describe your style

[daizyblackbelt]

Shudokan Karate (NOT Shotokan)

Shudokan karate is most easily described by comparing it to other styles of karate. It's formal, but less rigid than shotokan; circular, but less so than Goju-ryu; and sometimes short and fast like shito-ryu.

It comes from the dojo of Kanken Toyama (a student of Itosu's who was one of two of that master's trusted student, the other being Gichin Funakoshi).

We practice many kata, many bunkai, point sparring, and have a self-defense curriculum that has saved many people from attackers. Our unique katas include the "secret" (i.e. not taught or demonstrated outside the style) kyoku katas (seven in all, shodan, nidan, sandan, etc), and many katas ending in the word "shin" (SHEEN, meaning spirit).

Our self-defense system covers everything from hand/wrist grabs, to gun defenses (i wouldn't ever want to use those, but they are bloody effective as proved through practice with squirt guns...). It comes both from traditional karate and newer systems like krav maga and CDT.

The general emphasis is mostly on basics however, the simplest techniques that will get you through most anything. Simple kicks, blocks, and strikes. Kicks are either snapping or thrusting. All techniques involve the use of the hips to power them.

Our kumite is generally light/medium contact, but we mix it up among the higher ranks sometimes.

Yamanni Chinen-ryu (kobudo)

Yamanni-ryu is, so far as can be determined, the real martial weapons heritage of Okinawa. The "traditional" weapons forms practiced by most people these days lack the power, grace, and combat effectiveness of this style.

It is being spread by Sensei Toshiro Oshiro from his dojo in San Diego. The weapons taught are bo, sai, and tonfa. I've currently only progressed with the bo and sai, but i adore it.

The key to the style is controlled imbalance, using your body to generate power and speed with little effort by seemingly almost falling over (still working on that one...). It relies heavily on the use of the body to power the weapon, not using the muscles of the arm, but of the core. In the case of the bo, the weapon is constantly in motion, never sticking to the hands, but always sliding to make the best use of leverage (unlike the 1/3 divisions of traditional bojutsu).

Supposedly, though i have not been exposed to it, there is a form of sparring being introduced. Sensei Oshiro has practiced kendo and it is very similar to that, but using two shinai connected end-to-end to form a bo. This is something fairly unique as it would allow practitioners to become more combat proficient with traditional weapons.

Kendo and Iaido

Kendo is a martial art/sport that teaches the use of the japanese sword using non-lethal alternatives. Shinai and bokuto (bokken) are used in practice to learn form and technique. The emphasis is on learning to spar in a ring with judges awarding points to the strikes that show the most ki-ken-tai-ichi (spirit, sword, and body acting as one).

Primarily a sport, it ignore many of the traditional cuts found in iaido and sticks with 4 basics attacks: shomen-uchi (cut to the head), kote-uchi (cut to the hand), do-uchi (cut to the side), and tsuki (stab to the throat). Bogu (armor) is worn to protect those targets. All cuts are made with a downward motion.

The foot work is very bizarre, requiring a straight posture and mostly straight legs. but it seems to work fairly well for the sport. The weapon work takes some getting used to (though my out of the ordinary bo experience helped) as it requires the most effort from the left hand.

Iaido is the art of sword drawing and cutting. I just started practicing this, but it is the more formal, internal version of japanese swordsmanship. It consists of many katas, that consist of a movement drawing, cutting with, cleaning, and then sheathing the sword.

I could also tack on Spanish Navaja knife fighting, and medieval weapons, but this is long enough as it is. And soon i get to take judo! yay!

[lordtariel]

I study Traditional Okinawan Shito-Ryu. It's trademark is the large number of katas it has. In some schools a student will learn over 20 katas before attaining black belt. There are over 50 in our syllabus. Shito-Ryu focuses on a combination of hard and soft techniques.

[joemar]

Brief History Of FMA

The fighting arts of the Philippines are well known in the Orient for their lethal effectiveness. They have always been a part of the culture, developed over many centuries with input from many lands and races because of the country’s central location in Southeast Asia. These arts include the use of sticks, spears and bladed weapons of all types; flexible weapons such as whip, chain and stingray tail, and a variety of projectile weapons. The history of the Philippines, before Spanish rule, is a confusing mass of fact, speculation, and myth.

Just like other cultures and their martial arts, the Filipinos have hundreds of styles and systems. Styles such as Arnis, Escrima and Kali are weapons-based. Empty hand styles include Sikaran (kicking), Pantantukan, Pangamot and Suntukan(punching, grappling and boxing), Dumog and Silat (ground fighting and wrestling), to name a few.

There are numerous systems that practice these styles inclusively; Pekiti Tirsia Kali, San Miguel Escrima, Doce Pares, Kali Illustrismo, Serrada, Lameco Escrima, Kali De Leon, Modern Arnis are just some of hundreds of styles in the Filipino martial arts. For the purpose of this article we shall focus on discussing the most prevalent styles: Kali, Arnis and Escrima.

Speculation of myth, hearsay and lore.

FMA was never taught as a school of thought. Much was taught on a need to survive basis handed down from family or close ties. Nothing was ever writen of systematized compared to Japanese and Chinese arts. It is hard to find writen documentation to back up many of the stories behind our fighting history but what can't be denied is the effective fighting form as it exists today. We are not historians and are not here to study history but the concrete movements and tactics of the Filipino fighting arts. if our teachers say Kali instead of Eskrima or Arnis...good enough for me. I trust in the fighting motions rather spoken or writen words. That being said, here are some of those stories....

The ancient art of Kali is what we practice.. The word itself has numerous interpretations as to its meaning once again dependent on the region and system of the practitioner. Some believe that it is taken from the word Kalis, a type of bladed sword used in the southern part of the Philippines. Mindanao the third main island of the Philippines, and is mostly Muslim. Ka is a pre-fix very much Filipino. Ka-tarungan, Ka-tipunan, Ka- kain, kakan..ta etc. So as a language you will find this quite often used.

Filipino Fighting Arts from the South.

Throughout Philippine history you will find that these Muslims (Moros as they came to be known), brought with them other fighting methods, as well as various types of blades, including the Kalis, Barong, Kampilan, Lahot, Sudang and the feared Kris, which is also popular in the neighboring countries of Indonesia and Malaysia, where it is also popular.

In the early 1900's the U.S. Marines were unsuccessful in trying to colonize Mindanao. The term "leathernecks" was coined because the Marines had to wear thick bands of leather to help protect against bladed slashes to their throats. Filipino Muslims also employed suicidal tactics to inflict damage on the U.S. troops, in the form of "juramentados".

A "Juramentado", a form of mujahadin or holy warrior, would strategically apply tourniquets around his body to stem the flow of blood and run "amok" with sword in hand. He would slash and cut his way through crowds, killing U.S. troops, who at the time only had .38 caliber pistols and Springfield Rifles, which to their surprise was hardly enough to stop a rampaging Moro.

This brought about the development of the Colt .45 cal pistol model 1911 for stopping power, which later paved the way for today’s handguns. In time, Moro fighting methods became systemized and training methods were developed.

Note , this is but one version of FMA. it is not to be taken as gospel for all FMA. It is taken from a conversation of one of the Legendary Grandmasters of the Filipino Fighting Arts in training the Special Forces of the Military. it may seem very offensive but it also drive the point home about combat and martial arts.

"Ours Is a fighting martial art. It is different than other martial arts that are more defensive while ours which is made for fighting is offensive in nature. The system is designed for fighting not defending. it is blade oriented. Do not confuse the use of the sticks, it is just a trainng aid. The moves, the strikes and techniques used in offense and counter offense come from blade fighting principles. They are designed to destroy the opponent. That is a fighting art. The true nature of combat is weapons. All wars have been fought with weapons not emptyhands. So it follows that because we know this then we train with weapons not emptyhands.

Pretty hard core and over the top to some but an honest point of view.While combat is not for everyone, it is the source that created FMA as it is today.

If there are systems that train FMA for the spiritual- there are other ways to get there..go to church , pray etc. Those that get into it for health...go run, lift weights, eat a good diet. Not to say that we can't get there using the arts but it was created to SURVIVE and we chose the best way with higher percentages as passed on to us by our forefathers that used the blades to guarantee our survival.

As for the mixing and how it changes things- things is a touchy subject. I guess we can use Katas with sticks as an example of how it deviates form the combative principles. This makes the moves static. War is dynamic. Those that don't move...die. Those that are stiff...are like the dead. Rigor mortis. Those that move are alive.

If you incorporate disarms , know it's place. Many have become focused on this aspect of the art which to those of you that really train in it may I ask...will anyone here really think that anyone can disarm the blade in their hand? I mean with your skill do you think anyone can take it from you? It is taught on a dueling like scenario. One feeds and you remove it from your partner. In reality if you make a move to your partner he will likely cut you to pieces. Your best bet is to strike him multiple times of which the disarm is the dismembered limb! So there is the original principle- learn to strike properly and correctly and to the right targets..not practicing to disarm a weapon when you have a weapon. It's a different outlook but one that makes sense in the realm of a combat form that is based on weapons fighting.

COMBAT ART Vs MARTIAL ARTS

Note , this is but one version of FMA. it is not to be taken as gospel for all FMA. It is taken from a conversation of one of the Legendary Grandmasters of the Filipino Fighting Arts in training the Special Forces of the Military. it may seem very offensive but it also drive the point home about combat and martial arts.

"Ours Is a fighting martial art. It is different than other martial arts that are more defensive while ours which is made for fighting is offensive in nature. The system is designed for fighting not defending. it is blade oriented. Do not confuse the use of the sticks, it is just a trainng aid. The moves, the strikes and techniques used in offense and counter offense come from blade fighting principles. They are designed to destroy the opponent. That is a fighting art. The true nature of combat is weapons. All wars have been fought with weapons not emptyhands. So it follows that because we know this then we train with weapons not emptyhands.

Pretty hard core and over the top to some but an honest point of view.While combat is not for everyone, it is the source that created FMA as it is today.

If there are systems that train FMA for the spiritual- there are other ways to get there..go to church , pray etc. Those that get into it for health...go run, lift weights, eat a good diet. Not to say that we can't get there using the arts but it was created to SURVIVE and we chose the best way with higher percentages as passed on to us by our forefathers that used the blades to guarantee our survival.

As for the mixing and how it changes things- things is a touchy subject. I guess we can use Katas with sticks as an example of how it deviates form the combative principles. This makes the moves static. War is dynamic. Those that don't move...die. Those that are stiff...are like the dead. Rigor mortis. Those that move are alive.

If you incorporate disarms , know it's place. Many have become focused on this aspect of the art which to those of you that really train in it may I ask...will anyone here really think that anyone can disarm the blade in their hand? I mean with your skill do you think anyone can take it from you? It is taught on a dueling like scenario. One feeds and you remove it from your partner. In reality if you make a move to your partner he will likely cut you to pieces. Your best bet is to strike him multiple times of which the disarm is the dismembered limb! So there is the original principle- learn to strike properly and correctly and to the right targets..not practicing to disarm a weapon when you have a weapon. It's a different outlook but one that makes sense in the realm of a combat form that is based on weapons fighting.

HIDDEN MOVEMENTS

Some of these took the form of dances and can still be seen today in the cultural dances of the Philippines. This conversion of fighting techniques to dance was accelerated in the 16th and 17th centuries when the Philippines came under Spanish rule. Martial arts training, banned by the Spanish, was disguised in this way.

The "Moro-Moro" stage plays of the Spanish period, in which battles between Christians and Muslims were depicted, kept the Filipino Martial Arts alive under the eyes of their colonizers. No one has ever fully conquered Mindanao and the deep southern islands which to this day remain as Muslim strongholds, the seat of Moro power.

Some historians believe that the main use of bladed weapons along with shields depict a certain type of fighting method, ferocious and offensive-oriented, this they believe differentiates Kali from Arnis and Escrima.

As the Spanish colonized the Central and Northern regions of the Philippines, the native fighting arts went underground. The carrying of bladed weapons was prohibited, appearing only in Moro-Moro stage plays and dances. The people turned to the use of the hardwood stick or cane for fighting and training.

Arnis de Mano, one of the modern names by which Filipino arts are known, derived from the word "Arnes" which referred to the decorative trappings or harnesses manipulated by the dances and fighting stage plays. Therefore Arnis de Mano means "harness of the hands".

Once again you may find subtle differences between Kali and Arnis where the former (Kali) makes use of the shield and weapons while the latter (Arnis) dispenses with it in favor of parrying and evading.

Furthermore, Kali is offensive oriented, while conversely Arnis seems to be for a minimum of violence or damage. It’s principle being merely to disarm, whereas the Kali is for the maximum, professing to main or kill. In its original form, at least, not the modern sanitized versions.

Escrima is derived from the Spanish and refers to the art of fencing. Some Filipinos today refer to the art as "Native Fencing". The stick is called Garote or Baston and is also known in other parts as the Olisi. The Philippines is an archipelago of thousands of islands with different dialects and cultural practices, hence the numerous terms given to its martial heritage. Other names associated with Kali, Arnis and Escrima are Estokada, Estoque, Fraile, Panandata, Didya, Kabaroan, PagKaliKali and Kaliradman.

For our purposes Arnis and Eskrima are associcated with Spanish deriviations of words, we choose the word Kali because simply our teachers choose to do so and we choose to learn from them so that's a good enough reason for us. It's the actions and not the words that matter to us.

[username8517]

Excellent post joemar!

When I was studing kali, one of the first things ever said to me was similar to what you wrote here:

it is blade oriented. Do not confuse the use of the sticks, it is just a trainng aid.

Anything you can do with a blade you can do with a stick, but not everything you do with a stick you can do with a blade.

[bushido_man96]

Welcome to the Forums, joemar!

That was a great post. I love the straightforwardness you speak of in these arts. I have always been intrigued by the Philipino styles, and would love to learn the weapon styles. Maybe some day.

[The BB of C]

Kuk Sool Won:

A relatively young style invented in 1956 by Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh. It is a combination of 31 different Korean martial arts. As a matter of fact, it's name translates litterally to "Korean Martial Arts." Styles incorperated into it including Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Tang Soo Do, the martial art of the Korean Buddhist temple, the style of the royal palace, and several others. It trains in streatching, kicking, pressure point strikes, some grappling but not much, punching, palming, and meditation. It enforces respect to everyone in daily life and if needed to be used in a street defense situation, teaches how to win with minimal force so little real damage is done.

However, I don't have much faith in my school because the teachings and classes are so irratic and we never learn any way of applying them to a street defense situation. I'm sure it's a very complete style but my school as a school by itself is not very good. Especially because I get disrespected a lot by the upper belts but get in trouble when I retaliate (I've almost been kicked out on a number of occasions) and I am only a yellow belt but in sparring, despite their strict rules, have still beaten some second degree black belts, and given a heck of a lot of trouble to a third degree.

I have another style but I'm not sure if I should talk about it just yet because it is not taken very seriously in the martial arts community.

[baronbvp]

That's why I like Muay Thai. Brutal, high tempo, attacking art. I look forward to adding BJJ to close the deal.

But my STYLE is to use a little humor, let someone keep their ego intact, buy them a beer and diffuse the situation.

[SBN Doug]

However, I don't have much faith in my school because the teachings and classes are so irratic and we never learn any way of applying them to a street defense situation. I'm sure it's a very complete style but my school as a school by itself is not very good. Especially because I get disrespected a lot by the upper belts but get in trouble when I retaliate (I've almost been kicked out on a number of occasions) and I am only a yellow belt but in sparring, despite their strict rules, have still beaten some second degree black belts, and given a heck of a lot of trouble to a third degree.

I'm sorry to hear you aren't enjoying it as much as you should be. If you send me a PM of which school you're in, I'll see if I have any contacts left that can input some constructive critisism.

There's some good vids on youtube if you get the chance. I particularly like this one from one of those Spike tv cop shows. They say "Karate" but he is a Kuk Sool Won master from the Houston area.

For my own read on KSW:

60% Stand up grappling

15% Weapons

15% Striking

10% ground grappling

[Athena]

Working on this- no name arts O.o

so far it stresses alot on speed,flexibility,balance and knowing weak points. Such as nerves and joints.. It has both hard and soft hand stuff but has almost no kicks involved. One must maintain their ground in any situation. Fluid movements, breathing control and spending as little energy as possible to get the fight done as soon as possible. learning how to escape grapling holds (wich i am strangely good at >.<) and um..being able to basicly use anything and everything to your adantage XP

That includes the enviroment, your opponent's gender and even human nature.

um so really lots of

-speed

-fluidity

-unpredictabilitiness

-knowledge

-balance

- flexibility

YOU MUST BE ABLE TO REMAIN CALM, KEEP YOUR BREATHING STEADY AND THINK THROUGH YOUR SITUATION AT ALL TIMES >.<

well you know, i have had those times where i practicly went crazy from exaustion...hmmm

oh! and we mustn't forget..the all important DETERMINATION..just incase you fight a really tough guy *shrugs* ...or maybe that's where speed comes in *shift eyes and cough*

[gzk]

Shootfighting:

A fairly loosely prescribed style combining stand-up and ground fighting, striking and grappling. Our specific variety uses Muay Thai strikes and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappling techniques though grappling is not practiced in the same detail as in BJJ classes.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

Submission grappling (ie: joint locks and chokes) style derived from Japanese Jiu-Jitsu but emphasising far more ground fighting and less throws and other standing grappling techniques. It has also been said that Helio Gracie adapted the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu techniques taught to his brother Carlos to use more leverage and therefore require less power, to compensate for Helio's smaller physique, adaptations that remain in the style. Our lineage goes to from my instructor to Rigan Machado, Carlos Gracie Jr, Carlos Gracie Sr, Mitsuo Maeda.