Martial Arts from my perspective.

[James Williams]

Gentlemen,

Please excuse my delay in replying to the thread that was on this forum. I was heavily tasked in Japan and behind on a number of things when I returned CONUS on Sunday.

It appears that my view of martial arts is from a very different perspective than some on this forum. I study Samurai bujutsu as an art of war. Training in the sword is the foundation of this training and I train with the sword, with the full intention of prevailing in an edged weapon engagement. This is a classical perspective. As kenjutsu is the omote so then is jujutsu the ura. As this is the case all empty hand and small weapon techniques are done exactly the same way as the kenjutsu. Striking, locking, throwing, even strangulation techniques come directly from kenjutsu and this is easily recognized when observing the technique. I do not believe, and have not seen demonstrated by anyone, that it is possible to study Samurai bujutsu from a different perspective and fully understand and make practically functional the Samurai military arts that they evolved over centuries.

The mindset of martial arts in Japan has changed a great deal from those of their Samurai ancestors. This change in mindset and technique is readily visible, with a few notable exceptions, in modern Japanese dojo. This change of mindset and technique is even expressed in the Japanese constitution.

Mars was the God of war. The Martial Arts were originally arts of War. This is not the case in 99% of what is now called "Martial arts". War is about killing people and breaking things, art is the ability to do this to your opponent without having them do that to you. We use the broad term Martial arts for a number of different practices that have some relationship to what were once arts studied for War. Self Defense, sport based competition, controlled environment sport fighting (UFC etc.), exercise and esoteric practice all make up what we call Martial Arts today. These are obviously very different practices and take a different set of skills and mindset. There is some crossover however none of these are arts of War.

Most marital arts still have some method for gaining actual physical competency. This involves some physical contesting at the very least. To think that you could challenge or disparage someone's art or ability and then become self-righteous about proving your ability in some form or another is a relatively recent phenomenon and has gained a large following on the internet. For lack of a better term when referring to those who study what we call Japanese Sword Arts we could deem these Cyber Samurai. They are willing to engage in words written in cyber space but not willing to prove any real knowledge and ability. In martial arts ability is knowledge. If you can't do it you don't know it. This is not the Debate Team at your local high school.

I notice that there is a bit of a following from what we call Brazilian Jujutsu on this forum. I have known the Gracie's since the 1980's when no one knew who they were. Rorion Gracie's method of convincing people that his art worked was to get on the mat and go at it. There was a bit of pain involved and depending upon your self-view perhaps some embarrassment. However if you really want to know what you can do you have to do it. In the early days there where any number of dojo encounters of various degrees of force applied as there is only one way to truly prove your art and ability. I cannot count the number of times over my almost 5 decades in the Marital Arts where I have proved my ability or at times was shown that perhaps there was more for me to learn. These lessons given or learned came with some degree or another of physical pain and sometimes injury. I do not understand the current mindset that when a person would be asked to prove their ability by some method or another when calling someone's honor into question they respond with indignation and avoid any real demonstration of their ability. Perhaps it is that if you do not have honor, and therefore the potential for shame, that you just don't understand that you are a Cyber Samurai. Your ability to post, quote, or feel self righteous gives you the feeling that you have a "right" to express your opinion with no consequence. This of course removes the foundations of courtesy and respect. It becomes about how you “feel”.

When the real world hits you the training and mindset that you get in your dojo and the internet will not have prepared you for how fast and ugly things can go sideways. When you are in a dark alley late at night, and you feel the bite and burn of sharp steel on your body you realize that you could die in this place it had better fire your blood as the sharp piece of steel in your hand, and it's immediate and violent use, may be the only thing that gets you home. This is not your warm fuzzy dojo, or in a protected and controlled environment like UFC. There will be no tapping out here and right and wrong will be very clearly defined.

In the Western world especially there are a majority of people who are protected by our Samurai, those who serve. These warriors still have the need to study arts of War. I am honored to work with a number of our Special Operations units in just this type of endeavor. The responsibility that comes with teaching men of this caliber, ability, and mission is immense. People may live or die with what you teach them. If you have seen men die violently. If you have buried fallen comrades, if you have delivered the message of their death to their loved ones after they have been killed in combat action, and had to tell them how the Secretary of the Army wishes to express his regrets, you know what an enormous responsibility this teaching is. Nothing in your life is so satisfying as having someone that you trained return from battle and tell you that something that you taught them saved their life or the life of one of their comrades in arms. I have sons, I know the look on a parents face when they are told, by me, that their son will not be returning to them. I do not want someone to have to tell the wife, or parents of someone I trained about the Secretary of the Army's regrets.

What this means for me is that everything I do, know, study, and train for must be the best and most functional strategy, mindset, and technique that it can possibly be. Nothing can be 'made up", you have to know it will work and the best thing is to have personal knowledge that it will in fact work and work better than your enemies. To think that the vast storehouse of knowledge that our ancestors gained from warrior societies is no longer viable in modern combat is a big mistake. Samurai warrior culture has an enormous number of hidden treasures that are valuable in the modern warfare environment. I have gotten extremely positive AARs from my guys who have used this strategy and techniques in battle.

I have either a sword or a gun in my hand most days. My primary job is training and teaching Martial Arts. I use the knowledge and techniques that I have learned from classical Samurai bujutsu when teaching Close Quarters Battle. I have been extremely fortunate in having some exceptional teachers including Kuroda Tetsuzan, with whom I currently train, who is a truly phenomenal swordsman. If you want to know what Nami ryu is and what it's roots are you can go to my Nami ryu website and read about it. It is public knowledge and demonstrated in public forums many times every year. If you attend the Atlanta Blade show, or other demo's, you will be able to ask questions and see specific techniques or solutions. There is no false or hidden agenda and our dojo is always open. If you wish to visit and observe, you are welcome.

If anyone has specific questions please feel free to ask. I cannot or will not answer everything, specific units trained, or some of the things that I have done however most questions I will happily answer.

Much of this was composed in my mind late at night at the Sensoji after it was closed. I was sitting in the dark reflecting on many things including the contrast between this old temple and the surrounding city. It reflects in many ways the change and contrast in the Japanese mindset and martial arts as well. I have a great respect for the ancient ways and methods of the Samurai. They are however not at all common here even in dojo teaching JSA. There are some magnificent exceptions however in my experience they are not popular or common. My personal opinion is that the interest of gaijin has actually brought attention to some of these arts by the Japanese who are beginning to realize the value of some of their historical treasures.

Sincerely,

James Williams

[gcarson]

Excellent post.

While I do not have the kind of pedigree in my training history that you have, the substance of your post hits home for me. I do my best to pressure test everything I practice and not to pass along anything that I am not willing to 'throw down' with. Understand that I claim no great level of skill in any area, but I hope to continue to improve by following this type of path, although I consider myself more a Budo practitioner as my hands-on knowledge of traditional Bujutsu is minimal at best.

Also its nice to see that some folks on this forum share my opinion of 'keyboard warriors'. I remember being told numerous times as a kid growing up that if you wanted to run your mouth off without the ability to back it up, you had better be able to run your ass off. Again, I am no-uber tough guy, and indeed avoid conflict whenever possible, but if I call someone out(which isn't something I do generally), I am already prepared to back up my comments.

If people want to say it goes against Budo spirit to stand up for yourself and call people who run you down on the mats for doing so, then I will happily pursue my 赤首武道 (as stated by a previous poster).

Mr.Williams, hats off to you.

[Jeff Cook]

Mr. Williams, thank you for your service to the US Military.

I have a few questions for you. How do you integrate sword work into effective combatives training?

What part of kenjutsu training does shimewaza originate from?

What are your qualifications/mandate to teach close quarter battle to military personnel?

How did you pressure-test the techniques and principles prior to teaching military personnel bound for a combat zone?

Do you have any of the AARs in writing that you refer to in your post? I would be very interested in reading those.

Just so you understand my motivation for asking these questions, I am Active Duty, and a certified Modern Army Combatives Program Instructor (in addition to being a classical/gendai martial arts instructor and a long-time student of BJJ). I too have prepared many troops for combat, and have received a pethora of positive feedback (there are some great AARs on the CALL website). My questions are driven by curiosity, and also by my intense desire to improve training to enhance the effectiveness and survivability of my troops.

My background with personal combat, i.e. "field-testing" and "pressure testing" techniques, outside of martial arts training, is through my experience as a high-risk security operative/consultant for 18 years now - with hundreds of "hands-on" engagements under my belt - including bladed weapons and firearms. (Again, I feel that it is important that you know a bit about my background so you understand why I am asking these questions.)

Jeff Cook

[Jeff Cook]

"If people want to say it goes against Budo spirit to stand up for yourself and call people who run you down on the mats for doing so, then I will happily pursue my 赤首武道 (as stated by a previous poster)."

I HIGHLY recommend we don't go there again. That thread was locked, and Mr. Williams has opened a topic with a non-confrontational tone (as opposed to the tone of the locked thread). He does not want to answer the questions posed to him. That is his right. Antagonizing the people who asked those questions here is counterproductive. The insinuations in yours and Mr. Williams post can be seen as being critical of the people who asked questions in another thread. Unless you guys want to go back into that messy realm and invite the same criticism, and still not deliver any answers to those questions, then I suggest this stays on-topic with no reference to what happened before.

Jeff Cook

[Woody]

Mr. Williams, you speak of the “arts of war” as though you are very familiar with them and in fact seem to consider yourself an expert in them. All well and good but I’m not sure you fully understand the concept of “modern” warfare. Modern warfare is much more complex than it was in ancient Japan. Having spent a good deal of my life studying, repairing and maintaining many types of electronic warfare and countermeasures equipment I would suggest that you are focusing on a very limited aspect of modern martial arts. It might even be that what you are studying is a very insignificant aspect of modern warfare. In all likelihood, before you arrive on the scene with your sword and gun, the “cyber warriors” would have already tracked your every movement from start to finish. They may also have “taken you out” anywhere in between with a myriad of modern weapons that you would probably not see or hear until it was too late. You’re right, this not the Debate Team at our local high school; this is modern warfare.
On a side note; if all it takes to get you to visit my little dojo in the middle of nowhere is for me to issue a challenge, then I have a challenge for you. Teach me what you know. My dojo is always open to you. I would love to learn from you.
Sincerely,

[MarkF]

A short note for those responing: If you want to invite someone to play at your house, that's all fine and dandy, but I am warning you now that if this is what you want to do, please do so off board or in PM. Share what you want here, that is what "here" is for. Anything else should be written and reread to make sure it is what you would expect from others. You also have tools which will leave you blind as to what a poster says if you don't like his/her words in general. This thread will be watched closely.

[Tom Karazozis]

Originally Posted by James Williams

It appears that my view of martial arts is from a very different perspective than some on this forum. I study Samurai bujutsu as an art of war. Training in the sword is the foundation of this training and I train with the sword, with the full intention of prevailing in an edged weapon engagement...

Yes it appears so, but not only in this forum. I would say that even some of the most renowned sensei in Japan that have been preserving a direct lineage that has been passed down for a number of generations would disagree with you on this. 'Prevailing' and killing for the sole purpose of proving your skills is evil and selfish. You cannot win with this type of mind-set. If you claim that 99% of Japanese dojo in Japan are not viewing it in a classical perspective, than you should find another dojo because it seems that you have not visited any dojo where they do infact keep things real, but will not try and prove their machismo skills on anyone, it just doesn't work that way here.

Chanto benkyo shite kudasai!

Originally Posted by James Williams

This is I do not believe, and have not seen demonstrated by anyone, that it is possible to study Samurai bujutsu from a different perspective and fully understand and make practically functional the Samurai military arts that they evolved over centuries...

Well, here you go...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IreQs...eature=related

start viewing it at 7min55sec. This is Otake Sensei, head of the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. It seems from his perspective that he totally disagrees with you.

Originally Posted by James Williams

When the real world hits you the training and mindset that you get in your dojo and the internet will not have prepared you for how fast and ugly things can go sideways. When you are in a dark alley late at night, and you feel the bite and burn of sharp steel on your body you realize that you could die in this place it had better fire your blood as the sharp piece of steel in your hand, and it's immediate and violent use...

OK this dark alley late at night thing really gives me the impression of you having a mental problem and living in fear and paranoia.

And last but not least, NOO I am not a cyber Samurai because first of all I am not A SAMURAI!!! grow up! YOU are not one either. This class was abolished, give it up already.

[Jeff Cook]

Greg, you and I agree more than you know.

Regarding "camp 1" and "camp 2" - you just very neatly described the difference between -jutsu and -do.

Jeff Cook

[roninseb]

Here is what a credible teacher of Mugai Ryu in Japan thinks of Nami-Ryu

QUOTE(After dinner we can back to the house and watched the Nami-ryu DVD. Niina-gosoke was...amused. He figured all the kids who are into anime can do Nami-ryu and play samurai and have fun, and that's cool, as long as the don't think they're actually learning anything that real samurai were doing.)

Original Link
http://www.giveyourmeat.com/search?q=nami+ryu

[yoj]

I'd be interested to hear Ellis Amdur's views, not because I am interested in any controversy, just that he seems to have his foot firmly in a lot of camps, and could opine eloquently....

[Jeff Cook]

I would settle for having Mr. Williams answer my questions.

Jeff Cook

[Jim O'Connell]

First off, I am a long time student of Mr. Williams - long time is 13 years at present, following 20 years of training in martial arts under the tutelage of other talented and honorable teachers. I am also an instructor of Nami ryu Aiki Heiho.

In the initial thread, Mr. Williams did not challenge Tom Karozosis to a duel. You might note that the moderators in that thread did not read beyond the black and white; and I would humbly suggest that others follow their example in this thread. Mr. Williams was challenging Mr. Karozosis to act like a man and present himself in person, and demonstrate (not duel, not challenge to a fight, not threat to do harm…..) his capacity and reason for making such disparaging statements. He makes new disparaging statements in this thread – but then, James Williams is no longer in Japan.

Mr. Cyr and Mr. Karozozis continue to make statements in this thread that do not come from reading what is written, but from their interpretations of what is written. They use the terms “bushido” and “koryu” openly. On the other hand those words are not used in what is written at this thread’s start.

Yes, as was noted by another writer in this thread: they have an agenda. (That is my opinion – but if I am wrong, why are they so bothered by what Mr. Wiliams and Nami ryu purport?) The last I checked they are not koryu official, or e-budo appointed, arbiters of what is acceptable in martial arts, koryu, Japanese culture, martial culture, or Japanese history. Actually, my opinion is that it is Mr. Karozosis and Mr. Cyr’s “Camp 2” agenda – which I do not believe to be openly shared by most martial artists or to be reflective of the Japanese psyche. I have been to Japan too, trained in koryu there; and gosh, I was even challenged on one of those training occasions to physically prove myself by a Japanese national one of the evenings between the keiko and dinner. I was thanked by all of my sempai present at that encounter for taking a particularly aggressive youngster down a notch. It wasn’t easy and could have gone the other way. I am not particularly skilled, so I just have to keep training. It wasn’t a dark alley, but I could have been hurt. No one was injured and everyone was, and still are, friends afterwards. I train with both reasonable and honorable people.

James offered to discuss in person and demonstrate or be demonstrated to by Mr. Karozosis; and offered to come to him in Japan, suggesting that he would take the brunt of travel to discuss this topic in person – like men. Mr. Robinson, who is a also a student of Mr. Williams, publicly offered Mr. Karozozis an invitation to visit and even stay at his house. Mr. Williams, as well as many of us in Nami ryu; demonstrate openly, are not afraid to have visitors (if they are really good we ask them to be guest instructors), and certainly feel that honorable men have the right to stand up, and duty to be accountable for, their statements in person when called upon. We post our schedule openly, have attended every Aiki Expo, support local dojo that ask us to demonstrate, explain clearly what our basis for training is, and do not claim a right to existence other than demonstrating our ability to do or not.

Nami ryu Aiki Heiho does not consider itself budo, but instead bujutsu, (both are terms that have no clear or universally accepted meanings in practical use - but stated here to illustrate our view point). Since Nami ryu does not consider itself budo, and is not koryu (please go to http://www.namiryu.com/origins.html to see what Nami ryu is) we do not feel a need to conform to Mr. Cyr’s point of view on what is right or wrong either. We do not share or even agree with his assertions of what Budo is; however, since we do not claim to be budoka, he is welcome to claim those assertions for himself. If they work for others reading this, then you are welcome to those beliefs, and can subscribe to them openly without insisting that everyone else must accept them as well. What I personally can’t fathom, is why anyone would train with a sword or any form of martial arts; and claim that proficiency, ability, mindset, or application are less important than spiritual growth. I believe that spiritual growth begins with the truth, and therefore training with a sword calls for developing a realistic ability that can be used widely and systematically. To quote a Western book accepted by many in Japan:” Faith without works is dead”.

If Budo means you are not responsible for making statements in public forums, cannot respond in person to people who challenge your statements; I would not want to claim it anyway. I personally believe that is not what Budo is, but I don’t claim to tell others what they are supposed to believe; nor do I feel that my opinions are so important that disparaging others is my right because I bought a sword or learned some kata. I also would not presume to tell anyone what Japanese believe about the Chushingara; however, I would note that they have made a number of movies about the event and have a museum and shrine at their gravesite. I too have been there on a three occasions, and no one passed me the pamphlet that explained that its purpose is proof of the wrongness of the people buried there. There must be some reason for that, but I won’t presume to tell everyone here what I think that is by stating my opinion as fact.

Mr, Cyr and Mr. Karozosis: Will my opinion make you angry enough to call me names too? Go ahead; you can even make disparaging remarks in Japanese to or about me. Maybe, if I am lucky, Ren Kuroda can make disparaging remarks about me on his blog as well. On the other hand he was very polite and well mannered the times he has visited with us in California. One thing about Ren and his teacher – they at least put up videos (please search youtube and /or google and look at them) of their performance as proof of their ability, and you can review those videos along with Nami ryu videos on youtube to help judge their point of view. They do things differently and that doesn’t bother us at all.

Mr. Cyr and Mr. Karozosis, please accept my invitation to visit and have tea or coffee any time you find yourselves in California. I won’t ask you on the mat, I won’t call you names, I won’t make disparaging remarks about your style of martial arts, and I won’t tell you or demonstrate any thing that will cause you to feel threatened in any way

Regards,
Jim O'Connell

[roninseb]

Well I have to say your post is very well written and that you have put lots of time defending what you believe is right. You have the right to do and practice what you want. We also have the right to our opinion and also express our feelings about Nami-Ryu as well. Especially when its status is not clear.

You state that Nami-Ryu is not a Koryu or Budo etc. But the big issue here is that this is all that is claimed when we get exposed to Nami-Ryu in text or video that it’s an all-traditional martial arts etc. Traditional Samurai Bujutsu or Budo = Koryu and that’s all.

Now it seems that all you or Mr. Williams are talking about is to PROVE what one’s ability is on the mat in video or any other feasible media. In my opinion when you do Koryu you don’t need to prove anything to anyone and this is the idea I got from all the teachers I met and that to them if you go all out about proving yourself or you made up legitimacy then its that you are on the wrong path.

So when you talk about other schools like the Mugai-Ryu that Renfield Kuroda practices has videos out to prove their techniques etc. I don’t feel that them or any other school that puts out video on the web has done it directly to prove that they are good or better or more REAL then anyone else. In my opinion they must have done this since nowadays it is easy to do and his seen as good promotion towards getting new students nothing to do with proving their technique.

Will I call you names or start to get it on with you with my hidden agenda. I don’t believe or respect what you practice but you did not come on here trying to spread you love of war and warfare and trying to prove us that you are a modern warrior studying martial ways to enable you to be in a battle and spread your patriotism and political ideas etc. and THIS I TRULY RESPECT.

For the record since you believe Mr. Karazosis or me are no authorities in Budo or have no credentials because we do not spread or sell ourselves out there with videos books or any type of products then its al fine. So you can consider that we both know nothing in this case. Am I going to splatter around all that I know or studied etc. to make my point well NO because I should be able to state my opinion and my ideas without needing to add my credentials to put more weight on my opinions.

So in the end lets just say I know nothing or not much.


So thank you very much for your cordial invitation for tea if I ever get to California next year and most likely it will happen since I work on some projects that will require me to get there I might take you up on that occasion. Will we talk about Budo? If you ask maybe but I would rather talk about life and what is really important in humanity much more than war and warfare and how to use it. Who knows I might change your views or maybe you will change mine.
I will leave you with the following poem.

乾坤無地卓孤筇
喜得人空法亦空
珍重大元三尺剣
電光影裡斬春風

Throughout heaven and earth there is not a piece of ground where a single stick could be inserted;
I am glad that all things are void, myself and the world:
Honored be the sword, three feet long, wielded by the great Yuan swordsmen;
For it is like cutting a spring breeze in a flash of lightning.

[Jeff Cook]

Jim, do you know if Mr. Williams is going to come back to this thread that he started and address some of these questions? Thanks.

Jeff Cook

[Jim O'Connell]

Jeff,

James is actively training police or military this week, either directly contracted or as part of the Surefire Institute, (http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/...me/instructors- and is out of comm until the weekend. I am not sure where he went other than it was not originally scheduled. You can note some testimonials on that site. They are not AAR's but you can see some of the responses people in your line, or similar lines, of business have to training. You can also go to http://www.thesystemofstrategy.com/ and see some other testimonials from police and military. One thing I would note is that while in Japan, many of the JDF personnel James trained belong to koryu, which we consider to be ryu in existence before the Meiji Restoration. For point of reference - I am an insurance broker and have never been in the military.

I am not sure if James will come back to the thread, or directly answer your questions. It really just depends on how much travel the next hand full of weeks entails. Regarding BJJ: I don't know if James has any "rank" in BJJ - you will note that none is claimed or noted - however his training started in Rorion Gracies' garage. There is an article http://www.aikidojournal.com/article?articleID=90 that James wrote for Aikido Journal some years back that gives timeline and notes the relationship.


Regards,
Jim O'Connell