido

September 3rd, 2009
Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) : aikido founder
“Ai” : harmony ; “ki” : spirit ; “do” : way

Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) : aikido founder

“Ai” : harmony ; “ki” : spirit ; “do” : way

Martial art are studied for self-defense and self-improvement. The Aikidoist seeks to achieve self-defense without injury or attackers. The basic movements of Aikido are circular in nature and most attacks are linear. The practioner harmonizes with, rather than confronts, an aggressive line and converts it into a circular motion that renders attackers helpless. Then, instead of using potentially crippling kicks or punches, the Aikidoist betters his or her self without belittling others.

History of Aikido

Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), also called O-Sensei, began to teach aikido in 1931 with his first dojo in Tokyo. He sought out and studied under masters in many traditional martial arts, eventually becoming expert at a number of styles of jujitsu (unarmed combat), kenjitsu (sword fighting), and sojitsu (spear fighting). Dissatisfied with mere strength and technical mastery, he also immersed himself in religious and philosophical studies. The formulation of Aikido dates from an incident that occurred in 1925. In the course of a discussion about martial arts, a disagreement arose between O-Sensei and a naval officer who was a fencing instructor. The officer challenged O-Sensei to a match, and attacked with a wooden sword. O-Sensei faced the officer unarmed, and won the match by evading blows until his attacker dropped from exhaustion.

He later recalled that he could see his opponent’s moves before they were executed, and that this was the beginning of his enlightenment. He had defeated an armed attacker without hurting him. O-Sensei continued to practice and teach Aikido into his old age. After he passed away on April 26, 1969, the Japanese government posthumously declared Morihei Ueshiba a Sacred National treasure of Japan. O-Sensei’s son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, inherited the title Doshu (“Leader of the Way”). He continues his father’s work at Aikido World Headquarters (called Hombu Dojo) in Tokyo. Now, there are more than one million Aikidoists in the world.

Aikido strives to develop coordination between the mind and the body and is a powerful form of self-defense. This martial art allows a person to protect him or herself from attack from a single or multiple attackers. Aikido uses circular movements similar to the Ashihara karate described above and employs holds and “joint locking” to subdue opponents.

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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

September 3rd, 2009
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an advanced form of the Japanese Jujitsu. It is predominantly a ground-fighting art. The fighter’s objective is to avoid punches and kicks while attempting to clinch his opponent. Once in the clinch, the opponent’s strikes are rendered ineffective. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter will then proceed to take the fight to the ground where his opponent’s strikes will not have any power behind them.
Taken out of his game, the striker is helpless, without the ability to use his stand-up skills. With the fact that 95% of all fights go to the ground, an experienced and well trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Fighter will eventually take any type of fighter to the ground. The defense techniques are all based on leverage, making it possible for the fighter to beat stronger and heavier opponents.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu uses the opponents strength and force against themselves.
The key is balance (known as “base”) and leverage.
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was created in the early 1900’s by Helio Gracie, who had a standing challenge that was open to practitioners of all styles, regardless of size, weight or musculature. This tradition of open challenge has been continued by the Gracie family and their students for over 70 years. Nowadays, Rickson Gracie is widely accepted as the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technician and the best fighter in the world, with a career record of over 400 victories and no losses.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an advanced form of the Japanese Jujitsu. It is predominantly a ground-fighting art. The fighter’s objective is to avoid punches and kicks while attempting to clinch his opponent. Once in the clinch, the opponent’s strikes are rendered ineffective. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter will then proceed to take the fight to the ground where his opponent’s strikes will not have any power behind them.

Taken out of his game, the striker is helpless, without the ability to use his stand-up skills. With the fact that 95% of all fights go to the ground, an experienced and well trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Fighter will eventually take any type of fighter to the ground. The defense techniques are all based on leverage, making it possible for the fighter to beat stronger and heavier opponents.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu uses the opponents strength and force against themselves.

The key is balance (known as “base”) and leverage.

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was created in the early 1900’s by Helio Gracie, who had a standing challenge that was open to practitioners of all styles, regardless of size, weight or musculature. This tradition of open challenge has been continued by the Gracie family and their students for over 70 years. Nowadays, Rickson Gracie is widely accepted as the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technician and the best fighter in the world, with a career record of over 400 victories and no losses.

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Jujitsu

September 3rd, 2009
Jujitsu encompasses throws, locks, and striking techniques, with a strong emphasis on throws, locks, and defensive techniques. It is also characterized by in-fighting and close work. It is a circular, hard/soft, external style. Jujitsu is one of the most ancient of the martial arts in the world, over 2500 years old. No one knows exactly where Jujitsu started. Although it has its origins in ancient Japan, it is also thought to be of an antiquated Chinese origin. Jujitsu was influenced by many fighting styles, incorporating parts of all of them.
The weaponless styles of Jujitsu were integrated into the training of the Samurai, from the eighth to the sixteenth centuries.n 1603, Tokugawa Leysu united Japan under the control of the Tokugawa government, and so began the era that bears their name. During this time, as Japan was united, there was less and less armed warfare, and so the weaponless style of Jujitsu became more and more prominent. The Tokugawa era came to, which returned the emperor to power. Many of the samurai had supported the Shogun in the wars that began the restoration, and as a result, Emperor Melse published an edict that made it illegal to practice the old combat arts. In the mid 19th century, the Samurai class was formally disbanded, and many schools died out. It was at this time that Jigoro Kano, a master of the Tenshin Shin’Yo ryu Ju-Jitsu developed the Judo, would be be more accepted by the populace. By the mid twenty century, with the Meji restoration, the ban on Jujitsu in Japan had lifted, allowing the free practicing of the art.

Jujitsu encompasses throws, locks, and striking techniques, with a strong emphasis on throws, locks, and defensive techniques. It is also characterized by in-fighting and close work. It is a circular, hard/soft, external style.

Jujitsu is one of the most ancient of the martial arts in the world, over 2500 years old. No one knows exactly where Jujitsu started. Although it has its origins in ancient Japan, it is also thought to be of an antiquated Chinese origin. Jujitsu was influenced by many fighting styles, incorporating parts of all of them.

The weaponless styles of Jujitsu were integrated into the training of the Samurai, from the eighth to the sixteenth centuries.n 1603, Tokugawa Leysu united Japan under the control of the Tokugawa government, and so began the era that bears their name. During this time, as Japan was united, there was less and less armed warfare, and so the weaponless style of Jujitsu became more and more prominent. The Tokugawa era came to, which returned the emperor to power. Many of the samurai had supported the Shogun in the wars that began the restoration, and as a result, Emperor Melse published an edict that made it illegal to practice the old combat arts. In the mid 19th century, the Samurai class was formally disbanded, and many schools died out. It was at this time that Jigoro Kano, a master of the Tenshin Shin’Yo ryu Ju-Jitsu developed the Judo, would be be more accepted by the populace. By the mid twenty century, with the Meji restoration, the ban on Jujitsu in Japan had lifted, allowing the free practicing of the art.

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Ninjutsu

September 3rd, 2009
“Ninjutsu” is usually translated as the “art of stealth.” The Japanese character, “nin” (also translated as “shinobi”) has many meanings, such as perseverance, endurance, and sufferance. The term Ninjutsu is most commonly used to refer to the specific methods and techniques used by the Ninja.
Ninjutsu began more than 800 years ago among the ninja people living in Japan. The warrior class which ruled Japan at the time were called the Samurai. They controlled the land and it’s people. Their lord, the Shogun, was the only person the Samurai was answerable to. The ninja would not serve the Samurai, and fled to the barren, cold, mountainous regions of Iga and Koga.
There they trained in the arts of war. It is said that their art is based upon a great Chinese military text written by a general named Sun Tzu, The Art of War. Over the centuries the ninja trained from the cradle to the grave in every known martial art. Their forte was espionage and assassination, by any means possible.
But their training also taught them to reach spiritual heights, by pushing their bodies and minds to limits far beyond that of normal human endurance. Over the centuries, while ninjutsu was being practiced in secrecy, no one knew anything about the art except the ninjas themselves. When Japan emerged into the modern era, and feudalism collapsed, the ninja were absorbed into Japan’s secret service and special services groups.
The martial arts boom of the 1970’s saw two men searching for something different. Doron Navon and Stephen Hayes found a ninjutsu headmaster living in Japan who came from an unbroken line of ninja instructors dating back almost 800 years. The art was then brought to the western World.

“Ninjutsu” is usually translated as the “art of stealth.” The Japanese character, “nin” (also translated as “shinobi”) has many meanings, such as perseverance, endurance, and sufferance. The term Ninjutsu is most commonly used to refer to the specific methods and techniques used by the Ninja.

Ninjutsu began more than 800 years ago among the ninja people living in Japan. The warrior class which ruled Japan at the time were called the Samurai. They controlled the land and it’s people. Their lord, the Shogun, was the only person the Samurai was answerable to. The ninja would not serve the Samurai, and fled to the barren, cold, mountainous regions of Iga and Koga.

There they trained in the arts of war. It is said that their art is based upon a great Chinese military text written by a general named Sun Tzu, The Art of War. Over the centuries the ninja trained from the cradle to the grave in every known martial art. Their forte was espionage and assassination, by any means possible.

But their training also taught them to reach spiritual heights, by pushing their bodies and minds to limits far beyond that of normal human endurance. Over the centuries, while ninjutsu was being practiced in secrecy, no one knew anything about the art except the ninjas themselves. When Japan emerged into the modern era, and feudalism collapsed, the ninja were absorbed into Japan’s secret service and special services groups.

The martial arts boom of the 1970’s saw two men searching for something different. Doron Navon and Stephen Hayes found a ninjutsu headmaster living in Japan who came from an unbroken line of ninja instructors dating back almost 800 years. The art was then brought to the western World.

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Shotokan Karate

September 3rd, 2009
Shotokan is a traditional Japanese martial art. It is a system of offensive and defensive techniques utilizing the various parts of the body as weapons and shields.
The arms and legs are used for this purpose. The training is broken up into 3 categories :
Kihon (training without a partner)
Kata (it is a set of offensive and defensive movements executed as a set)
Kumite (Kumite is sparring and there are several levels of difficulty associated with it)

Shotokan is a traditional Japanese martial art. It is a system of offensive and defensive techniques utilizing the various parts of the body as weapons and shields.

The arms and legs are used for this purpose. The training is broken up into 3 categories :

  1. Kihon (training without a partner)
  2. Kata (it is a set of offensive and defensive movements executed as a set)
  3. Kumite (Kumite is sparring and there are several levels of difficulty associated with it)

The Birth Place of Karate was the Island of Okinawa which is to be found in the Ryeukyu Islands Between the northern coast of Japan and the southern coast of China.

Karate emerged after 1372 when relations between China And Okinawa were instituted. During the 15th & 16th century Karate was driven underground because of the Islands being run by war Lords who would not tolerate it’s teachings and practice. At this time all weapons were confiscated which achieved two things.

Firstly Karate became a deadly defensive system against an armed or unarmed adversary and secondly the Okinawan farmers learnt to use blunt farm implements as deadly weapons. The most common of these were the Bo, Jo, Nunchacku, Tonfa and Sai.

The Founder of Shotokan was master Gichin Funakshi. He was a Teacher, Philosopher and Poet. He would sign his poetry Shoto and it is from this that the word Shotokan arose. The name made up using Shoto, meaning waving pines because his home was situated on the edge of a pine forest, and the word Kan meaning house or school. Thus Shotokan means the house or school of the waving pines, but today is interpreted as the school or method of Funakoshi.

In 1936 the first Shotokan was established outside Okinawa in Tokyo which Eventually led to the Japanese Karate Association in 1955 with Funakoshi as Chief Instructor. He remained There until April of 1957 when he died at the age of 88.

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Sumo

September 3rd, 2009
Japanese martial art. Rules of Sumo are simple : two men are pitted against each other in a clay ring. The first to step out of the circular boundary or touch the ring floor with any part of his body except his feet has lost the match. Few rules and restrictions govern match.
However, the paucity of rules is balanced by the number of rituals and ceremonies and the traditional etiquette that is present in sumo. Sumo truly is a national symbol for the Japanese of the bygone days of samurai honor. The Japanese often refer to sumodo (the way of sumo) as the modern bushido (way of the samurai).
Sumo has few shared techniques with Greco-Roman wrestling. In fact, it has more in common with the martial arts of judo and aikido. Throughout Japan’s long and eventful history, sumo has been a valuable part of Japanese culture; whether as a religious ritual, a part of military training, or as a national sport. Sumo has undergone numerous changes, especially from the 15th century to the present. It has changed in social status, going from a form of entertainment for the Gods, to entertainment for the noble, to entertainment for the masses.
The final step was to make it the Japanese national sport in the early 19th century, when it began to develop into what is practiced and recognized today.

Japanese martial art. Rules of Sumo are simple : two men are pitted against each other in a clay ring. The first to step out of the circular boundary or touch the ring floor with any part of his body except his feet has lost the match. Few rules and restrictions govern match.

However, the paucity of rules is balanced by the number of rituals and ceremonies and the traditional etiquette that is present in sumo. Sumo truly is a national symbol for the Japanese of the bygone days of samurai honor. The Japanese often refer to sumodo (the way of sumo) as the modern bushido (way of the samurai).

Sumo has few shared techniques with Greco-Roman wrestling. In fact, it has more in common with the martial arts of judo and aikido. Throughout Japan’s long and eventful history, sumo has been a valuable part of Japanese culture; whether as a religious ritual, a part of military training, or as a national sport. Sumo has undergone numerous changes, especially from the 15th century to the present. It has changed in social status, going from a form of entertainment for the Gods, to entertainment for the noble, to entertainment for the masses.

The final step was to make it the Japanese national sport in the early 19th century, when it began to develop into what is practiced and recognized today.

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