US Association of Martial Arts
Zen Beikoku Bujutsu Kyokai
                 全米国武術協会
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Vision & Mission
    • Board of Directors
  • Services
    • Training Seminars
  • Join USAMA
    • Individual Membership
    • School Accreditation
  • Blog

USAMA BLOG

Raising the standards of the martial arts

READ BELOW

Stop Associating Karate With The Samurai

8/29/2018

2 Comments

 
Author: Bret Gordon
Picture
One of the primary marketing ploys of commercial karate is to use imagery of the Japanese Samurai to promote their school. They cling to the Bushido code as if it empowers them with divine morality, and the idea that the Samurai were these noble, scholarly warriors. Both of those assumptions are far from the truth.

​First, the Bushido code was implemented during the Tokugawa Shogunate, a 250-year peace period, in an attempt to control the behavior of the Samurai, a highly trained fighting force with now no enemy to fight. It had no place during the Sengoku Jidai (Warring States Period). But I guess rape, pillaging and murder isn't acceptable if they're not in some far away land on campaign? 

However, I find issue with karateka using the Samurai for marketing not for the hypocrisy of it (although that's a big factor), but rather the fact that it's historically incorrect. The Samurai had absolutely nothing to do with the development of karate! The Samurai were the military nobility of feudal Japan, the middle and upper echelons of the warrior class (abolished in 1868). Each clan had their own proud tradition of combat styles, and the history of koryu Japanese martial arts is well-documented. Jujutsu was the most common unarmed fighting style of the Samurai, one of 18 fighting disciplines (called the bugei juhappan) that they were expected to train in. Karate wasn't introduced to Japan until at least 1921, 53 years after the abolition of the Samurai class. But that doesn't mean that karate doesn't have a proud warrior history of its own.


Read More
2 Comments

The Problem With Internal Martial Arts

8/28/2018

0 Comments

 
Author: Bret Gordon
Picture
The deeper I go in my study of Aiki Jujutsu and internal power, the more styles of internal arts I've encountered. Lately, I seem to have gotten myself immersed in the Chinese internal arts community and have even taken up a cursory study of Baguazhang to help expand and refine my develop of aiki. The more I watch and engage with other internal practitioners, however, the more I notice a rather unsettling trend that's not unlike the rest of the martial arts community... The complete abandonment of practical martial application. 

I've written countless articles thus far stressing the importance of maintaining practical and intensive training for self protection as a large part of your martial arts study, and the internal martial arts are not exempt from this. Let's not forget that the word "martial" implies a combative context and to ignore that section of the art (which in this context refers to a skill or discipline) is to do a great disservice to those who came before us and the legacy they left behind.

While it's true that most martial arts are descended from combat systems, the internal martial arts have historically held a place of significance in protecting those of high stature. In Japan, the Minamoto and Takeda clans were charged as Imperial guards. They trained in the art of Oshiki Uchi (also known as Gotenjutsu) to protect the Emperor and/or Shogun for over 700 years according to oral tradition, an art that later became Daito Ryu - the root of all Japanese aiki arts. In China, Dong Haichuan was charged with teaching his art of Baguazhang to the guards after winning patronage by the Imperial court. Even Okinawa has its own internal martial arts tradition, Motobu Udundi, that was used for the same purpose. The internal martial arts were chosen for this purpose because of their superiority in allowing the practitioner to counter conventional fighting techniques through the use of structure and respond with devastating results. So how did the elite fighting system of the historical Secret Service equivalent become the laughing stock of the martial arts today, and how do we fix it?


Read More
0 Comments

Benefits Of Learning Jujutsu For All Ages

8/24/2018

0 Comments

 
Author: Bret Gordon
Picture
Jujutsu, also commonly spelled "Jiu Jitsu" and "Jujitsu," is quickly becoming one of the most popular martial arts today. When most people think of jujutsu, they think of Brazilian or Gracie Jiu Jitsu, but the truth is that is just one variation in the large pool of jujutsu systems. So first, we must identify what is jujutsu and then we can discuss its numerous benefits!
 
Simply put, jujutsu (meaning “gentle art”) is any Japanese-based unarmed martial art that focuses heavily on joint manipulation and throwing techniques rather than striking. The Korean equivalent of jujutsu is yusul, and the Chinese equivalent is qin na. Regardless of origin, the idea of using “soft” techniques rather than “hard” striking gives one a great advantage... Jujutsu is one of the most effective self defense styles, because it allows anyone to subdue an attacker regardless of size!

This is why it’s great for children! If an adult is trying to abduct a child, they can use their jujutsu training to break free of the hold and throw their attacker, giving them a chance to escape. Most children do not have enough power to effectively punch or kick an adult to fight them off, but jujutsu does not rely on strength. Instead, all jujutsu techniques rely on biomechanical principles that the body must follow. Regardless of size, a child can easily off-balance an attacker and throw them if they know how to (and have been practicing regularly with training partners of larger size). 



Read More
0 Comments

Instructor Spotlight: Hanshi Joseph Slonski

8/12/2018

5 Comments

 
Author: Bret Gordon
Picture
Beginning his martial arts journey in 1972 under Richard Barathy, Hanshi Joseph Slonski has had a long and prosperous career in Budo. In 1973 after relocating to California, Slonski began training in Shuri Ryu under Pete Rabino (a direct student of Robert Trias). There he stayed until 1978 when he moved back to New York, dabbling in other arts and training across Long Island.

In 1984, Slonski moved once again to Florida. By chance, as a young and high spirited brown belt, Slonski caught the eye of Hanshi Charles Bridgewater. Mr. Bridgewater first trained under Phillip Koeppel before training with Robert Trias directly, even becoming Mr. Trias's bodyguard. Eventually, Mr. Bridgewater broke away from Trias and established the Shorei Ryu system as a refinement of Trias's Shuri Ryu (Shorei Ryu was one of the original names Trias used for his art before settling on Shuri Ryu), drawing on his experiences in Kajukenbo and Shinto Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu (Mr. Bridgewater served in Law Enforcement alongside Shinto Yoshin Ryu founder Douglas Grose). 
Hanshi Bridgewater took Slonski under his wing and from then on, Mr. Slonski became his personal disciple and adopted son.


Read More
5 Comments

    Archives

    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All
    Associations
    Business
    Etiquette
    Healing Arts
    History
    Instructor Spotlight
    Interviews
    Martial Arts Principles
    McDojos
    Questions For Our Readers
    Rank
    Self Defense
    Sport Karate
    Weaponry

    Sponsored By

    Picture
    www.TrioMartialArts.com
    Picture
    www.AmericanYoshinkan.com
    Picture
    www.AmericanJidokwan.com
    Picture
    www.RyukyuTe.weebly.com
    Picture
    www.KonteiJudo.com
    Picture
    www.WaeKuneDoKarate.com
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.