Okinawa, Japan is the home of modern day Karate and Kobudo. The following is a compliation of sources of information about the evolution of Kobayashi Sham and Okinawan Martial Arts. Historians believe that the art of Okinawan Karate first originated Independent of any other combat system. It is also believed that this system of unarmed combat can be traced back over 1000 years ago. Because the Islanders were not of wealthy status, weapons were scarce. The aggressiveness of warlords gave the people a rise to stand together and demanded an evolution of unarmed combat.
Eventually, Okinawa entered into trade relationship with China. The trade and political friendship allowed the Okinawan people to observe the different aspects of Chinese cultural warfare, and were thus exposed to Chinese boxing systems.
The Owinawans still experienced much turmoil. The battle of the Wand left the Okinawans’ weapons in jeopardy. While the Wand was unified by King Shot Bashi in 1429, the Owinawans were able to possess weapons. However, in 1470, King She Nat destroyed the former dynasty and made due with his own. Soon, all arms were banned on the island in fear that the reign might be over thrown. As a result, the emphasis on martial arts fighting progressed. The main villages of Okinawa are credited with the main systems that emerged from Okinawa. From the village of Shun, came Shun Te. From the village of Naha, came Naha Te. Finally, from the ukase of Tcynari, came Tornari Te.
Besides empty hand combat, the Okinawans also began the practice of Kobudo (weapons). Because of King Silo Hashes ban on the traditional weapons (such as the samurai sword), the Okinawans began using their everyday farming implements as weapons. From this practice, the most commonly thought of weapons became known as the bo (staff), the oar (boat oar), and the Kama (grass or cain sickle), the tonfa (utility handle), and the Nunchaku (horse hrt, and even rice flail). Many other weapons may have been practices.
Kodukan Judo is an exciting unarmed combat sport that originated in the Orient as a means of self-defense which has since grown into on international competitive sport.Judo was developed out of ju-jitsu (a form of unarmed combat believed to have been introduced into Japan by a Chinese monk), Chen Yuan-ping in the early seventeenth century. Various ju jitsu schools developed young samurai who were instructed in the art. This was in the days of chivalry among Japanese knights. Samurai Warriors carried swords as a form of armed combat and also used ju jitsu with lethal effect. However, in 1871 the samurai were forbidden to carry swords. Still, they continued to use ju jitsu lethally and it brought the art in disrepute.
The skills of unarmed combat were saved by Dr. Jigaro Kano who studied at various ju-jitsu schools. He brought together the best techniques of each to develop his own style, introducing it at his school. He called the style Kodokan Judo. He formed a princi¬ple which ju-jitsu had also earlier discovered – Tsurikomi, the art of getting a fighter off balance before throwing him, Kano described the difference between judo and ju-jitsu as “the elevation of an art to a principle”.
The Kodokan was founded in 1882, but was slow to establish itself as one of the leading schools because there still remained an interest in ju jitsu. But in 1886, the Kodokan and the Totsuka (the biggest ju- jitsu school), took part in a competition organized by the Metropolitan Police Board. Each school fielded a 15-man team and the Kodokan won 13 contests with the other two being drawn. From that day, the popularity of judo increased while that of ju-jitsu declined.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self Defense known to us as Gracie Jiu Jitsu, is a combat form of Japanese Jiu Jitsu Self Defense. It focuses on distance control, Clinch control, takedowns, ground control, and submissions. Jiu-Jitsu was brought to Brazil by Mitsuyo Maeda Sensei who taught it to the Gracie family. With their own experiments within the system, they made massive changes from their own perspective. They implemented many of their own changes and critically advanced the art. Their form is known as Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie Jiu Jitsu focuses on the smaller person. The art was developed in a way that allows a smaller or weaker person to successfully defend themselves against a larger stronger attacker. This is achieved through the use of timing, techniques, positioning, clinch control, ground control and the applying of joint lock and choke holds. Today, Jiu Jitsu training is used for self defense training, sport and fitness. We train in full uniform attire, No Gi attire and normal Street wear.
Jiu Jitsu Self Defense and Sport Jiu Jitsu has become a very popular form of Martial Arts in communities around the world. This is especially true since modern Jiu Jitsu was pioneered by Royce Gracie and his three wins in the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) took Jiu Jitsu Global. All three of the event wins were against bigger, stronger opponents. Royce Gracie fought against many styles of Martial Artist to showcase the effectiveness of Jiu Jitsu Self Defense around the world. Jiu Jitsu is the United States Army Training Program for Combat, Police Tactical Training, Community Programs, sport training and Now Offered here @Cheeseman Martial Arts Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!
