That’s a very interesting question, recently investigated by Sensei Jesse Enkamp & it arose as a result of noting identical techniques in Kali, (the Filipino Martial Art), as Karate.

This lead to the inevitable question of whether there was a Filipino influence on Te Gumi, (the native Okinawan Martial Art), before the advent of Chinese influence from Kung Fu, which was itself descended from the Southern Indian art of Kalaripayat. Sensei Jesse Enkamps YouTube film about this is well worth checking out.

‘It is better to have questions that cannot be answered, than answers that cannot be questioned.’

– Sensei Jesse Enkamp.

‘There are only a finite number of ways in which a human body can move and fight. The more a lifelong Master- Student studies differs martial arts, the more they merge into one, for that very reason.’

– Senshi No Shin

Karate- DO, Taekwon-DO, Karate – JITSU, SPORT-Karate. What do the words in upper case mean? Many respected Martial Arts Masters would answer that question along the following lines:

JUTSU/JITSU = Self-Protection

DO = Self-Perfection

SPORT = Self trying to win lots of plastic trophies.

The Martial Comment is a regular blog, dedicated to examining and keeping honest, the practice of modern Martial Arts. We consider, and comment on every conceivable concept within, allied to, or pertaining to Martial Arts, and since this is an interactive forum, comments and discussion are most welcome. The blog is deliberately provocative at times, and fully intended to stimulate original thought and discussion.  We look forward to a lively ongoing debate!

Here at CKJU we love nothing more than a good quotation.  Here are 2 particularly memorable and pertinent quotations in our view:

‘There is nothing more dangerous than a Martial Art that is ineffective in actual combat.’ – Choki Motubu (One of the Legendary Okinawan Founding Fathers of Karate)

‘There is a world of difference between having a black belt and being a black belt’ – Andy Gunton (7th Dan, WKU).

These seem 2 very reasonable statements for assessing the validity of a given Martial Art as practised at any given time, in any given venue.

We invite the reader to engage in an Einsteinian thought experiment. Consider All the Instructors/Dan grades in your own Martial Arts Club:

Test Number 1 (The ‘Mugger Test’)

Imagine you have just learned that an Instructor at your Martial Arts club has been the victim of an attempted mugging by a single assailant. About whose health are you most concerned, the Mugger, or the Instructor?

If the answer in most cases is the Instructor … then Res Ipsa Loquitur.

Test Number 2 (The ‘Black Belt Test’)

Imagine, all club members on a standard training night are made to wear a white belt. Could an average, non-expert member of the public easily identify the Instructors/Black belts through their superior committment to every technique,  and superlative skill and focus?

If the answer is in the majority of cases no, then once again…Res Ipsa Loquitur.

If the answers to either test were unfavourable, then perhaps you should consider that whilst enjoying a happy social club, (whilst possibly dressed in white pyjamas), you may need to study effective self-defence – elsewhere.