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DAITO RYU AIKI-JUJUSTSU

Daito-ryu Aiki-Jujutsu is an old Jujutsu style presumably founded my Minamoto, Yoshimitsu in the eleventh century. Originally, it was only practised by the highest ranking Samurais in the Takeda family in the Kai fiefdom in northern Japan.

Feudal overlord Takeda, Shingen died in 1573, and his kinsman Takeda, Kunitsugu moved to the Aizu fiefdom, where he became Jito - overseer of the fief. Kunitsugu introduced Daitoryu Aikijujutsu at the Aizu fiefdom, where the secret fighting art only was taught to the feudal lords and the highest ranking samurais and ladies in waiting.

The feudal system was broken down after 1868 when the Meiji restoration begun. Saigo, Tanomo (1829-1905), the heir to Daito-ryu gave the system to Takeda, Sogaku (1859-1943) and instructed him to pass it on to future generations. Takeda, Sogaku first used the term "Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu" in the beginning of the twentieth century and taught the art of it to many students.

Takeda, Sogaku taught Daito-ryu from the beginning of the twentieth century until his death in 1943 two of his best known students were Ueshiba, Morihei, founder of Aikido and Choi, Yong Sul, founder of Hapkido.

Other prominent 20th century Daito-ryu masters include Horikawa, Kodo (1894-1980); Takuma, Hisa (1895-1979); Hakaru, Mori (1931-), the current director of the Daitoryu Aikijujutsu Takumakai; Sagawa, Yukiyoshi (1902-); Takeda, Tokimune (1916-1993), son of Takeda, Sogaku; Katsuyuki, Kondo (1945-); and Okamoto, Seigo (1925-), who is often considered the most progressive teacher of Daitoryu Aikijujutsu.

Description and Training:

The way of teaching Daitoryu comes from Takeda, Sogaku's students in the same manner as the understanding, feeling and character of the techniques. Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu has four levels of techniques: Shoden (Lowest), Chuden (advanced), Okuden (highest) and Hiden (secret techniques).

Shoden

The training in Daito-ryu starts with Shoden, where the student learns ukemi (falling and rolling), taisabaki (moving the body), tesabaki and ashisabaki (movements of the hands and feet and legs), defense against grappling, and continues with defense against punches, kicks and weapons, as for instance short and long staffs (tanbo, jo and chobo) and knives and swords (tanto and katana). There are techniques that can be done from standing, sitting or lying positions. The first transmission scroll Hiden Mokuroku describes the first 118 jujutsu techniques from the Shoden level.

Chuden

These are advanced jujutsu techniques with large soft movements as known from Aikido. The actual aiki training consists of a combination of these techniques and those from Shoden. At this level of training it is allowed to use some amount of force, several steps and large movements.

Okuden

When doing Okuden all movements should be as small as possible. Breathing, reflexes, circles and timing are used instead of muscles; the techniques are small and fast, and it is not necessary to hold an attacker in order to throw him. The reflexes of the attacker are used against him. He gets a soft shock, similar to an electric shock activating his reflexes, and it becomes easy to manipulate the body of the attacker so it is felt as an extension of one's own.

Hiden

These are the secret techniques. The real aiki consists always of soft techniques that only work properly when the whole body and proper breathing is used. The attacker is touched easily, you are as glued to him, and the techniques are so small that even experienced budokas cannot see what is happening. However, the most fascinating part of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu is that it is unnecessary to use physical power for incapacitating the attacker his own force is turned against him.

DANSE DE RUE

French, combination of traditional fighting methods: lutte parisienne, chausson, panache, canne de combat et baton (and associated weapons) and boxe-francaise-savate. More emphasis on the real fighting (combat de rue) than with the sport-oriented methods of Boxe francaise and canne.

DEGERBERG METHOD

The Degerberg method of Martial Arts is a compilation of many system like Western Boxing, Kali, Jun Fan Gung Fu, Judo, Ju-Jitsu, just to name a few. Based in Chicago, Master Fred Degerberg has made it his life's work to giving back in the martial arts. He and his wife, Katie, created one of the largest and best schools in the world

DIOULA

Senegalese fight discipline

DOCE PARES

Doce Pares (12 Pairs), was founded in 1932 following a meeting of the most senior Masters of the Filipino Martial Arts from Cebu and neighbouring islands.

In total there were 24 Masters, hence the name, 12 Pairs. The objective of the Doce Pares society was to bring together the most prominent styles and masters and to research and refine the various styles to form one complete system that could be spread throughout the Philippines.

At the founding of Doce Pares, Lorenzo Saavereda, then recognised as the foremost Eskrimador in Cebu City, became it's first Grandmaster. He was supported by three other top-rated masters; Teodoro and Frederico Saavedra - Lorenzo's nephews - and Filemon Canete. Later, Teodoro Saavedra rose to prominence as the best fighter in the Doce Pares society.

Master Eulogio Canete, Filemion's elder brother, was elected first president of Doce Pares and remained in that position until his death in 1988.

During the Second World War, Master Teodoro Saavedra, an active guerrilla fighter, was captured and killed by the occupying Japanese forces. Shortly after his death Master Ciriaco Canete, also a resistance fighter, emerged as Doce Pares' foremost fighter and innovator.

In the early 1950's eskrima techniques and tactics were analysed, devised, modified and systematised by master Ciriaco Canete, based mostly on actual combat experience with rival Eskrimadors belonging to rival associations. Among his many contributions to the development of eskrima is the art of Eskrido, a combination of Judo, Ju-jitsu and Eskrima techniques applied at close range.

In Philippine fiestas, a traditionally important part of the celebrations is an Eskrima contest among the best eskrimadors from various regions of the country. These competitions are fierce with no holds barred, there are no rules to govern the fight, nor are there any prizes at stake other than the reputations of the combatants and their Eskrima schools. (Grandmaster Canete likens these times to the wild west).

The combatants willingly fight without protection and most often the fight is brutal and bloody. The fight stops only when one fighter is defeated and unable to continue or if a signal of surrender is given. Such was the training ground of Grandmaster "Cacoy" Canete who fought in many such tournaments and challenges. In more than 100 such fights he tasted not one single defeat.

Today the Doce Pares continues to flourish from its Headquarters in Cebu City under the direction of Grandmaster Ciriaco "Cacoy" Canete, at 82 years of age he still continues to train daily and is always ready to defend his reputation as "unbeatable "Cacoy"

DUMOG

The Filipino Dumog is a very rare art today. Dumog can be found mostly in the Southern part of Negros Island and in the island of Panay in the province of Antique. This can be found in small barrios mostly farmers where Dumog became a past time, an entertainment and a form of survival. According to one farmer I came to have personal discussion with few Dumog lessons, Dumog was a normal practice used by the farmers to catch the Carabao by the horn to control and wrestle down. To control the Carabao, the rope is entangled around the neck or at the nose rope holder made of rattan hooked to the Carabao's nose. The rope is used to pull the Carabao to brought to a place where a farmer makes them rest. The act of controlling the Carabao catching the horn and wrestling down to the ground is called Dumog. A Dumog expert has a well-built body with sturdy legs and broad shoulders. His legs are spread far apart when he walks and normally he doesn't wear shoes. To build the legs for strength and resistance, the mud pit (a knee high) is the training area. A farmer dip both feet into the sticky mud and take a high stride moving in circular motion until the mud is softened. It could take hours but that builds the legs as strong as the legs of the Carabao after several months or years of training. This is done as an exercise. For the Arms and Shoulder, the farmers cut a strong branch of a tree and tried to bend it until the branch either breaks or bends. For Power Push, the farmer will position himself in front of the big tree, sometimes a coconut tree and use the legs to balance and both hands push the tree. The farmer moved around the coconut tree and execute a vigorous push and repeatedly doing until the farmer felt tired then he stopped. For the Hand Grip, the farmer takes a rope and ties the other end against the tree and while holding the end of the rope, the farmer turns around in full force. The Head Butts, the banana tree is used as the object, but the head butting is started by running towards the direction of the banana tree, the head hits the banana tree with vigorous force that sometimes the banana tree falls down and that ends the training for the day. The Dumog has a lot of foot work, namely the squaring/parallel footwork (the Baka) the Footwork (Panikang) the feet twisting (Palubid) strong footage (Pamigas) footclipping (Pangipit), forward push (Pasudsud), foot deflection (Palapas) Lampasu, (foot drag), foot smashing (Panglinas), footbar (Pangligwat), ability to balance and deliver vigorous throw (Haboy). Dumog has sophisticated hand work called Pangamut which will be explained under the technical fighting structure.

During the celebration of the Saints, to include the Thanksgiving ceremony for the first harvest of the rice field, corn fields, several entertainment are prepared for the big show. Like Carabao race, Horse fight, Dog fight, Cock fight (Bulang), Spider fight, Sipa (kicking contest with chicken feather wrap with cloth and a peso coin inside). The Sipa takraw (a volleyball by using the feet). The Kali fight using the hardwood (Lampusanay), leg wrestling (pi-ol) then the Dumog.

Winners are given awards, a dozen chicken eggs, a fighting cock, a sack of rice, a sack of corn, one gallon of coconut wine (Tuba), bunch of bananas, 2 dozens of coconut fruits and many others. These entertainment sports were considered cultural in nature but what count most is at the coronation of the Queen in the evening, there are contest for the native dances like the Tinikling (bamboo dance) the Maglalatik (coconut shell dance), Pandango sa ilaw (candle dance), the Itik-itik (a bird dance.)

Dumog is considered as a natural sport and a natural ground combat fighting art. In most cases, if there are feuds between family against family, the first to be called to be the middle man to pacify the trouble is the Dumoguero because the presence of the Dumoguero scares everybody. Some will always say, "Don't kid around, the Dumoguero, he will plaster you to the wall or the Dumoguero will plant your head into the ground".

The presence of the Dumoguero during fistfight or a drunkard turns wild, the situation will be settled immediately. There was a story about a stranger who became the guest of a family in a barrio. This man happens to be a thief. But in the barrio people are always very accommodating and very hospitable. Of course the stranger was easily accepted and he was able to win the sympathy of the barrio people. Then one evening, someone had shouted that he lost all of his money he kept under the pillow. Money from the sale of rice that day. Then immediately without delay, the headman of the Barangay hit the empty can and everybody gathered asking what happened and they were told that the stranger had something to do with the lost money. They looked for the stranger but they couldn't find him within the vicinity. Then suddenly a small boy came running shouting that he saw a man running toward the town probably to take a ride with a passenger bus or to go somewhere. Without delay, the Dumoguero ran towards the town and when he reached the town, he went to the passenger bus and he found the stranger hiding at the back of the bus. He immediately caught the stranger by the collar of his shirt and brought him outside the bus. He dragged him to the ground in front of many people. First he held him by the head and he applied pressure to the neck area so he can confess to tell the truth. Then his pockets were searched and there they found the stolen money. After they took the money, the stranger was held by the left arm and without delay his left arm was twisted. Then the Dumoguero close in beside the stranger. He suddenly made a body twist wrecking the arm, then he grab the stranger and went down inserting his right shoulder between his legs and brought the stranger to the ground breaking his spinal and smashing his head to the ground until the face, the head were completely unrecognizable. The Dumogueros are fierce people. Fear has no place in their daily life. They are conditioned to fight against all odds.

DUX RYU NINJITSU

Dux Ryu Ninjitsu's self-defense techniques are geared to the individual, thus the individual progress is faster, finding personal self-defense practical for today's threats and builds around one's own strengths and weaknesses. Another factor, separating Dux Ryu Ninjitsu from traditional Martial Arts, is that training is not addressed to fighting only under ideal conditions like in school, but in fluctuating situations and environments. For example, one v. multiple attackers, fighting in the dark, in a crowd or hallway, on slippery ground, such as wet grass, where a fight strategy emphasizing kicking would be rendered useless.

After the student has become proficient in hand to hand, hand to weapon self-defense, he/she is introduced to "Inpo:" the ancient art of escape: climbing, herbology, emergency first aid, acupressure, water safety, outdoor survival skills and a host of other rewarding and enjoyable skills, all of which can be employed in self-defense so that one can go anywhere in the world and, under the most extreme conditions, survive.

The purpose of Dux Ryu Ninjitsu lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of one's character. Dux Ryu Ninjitsu is not solely self-defense or physical conditioning, but enhances one's self-worth and develops character and maturity. This is instilled in all students, helping them find self- confidence and discipline, putting them on a pathway to higher achievement outside the "Dojo."