A life-protection method designed for the battlefield- and today's world.
Motobu Udundi is different from commercially available martial arts in many ways. Karate, judo, MMA and kenpo are modern creations that developed in the world of sport. Motobu Udundi, however, is not modern and it is not a sport. It was developed over a period of 450 years as a martial art for the battlefield.
Modern martial arts are narrow in scope- streamlined for competitions with rules that limit certain tactics and favor others. To address this weakness, many martial artists are borrowing from other styles. Some do a good job of it and take years to develop skills that work as a system. Others take a weekend seminar and then charge extra for classes in grappling, mixed martial arts, Brazilian ju-jitsu, or whatever the latest fad happens to be. They are usually offered in separate classes from the main curriculum because they do not work together. Accumulating techniques doesn't make an effective "system", just a collection of random parts.
We, fortunately, feel no need to add anything. In fact, we have eliminated things. After thirty years of karate we have dropped it like a hot stone. Motobu Udundi offers such an intelligent approach to striking, grappling, weapons, restraints, strategy and health that we feel it is an absolutely superior martial art to offer our students.
The unique conditions that molded Motobu Udundi required strategy, tactics and techniques very different from those used in modern sport- oriented martial arts. It was made for the battlefield, for controlling civil unrest, and for personal protection.
Envision what it would take to suppress a hostile crowd, especially without using excessive force. There is chaos, danger is in all directions and many people have weapons. If you spend more than an instant with one bad guy you risk being struck or stabbed by another- to be stationary is to die. This is the environment Motobu Udundi was designed for.
While you may not ever face a mob, the same skills can help you in a personal assault. After all, if you ever need to defend yourself there is a good chance that it may be against more than one attacker, an enemy who is more powerful than you, or someone with a weapon. Mobility, efficiency, reliable techniques, deception and proper mindset are the skills you need for any violent encounter.
Here are some ways in which our techniques were designed to be effective in the chaos of civil unrest. Think about how these concepts are still important today.
Techniques minimize the use of strength. If techniques required strength how could you be effective against a mob once you got tired?
Techniques can dispatch an enemy with a single movement or technique. No time to block and exchange blows.
Techniques avoid tying you up and are quick and uncomplicated.
Techniques provide your enemy a chance to surrender. But they can be instantly destructive if needed.
You always have the option of escape. Techniques offer mobility at all times.
You become fluent with a variety of weapons.
You specialize in disarming skills.
Punches and kicks are done in a way to be effective even if the enemy is wearing armor.
You learn to have mental poise to be quick and nimble in chaos.
You learn how to attack. If it was your job to enter the fray and take control, you couldn"t run away. This skill is essential for dealing with multiple attackers.
One significant characteristics of Motobu Udundi is the use of relaxed and natural movements rather than strength or forced unnatural postures. This conserves energy and facilitates a calm and focused state of mind. Natural movements are fluid and more efficient. By using natural stances and natural walking methods Motobu Udundi is easy on ones body and joints. The natural postures allow you to appear unprepared even when you are, in fact, already on the attack.
Master Taira, who recently passed away at the age of 80, was graceful, agile and powerful right up to his last days. He attributed this to the natural and relaxed movements of Motobu Udundi. He told me that his body moved freely "like an animal" because he did not practice the unnatural movements of kata. In this photo he is demonstrating how to use double sword techniques with a sharp broken stick.
While encompassing a broad variety of weapon and empty hand skills, Motobu Udundi is not ungainly. All techniques are based upon shared principles. This is the advantage of having a refined system rather than a random collection of mediocre grappling skills and mediocre striking skills with unrelated footwork and conflicting strategies. With Motobu Udundi, whether you have a sword, a piece of rope, or need to punch or grapple or pick up a stone, there is no interruption in flow, no change in tactics or techniques.
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 use anything as a weapon, or nothing but bare hands. No matter where you work, shop, walk, or live there are things you can use as weapons of self-defense.
Well-suited for training a person to survive and escape violence, the evasive actions and attacking methods of Motobu Udundi are quick, clever and decisive. It is as much a martial art for today's world as it was for times of strife in the island kingdom on Okinawa.
One enjoyable tradition of Motobu Udundi is outdoor practice. Practicing uphill, downhill, in street clothes, and on a slippery surface can be very beneficial.
Kasshin-di Battle Hands Kashin- di is our striking method. It includes open hands, fists, elbows, knees and feet. A key element of our striking method is the use of mobility. We hit while we are on the move and don't place two feet on the ground at the same time until all enemies are under control. Having both feet on the ground is called a "death stance" because to do so means you are probably about to die. Two feet on the ground means that you have paused in your movement. This is a very unique method of striking. It allows for a rapid and continuous barrage of fists, feet, knees or elbows.
Another unique aspect of our method is the absence of "hikite" or pulling hand. In many martial arts one hand is pulled to the waist while the other strikes. In our method both hands engage the enemy simultaneously. We employ all tools at once rather than one after the other.
Tuidi Grappling Hands Tuidi is an amazing part of this martial art. To an untrained eye it looks like a type of aikido or ju-jitsu. In reality it is very different. Tuidi consists of joint locks, submission restraints, pressure points and throws. Techniques cause immense pain to your attacker and give a high degree of control. They can cause a person to submit very quickly but without causing lasting damage. If the person does not submit the tiniest movement can make techniques brutal.
All in all, this martial art has a versatility and practicality that is rare. The unique applications of technique make it ideal for small people and, of course, effective for big guys as well. Most importantly, it is a martial art that can make you healthier. It lacks the damaging practices found in many "hard" systems as well as the stances and repetitive motions that are bad for your joints. After all, a martial art should protect your health, not damage it. It should work with your body, not against it.
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