Yudansha Fighting Association

**zookrider** · Posted On: 8/14/2007 11:42am

Has anybody trained with these guys? Know anybody who trains with them? They look legit, and I intend to check them out, but I wanted to do a little bullshido style homework before I go.

Here's a link: http://www.yudanshafight.com/

**Necroth** · Posted On: 8/14/2007 11:47am

The guys in the pictures on this site? No, never fought with or trained with them.

But there is a Yudansha group here, mostly made up of guys from Fort Wainwright and Eielson AFB, and they look average in ability in the two cage matches I've had the pleasure to view involving a meber of their group. Very much Vale Tudo style training, low kicks, no-gi grappling, etc. I say check it out firsthand.

**teebs** · Posted On: 8/14/2007 12:58pm

Isn't yudansha the japanese for dan grades? Seems a slightly strange thing to name your fighting system/association.

**zookrider** · Posted On: 8/14/2007 1:14pm

Originally Posted by teebs

Isn't yudansha the japanese for dan grades? Seems a slightly strange thing to name your fighting system/association.

From the website:

The term Yudansha is Japanese for "holder of a first degree blackbelt or above."

**teebs** · Posted On: 8/15/2007 6:05pm

Ah well, my internet skills fail then as I didn't spot that. Still seems to be a strange thing to call your association in my opinion though..

**Tom Kagan** · Posted On: 8/15/2007 9:44pm

Originally Posted by teebs

Still seems to be a strange thing to call your association in my opinion though..

Why?

Your style field says Judo. Any local/regional chapter of any of the major governing bodies (IJF/USJF/etc.) typically refer to their state/regional chapters as Yudanshakai. Also, many other Japanese MAs use the same term, including some Shotokan associations.

**Rock Ape** · Posted On: 8/16/2007 12:00am

Originally Posted by Tom Kagan

Why?

Your style field says Judo. Any local/regional chapter of any of the major governing bodies (IJF/USJF/etc.) typically refer to their state/regional chapters as Yudanshakai. Also, many other Japanese MAs use the same term, including some Shotokan associations.

The term yudansha is a rather odd word to use for an association name.

Yudanshakai 有段者会 (basically meaning group of (or) club of yudansha) would be a bit more acceptable but, again, to those able to speak Nihongo, Yudansha Fighting Association is a bit daft because it refers to rank held by people.

**maddog** · Posted On: 8/16/2007 7:14am

It is the usual westerner trying to sound a little exotic use of Japanese. Just because they compete does not mean they don't like a little oriental mystic to their club.

**Necroth** · Posted On: 8/16/2007 5:40pm

Or, they are referring to their earlier history when the org was formed by various Yudansha of different arts, aka Mixed Martial Arts. That is my take on it, as I can't actually find a timeline or history of the org, but it would make sense if Yudansha from various arts came together to form a system/conglomerate training org.

**Rock Ape** · Posted On: 8/16/2007 6:53pm

Originally Posted by Necroth

Or, they are referring to their earlier history when the org was formed by various Yudansha of different arts, aka Mixed Martial Arts. That is my take on it, as I can't actually find a timeline or history of the org, but it would make sense if Yudansha from various arts came together to form a system/conglomerate training org.

Then the term Yudanshakai would be far more fitting but still not entirely right.