Basic principles

[Mekugi]

Happy New Year!

Topic question:

What are some of the basic principles that you teach (or have been taught) about Jujutsu that you feel apply to everything. Be specific and give details!

Kudos!

[Abbax8]

It's Judo but:

Best Use of Energy and Mutual Welfare and Benefit!

Dennis

[Ranbou Senshi]

I would say "Tai Sabaki"
It has applied to everything even outside of Jujutsu. The way I move my body now is so much different than before I began training in Jujutsu. For example, while at work I was carrying a large box where I really could not see around it. Well there was someone kneeling off to the side with his foot sitting out in my path. I completely did not see his foot so it was entirely unexpected, and all I felt was my foot miss a beat. I was quickly balanced and didn't drop what I was carrying or anything(and it was a heavy object as well). I was really surprised at this. And I knew it must have been my training in Jujutsu.

[Mekugi]

Great stuff...keeping it coming!

[sooner_sadiq]

Base, angle, leverage

[Abbax8]

Specific Examples

Best Use of Energy: I have used levers and steel pipes as wheels to roll very heavy objects (over 1 ton) when they needed to be moved.

Mutual Welfare and Benefit:

I have used inclined planes to move heavy objects up a set of steps with all the people up above the object as it was pulled by ropes, if they broke no one was hurt.

I had a tree branch break off and lodge 15 feet off the ground. It needed to come down. We tossed a weighted string up and over the branch. Tied a heavy rope and pulled it over the branch. Then we wrapped the heavy rope around a tow hitch and pulled the branch out of the tree. It crashed to the ground. It was about 20 foot long and was at least 2 feet wide at the widest, a load of wood that would ruin your whole day if it fell on you. No one was near it when it came down.

Dennis

[a student 1st]

Commitment!

commit fully to your technique.

[wab25]

Tsutemi

We translate that as sacrifice or abandonment. At first, you learn to abandon your standing posture, in order to take a safe fall. Just because you are taking a fall, does not mean that you have lost your balance, or your structure. Then you learn to abandon your standing position, in order to effect a throw. (tomoe nage) Then you learn to abandon technique A, when uke is countering. Instead of wasting energy, forcing the technique uke is countering, abandon A and switch to technique B, C, or D. If you abandon what uke is countering, he is not countering you. The trick is to stay ahead of uke and not get stuck. You also learn to realize that when uke is countering, he is setting himself up for your counter to his counter. Hopefully, you learn that there is a time to abandon things in life. That thing that went wrong last year... learn from it, and let it go... Get on with your life. Getting stuck on one thing in life will tire you out, just as much as trying to force that submission that is being countered. Many times, by giving it up, you will find something better or you may even find what you originally wanted, just from another angle or at a different time.

[Anders Pettersson]

Tsutemi

We translate that as sacrifice or abandonment.

Sorry for jumping in, but I think you mean sutemi, no "t" in the beginning.
Sutemi waza 捨身技 is a common expression in judo, mostly translated as "sacrifice techniques" see wikipedia.

/Anders

[wab25]

Thank you for the correction. For some reason I remember it spelled with the "t," and struggling with learning to say it.

[Phil Anderson]

maximum results, minimal energy and no second chances. Unbalance , continual movement distraction and destruction.
No i am not insane and violent. Terms and priciples I use when I teach come from sword arts as they apply to jujutsu.Kime -( a decision a rule a conclusion.) Once attacked one must decide whether to defend or not, once that decision is made it must be followed through. Seme- ( pushing forward with spirit and attitude ) once a decision is made to defend you must push forward in spirit even if you are not physically moving forward.

There are many solid concepts in many styles of martial arts and regardless of the names if you break them down all arts use them. Go online and check Iaido concepts and then start to compare them to other styles, I think you will be some what surprised at the similarities.

[TheLetterX]

I have learned several basic principles thru my sensei which I feel ring true not only in the dojo but in a self-defense environment also:

-"Keep it simple" everyone knows that one of course but I like it since it helps to prevent brain stalls.

-"If the student hasn't learned, the teacher hasn't taught" a principle which my sensei follows and brings to every class.

-"There are no rules, only results" this one I like because out there on the streets, anything goes. There are no rules to follow when you get attacked and have to defend yourself.

-"Violence is never the solution, but when violence is the answer, it is the only answer." The first thing my sensei said when i first started. He tells us he hopes that we never use his teachings in real life but when life will confront you and using martial arts is your only way out, he wants to make sure we'll know what to do.