Motobu Udundi- Okinawa's Royal Martial Art

Takamiyagi Sensei from Okinawa

A life-protection method designed for the battlefield.

Taira Sensei

Motobu Udundi is a rare martial art from old Okinawa. Unlike karate and most popular martial arts which were created for personal defense, this was designed for the battlefield. It is for destroying multiple enemies in an extraordinarily efficient manner. This style is sometimes referred to as Okinawan ju-jitsu.

While strong people can be effective with any martial art, Motobu Udundi is also well suited for those small in stature. Fluidity, deception, and brutally effective techniques make this very different from the type of training you find in the typical martial arts school. If you are looking for no-nonsense self-defense, this is the martial art for you.

While encompassing a broad variety of skills, Motobu Udundi is not ungainly. All techniques are based upon the same principles.

A warrior needed to be able to fight with empty hands if he lost his sword, or to pick up someone else's dropped weapon. With this in mind, this style was designed so one could seamlessly switch from empty hands to using anything else as a weapon. This makes great sense since no matter where you work, shop, walk, or live there are things you can use as weapons.

Well-suited for training a person to survive and escape violence, the evasive actions and attacking methods are quick, clever and decisive. It is as much a martial art for today's world as it was in years past.

Outdoor Practice

For Survival
Popular martial arts such as judo, kempo, taekwondo, ju-jitsu, karate have a lot to offer. They are usually adequate for dealing with the schoolyard bully or the guy who has had too much to drink and gets in your face. These arts, however, are primarily for one-on-one engagements. Practice methods assume that there will be one opponent and he will approach you from the front...while you are standing. And he won't have a weapon. And your hands will be free.

Motobu Udundi is different. It is designed to quickly destroy multiple attackers. Your hands may hold something that you can use as a weapon, they may be empty, or your hands may be tied up (literally). You may be sitting and you may be a lot smaller than your attackers. They may have you surrounded. Practical beyond the training hall, Motobu Udundi even teaches techniques for walking through crowds in a defensive manner.

Here I will touch on some of the differences between popular martial arts such as karate, kempo or taekwondo as compared to Motobu Udundi. This is not meant to criticize other martial arts. This is merely to help you understand how these martial arts differ from Motobu Udundi.

Karate is defense oriented and discourages throwing the first strike. Motobu Udundi is about doing what is neccesary.

Karate techniques typically block an attack and then counter. Motobu Udundi has no blocking movements. Instead, the enemy's attack is met with an immediate counter-attack- or an attack is initiated by the defender.

Karate uses stances designed to provide stability. These are referred to as "death stances" in Motobu Udundi because to use these stances in actual combat means you are about to be killed.

Karate stances typically require both feet to be on the ground. Motobu Udundi, however, teaches that "standing still in combat equals death". When both feet are on the ground at the same time you are standing still.

Karate is empty-handed defense (the word "karate" means "empty hand"). Motobu Udundi is about using anything as a weapon. Training includes knives, ropes, short sticks, long sticks, canes, swords, spears, boat oars, etc...

Karate typically favors the "reverse punch" with the rear hand, Motobu Udundi, however, prefers the leading hand or foot because they are closer to the opponent.

Karate strikes are thrown at a wide variety of targets. The preferred target for Motobu Udundi is the head or throat because a strike in these places can more reliably disable a person.

Karate often uses a combination of blocks and strikes to handle an attack. Motobu Udundi uses only one technique to incapacitate an opponent so that one can immediately move from opponent to opponent.

Interested in Joining?
In the world of martial art schools with striped belts, black belt clubs, plastic trophies and payment contracts, Motobu Udundi is a refreshing alternative. If you are more interested in getting a belt than practicing martial arts this is not for you.

How to Begin
Simple.
You don't need any previous martial arts experience to join because you will begin in our "Martial Arts Basics" classes. These classes will provide the skills that you will need to jump into Motobu Udundi classes safely as well as some karate skills that you may find useful. When we feel that you are ready we will invite you into the more advanced classes.

Motobu Udundi is open to people age fifteen and older, with permission from Sensei.