Category Archives: NL Shotokan Newsletter

Dō and Jutsu

Dō and Jutsu
by Dan Blackmore
Published in the NL Shotokan Newsletter Vol 1, Issue 3, Winter 2014

Many different self-defence systems distinguish themselves with the suffix “dō” or “jutsu.” The general consensus seems to be that “jutsu” indicates a functional system of techniques, while “dō” indicates a more philosophical pursuit. This distinction comes from the interpretation of the kanji for “dō” and “jutsu.”

道 “Dō” can be translated as follows:
course; district; journey; moral; road-way; street; teachings
http://jisho.org/kanji/details/%E9%81%93

The translation of dō being a journey or a teaching conjures the idea that one practices the self-defence system for reasons other than learning the techniques themselves. Dō is also used to denote a district, and in context, a group that practices together. Whether the reasons to practice are to build character or discipline, to improve fitness, to belong in a group, or to compete in a sport, the word “dō” does not indicate a focus on the perfection of technique to obtain maximum power.

術 “Jutsu” has several meanings as well:
art; magic; means; resources; skill; technique; trick
http://jisho.org/kanji/details/%E8%A1%93

Interpreting jutsu as a skill or technique translates into distinguishing that the training is focused on perfecting the technique. The jutsu student strives for picture-perfect form with proper timing, focus, and force for maximum power; seeks perfection of the art.

Dō training is often identified as being on the sport side of self-defence. Students train to improve their performance of kata and kumite under tournament rules. The nature of how the sport operates can sometimes diverge from the military/warrior spirit of the original system, to those who self-identify as jutsu. To those people, jutsu training means preserving the original techniques: not to become “showy” or compromise on form and power.

To me, the interpretations of dō and jutsu are not so cut-and-dry. Perhaps the goal of the journey in your dō training is to become effective at taking care of yourself, should you be assailed in your life. For this, you would need to have training that leaves you with a reliable set of techniques that better prepares you for reacting to attack. This philosophy surely follows a warrior spirit. Similarly, all the time spent perfecting skills in jutsu training could all be for nothing if you panic in a real situation or on a tournament mat. You must train the mind to be prepared for attack as well as your body. If you focus too closely on the technique itself, you may lose sight of the big picture: the “why.”

Is dō training merely a philosophical pursuit that may diminish the quality of self-defence skill and jutsu training the choice for strong techniques? Could dō training be a journey towards truly effective and practical self-defence skills and jutsu training be an endless pursuit of perfection, which leaves students unable to see the forest through the tress? No matter how you interpret these terms individually, perhaps it is better to consider how better the concepts of dō and jutsu may be applied together as we train: endeavouring to improve oneself and one’s skill through the pursuit of strong and effective techniques, and understanding how to shift gears between training to preserve an art and training a practical form of self-defence.

Benefits of Weapons Training

Benefits of Weapons Training for Karate Practitioners
By Bob Davis
Published in the NL Shotokan Newsletter Vol 1, Issue 2, Fall 2013

There are many benefits to Kobujutsu (weapons training). Regular training will improve both your health and your karate.

Kobujutsu and karate have many things in common. Both arts are broken down into kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (fighting). They both share blocking and striking movements such as soto uke (outside block), uchi uke (inside block), uchi (strikes), and zuki (punches). As well, they share some of the same stances, zenkutsu dachi (front stance) and neko ashi dachi (cat stance). Principles such as ma-ai (distance and timing), kime (focus), tai sabaki (body shifting), atemi waza (vital striking points), and mushin (calm mind) are all principles that both weapons and karate training share.

Like karate training, weapons practice is demanding and will improve your endurance. Weapons like bo, sai, tonfa, and kama all weigh a pound or more. Regular practice with them will help develop muscle strength and coordination. Kobujutsu and karate use a lot of the same muscles; the warm-ups and callisthenics are the same. Both weapons and karate classes begin with push-ups, sit-ups, stretching, and core exercises.

Weapons training will improve your reaction skills and bring balance to your techniques. Mistakes in weapons can be dangerous and therefore safety is very important. Like karate, “getting out of the way” is always the first order of business. Kumite in Kobujutsu, always has a designated attacker and defender. There is always a natural tendency to have a “good side” in karate. To improve the weak side, you may have heard the phrase “twice on the left and once on the right”. Practice with the bo is done on both the right side and left side. As well, after mastering the bo, you will move to the study of sai and tonfa. These weapons are used in pairs, one in each hand.

Learning Kobujutsu kata will introduce karate students to new stances, as well as offer greater understanding of Shotokan Kata you have already been practicing. Stances like Neko ashi dachi (cat stance), Shiko dachi (square stance), and Kosa dachi (crossing stance) are used regularly in Kobu. Some of these are also found in Shotokan but in higher-level katas. Neko ashi dachi (cat stance) shows up in katas such as Gojushiho – Dai, Unsu, and Hangetsu. Katas such as Jitte, Enpi, and Meikyo have elements of bo in them. One of the first things that I was asked to do in Kobujutsu, was to take a kata from Shotokan that I knew and perform it with sai. I chose Hein Shodan. It was amazing how easy sai fit into the kata!

Training in weapons can also be fun and exciting! It can give a karate student that has gotten bored, a renewed interest in training. Kobujutsu has its own grading and belt rank system. Starting as a white belt can let an advanced karate practitioner become a beginner again.

Training for Shodan

Training for Shodan
By Bob Davis
Published in the NL Shotokan Newsletter Vol 1, Issue 1, Spring 2013

I started training in Shotokan Karate in 2005 and tested successfully for Shodan in 2012.

After I reached brown belt, I had two years to prepare for my Shodan grading. In the first year I concentrated on learning the required kata, Kihon, and kumite for the exam. You will have to know Bassai Dai and Tekki Shodan and one other Heien kata. Know them all well! You have to get to the point where the kata are natural to you. Understanding not just what comes next but also what the techniques are for and the timing of the kata.

In my second year of brown belt, I started working on conditioning as well. Important things to work on would be; core strength, flexibility, and cardio. On top of your karate classes, add in a day or two of cardio a week. Biking, running, swimming, and hiking. Don’t wait until a few months before the exam. With exercise, come injuries. You don’t want to get hurt and be sitting around for weeks waiting for things to heal. Better to suffer the injuries earlier on and over come them. As much as possible, try to replicate karate-training conditions outside the dojo. Make sure to warm up properly. Create routines with bursts of explosiveness and make the routines last an hour to begin and then two hours later on. Wear a jogging suit the same weight as your gi. Drink water before and after your workouts, and not during like a regular class.

Once your conditioning is where you want it (about 6 months), find a buddy to train with. Find another karate guy that is going for Shodan or training for a higher rank. Do an hour of cardio and conditioning followed by an hour of karate. Work your kata and then your sanbon and kumite, just like the exam. Start with the advanced kata and then work backwards. Nothing will help you with your kumite besides more kumite. Train to the point where you can relax in the middle of fighting. Create openings and then capitalize on them. Pressure your opponent, get him to make mistakes and leave openings.

Gradings are usually done at a yearly seminar during the summer, although they can also be done in class. The seminars tend to be 6-8 hours with the grading component at the end. I would recommend going to the one the year before your grading to check it out. There is a break in the middle for lunch. I would recommend bringing two gi’s with you. After lunch you will be able to change into a fresh gi. Drink lots of water before, during lunch, and after the seminar. Dehydration causes dizziness, fatigue, and confusion. Eat food that will give you sustained energy for the seminar and grading without making you sluggish. Avoid coffee and soda as they will dehydrate you.

The Shodan grading is a big milestone in your karate training. Dan gradings are longer, requires more stamina, advanced kata, and kumite than kyu gradings. Keep in mind that Shodan maybe the end of the kyu ranks but it is only the beginning of the dan ranks. If you prepare for it properly, you can be a success at your Shodan grading.