Watching videos, making videos, is it Budo?

[Tripitaka of AA]

Just how much modern technology is appropriate for inclusion in the study of a Budo?

Chiyonofuji, the famous Yokozuna of 80s Sumo, was known to study videotapes of hs opponents in action. He went to extraordinary lengths to develop his technical skills and fight strategy to overcome his limitatons of size and weight.

Golfers have been known to study their own swing in minute detail, for years. Home video has made this narcissism possible for almost anyone. Does it fit nicely into the budoka's dogi bag, or should it be left outside the Dojo (along with the mobile phone, the sunglasses and the iPod)?

[swdw]

Easy answer

Old tactic- Know your opponent

DOesn't say how- just know what they do.

[TonyU]

I agree with Sam.
Use what's available.
My opinion is, use todays technology to make you a better budoka, but not to stroke your ego.

[Tripitaka of AA]

Great answers!

Now a twist. Which weapons is it OK to study? Do they have to be "old"? Why not bike chains or axe handles?

How about drugs to improve performance? Can that be good Budo too?



I'm thinking, you need to think about these things at some stage. You need to be clear in your own mind exactly what you want from Budo, and how far you'll go to achieve it.

[swdw]

Now a twist. Which weapons is it OK to study? Do they have to be "old"? Why not bike chains or axe handles?

There is an Okinawan Kobudo weapon that many of the uses can be translated to a bike chain.

The axe handle can be used similar to a jo or hanbo in SOME respects.

The difference would be one set of weapons is traditional and the other is modern. But , at one time "traditional weapons" were modern. ;)

There are Okinawan Kobudo styles that even incorporate brooms as a weapon in their system rather than translating oar techniques to the broom.


How about drugs to improve performance? Can that be good Budo too?
This crosses the line to doing something that will be harmful for you body in the long run.



You need to be clear in your own mind exactly what you want from Budo, and how far you'll go to achieve it.
Always been that way.

[RickMatz]

The axe handle can be used similar to a jo or hanbo in SOME respects.

I find it interesting that you thought of those two weapons first. I immediately thought of a bokken. Back when I trained in aikido, I found an axe handle made an excellent suburito.

[scruffysmileyface]

Seems to me I remember reading about how whole styles, both in China and Japan (especially Okinawa), sprung up from the use of everyday items like rice bowls, ladders and sticks found on the ground. No one said at the time, "Hey, let's learn to fight with this, maybe someday it'll be a traditional weapon!" It was just what was there at the time, right?

So, why not use what's here now? Learning with a bike chain would be effective for people who happen to have bike chains available to use in case of a self-defense situation, but I'm thinking more along the lines of tire irons, jack handles, flashlights, keychains, books, staplers, spatulas, and those big-gulp coffee cups you get at the 7-11.

Once again, just my .02.

~scruff

[scruffysmileyface]

Come to think of it, it would probably be pretty useful to learn to defend oneself effectively with one of those plastic trays they serve fast food on at the mall, or with a shopping cart, various canned goods, or clothes on the hanger, fresh from the dry-cleaners.

What will you have in your hand when a home intruder kicks in your front door? Me, I'm thinking remote. Won't be time to reach for the kusari-gama hanging on the wall, etc.

dang, I'm up to .04 cents again.

~scruff

[Ewok85]

Alot of the time its not that people have trained with these things but that they have been able to adapt to them... reminds me of a story about a teacher and a student who was staying with the teacher. One day the student tried to catch the teacher off guard in the kitchen and the teacher defended himself with a pan that was on hand. The student was so impressed he decided to dedicate himself to learning how to use a pan for fighting.... :rolleyes:

Ok, so maybe I can't tell the story too well, but the idea is you dont train to use these things, you just use them as you would something you know how to use (I've seen pens and pieces of paper used to restrain people, just whatever you have you can use if you adapt it to what you know).