Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei is a martial arts system founded in 1982 after my Tenshin Sho experience, which occurred in 1980, and formal recognition by the Zen Kokusai Soke Remmei. The curriculum is an inspired curriculum that is a total martial arts system, including the skills and techniques central to the Kempo concept and including the arts, which were derived from Kempo throughout the ages.
Shogei Toitsu Kempo
The primary art is known as Shogei Toitsu Kempo which means, ‘all arts unified in Kempo’, or more appropriately, ‘all arts beginning in the one art of Kempo’. What this refers to is that the original art of Kempo (Chuan Fa), which was established in China, was total and comprehensive. Since the monks who originated the art never knew what kind of situation they might be placed in, they developed an art that contained grappling skills, striking skills, and weapon skills.
Over the years the arts were modified according to culture and changes in the nature of weapons and armor, but the fundamentals were always the same and the necessity of teaching survival were emphasized. There never developed a sport form of the art because the necessity to teach genuine survival skills did not allow for the limitations imposed by competition. Also the monks were peaceful men who would never battle or harm another person in a sporting manner.
The overall Kempo, referred to as Shogei Toitsu Kempo in Kiyojute Ryu, contains the developments of Kempo in both Japan and Okinawa, but disregarding anything that was developed after the Japanese learned the art of Karate and began modifying it into a sport.
Background
I began learning the martial arts under Richard Stone, though I had been taught self defense from my Dad who was a World War II veteran. I eventually began training under Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace and Rod Sacharnoski of Juko Kai fame. As I learned the background of my instructors, I started searching for the foundation upon which their training was based and found certain common threats.
Richard Stone trained under Ramon Lono Ancho in Kosho Ryu Kempo, Kodenkan Jujutsu, and Kodokan Judo. He furthered his training in Kodokan Judo, and was introduced to Aikikai Aikido, by Hiroshi Wada. He later trained with Takayuki Ebisuya, another exponent of Kodokan Judo. There were other minor influences until, along with me; he trained with Bill Wallace and Rod Sacharnoski.
In my research I found that Kosho Ryu Kempo had an influence from Namban Satto Ryu Kempo, Koga Ryu Ninjutsu, and Choki Motobu Ryu Kempo Karate. Kodenkan Jujutsu was influenced by many styles of Jujutsu, one being Daito Ryu, as well as, Kodokan Judo. The Kodokan had many influences, more than most people realize, with the primary ones being, Kito Ryu, Tenshin Shinyo Ryu, Daito Ryu, Fusen Ryu, and there were other minor influences.
Bill Wallace studied Kodokan Judo, Shorin Ryu Karate, and was greatly influenced by a friend and fellow Karateka of the Shorei Goju Ryu Karate system. The Karate that Wallace studied was greatly influenced by Choki Motobu.
Rod Sacharnoski has a vast history in the martial arts, which included training in Kodokan Judo, Dai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu, Okinawan Kempo, Shorin Ryu Karate, Motobu Ha Shito Ryu Karate, Isshin Ryu Karate, Goju Ryu Karate, Seidokan Karate and Kobudo, as well as, an array of lesser known arts. In researching these arts, that came together in the formation of Juko Ryu Aiki Inyo Bujutsu, I found certain common links, primarily through the Motobu family of Okinawa and the Minamoto and Takeda families of Japan.
Some of these styles can be seen to have a direct influence from the Shaolin temple, the place where fighting arts merged with virtue to create the real martial arts. While it is well known that Shorin Ryu derives from Shaolin Chuan Fa, it is lesser known that Goju Ryu was influenced by the Southern Shaolin temple, as were some of the other styles that developed on Okinawa.
Kito Ryu Jujutsu was also influenced by Shaolin as this is the art Chen Gen Pin was supposed to have taught to three Samurai of Japan (Fukuno, Miura, Isogai), who developed various styles of Jujutsu. Fukuno, one of Chen’s students, was an important figure in the history of Kito Ryu Jujutsu.
The ethical idea of virtue as the reason for using fighting skills, which forms the foundation of true martial arts, begins with the Shaolin temple and can be traced through China to Japan and Okinawa, as an important influence on the development of all true martial arts. For this reason, people who are training in Judo, Jujutsu, Karate, and other martial arts, but choose to fight, are not real martial artists at all. It is only when we have learned that the martial arts are ways of peace, designed to keep us out of conflict and only to be used as self defense, that we become real martial artists.
Six Principles of Combat, Six Arts
When the martial arts are taught in the true comprehensive manner they are intended, then they teach six main principles. The lack of any of these principles means there will be a gap in a person’s self defense. These six principles eventually became the foundation of certain martial arts taught in Japan and Okinawa.
All comprehensive martial arts taught all six principles, though one was usually chosen as the specific emphasis of a particular art or style. The six principles are Goho, Juho, Aikiho, Shuho, Nimpo, and Bukiho. Ho here is used to mean the law of, main principle of, or the truth of. Each principle teaches the martial artist something about combat and how to survive.
Following will be the six principles, the arts in which they are emphasized, and their relationship to the overall Kempo of Kiyojute Ryu.
Goho
Goho means strength principle and has been considered by many the main concept expressed in the art of Karate. In Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei a person can specialize in Goho Kempo Karate in order to increase their strength, improve the focus of their mental concentration, and learn how to use strength in the most powerful manner.
True strength comes from the integration of body, mind, and spirit. By using strong mental intent, which is developed through Karate techniques, the Kempoka learns how to harmonize their triune nature and develop the real strength that comes from striking and moving with Ki synchronized with mental focus and physical coordination.
Juho
Juho is the gentle principle and is the foundation of all forms of Jujutsu, as well as, Judo. In Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei a person learned Juho Kempo Jujutsu in order to fully understand the principle of gentleness. As a fighting principle, Ju contains various aspects. The foremost one is yielding, so that a Kempoka can learn how to overcome an opponents strength by giving way before it, so that it cannot land and do damage.
The second aspect is in gentle living. A person who is gentle avoids many conflicts and can learn how to talk their way out of many more. But unfortunately just being gentle isn’t enough to insure a lack of conflict, due to the fact that many aggressive individuals seek out quiet and meek people to harass. They mistake gentleness and meekness for weakness, thus it is important that a person who has achieved Ju in life be capable of defending themselves.
This leads to the final aspect, which is flexibility. Juho teaches the Kempoka how to adapt in a changing situation. The true master of Ju knows not to ‘fight’ to make a technique work, but rather to change and adapt with circumstance so that the right technique will be applied at the right time.
Aikiho
Aikiho is the principle of harmony and has been referred to as refined gentleness. From a fighting perspective the Kempoka learns from Aiki the idea of harmonizing with an attacker's strength so that it is either just neutralized or even turned back against them. Aikiho Kempo Jujutsu, as the art is known in Kiyojute Ryu, teaches the martial artist how to blend with an attacker’s movement, capturing the aggressive energy and using it to lock or throw the assailant.
Philosophically Aikiho is the concept of living in harmony with other people. A person who comes to understand true harmony develops empathy, which allows them to avoid conflict. The true Kempoka wants no conflict, whether with family, friend, or stranger. They apply the principle of harmony to their life and avoid directly opposing a person thus creating the ability to be in harmony with all but the most obstinate person.
An understanding of Aikiho helps the Kempoka know when there is no way to harmonize with an assailant. There are some people who will seek to create conflict and enter into battle no matter what their victim does. Some people will push until they have either harmed or overwhelmed a chosen victim or until they are stopped. Aikiho lets the Kempoka know when to defend.
Shuho
Shuho is a principle that many people have not studied, nor understand. Shuho Kempo Karatejutsu is the art of Kiyojute Ryu that preserves the grappling principle of Okinawa, from both lines of development, meaning the royal families and the Hakutsuru Kinda (Chinese white crane Chin Na).
Specifically from the royal families art there is the principle of Shu, which is Tori in Japanese and Toi in the Okinawan dialect. The principle of Shu as a fighting principle teaches the Kempoka how to take what they are given, from the point of view of an attack, and turn it to their advantage. This means that no matter what an attacker does, it is possible to turn it back on the assailant and defeat him because of his own aggression.
As a principle of life Shu teaches a person not to bemoan their fate or position, but rather to look at what life has given them in a positive way and see what they can do. It teaches that life is full of opportunities and one has but to be ready to take what they are given and turn it to their advantage.
Nimpo
Nimpo is the ancient principle of patience, which was developed in the temples as necessary to spiritual growth. That patience makes all of the other principles more effective. To grow and achieve requires the patience to practice daily so that skills can manifest their highest level.
Nimpo Kempo Kobujutsu is the art of Kiyojute Ryu that preserves some of the most ancient arts of the Japanese Bujutsu. Through skills associated with Ninjutsu and the higher levels of survival, sometimes referred to as Heiho, the Kempoka learns the patience necessary to master all the levels of the martial arts. With patience a person avoids conflict and seeks peace. When there is a way to protect without fighting, this is what the true Kempoka will do.
Skills of moving quietly, hiding, climbing, crawling, and special leaping skills that can be used in clandestine movement and effective combat are all practiced by the Kempoka studying Nimpo. Special methods of using striking and grappling skills are also developed through the Nimpo Kempo Kobujutsu training.
While some Ninjutsu organizations teach little more than some from of hand to hand combat and call it Ninjutsu, the Nimpo of Kiyojute Ryu teaches the real arts of Ninjutsu and their use in personal defense. Those entering police work or military careers could definitely benefit from the lessons taught through Kiyojute Ryu Nimpo Kempo Kobujutsu.
All students, even civilians, can learn a great deal from the practice of patience as taught through this branch of Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei.
Bukiho
Bukiho is commonly thought of as the study of weapons and in Kiyojute Ryu the Kempoka is trained in over sixty weapons of ancient tradition. This is the reason the art is called the Bukiho Kempo Kobujutsu, in reference to the ancient weapons of combat tradition.
But the Kiyojute Ryu Kempoka is not learning the ancient weapon as only an exercise or with the idea of ever using the ancient weapons themselves. Bukiho literally means, martial tool principle. Thus the Kempoka of Kiyojute Ryu learn the principle of manipulating anything, following the idea of a tool used in a martial way, for self defense.
The Bukiho teaches a Kempoka certain principles that relate to the use of anything as a weapon, then by practicing with traditional weapons, the Kempoka can use anything in their environment as a weapon. Having trained with a Hambo (two foot stick) the practitioner can use a hammer, large screwdriver, umbrella, and the like in self defense.
Learning the Bo allows a Kempoka to use a rake, broom, mop, etc as weapons. Even using coins and other small items, such as pens, are mastered by practicing using Shaken and Bo Shuriken in the traditional way.
When the Kiyojute Ryu Kempoka has mastered Bukiho Kempo Kobujutsu, they are never unarmed, for literally everything in their environment is a weapon. At work, pens, scissors, lamps, and more are weapons. At school, books, pencils, notebooks, rulers, erasers, and more are weapons. Even in the shower, washcloths, soap, shampoos, and other items are weapons.
Bukiho teaches a person how to use the things in their environment to their advantage, so that in cases of emergency, principles are understood so that everyday items are used advantageously.
Toitsu
But the highest level of development is when the principles fit together seamlessly. The great flaw in the mixed martial arts of today is that they are a randomly gathered conglomeration of techniques which can be seen not to fit together. People try to do all of the martial arts by learning a little of each. This means they know nothing more than a little of a lot and so master nothing.
When the martial arts are taught in their original way, with traditional concepts, then all of the aspects of the martial arts fit together like a puzzle. Effective punches leads to effective grappling, which assists in effective kicking, which becomes effective weaponry. When the Kempoka practices any one of their arts, through an understanding of the principle of Toitsu (unity) they are actually practicing all of their arts.
Those who learn the mixed martial arts in the modern way have no clue how this works, mainly because their minds are so obsessed with aggressive competition, they cannot achieve the egolessness that allows for real Toitsu to be achieve.
On the spiritual level, Toitsu helps a person realize that we are all the same, and just as we would not want to be injured, crippled, or killed in a senseless sporting match, nor should we be willing to harm others in order to feed our egos with victory over another human being.
Kiyojute Ryu
The most important aspect of Kiyojute Ryu is the philosophy which can be summed up in it’s title, Kiyojute. This title has three very specific meanings. One dealing with the physical art of self defense, one dealing with the mental aspect of training, and the third with the spiritual quality of life.
Kiyojute from a physical, fighting point of view, means to have positive energy while applying techniques in the Ju manner, meaning most specifically at this point, flexible and yielding. What this means is that when fighting a person adapts to the situation while not opposing force with force. This allows a Kempoka to deal with multiple opponents and overcome someone bigger and stronger.
If you have never seen Ki in action, you may not understand how important positive energy is in a fight, but having trained with Rod Sacharnoski, very possibly the greatest Ki master alive, and seen Morihei Ueshiba and Seikichi Uehara in film exhibiting not only their skill, but also their Ki, it is obvious that spiritual intent is very important in combat.
If one has a positive Ki, they will be capable of dealing with extreme situations. Ki is directed through intent, with the stronger the intent, the stronger the Ki, the energy available for the fight. But Ki cannot be directed by hate. While a person can become immensely strong through rage and adrenaline, this is nothing when compared to what they can achieve with Ki.
Thus from a physical, combative point of view, Kiyojute refers to flexible skills of yielding applied with positive energy. This flexible method of fighting can be peerless when learned properly and only applied to self defense. One cannot be Kiyojute and use the skills in a competitive or aggressive way. This will be explained in the section of the spiritual quality of Kiyojute, but first, lets look at the mental aspect of Kiyojute.
In training it is essential that a person wanting to know real self defense engage in positive mental and gentle training. First of all, a person must learn to have a positive mental attitude. If you experience pain at the beginning of a fight, you will immediately lose if you bemoan the injury and accept the pain as debilitating. When the mind is positive, knowing that whatever happens, the individual can deal with it, then the Kempoka becomes what we could call mentally strong.
I’ve seen people take strikes that would drop an untrained person. This was not because the person taking the strike was superior to other people, but because they were mentally tough. They believed they could take the punishment and so were able to. Now this is not hopeful thinking, this is confidence gained through training. Mentally the Kiyojute Ryu Kempoka becomes confident, having a positive nature that serves them well in life.
But with this confidence comes gentleness, knowing that living a gentle life is a way to avoid conflict and violence. Mentally a gentle person is ‘gentle within’ which leads to patience and calm existence. When a person is patient they are peaceful, which means that they do not seek to prove themselves in combat, either on the street or in competition. A person who has become mentally Kiyojute realizes they no longer have anything to prove.
Finally a person who achieves Kiyojute on a spiritual level is a spiritually positive gentle person. Being spiritually positive is easy for the Kempoka who achieves the highest level of development for they have realized a personal relationship with God. This may be expressed in several ways, such as a direct experience of the truth, a salvation experience, or being born again. These terms are just different ways of expressing a fundamental truth, that God is and the individual has had a personal experience with Him.
Being a spiritually positive person leads automatically to the second part of the term Kiyojute, being a gentle person. If a person realizes the truth of God then they will become a spiritually positive, gentle person for of such is the kingdom of God made.
While in the stage of spiritual youth a person might be immature enough to think that they can engage in competition and aggressive training, causing harm to others, as a person spiritually matures they begin to realize that engaging in competitive acts which leads to the harm, injury, or potential death of opponents is antithetical to spiritual growth.
Realizing that we all need an example to follow, in Kiyojute Ryu Kempo classes Jesus is noted as the personification of Kiyojute. He is the ultimate example of a spiritually positive, gentle person. This is the most important aspect of training in Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei.
A punch is a punch, a kick is a kick, and any given technique that which it is, but a philosophy which is positive and life affirming is the most important aspect of the martial arts of all.
Everyone Welcome
If you have enjoyed this introduction to Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei and are open to developing spiritually, learning more about God and His positive spiritual plan for your life, along with a martial art that is taught only for self defense, physical fitness, mental development, and spiritual growth, then you are welcomed to seek out and try Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei.