Category: History

Jidokwan Can't Be Tang Soo Do... Or Can It?

7/31/2022

Author: Bret Gordon

Fewer martial arts have more politics, or try to falsify their history more, than those of Korean origin. In fact, Taekwondo's sole reason for existence is to modify the history of Korean martial arts and remove any reference of Japanese influence. I actually remember one instructor who told me his specific style of Taekwondo pre-dated the birth of Christ. Now, we can argue whether or not cave drawings vaguely resembling fighting techniques even qualifies as a codified system, but the truth is that Taekwondo itself is only about 80 years old. Before that, it was all just Karate (and it still is).

Following the end of the Japanese occupation of Korea after World War II, numerous martial artists began teaching what they learned and studied. Between 1944 and 1956, nine individual schools (kwans) teaching what was essentially Japanese Karate sprung up.

What's important to note is that none of these kwans tried to hide the fact they were teaching Karate. The very names that they called their arts were simply Korean translations of the same Kanji used in Japan and Okinawa. Every single kwan referred to their art as either:

Tang Soo Do 唐手道 (Tode in Japanese) "Way of the Chinese Hand"
Kong Soo Do 空手道 (Karatedo in Japanese) "Way of the Empty Hand"
Kwon Bup 拳法 (Kenpo in Japanese) "Law of the Fist"

So what happened? When did the identity crisis of these kwans begin and when did the name Taekwondo first enter the picture? Is it wrong to still refer to these kwans by their previous style?

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Did You Know? Pt. 5 - Soke James Parrish

6/27/2022

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Author: Steven Hatfield

Soke James L Parrish is the first and only person to earn Master status under the founder of Wae-Kune-Do Karate, and he is also the headmaster (Soke Head of family) since the passing of Grandmaster Clarence E. West in November, 2008. He earned his black belt back in 1981 from the founder himself, and held the last rank to be received on paper from GM West before his passing, which was his 5th Dan.

Soke Parrish was Master West's right hand for many years until he moved to Columbus, Ohio, and still made trips back and forth to train and help our founder as needed. Travels slowed for him around the mid 2000s due to work schedules and personal life, but Soke Parrish stayed in constant contact with GM West on a regular basis. Master West made a special trip to Columbus to promote Master Parrish to 5th Dan. It was an honor to have him at our dojo and for me to be a witness to this once-in-a-lifetime historical event in Wae-Kune-Do history. Although there were many that earned the rank of black belt under Master West, none of them superseded Master Parrish. When Master West died, all of the black belts got together and decided he should be the next headmaster of the system. He was elevated to 8th Dan in 2008 by the council of black belts, and later to his 9th Dan which he holds today. I began training in WKD under Master Parrish in 1999, and I am now the highest ranked black belt in the art promoted directly by Soke Parrish.

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How Kempo Influenced My Martial Arts Journey

6/26/2022

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Author: Bret Gordon

Nowadays, my primary arts of study are Goju Ryu, Aiki Jujutsu and Judo... But there will always be a soft spot in my heart for Kempo.

Before I continue, the term Kempo could mean just about any striking-based style having any remote connection to Chinese boxing, so for the purpose of this article, I'm going to focus on those systems which trace back to James Mitose and William Chow.

I first began studying Shaolin Kempo in 2000 under Rich Spatola and Enzo Aliotta, when they were running a United Studios of Self Defense branch school in Miller Place, New York. A few years later, they left USSD and became affiliated with Professor Feliciano "Kimo" Ferreira's Kempo Jutsu Kai. During this transition period, they taught what they called both Kempo Jiu Jitsu and "Kajukembo." I tested for my 1st Dan in 2004, shortly before moving to Florida. Several years later, I would hook up with Sil Crino who also came up under Rich and Enzo, but later studied directly under Kimo earning his 5th Dan. Sil tested me for my 2nd Dan in Kempo Jiu Jitsu in 2012. So what is it about Kempo that keeps me coming back after all these years?

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Did You Know? Pt. 3 - Judo's Self Defense Kata Comes From Aikido

6/23/2022

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Author: Steven Hatfield

Did you know that the founder of Shodokan Aikido, Tomiki Kenji, is also the creator of Kodokan Judo's Goshin no Kata? I know crazy, right! It blew my mind that an Aikido guy made the self defense kata for Judo. I do not agree with all of it. I feel they should have went back to their Jujutsu roots in Kito Ryu and Tenjin Shinyo Ryu, and they would have found all they needed but that's just me...

When Judo became a sport, it lost its main properties to act as a full self-defense art and well, as time went on everyone drank the kool aid. Now if you don't compete or belong to one of the big organizations, they say you're not real Judo. It's true that sport Judo has some amazing athletes, and some that I honestly would hate to be thrown by, but in the end, there needs to be a full overhaul on the self-defense in the art, just like they are now adding more ground work to keep up with the BJJ scene. The goshin jutsu needs work in my opinion.

This is why Kontei Kodokan Judo, overseen by the Seikan Judo & Jujutsu Association, was created - to teach and share the root of the art while keeping the traditional aspects alive in judo. We are a proud member of the USATKJ and all of our black belts are registered members. The Seikan is home to many that just wish to learn a little Judo here and there, those that wish to earn rank and add to their curriculum the judo and jujutsu taught here, and those that want to preserve the complete art of Kodokan Judo as it was originally intended.

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Did You Know? Pt. 2 - Koji Do Jitsu

6/22/2022

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Author: Steven Hatfield

Did you know that Koji Do Jitsu was an Americanized, modified version of Judo with a little Japanese Goju Ryu and Kyokushin Karate, sprinkled with some Hakko Ryu Jujutsu, and Goshindo Kenpo, created by Grandmaster "Papasan" Jack Stern?

Did you know that Papasan stripped down all the long term crazy techniques and shrunk the judo curriculum down to a total of 28 waza?

Did you know that Koji Do Jitsu was created for a few reasons? The first reason was that he wanted something quick and simple to learn, without having to stress over needing to compete to earn rank. His goal was to have it set to where a student could possibly earn their black belt in roughly about 2-3 years time. Before you start with your pitchforks and all, it's no different than a person taking a Krav Maga class/instructor seminar in a few days and becoming a licensed instructor, and making trips back and forth to make adjustments and so forth later on. The purpose was short, direct and effective self defense, with the principles of the traditional arts. If you had the pleasure of knowing Papasan, you knew he was a very mouthy old man, but he would never steer you wrong on purpose, ever! And I am speaking from experience.

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Did You Know? Pt. 1 - Gracie Jiu Jitsu vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

6/20/2022

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Author: Steven Hatfield

Would you believe that there is a difference between Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? There is! Some may not agree. They may have the same roots, but they have 2 different purposes! BJJ is known for its sport life, while GJJ is known for its self defense focus.

Dont believe me? Do some research, look at the history of the art! Look at the beginning when Grandmaster Carlos Sr. was trained by the Japanese. Look at what Grandmaster Carlos taught and shared with his brother Grandmaster Helio. To quote Grandmaster Reylson Gracie, son of Carlos Sr., "Although it is true that ninety percent of fights will eventually end up on the ground, ground techniques are just a portion of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. What makes Gracie Jiu Jitsu such a wonderful art is that it contains the strikes and kicks of Karate, the ground fighting techniques of Judo, and the joint locks and throws of Aikido."

There was no such thing as Berimbolos or Imanari rolls. If it didn't work in a real fight with someone also trying to punch or kick you, it wasn't Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

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Context Matters: A Discussion On Tactics & Techniques

1/26/2022

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Author: Bret Gordon

My last article on the cultural significance of sitting in seiza and its martial implications (click here to read) inspired me to dive into a forensic study of the various body cultures in martial arts and why they matter. Fighting systems are influenced by the context they are developed in. That is why the only real test of whether a martial art is "effective" or not is if it meets the needs of why it was created, not whether or not a particular individual can use it for their own purposes.

It is no secret that the weapon of choice developed over time in response to advances in protective gear, not to mention the tools themselves evolved for the same reason. Japanese tanto were essentially point-driven can openers meant to pry a downed enemy out of their armor on the battlefield, while the karambit is a short, slicing implement meant to dismember a lightly clothed opponent in the tropics. It's why we see blunt force weapons become prevalent in Medieval Europe with the implementation of plate armor, since swords are not meant to slice through steel. It's all about finding the right tool for the job, based on the equipment of the enemy you're fighting.

Just as weapons evolve, entire fighting systems develop for the same reasons. For example, one of the easiest ways to tell an art meant for warriors from one developed by civilians is the emphasis on either grappling or striking. Warrior arts generally operate under the assumption their opponent is armored, and thus striking them is not nearly as effective as throwing them to the ground or attacking the joints, since by design they must be the least protected areas in order to articulate. Systems designed for civilian self defense do not have that consideration and can develop an extensive striking repertoire. But let's go into even more detail...

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Take A Seat: A Discussion On Seiza

1/25/2022

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Author: Bret Gordon

Just about anyone familiar with Japanese martial arts is familiar with the kneeling position of seiza. Literally meaning "proper sitting," the posture serves as the standard floor sitting position for most traditional formal occasions, and it is generally considered the respectful way to sit in the presence of superiors or elders unless otherwise permitted. It is used in meditation, prayer, bowing, rituals and ceremonies. As martial artists, we associate it with how Samurai would sit, except that's not really accurate.

The position of seiza as we know it was formalized during the Edo period, as part of a large number of edicts and customs imposed on the warrior class to prevent a violent outbreak. Another Edo period concept we attribute to the Samurai is the idea of Bushido, a code of ethics similar to European chivalry that supposedly holds warriors to a higher moral standard. In truth, Bushido was introduced as a concept to keep bored Samurai in line. Without wars to fight, professional warriors being paid to sit around can get fairly rowdy. Rape, pillage and murder were just par for the course during times of war when the army was stationed in a faraway land, but they become rather unfortunate side effects of boredom when you have drunk, testosterone-filled warriors accustomed to living on a higher rung on the social ladder and getting away with, well, murder. But I digress...

Seiza was introduced as the proper way of sitting for Samurai during the Edo period by the Shogun simply to make it harder for a visitor to quickly attack the host when conducting a meeting or ritual. Anyone who has sat in seiza long enough knows the feeling of numb legs and locked knees. When milliseconds matter, slowing down your would-be assailant by forcing him to attack from a position of discomfort can quite literally be the difference between life and death. So prior to the Edo period, when Japan was in constant conflict, what was the "correct" way of sitting for formal occasions?

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How Okuden Killed The Martial Arts (Part 2)

1/13/2022

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Author: Bret Gordon

In Part 1 (click here), I discussed how the secrecy of kata had led to the misconception that Karate is not viable for real violence. In this article, we're going to explore an even more esoteric art steeped in mysticism and tradition that most people discount as a fighting system - Aiki Jujutsu.

When most people think of the aiki arts, Aikido is what comes to mind. Unfortunately, the Ueshiba family has made it clear their vision for Aikido does not include fighting or contests of any kind. But the aiki arts as a whole are often subject to ridicule if not complete dismissal among the majority of the martial arts community. We get lumped in with the likes of George Dillman and his no-touch knockouts, which are nothing more than the power of suggestion over highly susceptible individuals.

Real aiki, on the other hand, is a set of biomechanical principles and processes. When you understand what you are looking at, everything is supported by sound principles of physics. The training methods, however, must be felt to understood. The better one is, the more fake it looks. My teacher once said "if you understand what just happened to you, it's not aiki." So again, we have another case of secrecy killing the art. But why?

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How Okuden Killed The Martial Arts (Part 1)

1/12/2022

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Author: Bret Gordon

In all martial arts, there are different levels of students. Some call them indoor and outdoor students. Some differentiate by saying they have both customers and students. Whatever the distinction, not all students are created equal, and they won't all reach the highest levels of a particular system. Some information is always held back. This information is called Okuden 奥伝 (secret teachings). It could be because the instructor is waiting until the student is ready, or maybe they want to keep something up their sleeve should the student get a little too cocky.

Some systems formally classify the material into various levels, and award certifications or licenses along the way. Others are informal about it, with the instructor being more selective (and usually subjective) with who they pass on certain information to. Some systems are more shrouded in secrecy than others, but the truth is that every art has secrets. But what happens when the refusal to share such secrets leads to the death of the style itself?

By now, everyone is familiar with MMA, and the culture shock that sent waves through the martial arts when BJJ became popular. If nothing else, it polarized everyone between those who suddenly believed the "old" styles were simple fantasy, and those who knew their validity (or at least knew there should be validity). In this article, I'm going to look at two arts specifically, Karate and Aiki Jujutsu, as that's what the majority of my experience has been in, but I am confident this will apply to others as well.

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USAMA BLOG

Jidokwan Can't Be Tang Soo Do... Or Can It?

Did You Know? Pt. 5 - Soke James Parrish

How Kempo Influenced My Martial Arts Journey

Did You Know? Pt. 3 - Judo's Self Defense Kata Comes From Aikido

Did You Know? Pt. 2 - Koji Do Jitsu

Did You Know? Pt. 1 - Gracie Jiu Jitsu vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Context Matters: A Discussion On Tactics & Techniques

Take A Seat: A Discussion On Seiza

How Okuden Killed The Martial Arts (Part 2)

How Okuden Killed The Martial Arts (Part 1)

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