06/23/2024
Interesting description of the depth of Japanese martial arts. I have always enjoyed training in Budo and appreciate it's depth and history.
Nowadays, I find many peoples view and understanding of the martial arts as being quite narrow. They are ignorant or neglect to seriously consider and respect the vastness of what the study of combat arts entail. People specialise in a certain aspect of combat and then believe it is the best. However, in what context is it the best? Understanding this is the key. There is no superior martial art, only a superior martial artist.
In ancient times, warriors studied all aspects of warfare. Battles consisted of much more than delivering punches,kicks and throws. In real war, weapons of many types were used in all conditions and environments. Martial arts was solely developed for the purpose of war and mortal combat. I think it is important for so called ‘modern day’ martial artists to think well about what the study of true martial arts entails. In Japan, warriors of old developed an array of skill sets that became formatted as the Ninpô jūhakkei and the Bugei jūhappan to address all aspects of conventional and unconventional warfare. These formats of course adapted to the era and location.
南虎
1. Seishinteki Kyōyō (精神的教養 spiritual refinement)
2.Budô Taijutsu (体術 martial body techniques)
Hokōjutsu (歩行術 walking techniques)
Senkōjutsu (潜行術 infiltration by walking techniques)
Hichōjutsu (飛鳥術 jumping techniques)
Taihenjutsu (体変術 body movement techniques)
Mutō Dori (無刀捕 sword capturing unarmed)
Kosshijutsu (骨指術 bone and finger techniques)
Koppōjutsu (骨法術 bone method techniques)
Jūtaijutsu (柔体術 yielding by using the body techniques - another way to say jūjutsu) Dakentaijutsu (打拳体術 striking fist and body techniques)
Hajutsu no Hō (破術の法 method of breaking and tearing techniques)
3. Kenpō / Bikenjutsu (剣法 / 秘剣術 sword methods / secret sword techniques)
Daitōjutsu (大刀術 sword techniques)
Tachijutsu (太刀術 long sword techniques)
Ninja Tōhō (忍者刀法 ninja sword methods)
Nitōjutsu (二刀術 2 swords techniques) Kodachijutsu (小太刀術 short sword techniques)
Tantōjutsu (短刀術 dagger techniques) Sageojutsu (下げ緒 sword cord techniques)
4. Sōjutsu (槍術 spear techniques)
Kamayarijutsu (鎌槍術 sickle spear techniques)
5. Naginatajutsu (長刀術 or 薙刀術 glaive techniques) Bisentōjutsu (眉尖刀術 broad blade glaive techniques)
6. Bōjutsu (棒術 staff techniques)
Rokushaku Bōjutsu (六尺棒術 6 foot staff)
Hanbōjutsu / Sanshaku Bōjutsu (半棒術 / 三尺棒術 half staff / 3 foot staff techniques) Jōjutsu / Yonshaku Bōjutsu (杖術 / 四尺棒術 cane / 4 foot staff techniques)
Shikomi Jōjutsu (仕込み杖術 concealed [inside] cane techniques)
7. Kajutsu (火術 fire techniques)
Kayakujutsu (火薬術 fi****ms, gunpowder and explosives techniques) Kaki (火器 fire tools)
8. Kusarigamajutsu (鎖鎌術 sickle and chain techniques) Kyoketsu Shogejutsu (距跋渉毛術 ninja sickle [with a ring at the end of a chain] techniques)
9. Shurikenjutsu (手裏剣術 hand blade throwing techniques) Bō Shuriken (棒手裏剣 straight throwing spike) Ita Shuriken (板手裏剣 plank throwing blade)
Happō Shuriken (八方手裏剣 eight point hand blade) Senban Nage (銛磐投 sharp rock throwing)
-Senban Nage (旋盤投 rotating disk throwing)
-Teppan Nage (鉄盤投 iron disk throwing)
10. Kyūjutsu (弓術 archery techniques)
Bushajutsu (歩射術 normal archery techniques)
Kishajutsu (騎射術 archery from horseback techniques)
11. Suijutsu (水術 water techniques)
Suiei (水泳 swimming)
Suiren (水練 water training) Suiki (水器 water crossing tools)
12. Hensōjutsu (変装術 disguise techniques – connected to jinton jūppō)
13. Ongyōjutsu (隠形術 disappearing and concealing techniques)
Tenton Jūppō (天遁十法 10 heavenly [meteorological phenomena and astronomy] methods of hiding)
Chiton Jūppō / Omote Gotonpō (地遁十法 / 表五遁法 10 earthly methods of hiding / 5 hiding methods)
Jinton Juppo / Ura Gotonpō (人遁十法 / 裏五遁法 10 human [and animals] methods of hiding / reverse 5 hiding methods – connected to hensōjutsu)
14. Kakushi Bukijutsu (隠し武器 secret hidden weapon techniques) Shukō (手鉤 hand claws – connected to tōki climbing tools) Kakushi (角指 horned finger ring)
Kusari Fundō (鎖分銅 weighted chain)
Fukiya (吹き矢 blow gun)
Tekken (鉄拳 iron fist - like brass knuckles) Nekode (猫手 cat claws)
Makibishi (撒き菱 caltrops)
15. Ninki (忍器 ninja tools)
Shinobi Rikugu (忍び六具 6 tools of the ninja) Tōki (登器 climbing tools)
Kaiki (開器 opening tools)
16. Ninyakujutsu (忍薬術 special medicine techniques)
17. Gunryaku Heihō / Bōryaku (軍略兵法 / 謀略 strategies / unorthodox strategies)
Chikujō (築城 castle construction; fortification) Chōhō (諜報 intelligence)
Innin no jutsu (陰忍の術 covert techniques) Yōnin no jutsu (陽忍の術 overt techniques)
18. Tenmon / Chimon (天門 / 地門 gates of heaven [astrology, astronomy, and meteorology] and earth [geography, topography, and divination])