This conversation has turned in an interesting direction.
I would like to address two points in the conversation.
First:
The classical Japanese sword arts may not have an obvious practical use in self-defense, given today's social environment in which citizens do not carry swords.Originally Posted by Josh Reyer
However, in practicing a classical Japanese sword art, one develops a deep and intimate understanding of relationship, distance, maneuvering and intent (and other understandings as well); and all of which have very practical use outside the dojo, not only in terms of self-defense, but in terms of everyday interaction with other people.
So, in my mind, Josh Reyer not only practices a martial art, he follows a discipline that has real and practical applications to self-defense (stopping the spear) and to all of life's mundane interactions.
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A slight digression:
This has me thinking of the Camp Perry military High Power Rifle matches, in which competitors shoot major caliber rifles at stationary bullseye targets, at known ranges, using firearms which have no practical use outside of formal matches.Originally Posted by Lance Gatling
These competitions involve complex rituals which make sense to us now, but which, in 500 years, may seem irrelevant to those practiciing future equivalents to the Camp Perry matches.
For example, the Range Master, who controls these competitions, has a specific and precise littany of announcements and commands he uses, some of which have already lost their meaning.
It remains that if one shoots well at a Camp Perry meet, known ranges and rituals and all, he will represent a lethal force on the battlefield: the most reknowned of the modern real-world combat shooters have competed in and excelled at formal shooting matches.
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Secondly:
My son studied Judo for 12 years under Denis Point of Paris, France.Originally Posted by MikeWilliams
Sometime around my son's 13th or 14th birthday, Denis asked if he could take my son into the local BJJ/Pankration dojo to which I referred earlier.
Denis wanted to expose my son to aggression, "dirty-fighting," aggressive personalities, and to all aspects of the guard (both offensive and defensive).
Denis told me he would not allow my son to go into this dojo unaccompanied by Denis.
So, for about four years, three nights a week, after an hour and a half of Judo, my son and Denis would go to the BJJ/Pankration dojo for another 2 hours of study.
Of note, Denis, a man of small stature in his late forties, completely and effortlessly dominated his training partners in the BJJ/Pankration dojo.
Further, one could see the crowd "part" when Denis would walk about in the dojo.
They clearly feared and respected Denis.
After several years, my son wanted to test his Judo in the fiery pit of MMA Pankration, and he asked permission to fight in one of these events.
Denis gave his permission.
The BJJ/Pankration instructor and fight promoter said he did not have anyone in the geographic area who could give my son a good fight.
Therefore, the fight promoter invited and paid a Marcello Alonzo BJJ instructor to fly in from out of state to fight my son.
To put this in context, the fight had an audience of perhaps 5,000 people, a nine man video crew, MC in tuxedo, smoke machines and strobes, and gorgeous ring girls.
Both my son and the Marcello Alonzo BJJ instructor fought in Gi's.
Other than tranistioning in and out of the guard, the fight appeared very technical and very Judo; and, with the exception of the use of the guard by both fighters, it appeared indistinguishable from the Judo ground sparring of my experience.
In the end, my son improvised a neck crank and prevailed by submission.
In the next year or so, I will move my youngest son, now 14 years-old, into Ju Jitsu.
I have some concerns about the relative lack of safety in the Ju Jitsu dojo, relative to the Judo dojo, but my younger son has more talent than my older son, and, my older son will accompany his younger brother for the first few visits.
To sum up, I see both Judo and Ju Jitsu as relevant and practical on the street for self-defense (and for MMA fighting); and, however, I see the Ju Jitsu training environment as less safe, and, on a dojo by dojo basis, having a less consistent moral content.
They each have both a martial sports and a martial arts aspect.
Both have developed their own respective rituals, as one can see at either a Judo tournament or at a MMA Pankration or UFC fight.
All of the above extends by analogy to the more formal, seemingly archaic and esoteric martial disciplines, such as archery and the sword, as well as the various internal disciplines.
Your friend in Bend,
Ken Cox