What's in a Name!!!???!!!

[Dobbersky]

All

I have seen a few posts and threads in the last few years on martial arts schools names and wondering how and where do they come from.

Now some that come to mind is Go Kan Ryu, which can be translated as "Rape School" (Please no discussions on no it doesn't yes it does etc as this is not what this thread is about) and Zen Do Kai can be translated as "Meditation Way School", mine is Black Tiger Karate (because I have a tattoo of a black tiger on my arm!!!)

What other schools, from all areas, have strange or unfitting names, this could be Japanese, Chinese, Korean Vietnamese etc.

Note, I am not here to cause offense, just to find out What? Why? and Where?

thanks

Ken

[tsd1592]

this is something i was wondering my self. I know my instructor was a traditionalist his name and style was what we advertised. When i asked y he didn't have a funky name like most schools he simply said because i am selling tang soo do not a name

[honoluludesktop]

Scores of years ago, my Japanese Sensei told me that Ryu, and Kata names were just that. That we shouldn't try to make too much sense out of them. Most of us have names given to us that have no intended meaning.

[MasterPain]

All

I have seen a few posts and threads in the last few years on martial arts schools names and wondering how and where do they come from.

Now some that come to mind is Go Kan Ryu, which can be translated as "Rape School" (Please no discussions on no it doesn't yes it does etc as this is not what this thread is about) and Zen Do Kai can be translated as "Meditation Way School", mine is Black Tiger Karate (because I have a tattoo of a black tiger on my arm!!!)

What other schools, from all areas, have strange or unfitting names, this could be Japanese, Chinese, Korean Vietnamese etc.

Note, I am not here to cause offense, just to find out What? Why? and Where?

thanks

Ken

The trouble with foreign language is that you take the first syllable from one word and the last syllable of another word an get something unintended. I think as long as it's 2 separate words or the K is capitalized it's okay. Also, Gokkon means party.

But unfitting names?

Aikido- Way of Harmonizing Energy- Dislocating joints while standing, wearing cool pants and being a pacifist somehow

Aikijujutsu- Gentle Art of Harmonizing Energy- same thing but smaller movements and not being a pacifist

Judo- Gentle Way- Hitting people with the Earth itself while wearing spiffy Japanese pajamas

BJJ- Brazilian Gentle Art- dislocating joints and choking people while on the ground. May be done with or without spiffy Japanese pajamas

Somehow those are all GENTLE. I call shenanigans

[The BB of C]

White Eyebrow Kung Fu...

'nuff said I'm kidding. I'm sure it's a great style. It's directly descended from Shaolin if I remember correctly. Wiki it.

Or you can take Isshinryu Karate. According to my instructor it translates to "One Heart System."

I look at the word "gentle" with a slightly different meaning when it comes to martial arts. If I was to describe a martial art as "hard" or "external", what would you think? If you're like me you think speed, conditioning, powerful strikes. Karate is very much a competition of who is faster, stronger and smarter. I won't write the twenty page essay on my train of thoughts that leads me to the following conclusion. But I feel that practitioners of "hard" styles ultimately practice forcing their will upon their opponent.

"Gentle" in martial arts (to me, keep in mind) implies a slightly different mindset. Instead of forcing my will on my opponent, I'm going to submit to his will and then show him how what he wants is wrong. My opponent can be selfish all he wants. He can have my arm if he wants it. But he's going to learn the lesson of "be careful of what you wish for because you might get it." Which could incidentally lead to him having a broken or dislocated joint, choked out or being slammed into the Earth itself.

That's what "gentle" implies to me.

Getting back to what the topic was originally about; names of styles. There certainly are some strange names out there. But it doesn't bother me. I'd love to learn White Eyebrow Kung Fu, Way of Harmonizing Energy, or continue my training in One Heart System if it means maintaining physical fitness and acquiring the ability to defend myself.

[bushido_man96]

Hehe, I guess in Tae Kwon Do, at least you get what the name implies; way of the hand and foot.

Nice summary, MasterPain. I'll ditto your shenannigans.

[sensei8]

What's in a name? That's a great question.

My style, Shindokan, means...The House of the Heart Way. It's funny how names translate for the most part, but they are what they are no matter our feelings towards them. Our Soke spoke of how Shindokan is a last means to any situation, albeit, in our house, there is only one way, and that way is dictated by our heart as to whether we attack/defend. However, our Soke also doesn't believe in the Shotokan maxim that says...there is no first strike in Karate. We understand and appreciate this maxim, but, it invites a possible attack that we may not be able to defend; and in that, we strike first shall the moment arise.

MasterPain, RIGHT ON THE MONEY, I love your simplistic humor, however right to the point of the matter!!

[gheinisch]

HON-SHIN-DO

was born out of the Karate efforts of Masters Leo Kozloski and Bruce Saver.

Sensei's Eric Cranston and Christiaan Grant along with other high ranking Black Belts were the main catalyst' for this style of Martial Arts with roots in Okinawan Shorie Ryu.

Hon - Is true Shin - Is from the heart Do - Is the way

The Translated Meaning of HON-SHIN-DO =

THE WAY OF THE TRUE HEART

[Ashley]

I think the most precise answer can be given only by easterners who know asian languages...

[honoluludesktop]

Unless English pronunciations of Japanese words are accompanied by their kanji, or offered in the context of a complete statement, translation is difficult or impossible. In one language, "a broken branch" may be commonly understood to mean "broken arm", when used in a statement about the results of an accident. A translation of the phrase "a broken branch" will not revel that. All languages are filled with similar phrases. His thoughts were muddled (vague). The road was muddled (puddled). If one says to me, I studied at the "black tiger school", I might think his school studies were about rare black tigers.

In all cases, the root of a schools name, except in the case of its founder, may have little to do with what is taught.

Wado-ryu is often translated as the way of peace and harmony. Often suggested as a moral / political / social condition. The way of harmony is also found in the uniquely Wado, kihon kumite techniques. Of course today, concepts like "nagashi" are commonly found in all ryus.