history and philosophy of kyushindo and related arts

History and Philosophy of Kyushindo and Related Arts – Tony Hart (2012)

KYUSHINDO PROJECTHistory and Philosophy of Kyushindo and Related Arts

CONTENTS

Part 01 - Introduction

Part 02 - The Origins of Martial Arts

Part 03 – Introduction and Family Tree

Part 04 – Kenshiro Abbe (Judo)

Part 05 – George ‘Chief’ Mayo (Judo & Karate)

Part 06 – Mayoshindo

Part 07 - Budō/Kyushindo Judo Philosophy according to Kenshiro Abbe

Part 08 - Kyushindo Karate Philosophy according to George Mayo

Part 09 – Health Benefits of Martial Arts

Part 10 – Training & Grading

Part 11 – Clubs (2012)

Part 12 – Summary and References

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PART 1 - INTRODUCTION

I consider myself fortunate to have come across Kyushindo around 20 years ago having been introduced to the discipline through a friend who was training at the Redhill club. Prior to this I had initially begun training in another discipline, Wado Ryu and whilst there were aspects that I found interesting, it always felt very commercially orientated, the teaching lacked a thought provoking approach and I felt largely unsatisfied. These thoughts were further reinforced when I started training in Kyushindo with Sean McCrossen and Paul Paine whose teaching was at the other end of the scale. This felt much more like the kind of thing I was looking for and I considered this more of a ‘thinking man’s karate’. Over the years I can honestly say that no two sessions have ever been the same and every training session has taught me something new and John Hopkin has added to the learning process in the last few years. I have also trained with Dave Waters (Aikido - Kyudokai Martial Arts Association) on a number of occasions over the years and he has added further dimensions that have enriched my learning. I am on the same path as Sean, Paul, John and Dave; I just joined at a different time but I am part of the continuum.

With Sean’s encouragement, I ran a Junior Club for a number of years, which introduced me to teaching and sharing ideas and I found this rewarding. The club reached it’s own natural end when the juniors grew up and lives changed and moved in different directions but it was a positive experience for me and I hope a positive one for the juniors too.

When I was asked to work on a project for my black belt grading and was asked to explore the ‘History and philosophy of Kyushindo and related arts’, it felt like a wonderful way to further develop my knowledge and understanding of its roots and evolution as well as objectively considering the wider impact it has had.

My initial temptation was to direct my attention on Kyushindo and see where that took me, however when I tried to do this it quickly felt as though I had taken a wrong turning. I paused, took a step to one side and mused over this with a more considered and objective approach and began from the principle that we rely on seeds to provide roots and roots to provide growth and development. This threw up the need for a different approach and led me toward an expansion of what would have been quite a narrow project had I followed my initial instincts.

I decided to put pre-conceived ideas to one side and using them only as a basic guidance tool, set about providing myself with metaphorically a large blank canvas on which to commit my thoughts and ideas and then develop these further through research. This in itself has added another aspect to my journey and the research I have undertaken has challenged me to develop a project which looks beyond Kyushindo whilst always trying to keep it as the core element. I am hoping I have been able to achieve both.

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PART 2 - THE ORIGINS OF MARTIAL ARTS

Researching the origins of ’Martial Arts’ was more problematic than I had initially imagined as the term has different meanings to different people and often with differing and sometimes conflicting views. Components for the earliest use of the term Martial Art included refined fighting skills, code of honour or tenets of ethical conduct, philosophy of life, and spiritual enlightenment. While many forms of fighting, and combative training have been around since early human existence, the physical elements came together with mental and spiritual aspects in various forms of structured education, most notably throughout Asia. There is no evidence to support that one system started it all, but rather many kingdoms developed unique fighting methods separate from each other, and later, mutually influenced one another. So whilst there seems to be no clear agreement on the origins research uncovers interesting evidence of Martial Arts all over the world in varying forms, origins and dates. By way of example, some of these are listed below: -

• China as far back as 1300 – 1000 B.C.

• Greece with the Romans and wrestling somewhere near 40 B.C.

• India somewhere in the 1st or 2nd Century B.C and was brought over to China

in or around 500 A.D.

• Europe around 750 B.C. citing wrestling, known as ‘Pankration’ as the first

Martial Art

• Egyptians as far back as 2,500 B.C. as they had some form of hand combat,

possibly Kuta which was initially developed by the bodyguards of the ancient Pharaohs in Egypt as the most efficient and effective way to defend their king. Kuta remained top secret amongst the Asian rulers for over a thousand years until military soldiers found out the secrets. Today Kuta is the basis for the art of Hikuta

• Korea’s ancient martial art of Tang Soo do is said to have originated about

2000 years ago and is deemed to be the oldest form of karate

The closest thing that historians seem to be able to agree upon is when a particular martial art started in a particular country. Much research seems to point towards Kalari or Kalaripayattu of ancient India as the world’s oldest martial art. Ancient Buddhist monks who travelled from India to China to spread Buddhism are said to have taught these martial arts to the Chinese and this seems to be a good place to start.

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Bodhidharma and the Evolution of Martial ArtsThe evolution of Asian martial arts as they are known today is thought to have originated around 500 A.D. when an Indian Buddhist monk named * Bodhidharma who had wandered the plains in search of enlightenment from his native Kanchipuram, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu arrived in China and came across a Shaolin Temple. Legend has it that he began to teach his philosophy and taught Indian fighting exercises to the Chinese monks to improve their physical condition and to help them defend themselves from the frequent attacks by local bandits and dacoits. All kung-fu is thought to have evolved from this beginning, and from kung-fu came karate.

Ba Tuo and Martial ArtsHowever, this theory is not without controversy and the attribution of Shaolin's martial arts to Bodhidharma has been discounted by several 20th century martial arts historians including Tang Hao (Chinese lawyer and author) on the grounds that the Yijin Jing (Qigong manual of exercise) is a forgery. Stele and documentary evidence shows the monks historically worshiped the Bodhisattva Vajrapani’s "Kimnara King" (the protector and guide of the Buddha), form as the progenitor of their staff and bare hand fighting styles. Further research suggests that towards the end of the 5th century, a monk named Ba Tuo, arrived in China from India pre-dating Bodhidharma’s arrival.

Emperor Xiao Wen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), a devout Buddhist, had deep respect for Ba Tuo and ordered the construction of the Shaolin Temple at the foot of the Shaoshi Mountain. Here, Ba Tuo would disseminate Buddhism in the peaceful surroundings of lush forests to Buddhists who came from all over the country. Ba Tuo also wanted his disciples to be intelligent, capable, and good at martial arts. His favourite disciples were Hui Guang and Seng Chou for their superior Kung-fu. There is strong evidence that from its founding days, the monks at the Shaolin Temple practiced martial arts. Hui Guang and Seng Chou were involved with martial arts before they became two of the very first Shaolin monks, reported as practicing martial arts before the arrival of Bodhidharma. Sengchou's skill with the tin staff is even documented in the ‘Chinese Buddhist Canon’, the total body of Buddhist literature.

Footnote *The question of Bodhidharma's actual contribution to the martial arts, and even of his very existence, has been the subject of controversy among martial arts historians for many years and the Bodhidharma legend has been examined in detail by Michael Spiesbach (“Bodhidharma: meditating monk, martial arts master or make-believe?” Journal of Asian Martial Arts, 1992, vol. 1, no. 4, p. 10-27. This is examined in more

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detail but of course remains inconclusive. See website http://www.minrec.org/wilson/pdfs/Bodhidharma.pdfSamurai and Jui JitsuIrrespective of whether we trace martial arts back to Bodhidharma or Ba Tuo, it is widely accepted that all far eastern martial arts were taught by Buddhist monks and the Samurai Warriors of Japan were Zen Buddhists. The martial art of Jiu Jitsu, which is attributed to the Samurai is also believed to owe many of its fundamentals to influence from the Chinese martial arts, though the style is typically not as flowing and quick as the Chinese arts. This is probably because as well as carrying weapons the Samurai also wore armour into battle. Thus Jiu Jitsu is an art that was compatible with fighting in armour and against armoured opponents. This caused the development of Jiu Jitsu to include locking, throwing and pinning techniques as well as the more common place kicking and striking techniques of other martial arts.

Okinawa and KarateSo although Karatedo (Way of the Empty Hand), or simply Karate, is usually thought of as a native Japanese martial art in the West, in Japan it is not. It can be traced back to the Ryukyu kingdom (modern-day Okinawa) as a hybrid of indigenous fighting techniques and the Chinese form of boxing known in the west as Kung-Fu. Okinawa is the Principle Island of the Ryukyu Archipelago, laying three hundred miles to the south of Japan and three miles east of main land China.

Okinawa was once a small kingdom free from Japanese and Chinese occupation. Since this

small tropical island is located right between Japan and the southern part of China, it consequently experienced severe political trauma in its history, especially when a southern end Japanese clan Satsuma invaded Okinawa in 1607 and occupied its administration by force. No islanders except the authorized royal class members were allowed to arm in their daily life. Prior to the Satsuma invasion, the islanders had similar experiences by their own King at the end of the Civil War in 1422. On both occasions, the islanders learned to train, in secret, the hand to hand combat tactics which developed into the art of Karate later. Among the various styles of Karate originally practiced on Okinawa Island, Goju-Ryu is known as the earliest institute of Karate that named its school by its specific style. So although the roots of Martial Arts

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can be traced back thousands of years to India, the evolution of karate as we know it today began in the seventeenth century.

In Okinawa during the Japanese occupation the ‘Sai’ was first used as a farm tool and later developed as a weapon by the indigenous occupants in their fight against the Samurais and their deadly swords. A pair of short swords the Sai was used defensively against the Jo/Bo staff and Samurai sword. As a weapon, it was used in unison with various attacking and defensive stances and techniques and in defence against sword attacks, when used to its full extent even wrist and arm-locks can be created not to mention the damage to limbs, skin and bone etc.

Kung FuKung Fu is more of a western term as it means "he who possesses skill or ability." The Chinese refer to martial arts as Wu Shu. The Shaolin style of wushu is regarded as amongst the first institutionalised Chinese martial arts. The oldest evidence of Shaolin participation in combat is a stele (an upright stone slab or column decorated with figures or inscriptions) from 728 C.E. (Abbreviation for 'Common Era', a non-religious alternative to the use of A.D.) that attests to two occasions: a defence of the Shaolin Monastery from bandits around 610 C.E. and their subsequent role in the defeat of Wang Shichong at the Battle of Hulao in 621 C.E. From the 8th to the 15th centuries, there are no extant documents that provide evidence of Shaolin participation in combat.

Religion and PhilosophyTraditional martial arts, as we know them today, have roots in religion and philosophy. Buddhism had a great impact in India and China which impacted and influenced Chinese martial arts. Taoism and Buddhism in Japan led to Zen and all three impacted and influenced Japanese Martial Arts. Moreover, Chinese and Japanese philosophers too had an impact on martial arts and they strived to set a code of ethics and morals to live by. The Japanese Samurai, for example, had the code of the Bushido (literally translated as 'the way of the warrior'), The principles of Bushido derive from the earlier Kyuba no michi (Way of Horse and Bow), an unwritten, informal warrior code developed in Japan, and itself based on Chinese martial doctrines. In addition, elements of Bushido can be traced back to Buddhist, Zen and Confucianism principles, and to the insular Shinto religion. The emphasis is on duty, respect, frugality, loyalty honour and etiquette as well as martial arts mastery.

Master Funakoshi Gichin (founder/ creator of Shotokan) However, in Japan, after the Meiji Restoration in 1868 and the subsequent collapse of the samurai class, the Imperial Court was moved from Kyoto to Edo (or Tokyo as it is now known - Tokyo meaning Eastern Capital) and martial arts went into a short period of decline. The days of feudalism

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were over and the new centralized government was left in the hands of those in favour of westernization. After the Sino-Japanese war in 1895, Okinawa became a prefecture of Japan and Karate began to spread to the mainland. The sport developed in Tokyo's Universities after the Okinawan Master Funakoshi Gichin (the founder/creator of Shotokan karate) was invited by the Education Ministry to give a demonstration at Keio University in the early 1920's. Two main schools and many different styles have evolved over the years. Following a post-war decline, the sport became increasingly popular around the world.

Footnote

The Sino-Japanese War would come to symbolize the degeneration and enfeeblement of the Qing Dynasty and demonstrate how successful modernization had been in Japan since the Meiji Restoration as compared with the Self-Strengthening Movement in China. The principal results were a shift in regional dominance in Asia from China to Japan and a fatal blow to the Qing Dynasty and the Chinese classical tradition. These trends would result later in the 1911 Revolution.

Familiar Martial Arts

The Western world is familiar with many Martial Arts but there is a huge difference between Martial Arts and just fighting and therefore it is perhaps arguable whether something that does not have a philosophical side to it can be defined as a Martial Art.

Aikido"Ai" means ‘to meet, to come together, to harmonise’, "Ki" means ‘energy, spirit, mind’ and "do" means ‘the way’. Aikido is a relatively new self-defensive art, founded in Japan by Professor Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969). One of Japan's martial arts, Aikido concentrates on immobilising holds and twisting throws, causing the attacker's own momentum and strength to work against him.

BoxingThe attack and defence is done with the fists, however it is arguable whether it constitutes a martial art.

IaidoThis art includes nukitsuke, kiritsuke, chiburi and noto. The opponent is killed with one stroke of a sword. Iaido is an art that focuses on iai as its major component, is usually attributed to Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (1542-1621). While many consider Hayashizaki as the father of Iaido, it is nevertheless mistaken to attribute the invention of Iai to him. The Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu (1447) for

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example pre-dates him by about a century, and its curriculum contains several Iai sets.

Jeet kune doThe translation means "way of the intercepting fist". The noted martial artist and actor Bruce Lee (1940 – 1973) was the initiator of this system. His concept was to free his followers from clinging to any style, pattern, or mould.

JudoJudo means "the gentle way". The art was developed by Jigoro Kano (1860 – 1938) in the late nineteenth century. It was the first Japanese martial art to gain widespread international recognition and the first to become an official Olympic sport.

JujitsuJujitsu is reputed to be one of the most ancient martial arts dating back more than 2500 years and is widely attributed as the unarmed martial art of the medieval warriors of Japan - the Samurai.

KarateThe term means "empty handed" in Japanese. Master Funakoshi Gichin (the founder and creator of Shotokan karate) made the self-defence methods simple and appended a philosophical touch to the art

KendoIn the Middle Ages, Ito Ittosai Kagehisa developed the style that forms the basis of present day Kendo, which develops the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana (Samurai Sword).This traditional Japanese style of fencing uses a two-handed wooden sword.

KickboxingMuay Thai (from Thailand), Karate and Boxing have influenced this art and various forms of kick boxing have long been practised throughout South East Asia. Based on Chinese and Indian martial arts practitioners claim these systems can be traced back to a thousand years.

Kung fu (or Wushu in Chinese) The term means "a skill or ability to do something" Kung Fu

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style contains both hard and soft techniques of striking, kicking, grappling and throwing, and seizing and locking the joint.

Kyudo

Kyudo is the martial art of Japanese archery, literally meaning "the way of the bow". Bows have been used for many centuries in Japan, both as weapons of warfare and as hunting tools. The bow used for Kyudo is about two meters long, and stationary targets are located in a distance of either 28 or 60 meters. An important part of Kyudo is the ritual preparation of each shot. As in all the Japanese martial arts, the training of one's mind is essential in Kyudo.

SumoThe Japanese art of wrestling is first mentioned in a Japanese book more than a thousand years ago, but experts believe it might be much older.

Tae kwon doEmanating from Korea, the phrase means "the way of hand and foot" with the emphasis on potent kicks and not on hand strikes. The earliest records of Martial Arts practice in Korea date back to about 50 B.C. These earliest forms of Korean martial arts are known as 'Taek Kyon'.

Tai Chi ChuanTai Chi Chuan is a Chinese form of exercise derived from Taoism, one of China's oldest belief systems. It is widely regarded as having health benefits related to tension and stress. It is a slow-motion, moving meditative exercise for relaxation, health and self-defence. It has gained enormous popularity throughout the rest of the world for its health benefits.

Wing Chun Kung FuWing Chun Kung Fu only dates back about 400 years when the Shaolin Kung Fu temples were under attack. Originally a very secret system, the sophisticated art of Wing Chun was only passed on to family members and close, trusted friends. It was only when the legendary Grandmaster Ip Man (now sadly passed away) arrived in Hong Kong that the style was taught more openly. Wing Chun is a close-combat Chinese Kung Fu system based on simplicity, speed, precision and power. Typical techniques include; trapping hands, swift low kicks, close body control and short, but devastatingly powerful strikes from the hands (such as the inch punch) and simultaneous blocking and

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striking. Wing Chun practitioners also employ a unique sensitivity training exercise known as Chi sau, or sticking hands.

Further development of Martial Arts across the World has occurred in later years and below are some examples of these: -

• Israel is the birth place of Krav maga (widely used by the military and police)

• Brazil’s Capoeira and Jiu-Jitsu, the former originating in 19th century amongst

African slaves with drums and other musical instruments used to create a rhythm for the art and the latter during the early 20th century, this art was borrowed from Judo by the Gracie family

• Thailand developed a national sport called Muay Thai, where opponents can

employ knees, elbows, feet, shins and fists in combat

• Russia’s Samooborona Bez Orushia implies "self defence without weapons"

• American Kenpo mixes

circular motions and evasive movements along with linear kicks and punches

• India’s Gatka. This art

originated in Punjab and was practiced by the Sikhs

• Indonesia’s Pentjak Silat

is a set of martial arts that depends on indigenous weapons and animal styles

• Cuba’s fighting dance

martial art of Mani was started by slaves of sugar plantations

• Jamaica developed Bangaran amongst the maroons

• Trinidad started Kalenda around 1860 and consisted of stick fights

• Angolan art that comprises of punching is called Gabetula

• Congo developed Gwindulumutu, a head bashing style of martial arts

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• Ethiopia’s Oromo people practiced Dula Meketa, a stick fighting technique

HISTORY OF KYUSHINDO – Part 3 – Introduction and Family Tree

As stated in my introduction I began training in Kyushindo around 20 years ago and in order to get some kind of perspective of where I fit into this, it felt like a good idea to create something along the lines of a Kyushindo Family Tree. This shows the key people and the Kyushindo journey, of which I have become a part of. The research that I have done for this project has provided me with a greater understanding of this journey and the roots of Kyushindo. In exploring this I have used the 5 W’s and an H approach – What, Why, Where, When, Who and How in order to try to identify the history of Kyushindo and its predecessors, how it has evolved and what it means today. This project has taken me on a road of discovery, sometimes to forks and sometimes to crossroads but always to interesting places that I may not have discovered and this in itself has been an enlightening experience.

KYUSHINDO ‘FAMILY TREE’

Kenshiro Abbe (1915 – 1985 from Tokushima province Japan)

↓

George ‘Chief’ Mayo

↓

Martin Hardy & David Frost (Banstead)

↓

Sean McCrossen (Redhill and Kingswood) Paul Paine & John Hopkin (Redhill and Kingswood)

Dave Waters (Aikido - Kyudokai Martial Arts Association)

↓

Students including me

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HISTORY OF KYUSHINDO – Part 4 –Kenshiro Abbe (Judo)

Kenshiro Abbe

At the top of the ‘Family Tree’ is Kenshiro Abbe and it is important to start at this point in order to get some sense as to the foundations that were to become all important in the development of Kyushindo in the UK. Kenshiro was born in 1916 in the *Tokushima province on the Eastern side of the Japanese island of Shikoku and was first introduced to Martial Arts at the age of 3 by his father, a schoolmaster and Kendo teacher. His father was tragically drowned two years later and his father's pupils took on the responsibility of teaching their late Master's son. This was interrupted by Abbe Sensei's attendance at primary school. At this school, the only Martial Art taught was Sumo wrestling, which he duly learnt and became the regional school champion.

*Tokushima was formerly known as the

province of Awa (阿波).

In 1930, at the age of 14, Kenshiro began his Judo career. He was an outstanding student and succeeded in achieving his 2nd Dan a year later from the Butokukwai - the controlling body of Martial Arts in Japan at the time. At 16 he was champion of the high school league of Tokushima and was awarded 3rd Dan by the Butokukwai – the youngest person ever to have achieved this grade at the time. At this time, he passed an examination to study at the Bu'Sen, Japans' "Special teachers training college", where he continued his study of Judo and Kendo, and was introduced to other Martial Arts. It was run by the Butokukwai and was based in the legendary Butokuden in Kyoto. Here he was to graduate and later be retained as an instructor.

The Butokukai was, until the end of the Second World War, the special training college for the Martial Arts Society, which controlled all teaching and gradings in Japan. By 1935, at the age of 18, the organisation had awarded him his 5th Dan; he became the youngest Judoka ever to hold the grade and won both the All Japan East/West Tournament and the 5th Dan championships held in The Emperor’s Palace in Tokyo. This was a pinnacle in competitive Judo.

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Morihei Ueshiba and AikidoAlso, at this time Kenshiro was selected for special training by Morihei Ueshiba (known as O sensei), who created Aikido in 1930’s. Aikido was at this time still secret, and Ueshiba only selected very special students. Ueshiba had studied the Japanese Martial Arts of Kito Ryu, Aioi Ryu, Daito Ryu AikiJitsu, JuJitsu, the Bayonet arts, Kendo, Kudo, Bojitsu and many others. Kenshiro was strongly influenced by him and studied under Ueshiba for ten years, becoming his senior student. From a young age Kenshiro regarded martial arts as expressions of deeper ideas and it was during his time under Ueshiba that he began to formulate his theory of Budo Kyu Shin Do.

Morihei Ueshiba 1883-1969 - O Sensei Founder of Aikido

In 1937 Kenshiro fought the great Japanese Judo legend Masahiko Kimura and won the contest. This was to be Kimura’s only defeat. Kimura Sensei said of Kenshiro after his defeat…

“It was as if I was fighting a shadow and trying to catch the wind”

In 1938 Kenshiro received his 6th Dan and was the youngest in Japan to achieve this title. During the war years he ran a military training company, where he studied and mastered Jukendo (The way of the Bayonet). Although he studied Aikido, Kendo and Jukendo and was teaching at The Butokukwai', he was gradually formulating his own Budo philosophy, which he later called Kyu-Shin-Do.

In 1945 at the age of 29 the Butokukai graded Kenshiro to 7th Dan Judo and 6th Dan Kendo, an amazing achievement from 15 years of training during which he honed his skills and teaching. In 1949 he took up the position of chief instructor to the Kyoto Police and the *Doshisha University in Kyoto.

*Doshisha was founded in 1875 by an ex Samurai named Niijima Jō. Niijima left feudal Japan in 1864 when going abroad was illegal by Sakoku policy

(‘locked country’ 鎖国?,). This was the foreign relations policy of Japan under which no foreigner could enter the Country nor could any Japanese leave the country. The penalty for contravening this act was death.

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During 1954 the London Judo Society (LJS) a British Judo Association group co-founded by George Chew and Eric Dominy decided to invite a high ranking Japanese Judo player/teacher to their society, to become their chief instructor. In 1955 and as a result of the LJS decision, 39 year old Kenshiro Abbe, whose credentials were incredible by Japanese standards let alone British ones arrived in Britain. Kenshiro was to have more of an impact on British Martial Arts than anyone who had gone before or arguably since. He considered the Judo that he saw to be too concerned with strength and also too physical and hard. It was his intent to introduce his principles and theories to the British Judoka. They in turn found it hard to understand that if they followed his teaching, which he himself had studied from as early as 1940, their own Judo skills would become stronger by ‘technique’ rather than ‘strength’. Kenshiro would often say “one must have the right mind “. On one occasion he lined up 31 Judoka Dan grades, he walked along the line and informed each Judoka what technique he would use, and whether it would be left of right handed and then proceeded to throw each and every single one of the 31 students just as he had said. It is worth being reminded that he was 40 years of age at the time.

Kenshiro taught there for a year however he came to realise that no one was really able to understand the circular concepts he incorporated into his Judo and although he was disappointed with this he chose to turn his disappointment into positive action and left to form his own society.

Masutaro Otani and The British Judo AssociationAt this time in 1956 a 5th Dan by the name of Masutaro Otani made contact with Kenshiro Abbe, having apparently been inspired by his style of judo and he began training under him. Otani had been a member of The British Judo Association (BJA – Formed in 1948) but during the interim years had become increasingly disenchanted with the direction the BJA was carving out for British Judo. He was also said to be unhappy with the level of support and care that the BJA had extended to an old friend ‘Tani’, who had been incapacitated following a stroke. In 1954 Otani severed his links with the BJA and formed his own organisation - the Masutaro Otani Society of Judo (MOSJ). 2 years later, when Kenshiro had become equally disillusioned with the LJS, he left and took Bill Wood with him and joined forces with Masutaro Otani. By taking this action Kenshiro was able to pursue teaching pure Kyu Shin Do to the British and in order to achieve this, he formed a number of Martial Arts Councils, including the British Judo Council (BJC), the British Kendo Council, the British Karate Council, etc. as well as an overall governing body, an umbrella organisation for Japanese Martial Arts - the International Budo Council (IBC).

The IBC is one of the oldest Martial Arts organisations in the UK whose mission is to ‘Offer the protection, organisation and promotion of Martial Arts in a more expansive manner than many other organisations. Supporting not only the sporting aspirations of its members but also their individual emotional growth’.

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http://www.ibcuk.com/

Introduction of Martial Arts to EuropeIt was through these various councils that, by 1957, Kenshiro had introduced the following Martial Arts to Europe: -

• Kendo (the way of the sword)

• Aikido (the way of spiritual harmony)

• Kyudo (the way of the bow)

• Jukendo (the way of the bayonet)

• Iaido (the way of sword drawing)

• Yarido (the way of the spear)

• Naginatado (the way of the halberd)

In 1958 Otani was given the position of National Coach of The British Judo Council and the following year (1959) Kenshiro personally awarded him his 7th Dan.

FootnoteMasutaro Otani was born in 1896 in Kamigoto, on the Island of Nakadori Jima, near Nagasaki. He arrived in Britain in 1919, having worked his passage on a merchant vessel. Although Otani was to become one of the greatest exponents of British judo during his early years he is usually described as a ‘jujitsu man.’ In 1921 he joined the London Budokwai. When the London Budokwai had first opened, it had taught jujitsu, but in 1920 its instructors Gunji Koizumi and Yukio Tani were persuaded by Jigaro Kano to teach his more scientific martial art of judo. After 5 years of judo instruction under Tani they had become close friends and Otani was appointed his assistant judo instructor.

In 1939 following the outbreak of WW2 Masutaro Otani, as a Japanese visitor, was interned in a UK prisoner of war camp, despite protests from many sources including Oxbridge Universities. In 1945, following the declaration of Peace in Europe, as English society started to pick up the threads of normality; Otani founded The Jubilee Judo Club.

Although increasing numbers of British people were taking up Judo, it was to be several more years before purpose made judo gi’s could be purchased. Judoka who wanted to appear authentic made their own jackets out of surplus naval hammocks (if they could get one). Much boiling and scrubbing was necessary (no launderettes then) to make them reasonably flexible, but a quick sawing movement from a lively opponent could remove the skin from the back of your neck. Ex-army shorts completed the outfit.

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Kenshiro was instrumental in inviting leading Budo teachers to the UK, including Nakazono Sensei (6th Dan Aikido) and Harada Sensei (6th Dan Shotokai Karatedo, and although the 1960’s were to prove an exciting time for British Martial Artists it was in 1960 at the age of 44, that Kenshiro was badly injured in a car accident.

Four years later in 1964 and still not fully recovered, he returned to Japan in order to see the Olympics hosted in his home land and Judo represented for the first time. It would be another 5 years before he would return briefly to the UK, his delay being caused by an injury to his neck that he had sustained in the car accident and that had gradually worsened. He was displeased to return to a near dormant IBC and a BJC that had changed course in his absence from his teaching of Budo/Kyushindo to a more physically dominant judo. Kenshiro felt that, instead of studying the truth of Budo, most BJC members only wanted the physical instruction, misunderstanding the origins of the teaching and consequently corrupting the essence of his KyuShin Do philosophy.

Subsequently he set about redressing the situation, virtually dismantling the BJC and leaving in place only those worthy to help in the reconstruction. Otani was made president of the BJC and graded 8th Dan. O'Tani was also left in charge of the IBC, with a number of other loyal students. In 1970 Abbe Sensei returned to Japan and in the same year Otani merged the MOSJ into the BJC.

During the early and mid 70's the management of both the BJC and IBC became difficult for Otani and those that had been left to continue Abbe Sensei's teachings. Otani died in 1977 and his son Robin Otani became President of the BJC. In 1978 the BJC severed its links with the now 'all but' redundant IBC. Since then many organisations have sprung up, promoting the Kyu Shin Do philosophy, but it is open to debate as to how many of them truly grasp what Abbe Sensei meant.

End of an Era

Abbe Sensei passed away on 1st December 1985 and described by friends and students as a ‘great loss’ and ‘without doubt one of the greatest teachers and human beings you will have ever met. His selfless work to convey his thoughts fell as snowflakes on warm ground. There will never be another like him and we have missed his brilliance’. Kenshiro has also been described as ‘strongly independent and even unpredictable to the point of eccentricity as a person, however he was regarded with great respect as a Judoka and as an instructor and the BJC attracted thousands of members fairly quickly’.

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Quotes from Kenshiro Abbe:

"No one has the right to impose themselves mentally or physically on you"

"Minimum Effort, Maximum Efficiency"

Abbe's Instructors include

SENSEI NAGOAKA (10TH DAN)

SENSEI ISOGAI

SENSEI NAKAMOTO

SENSEI M, UYESHIBA (10TH DAN)

FootnoteIt appears that sadly, over the years all trace of him has virtually disappeared and various reports and research state that his students have scattered and many have died. Still more claim to have known him and yet cannot show a single thing that he taught or explain his philosophies. No one knows where his 35,000 British students and countless others worldwide have gone. Even Sensei Abbe's records, held in perpetuity by the current director of Kyu Shin Do in the United Kingdom, Sensei Mervin Francis, give only the names of those students graded and recognised by Abbe Sensei. The location of these individuals remains a mystery.

Within the practice of Kyushindo Budo it is recognised that the stronger, faster, and more violent an attack is, the simpler it is to deal with, providing that you are not

seeking to meet it with a similar action to defeat the attacker.

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HISTORY OF KYUSHINDO – Part 5 – George Mayo (Judo & Karate)

George Mayo (right)

The Frenchman who built on the foundations that Kenshiro had laid was George Mayo or ‘Chief’ as some instructors called him. George studied various martial arts before meeting with Kenshiro Abbe during the period 1955 - 1960. During this time George Mayo developed the Kyushindo theory into the Kyushindo International Association (KIA) and the Kyushindo International Judo Association (KIJA). George was primarily a Judoka and used Karateka from various styles to help him develop Kyushindo Karate.

In the late 1960's George Mayo set up Karate clubs, alongside his Judo clubs, in London, Luton, Bristol, Southampton, Oxford and Northampton but kept them separate and experimented by trying different approaches and creating syllabuses in each of the areas. During this time the KIA merged into the (KIJA).

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21st March, 1960 - George Mayo teaches a Kyushindo Judo class to breakfall (at Highgate Kyushindo Judo Club, London) whilst students of all grades look on. Note the Kyushindo Shield fixed to the door behind Mr Mayo. The smallest boy is called 'Jim Pook' and a television crew were present filming this session for a piece for Pathe News entitled 'Boy Judo Star'. (George Mayo is standing in front of the shield)

Kyushindo International Judo Association (KIJA)By the early 1980's the KIJA Karate was concentrated in 5 areas, listed below with their Area Coaches.

Oxford - Derek Collins

Southampton - Ray Wood

London - Paul Sockett

Surrey - Martin Hardy

Luton - Dennis Graves

In 1982 George Mayo moved back to France to live, however he frequently visited England to attend seminars, gradings and also to give private tuition. A common syllabus was formed by the coming together of the above groups and this syllabus is still used today, although inevitably some areas have been tweaked over the years by differing approaches and interpretation. This relatively close association lasted until the mid 1990's.

Today there are a number of organisations throughout the world who claim to teach martial arts based on Abbe's theories of Kyushindo. Several of these can trace their heritage to George

Mayo, a French Judoka who had developed his own system of non-competitive judo, which incorporated elements of yoga and which he named Ju-judo (the gentle, gentle way). George Mayo had moved to the UK in the 1940’s.

However evidence from research indicates that whilst George Mayo was not in any way connected to Kenshiro Abbe's British Judo Council, he found Kyu-Shin-Do an appealing concept and controversially reinvented Kyu-Shin-Do as his own spiritual philosophy, renaming his organisation the Kyushindo International Judo Association. The claim that Kenshiro Abbe was involved in the creation of Mayo's system has been strongly refuted by Kenshiro’s students. The Kyushindo International Judo Association

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later fragmented, giving rise to various splinter groups including the Zen Judo organisations and the Mayoshindo Karate organisation, which resulted in an ‘open letter from Sensei George Mayo (‘Chief’), which seems to demonstrate disappointment if not more than a hint of annoyance.

HISTORY OF KYUSHINDO – Part 6 – Mayoshindo

Differences of opinions, principles and approach appear to have caused frustration, conflict and eventually divisions. This is more clearly seen in the content of the following ‘open letters’ to Kyushindo students from Sensei George ‘Chief’ Mayo, in which he feels he has no alternative other than to re-invent Kyushindo as ‘Mayoshindo’.

An Open Letter to All Students of Kyushindo...By Grandmaster Mr George Mayo

I, G.S. Mayo, am the founder and developer of the art of Kyushindo and this letter is addressed both to the students who have left me in the past and believe they are still doing Kyushindo and to my current students who are still on the path with me.

Because so many students who have left me have not grasped the concepts or techniques of my system and still believe they are doing what I laid down, I have no choice but to clarify those who are actually doing it my way. To do this it is with great regret that I have to change the name of my system to Mayo Shin Do.

I started what is now called Mayo Shin Do in the 1940's after studying many systems with many masters. It was Master Kenshiro Abbe a man of great foresight, morality and understanding who gave me the seed to grow my system. A growth which has continued over the years to make Mayo Shin Do what it is today: a system which enables students to practise martial arts in safety, without losing the meaning; and incorporates many things for the betterment of the student.

George Mayo.

24.09.01 - An Open Letter to Kyushindo...Kyushindo - by G.S. Mayo (Chief) - Style Founder

To who ever requires the truth about me and the beginnings of Mayo Shin Do.

I, George Mayo known as Chief to my students past and present, started studying martial arts in France when I was a boy of eight years old. I studied different systems and different styles of martial arts under many masters. I came to Scotland in 1940 studying and living in Edinburgh. I started teaching martial arts in 1948 which entailed throwing, punching, blocking, kicking and nerve points. I also added a modified yoga for health. I met Kenshiro

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Abbe in 1955, we became friends and spent many hours together training and in philosophical discussion relating to technique and principles.

I moved to London in 1956 and opened a club. I then opened clubs in Portsmouth - 1956, Southampton - 1957, Bristol - 1958, Luton Southend and Romford - 1959, Brighton - 1960, Oxford - 1969, Northampton - 1971, Cardiff and Birmingham - 1972. These dates are only approximate.

Being a student of Kinesiology, I modified the movement of the techniques to be as natural to the body as they could be, without losing the effect of them. In 1985 I called together all the areas I had training, to unify what I called Kyushindo Karate. The Judo syllabus had been set years before. The area coaches under my guidance and tutorage, set up each grade so all areas were doing the same technique, the same way in the same grade. I believe this took about a year, after which all the area coaches and myself signed the new syllabus.

I moved back to France in 1986 semi retiring but spending at least 10 days a month in England, after I had been living in France a while I started spending less time in England. It was after this I started noticing changes in the practice of my Kyushindo, the way the techniques were being done, and the attitude in which students did them, even though I had students coming over to France for seminars and gradings.

In a discussion with my Vice President Derek Collins, we came upon the reason for the change in technique and attitude. It is because many of high grades, although good at what they did, emphasised different aspects of what I taught, and believed them to be what I taught, not just a part of a whole. So the techniques from different areas, were lacking different aspects of Kyushindo, thus actually changing the technique, and the way it is performed and practiced. I spoke to, and tried to correct one of my high graded Judo instructors, after this talk with Derek but he did not want to listen, or change the way he was practicing the technique.

I also spoke with Derek about competition, I do not believe competition is a good thing it changes the principles and practice of good technique and I want nothing to do with it. Derek pointed out to me that we could not stop people doing what they wanted away from our classes and it would be better if we knew they were competing so we could make sure none of the attitude or techniques they used in competition crept into our classes. Derek in fact went away and after researching competition created a sport style based on my principles, the techniques are different to my karate - they have to be for safety! These techniques do not get practised when my karate classes are being taught.

Due to people not adhering to my principles and the way I practise techniques and having nothing to do with my organisation, but still calling themselves Kyushindo and claiming they are following my teachings, I have changed the name I use for my practice to Mayo Shin Do to divorce myself from them.

Yours Faithfully

G S Mayo N.D., D.O 24th September 2001

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End of an EraGeorge ‘Chief’ Mayo passed away on 30 November 2004 aged 86. Irrespective of the controversy, Kyushindo lives on albeit with inevitable differences of opinion, approach and principles.

HISTORY OF KYUSHINDO – Part 7 - Budō/Kyushindo Judo PhilosophyAccording to Kenshiro Abbe

Budō/Kyushindo PhilosophyKenshiro Abbe only ever applied his theory of KyuShinDo to Judo. He did not teach KyuShinDo Karate or Aikido, but went on to create his own theory of KYU-SHIN-DO which is a Japanese equivalent of the Buddhist Karmic Cycle. Abbe Sensei was the first to grasp its real significance in relation to *Budō.

Budō is a compound of the root bu (武:ぶ), meaning war or martial; and dō (道:ど

う), meaning path or way. Specifically, dō is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga (meaning the "path" to enlightenment). The term refers to the idea of formulating propositions, subjecting them to philosophical critique and then following a 'path' to realize them. Dō signifies a "way of life". Dō in the Japanese context, is an experiential term, experiential in the sense that practice (the way of life) is the norm to verify the validity of the discipline cultivated through a given art form.

The modern budō has no external enemy, only the internal enemy, one’s ego that must be fought. Budō also gives attention to the mind and how one should develop oneself. Modern budo uses aspects of the lifestyle of the Samurai of feudal Japan and translates them to self-development in modern life.

Although often viewed as controversial, Kenshiro set out to develop and teach a more simplified and dynamic style of Judo, which he stressed, needed to embody circular movement focusing on harmonising with the energy of the opponent and striving to achieve success. One of the essential practical expressions of Kenshiro Abbe's Kyu-Shin-Do was that it was not enough to win at any cost. He felt that success in contest was only important in that it demonstrated superior skill. This approach was fundamental to the whole concept of Judo in its pure form. Initially he taught contest Judo in his own inimitable way. However he held the fundamentals of Kyu Shin Do deep inside and decided to develop this other, more personal way of training mind and body outside of the constraints of the BJC. This was something which led some to comment on his sanity.

With this system his voyage towards real immortality began. Kenshiro Abbe's success in founding a large organisation perhaps also became a hindrance so he left those august bodies behind and founded Kyu Shin Do. Here he was able put into practice the principles of universal law:

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Kyushindo – The Search for the Perfect Way

• KYU - To Study or Seek (Also relates to Sphere or Circle, Desire, Yearn,

Search, Study)

• SHIN - The Cosmic Neucleul Principle (precise translation impossible – also

relates to Heart or Nexus Point, New, Spirit, True, To be true to ones self) In Kyushindo the meaning of Shin is the true and fundamental nature, as opposed to the superficial appearance

• DO - Way or Path (A way of life or Self Discipline) Do is never used as the

'way' a thing is done, but as a far-reaching and all-inclusive direction.

All motion in the Universe may be resolved basically, to a series of circular and semi circular action. It is only by obeying this fundamental principle of motion: avoiding stiff, angular stances, or postures that we can achieve the best Judo, Aikido, Kendo or Karate.

Kyushindo was the central statement for Kenshiro’s personal approach to martial arts. He felt that there were three fundamental precepts within Kyushindo which should be reflected in the Martial arts and in his outside life.

1. That all things throughout the Universe are in a constant state of motion or flux (Banbutsu Ruten)

2. This motion is rhythmic and flowing (Ritsu Do)

3. All things work and flow in perfect harmony (Chowa)

Kenshiro’s philosophy was that the human body falls into this ordered state. When we perform physical techniques, we study not only the movement alone but seek the most basic principles behind the action.

One cannot make perfect separation of the spiritual and physical without death resulting. Through the basic idea of physical application the spiritual import of this theory should follow naturally. Kyushindo is not so much a technical system as a state of mind. Abbe Sensei was greatly concerned about the modern trend towards materialism and it was as a spiritual alternative to this that he saw as the great value of Kyushindo.

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HISTORY OF KYUSHINDO – Part 8 - Kyushindo Karate PhilosophyAccording to George Mayo

In accordance with Kenshiro Abbe’s principles and theories, George Mayo’sKyushindo Karate focuses on relaxed moves and uses more natural, circular movements as opposed to only linear techniques practiced in other disciplines. This makes it easier to move around an opponent rather than just defending or attacking from the front. In time and with ongoing practice, this provides more options against both single and multiple attackers.

Relaxed blocking techniques are used to deflect an opponent's attack, rather than trying to stop it using force against force and strength against strength. Similarly striking techniques such as punches and kicks are practiced from a relaxed position, so that speed, technique, movement and accuracy can be developed to produce power as opposed to reliance on power alone. Power will come as a by-product of a relaxed position, speed, technique, movement and accuracy.

So in essence, the principle is that all things in existence are governed by the Universe and shall be a rhythmical cycle of birth, existence and death. We can enjoy the highest form of life by mutual understanding between oneself and the Universe and by harmonising with all things in general. Kyu Shin Do starts from natural posture and relaxation of the mind and body. The actions of Kyu Shin Do are of gentle smooth movements, soft, quick and safe. These movements emanate from a relaxed mind and body, which helps to build up strength and purpose. The accumulation of effort is a steady circular movement about the centre of gravity and radius. All nature is a circle, so all correct movement is circular and by blending (adapting ones technique) with an opposing movement in an honest and open way the result will be harmony of thought and action. It is worth noting that George Mayo did not believe competition to be a good thing, as it changes the principles and practice of good technique, and wanted nothing to do with it.

HISTORY OF KYUSHINDO – Part 9 – Health Benefits of Martial Arts

People take up martial arts for differing reasons, although one of the most obvious is likely to be for self defence. However, health benefits are also worth noting. These can range from muscle strengthening to stress release and forms of martial arts, such as karate and kung fu, help in improving cardiovascular health and simultaneously tones the body muscles as well as contributing to improving body flexibility. The practice of callisthenic exercises, light exercises which promote general fitness, is an important aspect of martial arts. These exercises play an important role in improving stamina as well as balance and coordination between the mind and the body and control. The basic concept of martial arts is effective use of strength and energy efficiency and as a consequence the practice of martial arts is bound to bolster energy

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levels.

Various researches have provided evidence that people in their 40’s who regularly practice any form of martial arts have higher levels of fitness, than their counterparts who do not exercise. People who practice martial arts also tend to have a stronger immune system. It has also been suggested and is believed by some that martial arts, such as Tai Chi, grant various health benefits, such as anti-aging, to their practitioners. Choreographed routines, known as the 'katas' form an important part of the discipline involved in martial arts.

Martial arts are also known to improve spirituality, and have positive effects on the mind as its training involves great concentration and self control. Practicing martial arts can help the practitioner to control his/her aggression and combat stress and fear, thus enabling the experience of internal peace and at the same time, boost confidence. All of these positive benefits directly and indirectly impact on the practitioner’s life and their attitude and approach both inside and outside of the dojo.

HISTORY OF KYUSHINDO – Part 10 – Training & Grading

Students typically train in the key areas of fitness, balance, footwork, stances, blocking, striking, kata, breakfalls and sparring and at an advanced stage weapons. These are typically found in many other disciplines too but in Kyushindo the training aims to perfect technique, speed and generate power through smooth, fluid and relaxed movement. Kyu Shin Do starts from natural posture and relaxation of the mind and body. There is a strong emphasis on stretching, running and fitness work at the start of every session as well as a period of relaxation or meditation to help relax the mind and body in preparation for learning techniques without tension. All of this works towards developing physical and mental strength, purpose, understanding and harmony as students learn to coordinate body, mind, and spirit through fighting technique and by striving for an empty cup mindset. This is part of Zen philosophy and implies lack of ego and achieving a state where outside influences cannot interrupt or disturb your concentration. This makes it possible to decide and act more quickly and powerfully. Students of Kyushindo must trust each other and show respect to each other and always demonstrate honesty, humility, self discipline, respect, harmony and tranquillity.

Footwork: Kyushindo Karate aims to be a highly mobile style with much emphasis placed on avoidance. The student should be able to move correctly in all directions and various exercises are shown and practised to achieve this.

Stances: The student will learn stances that Karate is practiced from, whether static, in the case of formal technique, or dynamic in the case of Kata, Sparring and Line techniques.

Blocking: Students are taught how to block an opponent’s punches, strikes and/or kicks. Advanced students are introduced to circular methods of blocking and deflection which do not rely on strength.

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Striking: Students are shown how to punch, kick and strike using open hand techniques. Advanced students are introduced to the concept of striking while the body is in a relaxed state to achieve the advantage of speed over strength. The concept of simultaneous defence and attack is also pursued.

Kata: Kata’s are a series of detailed choreographed defensive and offensive moves against imaginary attacks from different directions.

Breakfall Techniques: Kyushindo Karate incorporates Judo breakfall techniques.

Self-Defence: The techniques relate to self-defence but there is a strong emphasises on awareness and avoidance of dangerous situations rather than relying on this. Learning a martial art does not automatically make you proficient at self-defence.

Techniques on the move: The student will learn to perform line techniques, which involve a pre-arranged set of techniques performed whilst moving. Shadow boxing is also used to co-ordinate the performance of techniques and the student is encouraged to use all known techniques and apply them to all directions, rather than following a set pattern of moves. Bag work is also used in training using kicking shields and focus mitts.

Sparring: Light sparring is practiced by all to give the student a feeling of facing a moving opponent however Kyushindo Karate is not a competitive style so sporting Karate techniques are not practiced.

Advanced Techniques: Kyushindo Karate incorporates take-downs, locks, releases, escapes, pressure points and ground fighting awareness into its syllabus.

Weapons: At an advanced stage, weapons are introduced such as Nunchaku, Sai, Jo Staff, Bo, Bokken, Training Knife

Grading:

Students progress through a series of coloured belts with the colour showing the students proficiency. These belts are awarded at 'gradings'. The belt colours in Kyushindo are: White (beginner), Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Brown then Black. Progress between belts is dependent on the number of training hours and there are a number of gradings organised each year.

Japanese Judo was the first martial art to introduce the coloured belt ranking system as a visible indication of the students’ progress. The coloured belt ranking system soon was adapted for Karate, and was first used by Sensei Gichin Funakoshi and his Shotokan Karate schools. In the old days the white belt was simply dyed to a new colour. This

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repeated process dictated the order of the colours i.e. lighter to darker. All of this came about shortly after the Second World War, when Japan was a very poor country and dying belts was a cheap way to have a visible, simple and effective ranking system. The dying of the belts became part of the Karate tradition and was also adapted in other countries.

HISTORY OF KYUSHINDO – Part 11 – Clubs (2012)

Martial Arts clubs training in Kyushindo continue, however it is probably fair to say that there is a degree of fragmentation and division between many of them as differing

approaches to the philosophy have surfaced over the years. There are also quite a

few Kyushindo Judo clubs in the UK, the nearest ones being in Oxfordshire.

London - HighgateThe London Highgate club is run by Paul Socket

London – North EnfieldThe London North Enfield club is run by John Lacey-Smith

Surrey – BansteadThe Surrey Banstead clubs is led by David Frost

Surrey – KingswoodThe Surrey Kingswood club is led by Sean McCrossen with Paul Paine and John Hopkins under the Kyudokai Association (Dave Waters)

Oxfordshire & CornwallSome of the Oxford clubs are now training under the title of 'Mayoshindo' with Derek Collins and they have associated clubs in Cornwall.

Bedfordshire – LutonDennis Graves runs his Luton area clubs under the title of 'Kyu Shin Ryu'

Hampshire - SouthamptonThe Southampton club, originally based at Totton, now trains in Marchwood but Ray Wood is now retired as the area coach

Hampshire - RomseyRomsey Kyushindo Karate practices techniques from a smaller syllabus than most other Kyushindo Karate clubs and is under the direction of Sensei Ron Hancock, a 6th Dan instructor with the Amateur Martial Association and is a registered Lead auditor and D32/D33 NVQ Assessor

Hampshire - StokenchurchStokenchurch Kyushindo Karate trains at Longburrow Hall under Norman West

Bristol

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There are 5 new Bristol clubs that have been operating since 1997 under the Kyushindo International Association run by Ricki Giardena, who studied at Bristol originally under George Mayo in the 1970's. Ricki moved back to Italy in the 1980-90's and set up many clubs there before moving back to the UK in 1997. The original Bristol Budokan club, setup by George Mayo, is now run by Chris Freke

AustraliaPeter Berridge of the Northampton club moved to Australia in 1969 and now runs some clubs there

The London, Surrey and Oxford area clubs (those under Michael James) formed the Kyushindo Martial Arts Association (KMAA)

HISTORY OF KYUSHINDO – Part 12 – Summary

At the start of the project I set out to explore the History and Philosophy of Kyushindo and related arts and also to try to identify what it is, if anything, that makes Kyushindo different? This has been a nagging question throughout this project and I now feel in a stronger position to proffer an answer. I have to say I did not expect to find as much controversy as I have in the history of martial arts, from 500 A.D. with the arguments about who out of Bodhidharma and Ba Tuo arrived in China first and sowed the seeds of martial arts all the way up to 1960’s/1970’s and the contentious issues surrounding the relationship between Kenshiro Abbe and George ‘Chief’ Mayo and who should be credited with the emerging development of the Kyushindo philosophy. All of this strikes me as being ironic since much of martial arts philosophy cites harmony, tolerance and respect in its roots, yet individuals and or organisations seem to gravitate with ease towards discord and seem to continue to perpetuate this.

Putting the controversies and arguments aside, I feel I can only deal with what Kyushindo has meant to me. I am certainly in no position to join the arguments or take sides. I do not feel the need to defend anything that I have gained from Kyushindo and whatever taints the past taints the past and it is probably for those involved to make judgements from their perspective. From my humble perspective, I believe it is that the ethos and the training of Kyushindo are not two distinctly separate things e.g. the philosophy and the practice have not drifted apart and for me this takes it to a much deeper level with principles and ideals coming to the surface which can be applied to many other aspects of ones life and therefore not something that is simply confined to the dojo. The ethos that the purpose is not to win against an enemy outside of your body but to win against yourself is not always easy to grasp when starting out but becomes clearer as the student develops. Winning against your own fears, doubts and indecisiveness and to be surprised by nothing are easier said than done. Kyushindo does not involve merely self-defence techniques but includes positive character-building ideals which a person can incorporate into his or her own life and as such means the way of harmonizing with the spirit of the universe.

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The theory of Kyushindo has application in any study, or activity that can be named simply because it does not deal with the form and technique of anything, but with the fundamental principles which such forms and techniques represent. I read that ‘The principle may be likened to the hub of a wheel from which an infinite number of spokes or forms radiate. The task of perfecting an art by the laborious process of studying each 'form' is doomed to failure because the possible variations are endless. By discovering the central principle it can then be applied in any direction at will.

This is the meaning of Kyushindo, which is evident in its name’. These principles are summed up equally well by the founder of Shotokan Karate, G. Funakoshi who said ‘The ultimate goal of karate does not lie in victory but in the perfection of the character of the participants’.

Sean McCrossen and Paul Paine’s approach is one which frequently provides thought provoking and inspirational moments and I often feel as much benefit from these as I do from the practical side of training. I think that it is actually the philosophy of the martial art that defines it as an ‘art’. I have also learnt much from training with John Hopkin and Dave Waters and there are numerous ways in which training has affected my life and has helped me to put things into perspective. This includes my family, my interests and my approach to work. Kyushindo was the central statement for Kenshiro Abbe’s personal approach to martial arts and he felt that the fundamental principles of Kyushindo should be reflected not only in the Martial arts but also in life outside.

For me Kyushindo has been akin to an advent calendar where doors have gradually been nudged open with something new hidden behind each one waiting to be discovered and once learnt shared with other like-minded individuals. The more one properly understands the workings of this principle in one application, the more one is awakened to the nature of other things. I have become increasingly aware that much responsibility comes with the knowledge one is attaining. This means responsibility towards upholding the principles, the ethos and the spirit, responsibility towards maintaining standards and responsibility towards imparting knowledge to others that does not dilute, variegate or hybridise.

The fact that I will never know everything and will never be able to say there is nothing more to learn is an attraction and not something that fills me with disillusionment. Twenty years ago I set out on a path of discovery or enlightenment if you will and Sean suggested students approach this with an ‘empty cup’. Twenty years on this still feels like the right approach. As the years go by, the Kyushindo path seems to be an increasingly important one in my life both inside and outside of the dojo. Studying Kyushindo has taught me much, yet I have much more to learn and share and as my journey progresses, I continue to strive to seek the perfect way.

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REFERENCES

http://www.kyushindo.com/

http://www.newbudo.com/abe.htm

http://www.totalbodydefence.com/sensei-kenshiro-abbe/

http://www.bab.org.uk/aikido/faq_abbe.asp

http://www.allenglandjudo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/otani-a-history.pdf

http://www.ibcuk.com/History.php

http://www.usadojo.com/articles/tribute-matsutaro-otani.htm

http://www.ibcuk.com/History.php

http://home2.btconnect.com/soundmanfilms/origins_kyushindo_to_mayo_shin_do.htm

Sean is in the video in this link!

http://www.fightauthority.com/watch.php?ytv=Ym4vPv09QYU

The Theory of Kyushindo by Henry Ellis

http://www.british-aikido.com/kenshiroabbe/articles.html#15

http://www.kampaibudokai.org/Iaido.htm

http://www.veengle.com/s/Kyushindo.html

http://www.british-aikido.com/kenshiroabbe/articles.html

http://hitxp.wordpress.com/category/karate/

http://www.sfu.ca/~aikido/overview.html

http://www.shaolin-overseas.org/KungFu_History.html

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history and philosophy of kyushindo and related arts

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