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Thread: Budo Is Not About Techniques

  1. #1
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    Default Budo Is Not About Techniques

    Budo isn't really about techniques. Any system of budo is more than that, but if it's not the techniques, what is it? In this blog post, I argue that the purpose of studying techniques is to learn the principles that animate them.
    http://budobum.blogspot.com/2016/04/...technique.html
    What do you think? Do you get hung up on the techniques and miss the principles?
    Peter Boylan
    Mugendo Budogu LLC
    Fine Budo Books, Videos, Clothes and Equipment Direct from Japan
    http://www.budogu.com

    Find my Budo Blog at http://budobum.blogspot.com/

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    Good read.

    Ties in well to the why are you training question/s.
    Chris Thomas

    "While people are entitled to their illusions, they are not entitled to a limitless enjoyment of them and they are not entitled to impose them upon others."

    "Team Cynicism" MVP 2005-2006
    Currently on "Injured/Reserve" list due to a scathing Sarcasm pile-up.

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    But then can't any classical kata then be altered so long as it remains true to principles? By ANYONE who is recognized to have learned those principles?

    Can I not then earn a menkyo kaiden in XYZ korytu, then start doing BJJ techniques, but do it following the principles of the ryu, and be "doing" the ryu? Tenshin Shoden De La Riva ryu?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Hissho View Post
    But then can't any classical kata then be altered so long as it remains true to principles? By ANYONE who is recognized to have learned those principles?

    Can I not then earn a menkyo kaiden in XYZ korytu, then start doing BJJ techniques, but do it following the principles of the ryu, and be "doing" the ryu? Tenshin Shoden De La Riva ryu?
    Um, yes. That's why they are ryuha and not kaseki. Water flows and changes, adapting to the shape of whatever container it flows into, but remaining water. Kaseki break and shatter when forced into a new shape. The key is that the person doing the changing really has be complete in their understanding and expression of the principles so that whatever they are doing still represents those principles.
    Peter Boylan
    Mugendo Budogu LLC
    Fine Budo Books, Videos, Clothes and Equipment Direct from Japan
    http://www.budogu.com

    Find my Budo Blog at http://budobum.blogspot.com/

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    There used to be a cultural 'fail safe' mechanism as well. The MK, who decides to augment, alter, change, improve the ryu has, in theory, an internal compass, which is the core principles of the ryu. If he moves that needle to a new orientation, he canges the name. Not only in respect to the ryu and his teachers - but also out of self-respect. He is, in effect, saying that he's improved it. He's bettered it. That merits flying the flag - if people object, he's taking personal responsibility for the changes. Some changes would merit the 'off-shoot' option - like Mizoguchi-ha Itto-ryu. Others announce a more significant change (Kage-ryu to Shinkage-ryu to Hikita Kage-ryu, etc.) Others merit an entirely new name, like Araki-ryu to Kasumi Shin-ryu

    Chris' example is less far-fetched than it seems. One current line of Kiraku-ryu had among its shihan (fully authorized to maintain his own line) one who amalgamated karate with his Kiraku-ryu. He had the 'right' to do so, but it was decidedly strange. Lots of koryu are infected with kendo, and have lost their core principles. Others, in my opinion, have been improved by a tincture of judo, but some, taking this too far, have lost more than they gained.

    Ellis Amdur

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