WEAPONS IN THE BUJIN-RYU SYSTEM

Blunt, edged, and ballistic weapons are the tools used to damage, maim, and kill. The martial practitioner must understand that fact.

Without sports or commando fantasies, a genuine martial practitioner studies and trains to face threats and attacks from classical and street weapons.

It is important to cultivate skill with weapons of ancient and modern origin.

Modern weapons: Knives, firearms, and assorted "street weapons." With correct skills, anything can be used as a weapon of defense.

Ancient Ballistic Weapons: Archery and throwing weapons.

Weapons of Okinawa: Rokushaku-Bo (6 foot staff), Nunchaku, Tonfa, Sai, and Kama.

Weapons of Japan: The Japanese Katana and Kodachi (long and short swords), the Japanese-style Rokushaku-Bo, the Yonshaku-Bo (Jo: 4 & 5 foot staff), the Nishaku-Bo (2 foot stick), the Naginata (halberd) and Yari (spear).

In Bujin-Ryu, the foundation for all martial skills is found in the karate. Striking, kicking, sweeping, throwing, strangling, attacking joints or nerve points (with no magic or fantasy involved), and techniques of close-quarters control support the use of and defense against blunt, edged, and ballistic weapons.

These are the tools of the Martial Way, the Way to protect oneself and others.

OMOTE AND OKUDEN

Omote is the surface, the physical training of blunt, edged, ballistic, and natural (karate) weapons. It is the manifestation of skill.

Okuden is the interior (mental and physical actions), the principles of what happens internally when external (martial) action is needed.

The Omote and Okuden are found in any craft or trade. Understanding these concepts raises skill and fosters insight and knowledge. Study and great care are necessary to understand and apply The Martial Way. Any fool can be violent, and even succeed in fighting and winning, but that is a shallow and empty victory born of fear, desperation, and ego. It is not the True Martial Way.