Self-Defense 
(Budokai Ryu-Goshinjutsu)

• What is Goshinjutsu?
• The criminal's mentality
• What "Self-Defense" is NOT!
• The "O.O.D.A." Loop
• The "Bottom Line" of Self-Defense
• What does Budokai Ryu-Goshinjutsu consist of?
• Self-Defense Seminar Notes
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What is Budokai Ryu Goshinjutsu?

Budokai Ryu-Goshinjutsu means "Budokai School-Techniques for Protecting the Spirit" or simply, "Budokai Self-Defense Techniques".  True "self-defense" is much more than "fighting" technique.  It is focused on self-preservation and is not focused on beating people up.  "Self-defense" is the awareness of one's capabilities, limitations and surroundings and using this knowledge to avoid or eliminate threats to one's self or others. We believe that nearly all physical threats can be anticipated and avoided. Consequently, we train to recognize and decisively deal with those that are imminent and unavoidable.  

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"Decisions without actions are pointless. Actions without decisions are reckless."

The Criminal's Mentality:
Criminals generally are not brave.  They also do not generally have a good moral foundation or work ethic.  That is why they are criminals.  They don't want to work hard to earn anything honestly. They want things the easy way.  Especially if that includes taking advantage of YOU!  

Violent criminals tend to attack those who they perceive as weak or vulnerable in some way. When criminals feel that they have an advantage in size, location or number, they use this opportunity to victimize others.  Thus, they look for the "Easy Mark".  Consequently, they don't tend to think of defense. This leaves them open for decisive countermeasures - IF one has the will to act. 

We don't concern ourselves with "defensive" tactics, per se.  There is no possible hope of victory by being reactionary or "defensive".  One simply cannot backpedal fast enough.  We "defend" by seizing the initiative and counterattacking the assailant's vulnerabilities before he knows what hit him. Budokai Ryu-Goshinjutsu training helps us to develop the will as well as the means to act.

Budokai Ryu-Goshinjutsu strengthens one's resolve to think and act decisively yet reasonably.  We offer programs geared toward civilian, military and law enforcement personnel.  We also offer special consultation and training in Women's Self-Defense.  We also offer a series of Women's Self-Defense seminars that focus on helping women maximize their ability to be safe in today's world.  Most people understand "reasonable." However few have the intestinal fortitude (or "guts") to act decisively.  When faced with an imminent threat where one must defend one's self or others, that is not the time for deliberation or indecision.  That is the time for action.  Budokai Ryu-Goshinjutsu is "action!.  

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What Self-Defense is NOT:
REAL Self-Defense is NOT sport. It is NOT about "fighting" or being "bad".  Not only is acting "tough" unwise from a tactical standpoint - it just plain makes one a real unpleasant person to be around.  No one likes being around unpleasant people.  As one martial arts colleague says, "Fear no man, but make no man fearful of you".  

Self-Defense is also NOT about winning trophies, colored belts, fancy uniforms, titles, pride, ego, or even anger. I once was involved in an incident where I had to defend myself with a weapon.  One of my students asked if I was "mad" as a result of the attack.  Paradoxically, I wasn't the least bit angry.  I WAS scared - very much so.  However, I had trained to deal with just this sort of an attack so often that my reaction was second-nature.  It did not involve much conscious thought.  Fortunately my response was effective in stopping the threat.  THIS is why we train.

True Self-Defense IS about recognizing threats and minimizing them - regardless of whether or not you "win" a fight, per se.  We train for the possibility of encountering multiple threats so we don't develop "tunnel vision".  There is little value in "winning" a fight with one person just so his (unseen) cohorts can overwhelm you.  Nor do we wish to "win the battle" on the street yet "lose the war" in court (legally or morally) due to an unreasonable or inappropriate response.  I don't claim to be able to teach you a sure-fire way to "defeat" multiple attackers.  Anyone who tells you that they can is simply lying to you in order to get your money.  

I will tell you that it is smarter (and easier) to quickly neutralize one attacker and subsequently break the spirit of the others.  From there you can (and should) seize the opportunity to make your escape.  THAT is real self defense. Or, it may be wiser to evaluate your surroundings and make a "tactical retreat" rather than fight just to "win".  "Winning" is relative.  Many times it is smarter to run away so you can live to see another day.  The "ends" justify the "means".  

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The "O.O.D.A." Loop:
Budokai Ryu-Goshinjutsu philosophy incorporates Boyd's Cycle or the "OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide & Act) Loop" as the primary process used to deal with potential or actual threats.  Animals and humans all react to most stimuli the same way.  Essentially, we see/smell/hear/feel/taste it, then we orient ourselves to (or away from) it, make a decision on how to deal with it, and lastly we act upon it.  It can be something as simple as the telephone ringing in your bedroom to an active assault with guns and knives.  The process is essentially the same. 

This process is instinctual, however our "civilized" society has repressed a great deal of this survival instinct.  Our training helps us to bring this natural process to the surface, making it automatic.  It also helps us manipulate the "OODA Loop" to our advantage and to our opponent's disadvantage.  Essentially, we want to turn the loop around so that the bad guy is "observing" or "orienting" while we are "acting".  Guess who will win that encounter? We stress speed (physical and mental) as a function of decisiveness and smoothness.  Under stress, fine motor movements go "out the window", so we eliminate wasteful actions and focus on gross motor skills that maximize our chances of survival.  Remember. . .

"If you consciously try to thwart opponents, 
you are already late" 
 Miyamoto Musashi
Japanese Philosopher/Warrior - 1645

THE BOTTOM LINE? 
Reason and Necessity.  Do what you must (legally and morally) so that you and your loved ones will be safe.  This can almost always be done without violence.  Engagement of the adversary is a last resort when all other viable alternatives have been exhausted.  We don't even want anyone else to know that we have any training.  For example, a real knife fighter never shows off his blade.  In fact, you will never see the blade of a good knife fighter. He doesn't want you to even know he is armed - until you feel the cold steel of his blade inside of you.  Although the analogy is a bit graphic and somewhat frightening, keep in mind the philosophy underlying it.  Never instigate a fight!  Never be the one responsible for things getting "out of hand".  Never take the first step unless you are prepared to take the last. So, if you absolutely must take action, Budokai Ryu-Goshinjutsu is the answer for YOU!

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What exactly does "Budokai Ryu-Goshinjutsu" consist of?
Budokai Ryu-Goshinjutsu's curriculum is made up of various striking, throwing, joint-locking, pressure-point and strangulation skills gleaned from different martial disciplines and used for physical self-defense. It involves both armed and unarmed countermeasures. We also utilize and defend against traditional as well as  modern (conventional and unconventional) weapons.  The primary technical influences are Aikido, Jujutsu, Judo, Taihojutsu, Goju Ryu Karate Do, military hand-to-hand combat methods of David Dye, sensei's  Kokusai Shuyokan Ryu and the Yoshin Ryu Bujutsu founded by Kuniyuki Kai, Shihan.  

In addition to the weapons mentioned above, we also teach the use of the Japanese katana (sword), tanto (knife), hanbo (walking stick) and tanbo (short stick). We also offer Taihojutsu (police arrest methods) training for police and security professionals who have special needs in these areas.  

Kai-Shihan taught Thomas Snowden-Shihan, who subsequently taught Cameron Gary-Sensei.  The Yoshin Ryu Bujutsu is based upon Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karatedo, Kobudo, Yoshinkan Aikido, Shinto-Tenshin-Ryu Kenpo, Jo-jutsu, Hontai-Takagi-Yoshin-Ryu Jujutsu, Asayama-Ichiden-Ryu Hei-ho, Kuki-Shin-Ryu Bojutsu, Shindo-Muso-Ryu Jodo, Shindo-Ryu Kenjutsu, Muso-Jikiden-Eishin-Ryu Hei-ho, Chugoku Bujutsu (Tai-Chi, Taikiken, Hake-Sho) martial systems.

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