At the core, what does your martial art teach?

I have waited to answer this. There are only a few basic principles in my style. But they are present in everything we do.

A few of the principles and concepts are:

1) Re-direct, Distract, Off-balance

2) Intercept the attack and control the attacker immediately

3) Do not back up, unless you have no other choice

4) Respond to an attack, rather than to react to it

5) If you tense up you give the attacker feedback, as well as limit your speed

6) Always keep your shoulders relaxed and do not raise them

7) All attacks regardless of style can be analyzed using only 12 principles. Response to the attacker can be any technique that uses one or more of the 12 principles to defeat the principles the attacker is using. (12 principles in no particular order : Line, Power, Tree, Rooted Tree, Water, Tiger, Tiger to Balance, Tiger to movement, Circle, Half-Circle, Evasion, Hidden movement)

8) If a "hard fist" technique fails, use a "soft fist" technique. In other words if a strike, kick, ...etc. fails, Immediately execute a lock, throw, ...etc. If a "soft fist" technique fails, immediately execute a "hard fist" technique.

9) All joint locks either root the attacker, or up root him

10) Balance is important, but position is always more important in that if you are out of range, it does not matter if your balance is good, you can't do anything to the attacker.

11) Once you get within range, do not move out of range or allow the attacker to do so.

12) There are 19 off balance points on the body. Each can be sub divided into many more. Learning these few will give you the understanding to use any off-balance technique.

13) An effective martial art teaches the student to fight effectively at all four ranges (kicking range, punching range, trapping range, grappling range)

14) Principles to live by:

1) Avoid

2) Evade

3) Never hit a person with your hands, feet, elbows,

or knees, IF you can find something harder to hit them

with.

4) If a person is 6" taller or 50 pounds heavier, drop

back to rule #2, or rule #1 if possible

5) What ever you start, be sure that you finish it.

15) All threats can be described by only six threat levels. Any of them can be deadly, but the higher the threat level, the more dangerous the situation.

Threat levels:

1) Attacker or attackers

2) Linear Weapons (any rigid object, stick, pipe, ...)

3) Flexible Weapons (Rope, chain, nunchaku, ....)

4) Edged Weapons (Knives, swords, .....)

5) Projectile Weapons (Spears, guns, arrows, ...)

6) Indirect Fire (Stay gun fire, Shrapnel, Tactical nukes)

NOTE: some weapons may be considered to be in more than one threat level. A knife is such a weapon since it is both an edged weapon and can puncture making it a projectile weapon.

There are many more, but these are the most important for all my students to learn......

NOTE: ......

These principles can be used by any style of fighting/martial art. They are universal concepts that fit any type of fighting.

************************ NOTE: **********************

I generally do not share all of these with the public. I'm feeling especially generous today. I will likely not post all this again. If you find this helpful then I suggest you copy it down and see how it applies to what you study. Before it goes away.

...

Outstanding answer by Fat Cobra. It confirms he really has an understanding of his art.

My answer:

My Art is Toudijutsu. My first main style is Goju Ryu and I know the whole system. I only teach the 12 Kata that made up Chojun Miyagi's system, though he also developed Miyagi no Sanchin, a shortened version of Sanchin Kata. I also teach it for reference and in case they want to do it.

I also incorporate Shorin Ryu Kata as I have learned a few. I believe the two Ryu from Shorin and Naha complement each other and should be taught together.

I also studied Chinese Internal Arts - Sun style Hsing and Chin Na theory, Yichuan and I am currently learning Yong Chun White Crane Fist.

As for the "core", the Okinawan Arts are governed by principles, concepts, theory that help you discover the proper body mechanics.

Breath, Intention, Alignment, are all part of technique. Footwork, Koshi - Tenshin - all go into making technique.

The Poem of the Eight Fists in Bubishi also make up this body of laws that make you proficient in your art:

1. The mind is one with heaven and earth.

2. The circulatory rhythm of the body is similar to the cycle of the sun and the moon.

3. The way of inhaling and exhaling is hardness and softness.

4. Act in accordance with time and change.

5. Techniques will occur in the absence of conscious thought.

6. The feet must advance and retreat, separate and meet.

7. The eyes do not miss even the slightest change.

8. The ears listen well in all directions.

I wholeheartedly emphasize these 8 precepts as they are pertinent to the execution of my Art. It is also where Chojun Miyagi got the name for his Art - Goju Ryu, from the two characters in the third line that read "Hardness" and "Softness".

The kata of Goju Ryu have many ripping and tearing techniques, twisting, yanking-pulling, sinking and rising. Shorin Ryu is more precisely related to Fujian White Crane which shoots energy into the opponent and Goju Ryu is more related to the Hakka Kuen which tears, grips, crushes and rips into the opponent. The footwork of both use different approaches to throwing and unbalancing. Shorin Ryu uses Tai Otoshi and evasive leaping while Goju Ryu's footwork wraps around and twists, torquing with full body Tenshin movements. This is evident in Sanshin Kihon where the turning consists of stepping across with the forward foot into Bensoku Dachi - Crossleg Stance and completing the turn.

Shorin postures are "Hanmi" where Goju Ryu Postures are squared straight in front of the opponent.

My Chinese Arts greatly Influence my Okinawan Arts which actually just happens and all for the better. This is why I call what I do and teach - Toudijutsu.

As Fat Cobra says, there really isn't one factor that can be recognized as a "core" in Karatejutsu/Toudijutsu, hence the long here, there and everywhere explanation.

But I wish there was because these type of questions draw out some drawn out answers!

As per your example, I am studying Shurite Karate Jitsu.

Through my understanding of our art and the other martial arts I have studied over the years, I cannot define a SINGLE core principle; or even a small group. To me the one that would be defined would then be broken up, or be felt as though it was missing other components, and therefore incomplete.

Attempting to make this a broad core principle, I would say that you may be on to something with body movement. "To understand how to seize, and defeat the opponent efficiently, with as little effort as possible." Spatial awareness is one of the biggest elements taught at my dojo; which also incorporates position, touch sensitivity, and balance as well. Making that simple statement, causes my brain to fry over the fact that I am leaving so much out.

Honestly, to me this question would have been much easier to answer 15 or more years ago, because I knew less. I believe that the lines blur the more we learn, especially when it comes with making distinct claims about a singular principle being the driving force behind any martial art. Now, when talking about a specific technique, I can easily break down the core principle or principles, but that's a different story.

When I think about myself and my art, do I believe that I am performing it?... Everyday. I live my art, resting, working, going to school, and of course when I am training.

As an aikidoka, the emphasis of my art has always been 'harmony' (No, it's not 'love' people! We aikidoka prefer 'harmony', since it contains 'harm'... )

Anyway, 'harmony' being the core of aikido, IMHO means that:

On a personal level, my whole body must be in harmony; no movement should be forced, and it should be smooth, graceful perhaps, without any undue exertion. Also, aikido teaches - and requires - that the body, mind, and spirit (obvious reference to Fat Cobra's question) are also in harmony; techniques should flow smoothly with full intent and follow through (zanshin).

When training with a partner, the harmony part takes the form of blending. There are no collisions of force in aikido, only the synchronization of uke and nage's energies. There's a saying in aikido: "When pulled, enter; when pushed, turn" (similar to judo's "When pushed, pull; when pulled, push".) But when I see my senpai and sensei who really "gets it", it doesn't FEEL as if there is any pushing, pulling, entering, or turning in their techniques. One instant I was stepping in with a punch, and the next thing I knew, I was on the mat. I didn't even remember the impact. Again: harmony.

In a broader sense, it becomes harmony with my environment, and - ultimately, from a more philosophical point of view - nature and the universe. In other words: awareness. Being 'in tune' with the two to three uke rushing at you, with the area of the mat, and outside the dojo: with your surroundings, the people in it, and whatever is happening.

I guess this actually applies to practically all martial arts, but the manifestation of 'harmony' in everything from the most basic of movements to the deepest philosophical concepts, is the very core of aikido.

EDIT:

@Shienaran: Good article... Thanks...

Most simply put, it teaches self-awareness and protection. And awareness of surroundings. Balance, body alignment, and economical movement are present as are confidence and humility. Ego is understood to be a negative force when taken past the confidence stage. Tactics are a part of it, as is respect for each other and the other arts. I agree you don't ever stop learning from the art, and that examination of the material is done often, and refined. There is so much more, but we can't write a book here. Work hard, be safe and humble, and have a nice day.

Shienaran: excellent article, thanks I asked a question about that very subject earlier. You may find it and the answers I got interesting as well, so here is a link

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Au...

As a practitioner of Motobu ha Shitoryu Karatedo, Motobu Udundi Kobujutsu, Mugai Ryu Iaihyodo, and Hakko Ryu Jujutsu; I feel I can safely agree with many others than the simplicity of all martial arts boils down to the understanding of spatial awareness, tai sabaki, the concept of irimi in effective technique. All of these arts work to different effectiveness for each practitioner, much as my dojo's Shitoryu practices the Naha Te and Shuri Te styles from Goju and Shorin Ryu methodologies, at it's core is the understanding that we make ourselves able to use our strengths to the best and hide, if not imrpove upon, our weaknesses.

Bak Mei "White Eyebrow" Kung Fu is my current style from now until the end. I've only been a student of Bak Mei for 7 years. My past martial arts practice in other styles and military training taught me how to fight, but Bak Mei is the style that I have found that fits me.

To mirror your presentation,

At the very core it comes down to a very similar approach as what you describe with Taijutsu. The differences I would would note are in the mechanics and principles involved in learning to attack from any position without "cocking", generating high amounts of power from very short distances using the entire body's structure incorporating the internal martial arts aspects and training methods.

The aggressive nature of the style and the mindset to focus on attacking to destroy from whatever position one finds themselves in at the moment.

It's a generally difficult set of concepts to describe in a written presentation. The style, in my experience, is subject to many misconceptions, criticisms, and general misunderstanding. I've seen negative reviews on the internet, but I have not seen any overtly negative criticisms from those who have had the opportunity to experience the legitimate presentation of the style in person.

It's a beautifully simple style and is elegant in its approach. I was taught the closest styles in concept are Goju Ryu Karate and Hsing-i Kung Fu. I was also taught there is nothing exactly like it, just some that are fundamentally similar.

It's a complete style and built around fighting/combat applications. I realize now my answer doesn't really contain all that much useful insight to the "core" of Bak Mei. Part of the reason is I don't want to speak out of line and make the mistake of speaking in error about some of the things related to Bak Mei.

I can safely say the style is aggressive, uses the body mechanics and methods of both external and internal concepts, and revolves completely around killing/maiming in application as opposed to controlling or subduing an opponent.

this could be a book easily

the short answer would be Jim R's,

the long answer would be from each kata. shotokan is composed of 30 kata including all the fundamentals, if you drop off the ten no kata, all the taikyaku and the heian, that leaves 21 kata, ech emphasizing different tactics, body movements, techniques, various scenarios, environments and so-forth.

kata contains everything in the style. and each kata is a different style brought into shotokan.

fat cobra and sensei scandal has some great answers

I belive the core of all MAs is simply control. U first learn tocontrol urself. Then u understand how to control ur opponent.

I study Chen Style Taijiquan. Every time i think i understand the art i discover something new. So this answer might change in the future but its what ive come to understand now.

Shiro Kuma beat me to the draw regarding the core of Aikido teaching which is Harmony. But since I've recently started training in Shotokan, I'd like to share this article I've found about it's core principle of "Karate ni sente nashi" which has always fascinated me even before I started formal Karate training.

http://seinenkai.com/articles/tankosich/sentenashi...