Looking for an art to practice

[Kage_Kirakyojin]

Konban-wa.
Hajimema****e.

I'm a fledgling martial artist just begining to learn the Japanese language. Although I'm quite interested in self defense, that's only a part of why I'm interested in the martial arts. A reason just as prominant as my first is my desire to learn all I can about Japanese culture.

Herein is my problem: I'm looking for a Japanese martial art, comprised of circular movments, a wide arsenal of strikes, as well as take-downs, pins, and throws. I'm looking for an art that's free from rigid form and linear movment.

Truthfully, I like the way kung fu looks, specifically Wing Chun. But I'm not at all interested in China or Chinese culture. I guess what I'm looking for is a kung fu type art that's Japanese in style and tradition. Is there such an art?

--Kage

[Sgathak]

I'm looking for a Japanese martial art, comprised of circular movments, a wide arsenal of strikes, as well as take-downs, pins, and throws. I'm looking for an art that's free from rigid form and linear movment.

Jujutsu, Aikido, Judo, Aikijujutsu all pop into my head as having, at least elements, of what your looking for.

Jujutsu or Aikijujutsu would probably have the most range of techniques... but Aikido is almost all circles (AFAIK - not an Aikidoka), and Judo is just packed full of takedowns, pins and throws.

Just my 2 cents - I dont do any of the above arts so cant speak with any authority, but they fit with your wants, as far as I know.

If you were looking for a Russian art, I know EXACTLY what your looking for!:D ;) :D

[BUDO BULLDOG]

Hello Sgathak,

Goju = If you wish to have more of a striking base to your above listed criteria.

Aikido = If you wish to have more of a flowing, throwing and immobilization focus.

I was involved in Shotokan for 7 years and it is a linear as you can get.

Good Luck and enjoy.

Ed Barton

[jabonn]

Yes Sgathak I know what your talking about
If you were looking for a Russian art, I know EXACTLY what your looking for! Sombo!

Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu, Bulldog.

As far as a Japanese style that looks like Kung Fu, you will not find it. There is a style of Okinawan karate that would come close Ryuei Ryu (http://www.ryueiryu.com/start.html). I will assume you are wanting more soft fluid movements than the hard styles.

You are headed down the right path. You can't go wrong with Japanese arts. (Judo & Uechi-ryu)

[Musubi Dojo]

Aiki-jujutsu if you can find it.
Hakko Ryu Jujutsu (Sp?)
Toga Kore Ryu Ninjutsu
Aikido (there are different styles, watch some clasees)
Judo is great jumping off point and a lot of people start there because there are clubs all over. Not a lot of striking usually unless the instructor teaches the older self defense methods.(in my experience anyway)

Best of luck

Chris

Edited: I almost forgot Shorinji Kempo.

[JujitsuFreak]

From your post it would seem to me that you would benefit from Small Circle Jujitsu, or even Aikido.

Small Circle (hence the focus on the circle) with pins and throws... which is the style Im familiar with, seems according to your post what you may be looking for. Give it a try if you can find it, im sure other schools of jujitsu are similar or close to the idea of the circular movements. The theory behind Small Circle Jujitsu is definately free of linear movement. :)

[Sgathak]

Per forum rules, please post with your real full name.

[Joseph_Bowen]

well, with Judo, remember it's a sport in its modern form, so while it has some great self defense stuff, it's geared towards fighting other judokas in tourneys as opposed fighting attackers.....but that's not to say it's worthless, getting thrown toughens you and it's a great endurance builder

but btw I wouldn't reccomend getting thrown though lol

[Lee82mark4]

I agree judo provides great basics. Dave Lowry, amongst others has said that those with judo backgrounds, when all else fails, it rises to the top just as the cream in your milk.

As judo was created in peacetime in an effort to save or salvage jujutsu in its former current condition, there are good reasons for judo's sporting manner as a combative sport as well as budo.

It was the spirt of jujutsu which was lost at the time, with no fighting, no wartime aspects of it to use, the many ryu of jujutsu took to rough house tactics, causing fights in the street in a way to prove technique and the results of it. The one, major flaw Kano Jigoro noted was the then current manner of the "jumping-in" of prospective students. One had to be tough enough to get in.

There was also the manner of throwing and pinning to the ground Kano saw which needed to be changed. Mostly, it was left to the biggest and strongest, legs spread wide, and strength had become the way of performing such waza. Kano took jujutsu technique apart, and he was the first to study the technique with the eye of an academic, he was an educated man andhe was sure jujutsu could be taught and learned so that everyone could do so. If you look at early photo of kata you will see mainly women practicing.

Whether judo is budo or a sport has little to do with the effectiveness of judo. It was and is the first budo of its kind in the modern era (Meiji) to use randori as the main training tool, and it was used at full speed and effect, something not thought of since the time of the old kito-ryu school of the late18th century, Jikishin-ryu (not related to jikishin-kage-ryu). Its founder also studied the purpose of ran and was the first to use the term Judo, though back then it was probably pronounced jiu no michi or yawara no michi, but with identical kanji for judo.

While taryu jiai has been ongoing since the first ryu-ha from takeuchi (takenouchi) ryu, shiai, or rather shi-ni-ai, was the favored expression of jujutsu, or Kodokan Judo. Its translation is the key to performing judo as a peacetime activity, but anyone who sells it short for this reason, well, he hasn't reasoned.

Judo is in a comeback mode or sorts. Even the so-called "No Holds Barred" style of organized fightingis taking a long look at judo, mainly for judo's role in changing the NHB scene.

While judo is making its case in that arena, original judo is making a strong come-back. In the US, as well as most international competition (minus the Olympics for now), the kata of the gokyo no waza is seen in virtually every tournament today, in nationals, regionals/state tournament. Even at the local level, those who do compete in the kata competitions are growing, and some are not only learning the randori no kata and ju no kata, but also the superior kata.

It is debatable whether competition is really necessary to kata, but its appearance today is a big change.

The last national chanpionships I attended last year had a kata competition, and while most centered on nage no kata and katame no kata, goshin jutsu no kata is making an appearance, and if this system is coming, its very similar older form, Kime no kata (or Shinken Shobu no kata) is right around the corner. Judo indeed is budo.


Mark

PS: Kage_Kirakyojin, judo may indeed be what you are looking for, at least for the present time. Even if you do go on to something else, two years will give you a strong set of basics.

[Joseph_Bowen]

well you make some great points, however I would have to say that it IS a sport in it's modern form, a lot of judo guys consisder themselves "athletes" which is just stupid in my opinion. I personally don't see why so many people want to make martial arts into games, but that's another whole topic right there. I would agree that judo is rough, and can toughen you, and has a lot of techniques that everyone should know, but it is not based on self defense in its modern form, if it ever was, like my judo instructor said, "we're about getting points and putting someone on their back, not beating someone up". So I'd say it's a martial sport that has a lot of great, and essential at times, techniques, and I'm glad I trained in it, however I'm glad I left. It can be used for fighting to a certain extent, but it's not a pure fighting art I do not believe it's a budo, I mean it doesn't even begin, in it's modern form, to teach defenses against strikes or weapons and in it's modern form doesn't teach leg locks, and I know other stuff that's considered a no-no in judo. And I also don't believe that defenses against ground strikes or knees are taught either.In my opinion it's a martial sport that contains a lot of useful techniques, but those techniques can be found elewhere for the most part in my experience, and quite frankly, thinking you're a real martial artist, or a real fighter,just because you do a limited style like judo {although all arts are limited} is laughable to me, as it in no way prepres you for strikes or multiple attackers and is not a 100% martial ART to begin with.

[Lex]

the only ma i can think of with all round features is JJ (jujitsu), its extremely japanese and it is fluid not linear and it also has a massive variety of moves and techniques which im happy to say work. (well were i learn!) it is self-defense, (u learn some ground/grappling techniques along with some strikes and also throws and v.good joint locks and wrist locks). You learn defense against weapons(knives and pipes not guns lol), alos its taught in a calm Budo sense.
Hope this helps m8!
----------------------------------
Lex Williamz

'Practise makes perfect'

[Jack Stay]

Konban-wa.
Hajimema****e.

I'm a fledgling martial artist just begining to learn the Japanese language. Although I'm quite interested in self defense, that's only a part of why I'm interested in the martial arts. A reason just as prominant as my first is my desire to learn all I can about Japanese culture.

Herein is my problem: I'm looking for a Japanese martial art, comprised of circular movments, a wide arsenal of strikes, as well as take-downs, pins, and throws. I'm looking for an art that's free from rigid form and linear movment.

Truthfully, I like the way kung fu looks, specifically Wing Chun. But I'm not at all interested in China or Chinese culture. I guess what I'm looking for is a kung fu type art that's Japanese in style and tradition. Is there such an art?

--Kage


Consider this style of jujitsu: http://www.hakkoryu.com

_________________
John 'Jack' Stay

[Erik]

If you're interested in culture and art, try aikido or an aiki-derivative, as mentioned above and all over these forums.

If you want to fight, try various Kempos, Kokushinko (spelling?), and the like.

If you want a sport, try my favorite, JUDO!

From what you write above, your best bet is probably aikido, which is heavy on the art and light on the martial, so to speak, but quite possibly the most sophisticated and intriguing martial art from Japan. If not the most, at least it's fascinating.