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Zen Beikoku Bujutsu Kyokai
                 全米国武術協会
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Raising the standards of the martial arts

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Quality Vs. Quantity: The Myth Of Time

2/19/2017

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Author: Bret Gordon
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One of the first questions that a martial artist asks another practitioner, in addition to what system they study and what rank they hold, is how long they've been training. While time can be a good indication of where one stands in terms of skill, progress and understanding, we must be careful not to look at time alone. Time (as measured by the calendar) can be misleading, especially in today's society.

We all have this misconception about experience, that somehow time is a defining factor in determining one's expertise. However, the truth is that it's not how many years you spend in any endeavor but how you spend those years which determines your progress. Let's think about this for a minute.

The average practitioner trains 2-3 nights per week for an hour or so each night. That amounts to roughly 150 hours of training each year. But what about someone who trains as if it's a full-time job? Of course, this situation is rare now but there was a time when 40 hours per week training was considered the norm. You were committed to the art, and possibly even lived in the dojo. At 40 hours/week, you'd accumulate 160 hours of training in a single month. So then, in the course of a year you had nearly 12 times the amount of training as someone who only trains a few nights each week. Your experience level would far outweigh the number of years you've been training, and you would be greatly underrated. So how can we accurately gauge what someone truly knows?


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Internal Power Hidden Within Karatedo?

2/7/2017

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Author: Bret Gordon
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The various branches of Daito Ryu, and arts derived from it, try to claim that internal power (aiki) is a proprietary component and no one else could possibly have it. Now, that argument immediately falls apart when you look at the numerous Chinese internal systems ranging from Taijiquan and Baguazhang to more modern interpretations such as Zhong Xin Dao/I Liq Chuan. While not taught within the same confines as Daito Ryu aiki, internal power is internal power. If you have it, you have it regardless of where it came from and what label you identify with. 

But Okinawan arts are not generally known for their internal power. In fact, I've even heard prominent aiki teachers say that studying Karatedo will hinder your growth in developing internal power. However, my personal experience has convinced me otherwise. Goju Ryu in particular, I feel, has great potential for one seeking internal power. It all has to do with tanden breathing. While internal power is not the focus of Goju Ryu, there's one kata specifically that contains all the secrets.


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The Truth Behind Budo

2/2/2017

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Author: Bret Gordon
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Budo has become a generic term for the martial arts as a whole, but in reality it's a word without direct translation. Therefore, it is somewhat open to interpretation. People try to place a date on the inception of Budo, to say that Budo is a modern concept following the Meiji Restoration (1868) and the end of the samurai class. They like to say that prior to that, it was all Bujutsu, pure combat with no spiritual misconceptions. While I agree that Bushido (the Warrior's Code) as we know it is a relatively modern invention, the concept of Budo is much older and is something mankind has been seeking since the beginning. To truly understand what Budo is, we need to break down the two characters 武道 that comprise it. 

The first character, Bu, refers to war and combat, anything martial. The suffix -do literally means "way" or "path." So does Budo translate as the "martial way?" To me, that's a very superficial interpretation, and just like everything else in Asian culture, the true meaning is hidden within. When talking about the Path, what is it a path to? Because of the spiritual undertones of Asian society, the path speaks about enlightenment. Enlightenment is to reach the highest vibration, to seek ultimate peace and understanding while transcending human suffering. But if that's true, how does war and combat make any sense being on that path?

I personally translate Budo as the "path to enlightenment through the study of combat." Essentially, by studying war and combat, you are hardening the spirit to withstand and transcend the worst of human interaction, ultimately leading you to seek a higher level of peace and compassion. But isn't that the long way around? Surely there's an easier way to reach enlightenment? Maybe so, but Budo is the most profound in my opinion. I could write an entire book on this subject, so in the interest of time I will try to keep this as short as possible. 


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