For those who aren't aware To-Shin-Do is the updated version of Ninjutsu founded by Stephen Hayes. You can find out more about it on it's Wikipedia page (sorry, still new and can't post links yet).
I'd been out of training for a number of years but recently got back into it. Since I already received a black belt in one art I thought I'd try another. Growing up I was fascinated by Ninjutsu and I read all of Stephen Hayes' books and for a while I'd considered trying out this art.
Is it effective for self-defense? What kind of techniques are taught?
I found a school not far from where I live and I decided to try it out about six months ago.
They don't spar - at all, and don't seem to believe it's worth even trying. I think I recall the instructor say how sparring is only for stroking the ego. The only kind of "sparring" they do is called "free response" where they move at about half to a quarter speed when attacking and the defender does a series of strikes, locks and throws against some kind of attack, like a knife stab, tackle or strike. Most of the defenses all seem very complicated, so much so that, if done quickly, I don't think would work against a determined attacker.
I was pretty disappointed by this lack of sparring (since I'm used to a lot of it), but I decided to join after the trial was up to get more exposure to the art before making up my mind.
Honestly, I'm not very impressed. They don't do any real contact at all. The only contact they do is this pushing kind of impact when they practice the techniques, which I don't believe would be that effective. It's explosive power that does damage, not pushing force. That pushing force might move someone, but it's not going to cause damage to the area struck (unless the person trips over something and gets hurt).
One cool thing they do is jiu-jitsu. The instructor is ranked through the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Combatives program so we've been doing that the last few months. It's been interesting and fun to learn.
Does anyone have anything else to add about To-Shin-Do? Or the Gracie Combatives program? I did see a thread here about the Combatives, but someone thought it was a scam because the testing is done through videos. I don't think that criticism is fair since from what I've heard the Gracies are very specific on exactly how they want you to do the techniques and won't pass you if you're not perfect. I also think you have to go down to the Gracie Academy to take a test in front of them to become officially certified and ranked after learning everything through their dvd series.
I'd been out of training for a number of years but recently got back into it. Since I already received a black belt in one art I thought I'd try another. Growing up I was fascinated by Ninjutsu and I read all of Stephen Hayes' books and for a while I'd considered trying out this art.
Is it effective for self-defense? What kind of techniques are taught?
I found a school not far from where I live and I decided to try it out about six months ago.
They don't spar - at all, and don't seem to believe it's worth even trying. I think I recall the instructor say how sparring is only for stroking the ego. The only kind of "sparring" they do is called "free response" where they move at about half to a quarter speed when attacking and the defender does a series of strikes, locks and throws against some kind of attack, like a knife stab, tackle or strike. Most of the defenses all seem very complicated, so much so that, if done quickly, I don't think would work against a determined attacker.
I was pretty disappointed by this lack of sparring (since I'm used to a lot of it), but I decided to join after the trial was up to get more exposure to the art before making up my mind.
Honestly, I'm not very impressed. They don't do any real contact at all. The only contact they do is this pushing kind of impact when they practice the techniques, which I don't believe would be that effective. It's explosive power that does damage, not pushing force. That pushing force might move someone, but it's not going to cause damage to the area struck (unless the person trips over something and gets hurt).
One cool thing they do is jiu-jitsu. The instructor is ranked through the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Combatives program so we've been doing that the last few months. It's been interesting and fun to learn.
Does anyone have anything else to add about To-Shin-Do? Or the Gracie Combatives program? I did see a thread here about the Combatives, but someone thought it was a scam because the testing is done through videos. I don't think that criticism is fair since from what I've heard the Gracies are very specific on exactly how they want you to do the techniques and won't pass you if you're not perfect. I also think you have to go down to the Gracie Academy to take a test in front of them to become officially certified and ranked after learning everything through their dvd series.
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