Jedi Guardian Expanded
As I said all jedi need to have a solid self defense program in their training. I understand that not all jedi may be able to afford training in traditional martial art styles. For basic jedi training the limited hand to hand may be acceptable however for those who are focused purely on the guardian speciality then traditional martial art disciplines can not be over looked.
The Guardian Expanded section is designed to give some basics about a couple martial art styles that are common in most area and should be used as basic knowledge. If you have a interest in any of these styles then I would highly recommend doing more research on that style and visiting schools in your area that offer that style.
When visiting martial art schools it is important to know that not all schools will be the same even schools within the same style or branches within the same school. If you are interested in bujinkan and there are three schools in your area then make appoints to visit all three schools. You may like all of them, or you may hate all of them or hate two but really like the third so it is worth the time to visit all of the schools. If you find a school you really like then make a appointment to visit the school one or two more times so you can get a idea of the average class. Most respectable schools will also allow you to take a free week of classes to make sure that you really want to train there.
Be careful with schools that keep trying to get you to sign a contract on your first visit or schools that will not even allow you to watch a few classes without signing up.
One last piece of advice is to show respect and bow to the instructor when you enter the school and before you leave. You may not be a student of the school at that point but this sets a good tone for your visit.
Taekwondo
What is Taekwondo?
"The way of foot and fist fighting."
Training in Taekwondo involves learning kicking, punching and blocking in various combinations. To my experience many TKD schools focus more on the kicking and foot work then any other aspect of self defense. Like other forms TKD is for self defense and not suppose to be used for attacks. This style is extremely physically demanding so strong muscles and great cardio are advisable to those wishing to study this art. If you are not in great shape do not stress to much because classes will put you in the shape you need to be in, however if you have physical limitations then Tai Kwan Do may not be the best style for you.
History of Taekwondo
Taekwondo has been around since as early as 4 AD. Korea is the home of TKD Hwarang warriors are given credit for developing TKD. It was learned and practiced as a means of defense for the invading armies of Japan. Taekwondo is said to evolve from a martial art style from Korea called Tai Kwon. Taekwondo like most other styles is actually really young in name, It became a martial art and Korea's sport officially on 4-11-1955.
Won Quang A Buddhist monk was given credit the 5 principles of Taekwando. The guiding principles of the Hwarang warriors and all TKD students and masters are as fallowed. Loyalty Duty Trustworthiness Valor Justice
The Strength and weakness of this style TKD is extremely physically demanding, you will spend a lot of time working on foot work and kicks. May schools teach TKD as a range style, meaning if you were at a distance leg strikes will be your best bet. It is great for cardio training, balance, speed, and leg strength and power. AT a range you should be able to take out your attacker. As it pertains to weaknesses TKD students may not practice many hand strikes or blocking and countering techniques.
Hwarang Do "the way of the flowering manhood"
Hwarang Ae O Gae / 5 Principles of Hwarang Code
1. Sa Koon Yi Choony
Loyalty to the King
2. Sa Chin Yi Hyo
Fidelity, Respect and obedience to parents and elders
3. Kyo Woo Yi Chin
Trustworthiness amounts friends and living up to personal honor
4. Im Jeon Moo Tae
Courage in Battle. Distinguish the reckless form the risky. Noting is gained if you avoid all risk; however less is gained if you completely disregard the odds. 20 to 40 are risky, while 4-20 is reckless.
5. Sal Saeng Yoo Taek
Do not take a life unjustly. Use your skills as required by your greatest judgment. Once danger is clear and your life of the life of someone in your charge is in danger you must do what is necessary to survive.
Indomitable Spirit
Foundation of all martial arts attitude Nothing is impossible.
Victory is always the expected outcome.
Failure or surrender is not an option.
Self discipline is the key to having an indomitable spirit.
3 Ways of Unification
1. Mind Intellectual facility Makes information visible Know the techniques and how they are used
2. Body Strengthen the Muscles and increase flexibility Cardio training is a must. Keep your body in good health through diet, exercise, sleep and life style.
3. Spirit Your heart The home of your indomitable spirit Your spirit is what pushes you when your mind and or body are ready to quit. It helps you to practice or test on your 8th hour, gives you the strength and endurance to keep going for those last minutes in class or on the treadmill. When these aspects are combined you will accomplish what you once thought were impossible
5 Benefits of TKD
Health and Fitness
Flexibility
Self Defense
Awareness of surroundings
Self Discipline
Hapkido
Hap = Harmony
Ki = Internal Chi or Spirit
Do = the way of
Hapikido = the Way of Coordinating Energy
Mixed Korean Martial Art Hapkido is a Korean Mixed Martial Art; it offers training in all aspects of self defense from strikes, locks/breaks, and take downs and throws. In short any fighter well trained in Hapkido would be a perfect fighter for the UFC, price or other similar organizations.
Hapkido trains you in just about any aspect of a physical conflict and keeps you as comfortable on your back as you are on your feet. Hapkido has all the same basic kicks and strikes of its cause Tai Kwan Do, as well as the throws of Judo, and take downs of Aikido. To be a master of Hapkido is to be a master of a striking art, and a grappling art. Training is extremely demanding and remaining in good physical health is a must, which is why some of their schools also offer training in different types of energy healing as well as herbal remedies to help the pains of training.
Dragon Kung Fu
A monk named Wu Mui one of the 5 surviving Shaolin Monks has been credited with this style.
The foundation of Dragon Kung Fu is based on the mythical Chinese Dragon.(one of the 5 major animal styles of Shaolin Martial Arts) Unlike many of the other styles such as the tiger, the snake, the crane or the leopard, the dragon styles was taught more through word of mouth of the master, then written down. The oral tradition of this style makes its roots, original principles, and linage a well kept secret and mystery that will ever be revealed.
The Dragon style much like karate is a strong self defence style. Its teachings are both passive and aggressive at the same time; the dragon is as deadly as he is patient. He can stay close and protect his home or he can offer fast powerful blows that can cripple of kill his aggressor. Above all else the dragon focuses on control, not only within his environment but more importantly himself. A great thing to note about the dragon style is in some ways it is no true style. The dragon incorporates the other animal styles and uses what is effective for the moment. The dragon has many secrets and he keeps his own council. Although the dragon is strong in all areas of the body the wrist is carefully trained. Strikes that involved a claw like action at soft spots like the neck the eye and the groin are often key strikes to the dragon. The strikes are made with the thumb, index and middle finger. In the Shaolin Kung Fu thread there is some more information about the dragon and the other major animals of the Shaolin style..
Southern Dragon Style
Rules & Principles
1. Focus to learn and condition the body.
2. One must not have any act of laziness.
3. Be righteous and uphold your honor.
4. One must not have any act of hypocrisy.
5. Respect your parents, honor your teacher.
6. One must not have any act of defiance.
7. Treat others with honesty; treat your friends with loyalty.
8. One must not have any act of arrogance.
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do Jeet Kune Do "Way of the Intercepting Fist"), also Jeet Kun Do or JKD, is the system developed by Bruce Lee .
Jeet Kune Do is Bruce Lee's personal interpretation of combat. Those who fallow this path claim that it is not a system of martial art, but an interpretation of combat from a personal perspective. He believed that martial arts are extremely personal to the individual therefore we do not always do a front kick in the same manor, we are all slightly different in it.
The JKD theory is that a fighter should do whatever is necessary to defend him or herself, irrespective of where the techniques used come from. In the dojo we practice different combinations that are believed to be useful in a conflict, however when we enter a conflict we really do not use them so much. Any competitive martial artist will tell you that you plan and train for a fight, however that plan goes away the first time you get hit, at that point you go on your bodies guidance. JKD followers claim that it is not a fighting style so much as a fighting philosophy.
Bruce Lee's was a gifted martial artist. He studied several systems and saw them all flowed in one way or another. What he did was take bits and pieces from many things and incorporated them into a style without a style. Although many do not agree with him on his way of teaching the results from JKD have proven themselves. Again it truly is a great expression of mixed martial arts and spiritual mindfulness. In some ways those who choice to cross train styles are doing the same thing as Bruce Lee except we are not putting a name to the style we create.
Ju-Jitsu
Ju = gentle or soft
Jitsu = art
Ju-Jitsu = Science of Softness AKA a Gentle Art
Ju-Jitsu is hard to date however it origins lie in Japan, even though it is said to have come from A Chinese monk named Chen Yuanein. This was long before The Gracey family in Brizal even thought Ju-Jitsu or the UFC.
Much like Aikido its descendant Ju-Jitsu is considered a "soft" but I would have sympathy for anyone who treated it as such.
Core concept is destroy your attacker by doing what ever it takes, with minimal effort. In the days of old Ju-Jitsu was more about completely destroying you enemy so perhaps we should feel fortunate that Ju-Jitsu practitioners have calmed down a bit.
Ju-Jitsu is a submission style with its focus on Locks, chokes, and bone breaking, however simply blocks and strikes are also used to set up locks and so forth.
Practitioners stick to strict discipline in mental and physical standards. From moral standards to fitness, to diet. This is needed to achieve the highest level of perfection.
Masters tended to follow Buddhist and Shinto religions.
Ju-jitsu was first used by the samurai, then ninja, and finally used by common bandits.
Bushido Way "The way of the Warrior"
1. Loyalty
2. Duty
3. Obedience
4. Honor
5. Respect
This was not only on the battle field but in the samurai's daily life.
Karate
Karate is now known as empty hand, however that has been taken from t'ang or China Hand. Karate is a bit difficult to classify its origins. Karate is from Okinawa, however its roots lay in China. At the time Okinawa was ruled by Japan who took the basics of karate and started new branches. Some of the styles hold true to its roots, however some styles claim Japan as its home. Karate History it is believed that males from Okinawa went to the Shaolin Temple to be trained in Shaolin Kung fu. The studied at the temple and returned back to their island and taught others around them the art so they could protect themselves from neighbors counties such as Japan. For more of Karate history check out the Shaolin Kung Fu section. Gichin Funakoshi was the man who is known for taking Karate from Okinawa to Japan early 1900's(1905-1917)
Benefits of Karate
Self Defense
Physical Health
Self Confidence
Strength, and flexibility.
Karate in general is a great self defense system. The greatest advantage of karate is the way you compete, and the way you defend yourself is extremely close. The only real difference is in self defense you have a few more targets to chose from.
Karate branches like other martial art styles has a great number of branches. Listing all the styles of Karate would be like counting each grain of sand you pick up on a beach. True with enough time you could do this, however odds are that the process would be counter productive. In this section I am going to list some of the more while known styles, however those styles will not even be a fraction of a percent.
Kickboxing and Muay Thai
Kick boxing an American Martial Art. Kickboxing is one of the youngest Martial Art Styles out there but its traditions are stemmed throughout history. Kickboxing was established less then 30 years ago and was made popular through the Martial Artist who felt that Full Contact Karate was a bit too limiting.
Kickboxing is focused on the basics of Self Defense. In truth our training is not so different from more Traditional Martial Artist, after all kicks are kicks and strikes are strikes the only real difference is the approach of the art. In kickboxing the terms drills and cardio conditioning have a whole new meaning. We practice for at-least an hour of ring time a day, not counting time spent at the gym or doing “road work” which can extent time to about 30 hours a day.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a popular within the Southeast Asian countries. Thailand above all nations is the area that is most referred to when Muay Thai training is discussed. Also a form of Muay Thai is taught throw the Military, of Thailand and is called Lerdrit.
The Science of Eight Limbs in Muay Thai the body is a weapon, all parts of the body are used hands, feet, knees, and elbows are all employed in this sport. The clinch or grappling is also taught for these fighters. Blocking is a relatively unknown term in Muay Thai, instead of blocking or redirecting ones opponent the goal is either step away or step in and beat your attacker to the punch.
Muay Thai is one of the most demanding of competitive martial arts. Weight training, cardio training yoga and lots of sparring are daily requirements for this sport. The body is put under extreme pain and pressure on a daily basis and injuries are command and often worked through. Competitive Muay Thai can be extremely bloody.
In the past Muay Thai fighter wore on top of the wrists and feet is hemp like material that has things such as shattered class on them to add in cutting your opponent, to make the sport more exciting to spectators. However this is not a common practice.
I have been lucky enough to see a demonstration of traditional Muay Thai and it is a fantastic sport. For those who can not deal with pain or dedication this sport is not for you.
In American a softer version of Muay Thai is called kickboxing. The employ most of the same concepts however kickboxing does have a few more rules and regulations then traditional Muay Thai. Kick Boxing will be discussed in another section
Muay Thai and the movies. If you want to see what Muay Thai looks like I would suggest checking out Blood Sport or the Kick Boxer movies. Also as I believe MTV had a real life I want to be a Muay Thai kick boxer about a few Muay Thai students who went to Thailand for a competition. Again this is one of the hardest martial arts for the body, and takes lots of dedication and training to become a skilled Muay Thai fighter. Those who take this sport pay not only in money, but blood, sweat and pain are also part of the cost to train in this sport.
In Thailand the fighters are extremely poor and fighting is there only way to get away from Thailand. Most of fighters also live at their schools and winning means they not only get more training, but they also have a roof over theirs heads. Yes for many losing too many fights meant they are kicked out of their school and homes.
Shaolin Kempo
Shaolin Kempo is a modern martial art style that stems from Chinese Monks from the famous Shaolin Temple in china. The best definition of Shaolin Kempo is Shaolin Small Pine Forest, Kempo Law of the fist is taught at the United Studios of Self Defense, by Grand Master Steve Demasco. In late 2008 Grand Master left the USSD to start Shaolin Studios where he focuses more on the 5 traditional animals of Shaolin. In 2007 I earned my right to present myself as a black belt within the USSD, however after the changes Master Matera has done at the USSD, including elimination Grand Master Demasco from the roots of the USSD I severed all ties to my Shaolin Training.
Shaolin training is certainly more of a striking art then anything else with a heavy focus on hand techniques, however basic kicks are added to the training program. USSD students also train in ground defense and some grappling for take downs, however there skills would not hold up against grappling arts such as Jujitsu from Japan.
China
The original Shaolin temple was built in the 4th century AD martial arts training started around A.D. 550. This style was created by an Indian monk named To Mo in order to get the monks in better physical condition. It was also To Mo’s go goal to create a cast of warrior monks who would be able to defend themselves as well as their temple from people who wished to do them harm. Although he died before this truly came into effect he left a lasting impression on every style of Martial arts today. It is often believed from those who study this art that Shaolin is the foundation on which all martial arts are built. Those who fallow this art do not just study the self defense aspect of the art, mental and spiritual development is also as important as the self defense side of the art. To be a warrior monk one had to show his understanding in spiritual matters, to be able to answer questions concerning china's history, being able to take about events, leaders, dynasties and what not. The final test they had to complete was the ordeal at Logan hall. They went through many chambers of a temple. In some places they had to defend themselves ageist other warrior monks. In one chamber they had to go through 112 wooden dummies that had knives, spears, clubs, or swords. These dummies where rigged to attack when trip wires where triggered. Many of monks sustained great injuries or even death in this chamber. After they successfully made it through there they had to move a 500lb urn that was full of burning coals. (They had to rotate it not carry it) on the sides of this urn there where 2 brands either it was 2 dragons or a dragon and a tiger, there differing views of this. When the urn was moved the monks forearms where branded with these signs (1 on each side) a door would open or latch would be relieved and they would be done with their test. This part of the art is extremely power. The strikes very from hard to soft targets, or vital points of the body. It really is a good style to study and one that offers a great all around training.
5 Shaolin Animals
Tiger
- strong and powerful.
- no blocking or defense they want to destroy what ever is in front of them
- They will continue to attack until either they are there pray are dead
Snake
- fast, flexible,
- what they lack in power they make up for in speed, they choice quick strikes and important targets.
- prefers moving over blocking then a fast counter strike
- The snake is often referred to as the inner chi
Crane
- Graceful and beautiful.
- They are balanced at all times and seldom attack; they are focus more on defense.
Leopard
- bravery and martial ferocity at its key qualities.
- strong waist and lower extremities
- power and speed and swift strikes
Dragon
- represents the cultivation of the spirit.
- Powerful, graceful in flexible -
They focus on both rising and falling attacks as well circular movements.
Shaolin Monk Training
Daily Routine of the Warrior Monks.
1. Energy collection or chi development
2. Meditation
3. Philosophy
4. Yoga
5. Nutrition, consisting of proper diet, healing arts and verbalism
6. The arts of punching, kicking and self defense combinations
7. push-pull arts
8. Jumping patterns permitting escape from danger with no physical contact
This is a routine that anyone who wishes to become a Martial Artist should keep in mind. On top of their 8 Hours of Physical Training, they also spend 8 hours a day working in the temple. Of course there are a few things that you can change such as jumping patterns but use this as your Basic Outline.
Shotokan
Shoto = waving pines
Kan = hall
Shoto's hall of the empty hand
Shotokan is a style of Karate as developed by Gichin Funakoshi.
Funakoshi first studied Shorin ryu and Shorie ryu. He believed that these two styles were great, however they had too much combat focused so Shotokan was created with a major focused placed on health, breathing releasing energy, and having total control over the mind and body.
Shotokan was brought to Japan from Okinawa. (Many Shotokan schools however still credit Japan with the creation of Shotokan.)
Triads of Shotokan Real organization & metaphors within human psyche.
9 symbols of perfection
Physical Triads
Kibon/basics
Kumite/sparring
Katas/forms
Moral Triad
Justice
Mercy
Compassion
Ethical Triad
Duty
Honor
Loyalty
In short the goal of ShotoKan goes beyond self defense basics to perfection of oneself
