PRINCIPLES

LINEAR AND CIRCULAR

It does not matter which style you perform, because we are depend on Nature and it should be understood that there are generally two movements made on the Budo field:

 1. Linear direction, motion and

 2. Circular direction, motion (Spiral belong to this group)

These really make the difference between styles and schools:

Katai – hard style, emphasize linear motion, example: Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Boxing

Ju - soft styles, circular and spiral direction, example: Judo, Aikido, Wrestling
 

URA ,OMOTE & LINK BETWEEN

Between hard and soft we see third which combine both styles, more or less utilizing Katai and Ju, depending on the situation: one or more attackers, space, time, employed hands or weapons: Ju jutsu, our Kobudo etc. Important is to understand that Katai is also possible to perform in circular direction and Ju in linear movement. This makes different between the concept of Aikido where we see a big circles and Ju jutsu where the circle is small thus not gave a chance to escape or blend with opponent. This way the Link group is the centre.
Application of techniques could be performed medially (OMOTE) or laterally (URA) on the opponent. In this principle you can divide again all Budo styles and call them Internal (medial) and External (lateral). Here is the 3rd group again as link between Katai & Ju, Omote & Ura:

Internal: Karate - Shotokan, Judo, Sumo etc.

External: Aikido, Karate – Goju ryu etc.

Link: Ju jutsu, Kukishin ryu, our Kobudo (Kobujutsu)

As daily examine a sport injuries made me easy to understand above principles. It is based on Anatomy, Sports Physiology and Kinesiology which is my area of expertise.
 

OUR KOBUDO

In our system you have to develop physically and theoretically in basics, these include:

Dachi waza   - Stances                                    Grip and grip change
Kamae         - Positions                                     is an ABC in armed
Ashi waza    - Walking                                            Martial arts.

Tai Sabaki    - Body motion, shifting                  However, the Foot work
Mochi          - Grip  #I.1                                is not less important  and
Uke waza     - Blocks                                          it is an ABC in all
Atemi, Seme - Attacks                                           Martial arts.
Ukemi waza   - Falls               
                                                                                            #I.1
The basics have to be polished always when practicing Budo. Technique cannot be good enough if Kamae is not good. Position depend on Dachi and Ma -distance. Second stage is:

Mochikae    - Changing the grip, very important in weapon techniques.
Atemi waza - advanced Attacks, Tsuki, Uchi, Furi, Hiraki and Kiri.                                 Kaiten waza – Fair away the opponent
Geri waza    - Kicks
Kari waza    - Sweeps
Tobi waza   - Jumps

In defense you cannot ignore leg techniques, even if the focus is on armed martial arts. It may seem a good idea to get out of the range of the kick (Ueshiba sensei principle) but what if you don’t have a chance for it? In other way your counterattack can utilize soft leg techniques which belongs to higher advanced level:

Shime waza     - Choking
Kansetsu waza - Joint locking
Nage waza       - Throws
Katame Kyo      - Immobilization # I.2
Kumi Kyo          - Transportation # I.3
Nogare Waza    - Releasing techniques

In the past important was to develop fast killing methods:

Tameshi waza - Breaking techniques
Kiri waza        - Cutting techniques
Sappo            - A method of attacking vital points in order to cause a coma or death 

          
Atemi is not only a Katai technique as punching, striking, slapping, cutting or kicking, but also Ju techniques as - joint locks, chokes, throws, hawks. Many of Katai style high rank masters studying a Ju styles. Somehow seems it is requiring more coordination and nowadays it’s not important to kill just affectively control the opponents by Ju. But by careful, because throws, Nage waza have been designed to cause several injuries (not one only) including very serious fractures. In Budo we must be aware of the results of applying the techniques. It is also important to know how to heal if you have hurt. You can start you Budo right now from here:

Kappo   - Rescue method
Shiatsu - Pressure on BAP based on Chinese Acupuncture for healing and regeneration
Kenbiki  - Joint mobilization and muscles stretch, massage
Reiki     - Healing by Internal energy Ki, channeled through a person hands

One of technique used from a distance is a Kiai – Releasing, transferring an Internal power to sound, which I describe from physiological view in chapter Medical sciences & Budo article Budo physiology.

TEN IMPORTANT FEATURES ON BUDO FIELD

Position - Kamae
Always place yourself in a safe position. Depending on situation, it can be either close or far or sideways etc. from your opponent. With body movement simultaneously use blocking techniques. Especially for beginners, I would advise to move to the lateral side of the opponent - URA field. You need to be a bit more advanced to enter the OMOTE - medial field.

Grip change - Mochikae
Before you decide to carry a weapon, learn how to hold it. Different weapons require different grips. There are many in wooden. Grips change will surprise your opponent with unaccepted effective final blow. This is an ABC of armed styles.

Hard (Katai) or Soft (Ju)
From proper Kamae you can deliver proper Atemi, Generally throws (Nage) and joint locks (Kansetsu) require a closer distance. If you get here follow by Ju style, even if you have a weapon, because punches or strikes from a short distance are less effective. Here Katai makes more sense just to shock your opponent as in paralyzing him. In far distance use Katai. Besides weapons, you can also use kicks (Geri waza).

Fluidity
Always keep moving till you have finished the maneuver and do not be stationary target for your opponent. Kumite is actual application of mind and techniques flow. Once your mind stop, your technique stops too. Do not look at the way, you will miss the target. If you will focus to target, you will lose a way how to reach there. (Zen riddle: when you seek it, you can’t find it).

Budoka
Be ready at any time to rescue your attacker or opponent. Be a Budo-ka, not a fighting monster.

Best art?
Finally there are no differences in martial arts - there is no such thing as which is the best. If two Budoka meet in a duel, it is not a confrontation of the art, but of the person presenting it.

Think
Opponent could be defeated physically with or without reason. To defeat him mentally you must use a reason. Think more and react less. Fight without fight.

Learn
When you learn, provide your teacher with dedication. When you teach, share your knowledge with students and you will learn again. Sen (born) sei (before) could be somebody even younger than you. Explore and learn. “Knowing your self is Enlightenment” (Lao Tzu).

Do
Choice and chance is the same. It is really up to you on which Do - Way, martial or life path you’ll walk… but do not forget there is only One Martial Art.

My Motto: Hurting is not worth a man.