Ko-bu-do

Old Martial Way

Ko-bu-do (古武道) is a Japanese term that means, “old-martial-way.” The term refers to traditional martial art schools (ryū) that can trace their roots back before 1868, or the beginning of modernization in Japan. These schools are sometimes referred to as ko-ryū bu-jutsu (old-school martial-arts).

Training in the old martial schools was considerably more rigorous than today. The old schools existed for one simple purpose: to help students develop the necessary combative mindset and technical skills to effectively use a particular repertory of weapons in mortal combat. Typically, martial training would begin at an early age with ken (sword), bo (wooden staff), and some form of unarmed self-defense art (jujutsu). Once these foundational skills were mastered, other weapons—such as yari (spear), yumi (bow), naginata (type of pole weapon), or jutte (type of baton)—might be studied, depending on one’s family profession or personal need.

Most of the old martial schools were really small family businesses, handed down from one generation to the next. Techniques were tested in battle, and only the most effective ones were taught to the next generation. Because a family’s survival often depended on the effectiveness of its battlefield skills, information about its martial tradition was guarded very carefully.

Because the old martial schools developed before the modern period—which saw a proliferation of sport or competitive martial arts—their teaching methods did NOT include competitions or tournaments. Techniques were designed for defense in mortal combat, not for entertainment, sport, or recreation.

Regardless of curriculum, extant kobudo schools rely on a particular teaching method that has been used for centuries:

Instruction is individualized to each student’s needs and one-to-one, teacher to student, emphasizing demonstration over explanation;
Students work in pairs, practicing techniques over and over so responses to certain actions become automatic, a matter of reflex; and
When students master one set of techniques, they are taught another, increasingly more difficult set until they have mastered the full tradition.

A Difficult but Rewarding Path

The modern student is presented with a wide variety of options for learning self-defense skills. In speaking about Jujutsu, Grandmaster Tanemura identifiies three different types of systems available today. The first type, a hybred system, has borrowed certain elements from the traditional schools in order to create a new system for fighting. Systems in this category include Aikido, Judo, Karate, boxing, wrestling, etc. These systems can be very effective in real life, but they lack the historical backround and spiritual core of the original combat arts that gave rise to them. The second type, a historically pure system, has faithfully preserved the original techniques from ancient times. In this type of system, techniques are preserved as museum artifacts with little or no regard for their effectiveness or practicality. According to Grandmaster Tanemura, these systems die because it is difficult to attract new recruits.

The third type, the traditional system with practical variations, preserves the teachings of the original ryū-ha but keeps them alive by re-applying them to contemporary situations. About this third type, he writes: "Training is hard, as if for a true case. Students must polish their manners, spirit and heart. The techniques try to harmonize the physical technique, mental strength and spiritual power. This style opens the gate for anyone who wants to learn true traditional martial arts for use in real cases."

We cannot live in the past, nor should we abandon the wisdom and spiritual treasures of the ancient traditions. Our kobudo leads us between these two extremes; it is a difficult but rewarding path.