Rock Ape: Hi there. Nice to meet you. Well, myself, I have no connection to "The American Federation of Jujitsu" and I am unfamiliar to what structure they use, grading system, techniques, etc. And I have never met nor do I know any of the people in your pictures, so you would be better to ask them your questions about their system of JuJitsu.


Myself, I have a registered Certified Black Belt in YoShinRyu JuJitsu with the Dai Nippon Butokukai (Japan Great Martial Arts Virtues Organization) in Japan. I'm currently a 2nd Degree Black Belt in YoShin Ryu JuJitsu, and a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Bushido-Kai JuJitsu (which is more of a "Combined JuJitsu Arts System" of Traditional and more Modernized JuJitsu).


Over the years of JuJitsu evolution I'm sure many of the traditional styles and techniques of JuJitsu have been perhaps modified, lost / forgotten, added to or combined with other MAs so I can not tell you with 100% certainty that the style of Yoshin Ryu I've learned over the years is a pure version of Yoshin Ryu. But from what I recall in conversations with my Instructor is that one of his Instructors in YoshinRyu (and going from my fading memory, was a Japanese but ended up living in Vancouver Canada) was fairly high-ranked in Yoshin Ryu who studied and got his certifications in Japan. And I got most of my JuJitsu training in Canada under my Instructor, who on my behalf when I was ready for my first level of Black Belt in YoShin Ryu, he then in arangement with his YoShin Ryu Instructor was able to get me registered with the Dai Nippon Butokukai in Japan.


And I admit that often times in the training sometimes I was a bit confused as to stucture, cirriculim and MA politics and I took my Instructors word and believed what he told and taught me was the real thing. And having training in other Martial Arts before meeting him I could tell he was quite skillful and knowledgeable in the Martial Arts and never did I feel he was a "fraud" or "lying" to me about anything (and I'm a fairly good judge of character and also have a fairly good BS detector). :) Anyways, it took me many long years of training with him for me to be able to build a foundation and upon much practice and taking many notes on what I was learning (eventually making my own guide of techniques I could refer to), I eventually was able to piece together a "stucture" of what was being taught to me and build upon that. In training with my JuJitsu Instructor, we weren't too formal, never got hung up on titles, but we threw ourself with dedication into the training, have an open-mind, be adaptable in what we learned & practiced and enjoyed what we were doing.


Myself, I'm not so interested politics of Martial Arts. In training close to 25 years in a variety of Martial Art styles, I have come to learn when something is "the real deal", and what is most likely not. I train and practice for the love of it, and if I never gain any more rankings in YoShin Ryu JuJitsu or any JuJitsu for that matter, then I don't mind really. I worked very hard to get where I'm at, I've had my share of using the techniques of what I have learned in both real-life self-defence situations as well as in competitions and I know first hand that the various techniques in JuJitsu I have learned are effective and realistic.


In the meantime, I still continue to practice what I have learned over the years to try and keep in shape, keep sharp with the techniques and improve upon my techniqes, as well I continue to train in other styles of MAs to make myself a more well-rounded Martial Artist and striving to continue to improve myself.


Though one thing I'm realizing as I'm getting "older", is that "the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know".


Well maybe I've rambled on a bit more than need be, but I hope that that helps to better explain things from my end and about my training and certification in YoShin Ryu.


If you had any more questions of me, feel welcome to ask. If you needed specifics of lineage, who-taught-whom, how and why somthing is done a certian way, Yoshin Ryu politics, etc... if I'm not able to answer myself due to an admittable lack of knowledge in some areas of real Traditional YoShin Ryu and such, then I could try and get in touch with my Instructor or I could give you his contact information and you could ask him directly yourself.
Cheers!:occasion1
--- Big Don.

I could try and get in touch with my Instructor or I could give you his contact information and you could ask him directly yourself.No need mate...


EDIT:

This says it all in my opinion. (and answers my questions fully)

http://www.amfedjujitsu.com/Video%20Instruction.html

Rock Ape: Okay, no worries. But to clearify, I or my Instructor have no affiliation / connection with that "American Federation of Jujitsu" you are refferring to.

I hope that my previous post had helped to clear up as to my own claims of certification and training in YoShin Ryu JuJitsu.

Best regards,
--- Don.

Understood :)

Training in sword will sharpen the mind, improve hand-eye co-ordination, balance, and teach you how to process visual and kinesthetic information quickly and respond it quickly.

Training with any weapon - especially a sword must have some context for the student for it to ultimately make any sense.

Example. "Sword Training" does this mean working with bokuto, iaito or shinken ?

Does "Sword Training" involve solo practice of kata or, paired combative drills (or both)

Does "Sword Training" involve paired practice whilst using Shinken or Kendo kata Nihonto

Does "Sword Training" mean just swinging a bokuto adhoc at someone who must by their own devices avoid being hit or, are we discussing specific technical study of particular Ryu-ha which includes tachi-dori and or muto-no-jutsu

As someone who studies a Koryu sword art, swinging a bokuto adhoc has absolutely no appeal so the 'context' for me isn't practical application in a modern sense and, I never associate my koryu with self defence.

Let's assume that "sword training" means traing under the guidance of a competent teacher, who is teaching a fully developed system with well developed and continually evolving training methods.

I have been 'sword training' for close to 10 years now, and I feel the skills I have developed whenever I make difficult maneovers in my car on the highway, or when I am empty-hand sparring, etc.

On a more practical note, this morning I picked up a shovel in the backyard and figured out how to work with the balance and the shape of the blade to make it into a pretty good improvised weapon. Next I did the same thing with a handheld garden claw. I feel pretty confident that I could pick up any kind of tool and weild it in self-defense.

The root of many, if not all, Japanese martial arts, and many others besides, is the sword. If you understand the sword, you can understand alot about how these martial arts are aligned, how they were designed, and what their originators may have been intending.

If sword training is impractical, then so is punching focus mitts... How many times have you been attacked by a guy holding focus mitts in the street? How realistic are those 1-2-3 drills? Nonetheless, its easy to see that focus mitt drills can be useful. Its not too hard to think the same of the sword if your 'sword training' is the real thing.

Let's assume that "sword training" means traing under the guidance of a competent teacher, who is teaching a fully developed system with well developed and continually evolving training methods.
You mean... like fencing or kendo or something?


I have been 'sword training' for close to 10 years now,
Style? School? Teacher? Link?


and I feel the skills I have developed whenever I make difficult maneovers in my car on the highway, or when I am empty-hand sparring, etc.
You'll be hard pressed to convince me anything dealing with swords can make you a better driver (or doing anything BUT a lot of driving will). I'm not certain about the sparring, could you elaborate on this point, please?


On a more practical note, this morning I picked up a shovel in the backyard and figured out how to work with the balance and the shape of the blade to make it into a pretty good improvised weapon. Next I did the same thing with a handheld garden claw. I feel pretty confident that I could pick up any kind of tool and weild it in self-defense.
........You know this is RBSD Sucks Month, right....?


The root of many, if not all, Japanese martial arts, and many others besides, is the sword.
Being a Judoka I refute said point in every sense (or non-sense) of that sentence or idea. Swordsmanship, as well as bowmanship, spearmanship, etc, are of course a large part of the traditional samurai's learning corriculum. However, if you are saying that the Japanese used basics from use of their sword styles (which probably are much younger than their un-armed combat style's origins) then I think you're wrong.

I'm not an expert on Japanese history but I know certain elements pretty well (and I'm sure there's a few experts on this forum) but I'm pretty sure samurai learned Jujutsu's seperately from any bladework they did.


If you understand the sword, you can understand alot about how these martial arts are aligned, how they were designed, and what their originators may have been intending.
Again, I disagree.


If sword training is impractical, then so is punching focus mitts... How many times have you been attacked by a guy holding focus mitts in the street? How realistic are those 1-2-3 drills? Nonetheless, its easy to see that focus mitt drills can be useful. Its not too hard to think the same of the sword if your 'sword training' is the real thing.
It depends. First off, you don't walk around with your swords you DO walk around with your hands. (And if you tell me you walk around with a sword I call legality and psych issues).

Secondly, you can spar full contact with hands. A live blade? Well... I'd have to see video evidence. (I mean, even the Dog Brothers aren't dumb enough to use blades and stick fighting =/= blade fighting)

Actually sword training CAN be used in this day and age, along with any other weapon training.

take anything you can do with a sword and replace the sword with a more likely substitute in a fight, say a metal pipe. most of the techniques will still work, but now instead of cutting you have blunt force trauma.

you could apply this to alot of weapons except for the really odd ones like rope dart or tai chi fan.

hoped that helped

Actually sword training CAN be used in this day and age, along with any other weapon training.

take anything you can do with a sword and replace the sword with a more likely substitute in a fight, say a metal pipe. most of the techniques will still work, but now instead of cutting you have blunt force trauma.
Then I would either train WITH a pipe or a stick, a la Dog Bro's (If you've noticed I use their example a lot it's because their approach to weapons training is smart. Almost Kano-like). Training with blades for blunt force is dumb and possibly counter-productive.


you could apply this to alot of weapons except for the really odd ones like rope dart or tai chi fan.

hoped that helped
I don't think so. If you're going to use a stick. Train with a stick. If you're going to use H2H use your hands. Swordsmanship is fun (I fucking love it and might take up Kendo when I can afford a pricey hobby oneday) but I think in this day and age, as a practical tool for either self defense or fighting in general it is useless.

Oh ****, please don't make me write a six page essay on this. I had enough trouble keeping my last one under four in Creative Writing. But if you must know in as few words as possible, While I will never kill or cleave or behead someone with a longsword. I may ,when the time comes, join a group of fellow nutcases and put forth and accept challenge matches.

StolenBjorn, I heard you do Fiore, I'm doing a personal research project on him, do you know of any good sites or sources.

Oh ****, please don't make me write a six page essay on this. I had enough trouble keeping my last one under four in Creative Writing. But if you must know in as few words as possible, While I will never kill or cleave or behead someone with a longsword. I may ,when the time comes, join a group of fellow nutcases and put forth and accept challenge matches.

StolenBjorn, I heard you do Fiore, I'm doing a personal research project on him, do you know of any good sites or sources.

Video or it never happened.

Furthermore, don't bitch about writing long posts. Sit down, and shut up or suck it up and type. Short posts about a subject may not be my favorite, but bitching while writing a short post about long posts with neither garner my sympathy, nor endear me to any point you wish to make. In fact, it makes me a little pissed; if you already wrote six pages on it then cut and paste it.

Now what makes you think you'll find anyone dumb enough willing to fight someone with a blade? I read your Newbie post so I know where you're coming from (I think).

Also, aside from little challenge matches that might or might not happen I see little practical fighting or martial arts in swords nowadays. Back in the day? Sure! But doing it now is either a hobby or deleusional LARPing.

I have been 'sword training' for close to 10 years

..//..

The root of many, if not all, Japanese martial arts, and many others besides, is the sword. If you understand the sword, you can understand alot about how these martial arts are aligned, how they were designed, and what their originators may have been intending. In your style field it says "islam-silat" what the **** does that have to do with Japanese sword arts ?

What koryu are you involved in to quantify your opinions ?

Please provide me with evidence of your suggestion relating to the origins of other MA and the sword.

Since I train in a style of Hapkido that is taught as a "Mu-Do" or martial way, maybe I can contribute something here.

Traditionally, weapons work was the heart of martial training. Ap erson was expected to use their weapon and only resort to unarmed techniques out of a matter of emergency or survival. No less a person that Gen. QI Ji-guang (1528-1587) held unarmed fighting in distain but recognized that unarmed fighting DID contribute the the individual's ability to use his weapon as well as bolstering the individual's confidence in himself (See: Boxing Canon).

In modern life, things have juxtaposed with unarmed technique now ruling the MA and weapons seem to be secondary. In such a case I see three good reasons to train in weapons.

1.) Weapons are an "amplifier of intent" and as such can likewise amplify weaknesses as well as abilities in a person's skill sets. A weapon does not compensate for a weakness, but rather exposes the weakness for what it is. A person who has poor balance in his unarmed material will only be MORE unbalanced using a weapon. Training in weaponry will reveal such weaknesses for what they are.

2.) Training in weapons may not be appropriate in our modern world since most weapons are illegal to carry. However, there are "weapons of opportunity" which can be pressed into service once a person knows the options of a kindred weapon. For instance, a short stick may not make it onto an airplance, but knowing how to use such an item allows a person to press a rolled-up newspaper, umbrella, ruler or shoe into service to much the same effect.

3.) Weaponry tends to be characteristic of a particular culture and, as such, can provide insights into that culture and how it comes to make the decisions that it does about combat in general. For instance, a culture based on horsemanship may see mobility as a highly important quality in battle while a culture used to fighting with spears may have a different POV. To understand the weapons of a culture is to get additional insights into what that culture thinks is important about combat and how this might be reflected in unarmed technique as well.

4.) Weapons, whether hands, swords, sticks or forks introduce the individual to power out of proportion to his daily life. To know that one can kill another human with the single thrust of a spear or sword is a lot of power for a person to carry. As Lincoln is reported to have stated," the true measure of a man is what he would do if he could do anything he wanted to do and knew he would GET CAUGHT." Once a person knows how to use a weapon, the real training is to see how he handles the new power he has received. Many people immediately take their new power and start abusing it. The real training begins when a person is forced to figure-out the kind of person he is as he watches himself deal with his new power. FWIW.

Best Wishes,

Bruce



once again as a guy stated above you could use anything long and flat in place of the sword. like a say a ceiling fan blade or a saw or anything else that has an edge and is long and flat.

also from my expierience some sword training shows you respect for the makeshift weapon your holding in a fight, if you know how to handle a sword and not hurt yourself you could probably apply that awareness to many other aspects of martial arts

Video or it never happened.

Furthermore, don't bitch about writing long posts. Sit down, and shut up or suck it up and type. Short posts about a subject may not be my favorite, but bitching while writing a short post about long posts with neither garner my sympathy, nor endear me to any point you wish to make. In fact, it makes me a little pissed; if you already wrote six pages on it then cut and paste it.

Now what makes you think you'll find anyone dumb enough willing to fight someone with a blade? I read your Newbie post so I know where you're coming from (I think).

Also, aside from little challenge matches that might or might not happen I see little practical fighting or martial arts in swords nowadays. Back in the day? Sure! But doing it now is either a hobby or deleusional LARPing.

WorldWarCheese, I was goofing around, alright. That whole "**** don't make me write a six page essay thing", joke man okay, 95% of that post was me trying to be humorous. Also the challenge matches thing, here is what I was talking about
http://www.cateransociety.com/broadswordleague.html something I've been wanting to join since it's creation.

this thread asks the relevance of the sword, by me saying

"
While I will never kill or cleave or behead someone with a longsword. I may ,when the time comes, join a group of fellow nutcases and put forth and accept challenge matches." I mean that it's relevance is one of bringing others together, in a sense we agree on this, since I'm saying the only relevance it has is as a of form recreation that brings people of similar interests together. The nutcases remark was also an attempt to be humourous. Obviously this post failed in it's intended purpose.

Lastly, video of what?

Because the sword is iconic and fun. Besides, to have a modern weapons form would be to have a shooting range.