Martial Science

The transfer of a centuries-old Japanese fine arts principle into empty-hand fighting. In this book in the Analysis of Karate series, Hermann Bayer, Ph.D. examines Shu Ha Ri and its influence on modern karate. Bayer examines why and how this centuries old Japanese fine arts concept has changed how karate is practiced in modern times. Shu Ha Ri is a genuine Japanese fine arts principle that was later applied into Japanese martial arts in general, and into karate-do in particular-not as a factual martial arts tradition but as an invented one-during a process that also converted Okinawa's self-protection art into something closer to a fine art of self-perfection. Clarifying the influence of Shu Ha Ri in the Japanese approach to martial arts is particularly important since traditional Okinawan karate circles adamantly insist on keeping their Okinawan karate approach separated, unique, and not to be mixed up with Japanese ways. Dr. Bayer's weaves historic, socio-cultural, political, philosophical, psychological, and commercial components into a complex analysis that finally gives a clear picture of the subject, and that addresses doubts and questions about ascent or alibi which inevitably arise when an Okinawan fighting art is changed into a Japanese fine art. Contents Include • A centuries old Japanese fine arts principle finds its way into modern karate. • Shu Ha Ri is a Japanese cultural concept, not an Okinawan one. • Japan converts Okinawan Karate-jutsu and inserts Japanese philosophies. • The essence of Shu Ha Ri is its trinity of coexisting phases. An additional component in this analysis is the inclusion of educational principles and approaches that can help instructors organize and systematize their teaching approach and to overcome traditional instructor-centered concepts by using teaching approaches that were developed to better reach westerly socialized minds.

Genuine karate is an Okinawan martial art for self-defense, its principle of "never changing kata" is critical to its effectiveness "The changes made to karate in mainland Japan and in America have altered karate so intrinsically that it can no longer claim to be genuine karate." Dr. Hermann Bayer, Ph.D., examines how Japan re-interpreted Okinawan karate to create its own unique style of karate-do, and how Japanese and American changes resulted in a modern karate-sport business. Practitioners of karate are often confused, misguided, and even led to believe that karate is just karate-this is far from the truth. Practitioners need a clear understanding of what their training can offer them. This can only be achieved by "seeing the trees through the forest" or by discerning misconception from fact. Contents include • Okinawan karate's "principle of never changing kata". • Karate as an Okinawan cultural heritage. • Socio-cultural arguments to preserve Okinawa karate-as is. • Japan-the karate reproducing country. • Karate or Karate-do? • The business of karate, karate-do, and karate-sport. • Scientific proof of a peaceful karate mind. • The laws of physics reveal weaknesses when kata are changed. This substantially researched work makes a compelling case for the socio-cultural and historic arguments to conserve genuine Okinawan karate. Supported by historical facts, scientific analysis, and public records, Dr. Bayer reveals, for all to see, the complex evolution of karate and the unsettled claims made upon it by the various stakeholders.

NINE LEVELS, EASY TO EXPERT This book stands apart from other staff training manuals. While most titles focus on forms and twirling, The Art and Science of Staff Fighting emphasizes the dynamics of combat. The author draws on thirty years of martial experience, presenting the best of both Eastern and Western traditions. Joe Varady lays out a comprehensive course of study in nine levels, from beginner to expert. He guides readers through such fundamentals as stances, striking, blocking, and footwork. In advanced lessons, readers learn disarming techniques, groundwork, and facing multiple opponents. But this book is not just for staff enthusiasts. Even those unfamiliar with martial arts can adapt these techniques, increasing their skill and confidence in defending themselves. "Our environment is usually full of improvised weapons," Varady writes. "Staff fighting techniques can be effectively applied in a self-defense situation using a walking stick, coatrack, curtain rod, floor lamp, hockey sticks, fallen tree branch, broom, mop, shovel, or rake." Equipped with this knowledge, readers will begin to realize that, in one way or another, they are nearly always armed and capable of defending themselves. This book features: Nine levels of instruction, progressing from easy to expert. Over 600 photos with motion arrows. A "nondenominational" approach to staff, utilizing the best of Eastern and Western arts. A comprehensive, methodical approach to building staff skills. If you are already a student of the staff, these lessons will not conflict with your katas or current style. Instead, they will augment your techniques, broadening your options. Whether you are an experienced staff fighter or a layman seeking practical techniques for self-defense, The Art and Science of Staff Fighting will help you develop the skills you need.

Genuine Okinawan Karate was developed as a fighting tool. Non-Okinawan Karate are for other purposes. Karate practitioners, scholars, and everyone caring about Asian martial arts and its culture will enthusiastically appreciate this eye-opening work. Dr. Bayer substantiates further how the art Karate was used to prepare a nation (Japan) for total war, how it was deliberately industrialized into a worldwide Japanized Karate-Do inflation, and how its following transformation into athletic showmanship destroyed the art's unity and distinctiveness. The author endorses Karate-Jutsu as a genuine Okinawan martial art even as foreign knowledge and skills from India (speculated) and from China (proven) were integrated― and he explains the imitative social mechanism used to turn this local fighting art into a symbol of national identity. Since martial arts were initially understood as a moral code-neutral tool, like a weapon, this happens to contradict the modern understanding of Karate being a peaceful art with inherent non-violent values. In truth, moral codes or guidelines on how to use this tool were developed separately, not within the art. A new "back to the roots" Karate-Jutsu movement gains importance and establishes a counterculture to Karate-Do's industrialization, helping to integrate some neglected reminiscences of Karate-Jutsu back into Karate-Do. Such a development brings Japanized Karate-Do versions closer to their martial origins, whereas pure Karate-Jutsu will be preserved as a point of reference by a group of dedicated curators. Contents include: • Okinawa is the birthplace of Karate-Jutsu and Japan is the birthplace of Bu-Jutsu. • How Karate and Budo were used for Japan's war preparations. • Senpai seniority was the social mechanism to integrate Karate into Japan's martial arts tradition. • Consequences of an ancient fighting art being turned into athletic showmanship. • In Sports-Karate there is no more Kata in Kumite, and there is no more Kumite in Kata either. • The modern misconception of avoiding a fight by all means. • The path toward mastery in Karate. • Sensei correct your errors and blunders, you have to correct mistakes yourself. • Today's Karate-Jutsu movement is the counterculture to Karate-Do's industrialization. • Karate's market structure in the 21st century.

The best of both Eastern and Western stick fighting technique. The Art and Science of Stick Fighting is a unique, non-style specific, approach to fighting with the short stick. Its curriculum is streamlined and divided into nine logical stages of training that allow the reader to quickly and methodically learn and develop the skills needed for fighting with the stick. Whether you are just starting out, or have been practicing stick fighting for years, there is something for everyone in this book. Also included are systematic workouts and descriptions of how to make and use specific training equipment as you learn and master The Art and Science of Stick Fighting. The Art and Science of Stick Fighting features: • Nine levels of instruction, progressing from easy to expert • Over 700 photos with motion arrows • A "nondenominational" approach to the stick, utilizing the best of Eastern and Western arts • A comprehensive, methodical approach to building stick fighting skills This book stands apart from other stick fighting training manuals because it emphasizes the dynamics of combat. Many other books focus on forms and twirling. The author draws on thirty years of martial experience, presenting the best of both Eastern and Western traditions.

The Art and Science of Self Defense Training provides you with a condensed system of distilled self-defense skills and techniques, each carefully selected for its reliability in a high stress environment. Topics include situational awareness, avoidance, and how to take action should you need to physically defend yourself. Martial arts, combat sports, and self-defense are different realms; although interconnected they are not entirely the same.-This book can help bridge that gap. This curriculum is streamlined and divided into nine logical stages of training that allows both martial artists and those with no formal fighting experience to quickly and methodically learn and develop reliable skills for self-defense. While training in the martial arts or competitive combat sports can aid you in a self-defense situation, it does not prepare you for those aspects that are unique to actual self-defense. The book begins with the basics, upon which everything else relies—awareness, avoidance, and anticipation skills—before moving on to building a reliable arsenal of self-defense techniques. You will progress through a series of carefully selected actions for high stress situations. The aim of this curriculum is to improve confidence and skills in a structured and logical way. Topics include • Awareness skills including situational, spatial, and environmental • Avoidance skills to deal with fear, escape, and de-escalation • Anticipation skills for being approached, posturing, and reading body language • Action arsenal including targeting, striking, yelling, evading, and countering • Advanced arsenals for dealing with ground fighting, weapons, and multiple attackers Whether you are just starting out, or have been practicing martial arts for years, there are important self-defense skills for everyone in this book.

The Tai Chi Concepts and Experiments book clarifies and makes accessible critical aspects of the art that only a small number of high-level practitioners currently understand and manifest. Numerous step-by-step experiments are provided for readers to experience and perfect these critical tai chi aspects. Contents include: • The meaning and importance of releasing tension in movement for stability, health, and spirituality. • The differences between contractive and expansive strength including a promising mechanism for the nature of expansive strength. • Numerous experiments for readers to recognize and experience expansive strength and to confirm that they have achieved it. • Elucidation of famous master's sayings on mind, strength, and chi. • Health and martial advantages of expansion over contraction in tai chi. • Protocols using expansion including those for helping an excess curvature of the upper and lower spine and for relieving plantar fasciitis. • Quotes from the classics and how they confirm the interpretations of the principles of tai chi. • How to achieve optimal balance through an understanding of physical, anatomical, physiological, and mental factors. • A detailed analysis of "rooting and redirecting" including physical and internal aspects. • Understanding natural movement from physical, philosophical, health, and martial points of view. This interdisciplinary book utilizes, elementary physics, physiology, anatomy, psychology, and spirituality. It contains detailed analyses and explanations for achieving internal, expansive strength, known as nei jin, and for attaining optimal timing and natural movement.

The best of both Eastern and Western Sword Fighting Techniques Sword fighting is a vigorous activity that develops strength, speed, and overall physical fitness. It also promotes mental acuity and quick thinking. Once you have developed the requisite skills to the point where you no longer have to think about them to perform them properly, you can focus your attention on out-witting your opponent in an exciting game of physical chess. The Art and Science of Sword Fighting takes an innovative, progressive approach to swordsmanship. Consisting of an eclectic collection of high-percentage sword fighting techniques borrowed from many diverse sources, these universal concepts can easily be applied to fighting with a wide variety of swords. The Art and Science of Sword Fighting is aimed at creating a formidable general practitioner, someone who is comfortable fighting with a variety of swords. This approach provides a solid foundation in the general art of sword fighting, a necessity for beginners and experts alike. Later, once you have determined what your strengths are and where your personal interests lie, you may choose to go on to specialize in a particular brand of swordsmanship. Regardless of what that style may be, this strong foundation will serve you well. By not focusing on the historical context of any particular style, advanced practitioners, regardless of personal style or affiliation, might transcend stylistic differences to come together as a swordsman or a swordswoman in order to discover the universal concepts that underlie all styles. Such collaborations serve to improve the collective understanding of sword fighting. The Art and Science of Sword Fighting is divided into two main sections. • Part One focuses on wielding a one-handed sword. • Subsections include offense, defense, fencing, and advanced techniques. • Part Two focuses on wielding a two-handed sword. • Subsections include offense, defense, fencing, and advanced techniques. This book takes a bold, progressive approach to the topic of next generation fencing. The condensed course of study is designed to teach you how to use just about any sword; an eclectic approach to the art of swordsmanship aimed at ferreting out the universal concepts common to wielding a sword. By taking this fresh, methodical approach to the topic, any student can quickly learn the Art and Science of Sword Fighting.