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What is Bujutsu? by Prof. Shipley

Often when people ask me the meaning of Bujutsu, I tell them it means "Martial Arts". I did some research and found that bujutsu was used to describe martial arts during Japan's feudal era and budo is used today to describe "classical" martial arts. Budo arts such as Judo, Kendo, and Iaido came from bujutsu arts such as Jujitsu, Kenjutsu, and Iaijutsu respectively. Budo is a compound of the root bu, meaning war or martial, and do, meaning path or way. Bujutsu is a compound of the roots bu, and jutsu, meaning science, craft, or art. Budo is most often translated as "the way of war" or "martial way" while bujutsu is translated as "science of war" or "martial craft". Budo or modern martial arts are focused more towards sports and competition while bujutsu is true martial art training for defence of self and others. Budo is considered a more civilian martial art and bujutsu is categorized as a more militaristic style or strategy. A battlefield education with the promotion of spiritual, moral, and physical values. The key to enlightenment.

-Prof Shipley

Words From Prof. Bohm

Some thoughts pertaining to what we went through recently, and our MA teachings in general. Figuring out the best techniques of conflict management – and teaching the same - is addressing only the symptoms. But what about the causes? Isn’t it about emotions, words? Intent! Careless words without weighing the assumptions or the outcome is dangerous. Think about chatter, gossip, and rumor. Worse so, using words trying to outmaneuver someone else.

Speaking cautiously is knowledge. Listening and silence is wisdom.

By experimenting with emotions and actions (thoughts and words), we can feel angry if we choose to do so. We can choose to look for things to feel angry about or create situations to make anger. We can choose to make others angry by appealing to their fears. All this can be accomplished by saying words, or by attaching certain meanings to words others say.

How about never telling an untruth, not even a small fabrication, or any gross unreal statement. No lies at all, intentional or unintentional, so we have nothing to hide.

Instead, like Sorcerer’s apprentices people are experimenting without mastering their intent – creating a mess of conflict and hurt feelings, causing angry words that create more anger. Careless words that trigger other’s assumptions, fears, to become frightened and angry. A chain reaction of nuclear proportions.

Ever wonder why this is such a crazy, chaotic world? It probably all began with careless words – leading to arguments, accusations, brawls, murder; propaganda, conflict, war, annihilation. Anger. When can we put an end to this insanity?

Now think about how to accomplish the opposite of all this.

Watch your thoughts, they become intent.

Watch your intent, it becomes emotion.

Watch your emotions, they become what you say.

Watch your words, they become actions.

Watch your actions, they become habit.

Watch your habits, they become character.

Watch your character - it becomes your destination.

If we truly appreciated the power of thinking, we would not dare ever harboring a negative thought again. Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Let us calm and clear our minds and help others do the same.

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From Prof. Karnes Confucius felt that education would override class distinction and elevate society bringing peace and justice to the world. From Wiki

What inspires you? 7-2008 Bobasan

In times of division, chaos, and endless wars between feudal states, he wanted to restore the Mandate of Heaven that could unify the "world" (i.e. China) and bestow peace and prosperity on the people. Because his vision of personal and social perfections was framed as a revival of the ordered society of earlier times, Confucius is often considered a great proponent of conservatism, but a closer look at what he proposes often shows that he used (and perhaps twisted) past institutions and rites to push a new political agenda of his own: a revival of a unified royal state, whose rulers would succeed to power on the basis of their moral merit, not their parentage; these would be rulers devoted to their people, reaching for personal and social perfection. Such a ruler would spread his own virtues to the people instead of imposing proper behavior with laws and rules.One of the deepest teachings of Confucius may have been the superiority of personal exemplification over explicit rules of behavior. Because his moral teachings emphasize self-cultivation, emulation of moral exemplars, and the attainment of skilled judgment rather than knowledge of rules, Confucius's ethics may be considered a type of virtue ethics. His teachings rarely rely on reasoned argument, and ethical ideals and methods are conveyed more indirectly, through allusions, innuendo, and even tautology. This is why his teachings need to be examined and put into proper context in order to be understood. A good example is found in this famous anecdote:

When the stables were burnt down, on returning from court, Confucius said, "Was anyone hurt?" He did not ask about the horses. Analects X.11, tr. A. Waley The passage conveys the lesson that by not asking about the horses, Confucius demonstrated that a sage values human beings over property; readers of this lesson are led to reflect on whether their response would follow Confucius's, and to pursue ethical self-improvement if it would not. Confucius, an exemplar of human excellence, serves as the ultimate model, rather than a deity or a universally true set of abstract principles. For these reasons, according to many Eastern and Western commentators, Confucius's teaching may be considered a Chinese example of humanism.

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Why I do not train cage fighters and why cage fighting is not real Jujitsu or a real Martial Art

This was written by Prof. Bob Karnes 12-7-2007. Check with your Sensei or other Profs. for his or her opinion on this subject. I hope this becomes a place for Federation Profs. to communicate opinions and experiences made available to our students and the general public looking into our system. Federation Kyu, Black Belts and Sensei, and Profs please look into posting on your message board on your federation web site.

Why pretend pit fighting or cage wrestling is not good for martial arts or good for society

Why cage fighting is not a sport.

Amateur sports are designed to promote a healthy community by redirecting aggression and competition to allow young people to learn to get along, play fair, and to compete within the rules. This allows life lessons to be learned in a creative and safe way. The promotion of fair play, learning from success and failure teaches mental balance to carry on through adult life in their family and work place. It is not important if you win or lose its how you play the game. You will win and lose in life it is more important how you conduct yourself in an ethical moral way.

Cage fighting has few moral redeeming qualities that I can see.

Why cage fighting is not a Martial Art. In the early 1900s Martial arts was used to impart lessons to the general public learned on the battlefield by warriors while facing death. They found using violence as a last resort was wise as violence begets more violence. While the warriors faced death on the battle field the masters of several spiritual paths found the warriors, when combined with a spirit of self service and morality, achieved a spiritual and physical excellence that they also strived for. Facing death brought some to be in the moment. So martial arts became less a way of war and became more a way to peace or enlightenment. Cage fighting apears not to share this history.

Martial arts, in order to deserve to survive in society, must benefit society by protecting the weak and reining in the aggressive nature in us. A martial artist should be a healer of others and a healer of violence or conflict within oneself.

Pretend pit fighting with rules on TV (UFC and many off shoots) seems to me to promote the use of violence for ego or greed. This produces people with the illusion that they are watching real self defense skills in a real conflict which it is not.

Without any conflict resolution skills and without the moral guidelines traditionally imparted by a teacher student life long relationship it is harming society and the positive evolution of all of us as martial artist.

This is dangerous as it imparts the illusion, to young people, that violence for the sake of money or ego is good. It is not! These illusions will create our future leaders who will then decide the fate of others. Their actions reflect the notion that might makes right which leads to a shallow self centered life.

Ethical martial arts schools place character development first as this benefits everyone. Next knowledge is imparted in a real martial art as how to use real self defense arts, as a last resort, using the local laws and universal morality as a guideline. Positive life principles can also be taught as a sport, traditional Martial Art forms, or as a moving meditation healing art. You can tell you have found an ethical school when you see the students care for each other and support positive community events. The teachers will inspire and give all they have to help others never putting profit before people.

Cage fighting seems to use fear, greed, and violence in order to win a contest for profit sometimes with the intent of maiming the opponent. Some out of control "students" without responsible leadership have beat up homeless people for fun. This is a shallow victory for shallow frightened or greedy people.

 Prof. Bob Karnes 

Rant #2 edited verson sent to Reno Gazzett Cage fighting: The New Meth?

Referring to 8 year olds Kids learning cage fighting from March 28, 2008 Fridays nation & world section

Looking at the photo of the kids cage fighting it looks like every school yard fight I saw in grade school. Are these parents paying for this? Watching adults doing cage fighting does not look much more evolved than a schoolyard brawl. Have we not outgrown our need to temporarily feel better about ourselves at the expense of others?

Since cage fighting is considered good by some because it is popular and profitable for its owners, could this same logic be applied to selling meth? I think not. Cage fighting, like meth sales, it is profitable for some at the expense of a healthy society.

Real martial arts (or martial art sports) have some important things in common. They serve the community by teaching their students respect of others, self control, and the value of being confident enough to put the needs of others before your own. Real self defense schools teach self defense against real attacks, defense against weapons, multiple attacks in the real world (i.e. no weight or age divisions or referees). They also teach awareness of local laws, conflict avoidance and resolution, and resorting to the self defense arts as a last resort. Other styles of martial arts or martial sports that do not stress self defense use other ways to impart important positive life lessons to their students that benefit all of us.

You can call it cage fighting or pit fighting for money but martial arts and amateur sports are being unfairly painted by this violent activity. Our school has been teaching jujitsu for over 30 years. Now, because of the association to the term jujitsu with cage fighting, not only have we had to stop using this term but also the Amateur Athletic Union, that we belong to, has removed their classification of jujitsu as a valid sport. Like a teacher told me 20 years ago Jujitsu without morality is just so much bad wrestling.

Bobasan