ryu

First lets define Ryu. Ryu is a Japanese word meaning "school." But the true meaning of ryu in western terms would be
"style." The word ryu would be placed at the end of a full name describing a martial art style. Example: Kito Ryu (Kito
style). Later in history martial arts began to be catagorized into groups; Karate; Jujutsu; Kenpo; Kungfu, etc. These
groups were separated by the regions they came from and fighting "philosophys" they portrayed (as a group). So the
styles began listing these "generic" names at the end of there name so that the public would know the core of what they
taught at there school. Example: Kito Ryu Jujutsu (Kito style soft art <mainland Japan>); Goju Ryu Karate (Goju style
empty hands <Okinawan Island>). To make things a little more complicated, most ryu (styles) are combinations of other
ryu (by direct lineage or by influence). So tracking the styles of a particular art over the course of several hundred years
can be difficult. You will learn more of the history and lineage of martial arts and Coju-jitsu in the History link. On this page I will list the styles (and descriptions) that make up Coju-jitsu.

During World War II, Applegate served with the Office of Strategic Services, later to be known
as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He also worked with the Counter Intelligence Corps.
and the Military Intelligence Division of the War Department. He did, indeed, train spies at the
Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie, Maryland. He also trained President
Roosevelt's personal bodyguards. Applegate, along with Great Britain's William Fairbairn, was
responsible for developing the close-quarter combat techniques taught to all Allied Forces.
Their methods of hand-to-hand fighting were simple to learn, easy to remember and
devastating. Thousands of men and women owed their lives to the combative effectiveness of
Applegate's system. Applegate's system was not devised in an Asian temple or a strip mall
studio. rather, his methods were down-and-dirty fighting techniques, proven and refined in the
true "ultimate" contest: World War II's European and Pacific theaters. Applegate and his
instructors routinely went out on dangerous missions behind enemy lines to "field test" what
they taught. They knew from personal experience that their methods worked under the most
extreme conditions of life or death warfare.

Kill or Get Killed

In 1943, Applegate wrote a book that was to become the bible of close-quarter combat. The
book was Kill or Get Killed, and the title was not mere hyperbole. The severity of his methods
matched the gravity of the world's situation: The Nazi war machine and the Imperial Japanese
Forces were attempting nothing less than total world domination. Freedom and democracy
were the prizes that Applegate's system was designed to preserve. The importance of Kill or
Get Killed is seen in its longevity. For more than a half century, edition after edition has been
published and eagerly studied by those interested in combat-proven fighting techniques.

Point Shooting

Being a pragmatist, Applegate taught more than unarmed combat. He co-designed the
Fairbairn-Applegate fighting knife and taught its use. He also developed what is known as
"point shooting," an instinctive method of handgun use. This method is taught to FBI and DEA
agents as well as to military and police units.

Kito Ryu emphasizes many esoteric elements, including aiki. Aiki is the joining of
internal or life energies. Kito teaches that there are three types of energy:

Ryoku or Riki, Ki, and Shin

The ki in aiki refers to the second of these. Kito teaches that "When two minds are
united, the stronger controls the weaker..."

Kito is also based upon the principles of wa (harmony, accord, fluidity) and ju
(suppleness, softness, gentleness). In application on the battlefield, the system
incorporates a complex amalgam of strategies, many calling back to the Chinese
master strategist Sun Tzu. Kito addresses the pursuit of loftier ideals, including
spiritual and self-actualization interests, in a similar way, teaching that one
should harmonize the Self with the Universe. It is so complex in terms of its
theory as to be nearly impenetrable to analysis from the "outside." Chinese Taoist
elements have been imported wholesale.

This should not be surprising given the origins of the art. The pivotal point in the
formalization of Kito Ryu is the arrival of an almost legendary Chinese figure,
Master Chen Yuan-Ping (also known variously as Chen Tsu U, Gin Chin Pin, and
Gempin by the Japanese). Master Chen came to Japan first in 1621, and came
back to stay in 1638. He was a scholar who had apparently held some positions in
the Chinese court. He taught Taoism's Lao Tzu and T'ung K'ao, and a Chinese
martial art based upon ju. Three wandering, masterless samurai (ronin) found him
at Kokusei Monastery, where he taught them "secret arts." The names of these
samurai were Fukuno, Isogai, and Miura. Fukuno, after going on to master Yagyu
Shingan Ryu, met a samurai named Terada. Fukuno and Terada founded Kito Ryu,
and passed the art on to Yoshimura and Takenaka.

The techniques of Kito Ryu are fast, fluid, subtle, and direct. The techniques
exploit centered action and the projection of internal energies. Kito emphasizes
projective throwing methods, and kokyu (kuki) techniques, and is considered a
form of aiki-jujutsu.

Kito ryu used the term "Judo" to define there art approximately 200 years (1714)
before Jigaro Kano used it in his Kodokan Judo.

Judo was developed by Professor Jigoro Kano from a martial art called Jujutsu
(also spelled Jujitsu). Professor Kano opened the Kodokan Dojo in Tokyo, Japan
in the year 1882 and started to train students in Nippon-Den-Kodokan-Judo.
Judo, which means the "gentle way", is not only concerned with attack and
defense techniques but the physical conditioning and total health that could be
attained from its practice. The meaning of the word Ju (gentleness) denotes not
resisting the strength of the opponent, adapting to it, and taking advantage of it
by turning it to one's own advantage. The meaning of the word Do (way)
denotes not just methods or techniques, but also signifies strict moral principles
which are essential in striving for "Self-Perfection as a human being". The judo
principle can be best expressed by the words left by Professor Kano (as
translated in Keiko Fukuda, Born for the Mat (1973, pp. 9):

"The aim of judo is to utilize physical and mental strength most effectively. Its
training is to understand the true meaning of life through the mental and
physical training of attack and defense. You must develop yourself as a person
and become a useful citizen to society."
Judo is considered to be a scientific and rational sport. Although all modern
sports possess scientific attributes, judo, especially, is a sport with waza and
movements based on scientific principles. The Japanese saying, ju yoku go o
seisu (gentleness controls strength), aptly expresses judo's essence, which is
based on physics and its scientific application of force principles. Use of strength
against strength is not judo. To overcome a force with another force exceeding
the opposing strength is nothing more than the use of strength and waza is not
required. Judo, however, is mastering the skill of waza to readily fell an
opponent using a force much less than the opponent's strength. In other words,
the 'waza' takes advantage of the opponents force by using the physics
principle for one's own benefit. If pushed, one moves back without resistance. If
the opponent retreats, then one advances. A smaller person can throw a larger
person through this application.
The phrase sei ryoku zen yo expresses the essence of judo's rational attribute.
'Seiryoku' refers to mental and physical forces and 'zenyo' means to put to good
use. Together sei ryoku zen yo means to use one's own mental and physical
forces to accomplish worthwhile goals most efficiently. This is to say, for
performing any task (physical or otherwise), there will be a precise opportunity
(or timing) when one's effort can most effectively be applied. The judo training
is to master the alertness to detect such an opportunity and seize that instance
to exert oneself to use one's own force most effectively. By learning and
mastering the judo's essence from experience, we can always maintain
composure, make decisions clearly, and foster self-esteem throughout our
living in this complex society.

"Ninjutsu" is usually translated as the "art of stealth." The Japanese character,
"nin" (also translated as "shinobi") has many meanings, such as perseverance,
endurance, and sufferance. The term Ninjutsu is most commonly used to refer to
the specific methods and techniques used by the Ninja.

Ninjutsu began more than 800 years ago among the ninja people living in Japan.
The warrior class which ruled Japan at the time were called the Samurai. They
controlled the land and it's people. Their lord, the Shogun, was the only person
the Samurai was answerable to. The ninja would not serve the Samurai, and fled
to the barren, cold, mountainous regions of Iga and Koga. There they trained in
the arts of war. It is said that their art is based upon a great Chinese military text
written by a general named Sun Tzu, The Art of War. Over the centuries the ninja
trained from the cradle to the grave in every known martial art. Their forte was
espionage and assassination, by any means possible. But their training also
taught them to reach spiritual heights, by pushing their bodies and minds to
limits far beyond that of normal human endurance.

Over the centuries, while ninjutsu was being practiced in secrecy, no one knew
anything about the art except the ninjas themselves. When Japan emerged into
the modern era, and feudalism collapsed, the ninja were absorbed into Japan's
secret service and special services groups.

AN EXCERPT FROM A LETTER TO SENSEI SCOTT BEAN FROM SOJOBO JOSEPH
BARNES::

Also, What existed before Coju-jitsu was ::: Kodokanai ; not kodokankai (no 3rd
"k"). There are two main differences between the two. That are huge to us. First
lets talk history. The kodokan was the name of the school of Kano were he
invented todays modern "Judo". Modern Judo was made up of "the best of
several old Jujitsu ryu" (So it was said). Kito Ryu was one of them. Takenaka
was a master of Kito Ryu also. Kito ryu today is considered an Aiki-jujitsu
system and was a model to aikido and judo. Also, Kito ryu used the term "judo"
to describe there art almost 200 years before Kano did (earliest record recorded
is 1714). Basically, Kano's judo was originally supposed to be a "watered down"
version to introduce students to kitoryu and other arts as the students
progressed.

Ok, the two differences. The Kanji (symbol) for "Ko" in Kano's Kodokan means
"to teach". The Kanji symbol for "Ko" in Kodokanai is different and means
"Ancient" or "old" or "Classical". The other difference is the addition of "ai".
Originally, if you remember, I thought it was Kodkankai, which the symbol for
"kai" means "society or organization". In the pictures from Miller School, it was
spelled out in english Kodokanai and in Kanji. The symbol for "ai" means "(in)
harmony" and signifies plural (more than one)

Ko: Ancient (Old) Do: Path (Way) Kan: Martial arts (training) Hall Ai: in harmony.
Basically the translation of Kodokanai is " Martial arts hall of the ancient ways
done in harmony. " The dates on the banner are historical also. 1872 (10 years
before The Kodokan even started "officially") to 1958 (the year of the photo).
Basically, Takenaka was teaching more than one budo. Unique to what is now
ninjutsu. And yes, us too.

Also, it was taught to Col. Hart in Korea....during the time of the official
"creation" of Taikwondo and Hapkido. Takenaka very well could have played an
"influence" during this time. The place and time explains why we also have the
kicks of what is considered Korean origin.

This is a Greek martial art meaning "all (pan) powers (kratos)", first documented in
the Olympics of 648 B.C. This competitive sport involved two combatants
performing in a small ring around 4 by 4 metres with a referee outfitted with a rod
to enforce the rules. This martial art was characterized as particularly brutal since
all techniques, save biting or eye gouging, were allowed with no protective gear:
punches, kicks, elbowing, kneeing, chokes, and joint locks to any part of the body
full force. Kicks were generally applied as sweeps or to the groin, or sometimes to
the upper body if the opponent was tired or on the ground. The matches could
involve grappling if both people were on the floor. Someone would win by
submission, knockout, or occasionally death (especially due to chokes).

Pankration is the earliest documented martial art (both in written records and on
Greek vases). It may have been introduced by Greek warriors to India in 326 B.C.
during Alexander the Great's invasion and might have been the forerunner of East
Asian martial arts. However, it is more likely that East Asia developed its martial
arts independently of any Greek influence.

Incidentally, pankration is still practised today in a modified and revived form.

Under the training of Sojobo Joseph Barnes, Sensei Scott Bean won the title of
Western United States Champion in Pankration U.F.C.F. competion.