Arizona Martial Arts

2012-01-04T12:21:00.000-08:00

Self-Defense clinics

As we start our new year, we hope to see you in our dojo - stop by and watch a class, we have no salesmen so you will not be pressured into signing up - in fact, we will not even bring it up unless you ask first. We offer traditional martial arts classes for adults and families.

Mesa Grandparents are Karate Masters: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

Tuesdays

6:45-7:50 pm Shorin-Ryu Karate Kihon (basics) & Kata (forms)
7:50-8:20 pm Advanced Shorin-Ryu Kata & Bunkai (Applications)

Wednesdays

3-4 pm Family Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo
4-5 pm Shorin-Ryu Kids Karate (by invitation only).
6:45-7:50 pm Shorin-Ryu Self-Defense & Jujutsu.
7:50-8:20 pm Samurai Arts (sword, spear, halbert, short staff)

Thursdays

6:45-7:50 pm Shorin-Ryu Kobudo & Bunkai
7:50-8:20 pm Advanced Kobudo & Bunkai

Fridays-Saturdays
Special Clinics (see our Calendar or Newsletter)

FEES
We have some of the lowest rates in the East Valley. No sign up fees. Start as soon as you pay for your first lesson or first month. You can pay either month by month or day by day - its up to you.

JUJUTSU - ART OF SOFTNESS

2010-06-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

Jujutsu is a combat art developed by samurai centuries ago. The combat art had a different evolution than karate. Karate, which focuses on kicks and punches is indigenous to Okinawa and became combat form and later an art for both peasants and Okinawan royalty. Jujutsu, indigenous to Japan, had a different purpose. It was designed as hand to hand combat to defend against a heavily armed samurai with armor. Punching an enemy wearing armor with bare hands and feet does not seem like a bright idea, thus the samurai developed throwing techniques (nage waza), foot sweeps and trips to defend against other armored and armed samurai.

An armed samurai (Kyoshi Rob Watson, 8th dan) wearing armor at the 2009 Utah Gassuku in East Canyon.

Along with throws, the jujutsuka learned unique strikes (atemi) to disturb the balance of the samurai (whether armored or unarmored). These atemi were designed to unbalance an opponent and generate a shock wave propagated through armor.

Today we recognized two general categories of jujutsu: (1) Koryu (ancient) traditional jujutsu which was designed to defend against armed samurai with or without armor, and (2) modern Gendai jujutsu that favors self-defense applications used in sport and modern self-defense. Many Gendai schools lack lineage and traditions (i.e., Brazilian jujutsu).

Some of the weapons of the Samurai shown by Sensei Gillespie, Soke Hausel and Shihan Stahl. These include katana, bo, yari, naginata and others.

In both old style and modern jujutsu, atemi is important. Before one can effectively throw an attacker, the aggressor’s balance should be disturbed. In Arizona we find (thanks to a questionable grant - afterall we did not need some government research project to tell us what we already know in Mesa and Gilbert in the East Valley of Phoenix) people sweat more than in any other state. To grab and throw someone in Arizona is much more difficult than in Wyoming (where it is dry and cold), simply because sweaty people are slippery and difficult to grasp. But then again, in Wyoming, throwing someone while standing on ice or snow may not be the best idea.

Use of te-waza (hand throw). An excellent example of a throw useful against a samurai wearing armor. Soke Hausel throws Josh Swartz at the Casper dojo in Wyoming.

According to the Overlook Martial Arts Dictionary, atemi translates as "body strikes". It refers to "…a method of attacking the opponents pressure points". In A Dictionary of the Martial Arts there is a more detailed description. It states that an atemi is... "…aimed at the vital or weak points of an opponent's body in order to paralyze by means of intense pain. Such blows can produce loss of consciousness, severe trauma and even death…the smaller the striking surface used in atemi, the greater the power of penetration and thus the greater the effectiveness of the blow". This may be true in modern jujutsu, but in the ancient styles of jujutsu, pressure points for armored samurai were not important on a battlefield. A samurai covered with armor, had few if any exposed pressure points.

Today, atemi is used to provide a distraction leading to a throw, joint lock, or choke. This is done by redirecting an opponent into a throw through attacking vital points to cause pain or loss of consciousness. In other words, it is easier to throw an unconscious or disoriented aggressor and one who is already moving in the direction of the throw. One common atemi is a palm strike along the jaw line, ear (mimi) or neck (kubi). This also was likely used against armored samurai. Even with a helmet, a powerful open hand "teisho uchi" strike to the side of a helmet would ring one’s bell.

Hanshi Andy Finley is under arrest using the old samurai art of hojojutsu to produce an unusual type of hand and leg cuffs at the Casper dojo.

The term ‘jūjutsu’ was coined in the 17th century, after it became a blanket term for a wide variety of grappling combat forms. Jujutsu (柔術) translates as the „art of softness‟or „way of yielding‟. The oldest forms of jujutsu are referred to as Sengoku jujutsu or Nihon Koryu Jujutsu. These were developed during the Muromachi period (1333–1573 AD) and focused on techniques that assisted samurai in defeating unarmed, lightly armed, and heavily armed and armored samurai – thus a greater emphasis was placed on joint locks and throws.

Later in history, other koryu developed that are similar to many modern styles. Many of these are classified as Edo jūutsu and were founded in the Edo Period (1625-1868 AD) of Japan. Most are designed to deal with opponents without armor. Edo jujutsu commonly emphasizes use of atemi waza. Inconspicuous weapons such as a tantō( knife) and tessen (iron fans) are included in Edo jūutsu curriculum.

Another interesting art taught in Sengoku and Edo jujutsu systems is known as hojojutsu. This involves a cord used to restrain or strangle an attacker. Such techniques have faded from most modern jujutsu styles, although Tokyo police units still train in hojojutsu and carry a hojo in addition to handcuffs.

The hanbo (half-bo) is a very nice weapon that can be used to subdue an attacker with effectiveness. Sensei Lenny Martin of the University of Wyoming dojo volunteers to assist Soke Hausel at East Canyon, Utah.

Weapons training were extremely important to Samurai. Koryu schools included the bo (six-foot staff), hanbo (three-foot staff), jo (4-foot staff), tachi (sword), wakizashi (short sword), tanto (knife), jitte (short one hook truncheon), yari (spear), naginata (halberd), ryofundo kusari (weighted chain) and bankokuchoki (knuckle-duster).

Edo jujutsu was followed by development of Gendai Jujutsu at the end of the Edo Period. Gendai, or modern Japanese jujutsu, shows influence of traditional jujutsu. Goshin Jujutsu styles developed at about the same time, but the Goshin styles are only partially influenced by traditional jujutsu and have mostly been developed outside of Japan.

Ryan Harden applies kubi nage waza on Dr. Adam at the Arizona School
of Traditional Karate

Today, many Gendai jujutsu styles have been embraced by law enforcement officials and continue to provide foundations for specialized systems by police officials. The best known of these is Keisatsujutsu (police art) or Taihojutsu (arresting art) formulated by the Tokyo Police.
Jujutsu is the basis for many military unarmed combat training programs for many years and there are many forms of sport (non-traditional) jujutsu, the most popular being judo, now an Olympic sport. Some examples of martial arts that have been influenced by jujutsu include Aikido, Hapkido, Judo, Sambo, Kajukenbo, Kudo, Kapap, Kempo and Ninjutsu as well as some styles of Japanese Karate, such as Wado-ryu Karate, which is considered a branch of ShindōYōhin-ryūJujutsu.

Special training in kiogajutsu. This is an example of modern jujutsu using an expandable police baton for self-defense training. The kioga can be used very effectively similar to a hanbo and kobuton all rolled into one weapon. Many police departments carry this weapon but unfortunately, few officers are properly trained in its use. Sensei Brett Philbrick of the Laramie Police department applies joint lock on Shihan-Dai Kyle Gewecke from the Gillette, Wyoming dojo.

The training uniform (keikogi) provides an excellent indicator of traditions in a jujutsu dojo. Traditional schools wear plain white gi often with a dark hakama (the most colorful uniform might be plain black or the traditional blue of quilted keikogi. Lack of ostentatious display, with an attempt to achieve or express the sense of rustic simplicity is common in traditional arts. The use of the traditional (Shoden, Chuden, Okuden, Kirigami and Menkyo Kaiden) ranking system is also a good indicator of traditional jujutsu. These are parallel to the common dan-i (kyu/dan) ranking used in traditional karate.

Training with tanto (knife) at the University of Wyoming. Hanshi Andy Finley attacks Sensei Kyle Linton.

VISIT OUR HOMBU IN MESA, ARIZONA

Map to Dojo

Ryan Harden applies yubi waza on Neal Adam

Our center is open to the public - we focus on Adults and Families.

Learn the traditions of Okinawan Karate & Kobudo & how we are trying to make this world a better place, one person at a time.

We introduce meditation, philosophy, Japanese and martial arts history in our karate & kobudo classes.

FEES
We have some of the lowest rates in the East Valley. No sign up fees. Start as soon as you pay for your first lesson or first month. You can pay either month by month or day by day - its up to you.

Melinda applies choke on Dr. Neal Adam

Even though our address lists us at 60 W. Baseline Road, we are actually on the NE Corner of MacDonald!

FEES We have some of the lowest rates in the East Valley.

Visit our websites:

Seiyo Kai International

Arizona Karate

Jujutsu - Art of Softness

Arizona Martial Arts

JUJUTSU - ART OF SOFTNESS