Each person deserves to have a practice that suits their abilities and interests. One style cannot serve everyone- they each are good for some things but not so good for others. As you read this comparison please keep an open mind and don't be offended if I disagree with what ever it is you believe. These are my observations based upon my experiences. Your conclusions may be different. I include this page because so many people are curious about our art but have no reference to help them understand what makes Motobu Udundi unique.
How does Motobu Udundi differ from karate?
Since few people in the west have ever seen this style, people come to the dojo trying to understand exactly what Motobu Udundi is. If they invest an hour watching a class they will then only have a very incomplete idea of what the style offers. If you watch one hour it may look like aikido. If you watch a different time it may look like karate, another time may look like ju-jitsu, boxing, kendo, etc...
The diversity of this system is what makes it hard to categorize. While modern styles are specialized like taekwondo or karate for striking, judo or ju-jitsu for grappling and so on, Motobu Udundi is a self-defense art and is designed to develop well-rounded skills rather than to conform to a narrow sport-oriented curriculum.
Motobu Udundi Beach Practice on Okinawa
Sensei in handcuffs- definitely not karate
One challenge we have is that there is little information available in English. On the web you will find comments about Motobu Udundi by people who know nothing about it, you will find videos of the Grandmaster in his 90's, or videos from the Kodokai all deliberately showing nothing at all.
The reason for this obscurity is that the people who teach us are very protective of this art. The schools on Okinawa are all small private places with only a handful of practitioners. Some feel that Motobu Udundi shouldn't be taught to Americans, others feel that it shouldn't even be taught to Japanese people who aren't from Okinawa. We have, in fact, been reprimanded for showing certain things on the web. If we wish to continue learning on Okinawa, we need to restrain ourselves from showing too much in the form of video. In fact, we are often told not to perform certain techniques in front of observers who are not students of the art, or to perform them differently if someone is watching.
People see through a prism of personal experience. It's hard to "empty our cup" and observe with an open mind. Most westerners have a preconceived idea of what martial arts are supposed to look like based upon sport, media, and what they have experienced in the local "karate" school. But most people don't realize that even the most "traditional" karate (whatever that means) is a modern creation, a sport/ physical education martial art.
Japanese martial arts like judo, karate, kendo, aikido, (and non-Japanese arts such as taekwondo or kenpo) were organized into their current form in the modern era. They are not ancient. They are influenced by Japanese physical fitness methods- regimented, standardized, sporterized. Even the karate practiced on Okinawa in the 1950's was not the same martial art that was practiced in the 1800's.
This is not to say that modern arts aren't good, but it is important to realize that they are specialized (narrow in scope) and have been modified to conform by rules unique to each styles form of competition. Many people mistakenly use these modern sport martial arts as a reference for what martial arts should look like.
Because many people are familiar with karate-type arts such as kenpo, taekwondo, karate, kung-fu, etc...I'll attempt to illustrate a few ways in which Motobu Udundi practice differs. Which way is better for you is something that only you can decide.
Kata
A major difference in modern martial arts and Motobu Udundi is the use of kata or forms. While kata are a big part of most martial arts, they are not a large part of Motobu Udundi. In my experience with thirty years of karate, forms are good for very little. Yes, they are a good way to develop body mechanics, but what good are those mechanics if, after years of practice, most people still can't apply them in a self-defense situation. Even in highly controlled "free sparring" you would be hard-pressed to find anyone at any level who utilized the techniques of their kata. And there is always an excuse as to why they can't.
So, in my experience kata is an inefficient way to learn functional skills. In contrast, with Motobu Udundi practice is with a live partner rather than through kata. You learn the mechanics and meaning of the movements by applying them to a person. You aren't simply perfecting movements, you are learning how to apply your movements as you work on perfecting them.
In too many students perfecting the kata becomes more important than the ability to apply it. Kata practice becomes a hiding place. Students are told that, if trouble should arise, they will be able to spontaneously use the movements within their kata. And people will follow a teacher who also can't apply the moves in free-sparring because people will believe what they want to believe.
Lastly, kata are taught in some order usually based upon ones rank. You work your way through the ranks according to a standardized curriculum. Doesn't matter if you are a petite lady or a giant of a man- everyone learns the same thing the same way- even though everyone is different. Motobu Udundi is not like this. Practice is not so much about the style as it is about the person. Practice adapts to the individual. And, of course, when kata is doled out according to rank and promotions, this only drags out ones training process. There is no reason for the "You have to be a nidan to learn this kata" mentality. Motobu Udundi differs in that the idea is to provide functional skills- quickly. It is not about stringing you along thorough an unscientific, nontraditional and inefficient training process. And why does anyone need twenty, thirty or more kata? How about just a few things that work instead?
So I'm not trying to criticize "Karate". I am however, trying to point out some things based upon my experience and that of many others. Karate does make some skillful punchers and kickers (and so does Motobu Udundi)- but you don't need kata to learn how to punch and kick well.
There are kata in Motobu Udundi, but they are a minor part of our practice. In fact many black belts, who have devastating technique, do not even know the kata. There are other ways to develop skill.
Hitting Things
Since switching to Motobu Udundi, the time we would have spent on kata is now spent hitting things. Of course, we used to hit things a lot in karate, but a lot of training time was lost on kata.
Motobu Udundi has an amazing variety of drills to develop speed, mobility and power in strikes. Most of these drills are done while hitting something rather than by kicking and punching in the air. While the makiwara was an essential part of karate training it is not used in Motobu Udundi. We do not hit things that don't move, instead we strike a variety of bags, pads, targets, and humans.
I enjoyed the makiwara quite a lot when I practiced karate, but I now see that my fluidity, speed, power and mobility have improved by switching from the makiwara to other methods of practice.
Emphasis on Hands-on Practice
While much of karate is practiced while lined-up in rows and moving in a regimented orderly way, Motobu Udundi is not this way. Class structure is more relaxed, more spontaneous and more hands-on. This is to facilitate fluidity in movement and to avoid regimented thinking. We practice moving in tune with another person rather than moving to a count. While class is structured, it may appear less orderly. This is intentional.
Stance
Motobu Udundi uses upright natural movements. Mobility is preferred over a solid stance. Many of the things we practice begin with our hand by our side rather than in a "fighting" stance. I recently had someone comment that we should always have our hands up in front of us when approaching an enemy and to approach an enemy with our hands down was to underestimate him. This, of course, makes sense. And it accurately reflects the way many martial artists think. But it only makes sense from a limited perspective.
First, in that conversation I was assuming that there might be more than one enemy, the karate person was assuming there was one, and that the enemy was standing in front of him. Second, if I am out of range I don't need to have my hands up. If I am in range my hands need to be attacking the enemy and not held in a defensive posture waiting for a chance to strike.
This illustrates a fundamental difference in strategy and mindset. In Motobu Udundi there is the assumption that there might be multiple attackers. There is also the idea that we must not think defensively and, instead, need to seize the initiative.
Diverse Skills
While Judo, aikido or ju-jitsu are clearly grappling arts, and karate is primarily a percussion art, Motobu Udundi includes a vast array of both aspects of skill development.
This also allows ones practice to evolve from hard to soft as one ages. In karate, for instance, you may learn most of your skills and kata in the first few years of training. You then spend the rest of your years improving those skills. In Motobu Udundi the focus of your practice changes as you mature and lose your youthful athleticism.
So please take this information in the spirit in which it was meant. There are some great karate people out there, some impressive judo players, etc... I'm not suggesting that these styles are not good. These observations are simply to illustrate some of the differences you might notice if you come down to watch a class and to help you open your mind when you have difficulty categorizing exactly what it is that we do. Think of Motobu Udundi as what martial arts were like before they were categorized and standardized.
And, if you have prior training and are thinking of joining, your background will serve you well. While I have focused on the differences on this page, Motobu Udundi has many similarities to the martial arts that are out there.
(401) 762-2201 175 Eddie Dowling Hwy. (Rt. 146A, Park Square) North Smithfield, RI 02895
