Kiyojute Ryu Kempo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei, (Japanese: 気楊柔手流; kiyojute ryu; literally "spiritually positive gentle person system") is a form of Kempo founded by William Durbin in 1982. It is a comprehensive Gendai Budō martial art in the James Mitose lineage intended to provide for all aspects of self defense. Its Hombu Dojo, or headquarters, is in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Contents |
[edit] History
Like other systems of Kempo practiced in the west, Kiyojute Ryu traces its lineage primarily to James Mitose, although several other lines contributed to the curriculum. Several of the founder's teachers who would contribute heavily to the formation of Kiyojute Ryu, learned either from Mitose himself or other notable instructors at this time.
In 1970, Durbin began his martial arts studies in Bardstown, Kentucky with instructor Richard Stone, originally learning Kodokan Judo, but he became exposed to a much wider variety of martial arts while studying with Mr. Stone, due to Mr. Stone's lack of the total knowledge he himself attained over the years and simple referred to everything as Judo. When Mr. Durbin left for college in 1971; he, Bob Sester (a Shotokan Karate student), and Bos Bosmar (also with the Kodokan) started Campbellsville College Martial Arts Club [1]at Campbellsville University. During these years, he studied several martial arts including; Shotokan Karate, Kodakan Judo, Goju Ryu, Shorin Ryu, Aikikai Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, and several others.
During these years, he began to develop a personal philosophy while researching oriental philosophy, regarding to martial arts, so that in 1974, while teaching self defense in Michigan, Mr. Durbin coined the phrase Ki Yang Ju Te, to reflect his teaching philosophy toward the martial arts. In 1978, he joined with Rod Sacharnoski of Juko Kai (along with Richard Stone) and studied with Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, a master of Shorin-Ryu Karate and the World Middleweight Full Contact Karate Champion. After joining Mr. Sacharnoski, William Durbin demonstrated his skill to him and was graded appropriately and started teaching Juko Kai using his philosophy, which was approved by Rod Sacharnoski. Most of Durbin's training was received from Sacharnoski and, thus, cannot be reliably traced back before Sacharnoski (as Sacharnoski has been unable to keep his stories straight regarding his own credentials in the martial arts).
In 1979, Durbin moved from Campbellsville to Frankfort and began to work as an instructor of martial arts at Kentucky State University throughout the early 1980s . While working as a martial arts instructor at KSU, he began to study for degrees from the University of Oriental Philosophy operated by Juko Kai (at that time based in North Carolina), receiving an unaccredited MA in 1980 and PhD in 1982. In 2001, the State of Maine (where UOP was now located) discovered that the University of Oriental Philosophy was a diploma mill and had been offering degrees illegally. The UOP was ordered by the State to be shut down [3]. Despite the illegitimate nature of his degree, Durbin continues to use the title "Dr." He states in the Ryu's faq that his degree came from Juko Kai, but does not reveal that it is unaccredited or that it was gained from a school that was found to be offering degrees illegally [4]. He states only that, "some accept this degree and others do not".
In 1980, Durbin was awarded his Shihan status from Sacharnoski, and with his encouragement he began to develop a curriculum and codify his philosophies and teachings in preparations for opening his own school and founding his own system. In 1982 the Zen Kokusai Soke Budo/Bugei Remmei, a board operated by Juko Kai to recognize martial arts (and headed by Sacharnoski), acknowledged him as Shodai Soke (first generation headmaster) of Ki Yang Ju Te Ryu Kempo (In 1986, by request of William Durbin, the board reissued the certification under the proper Japanese spelling, Kiyojute Ryu). Apparently, the man who had just received a "doctorate" in Oriental Philosophy (with a specialization in the philosophy and history of Japanese and Okinawan arts), didn't know that he was incorrectly translating a concept which is very important to Japanese philosophy. In 1986, Kiyojute Ryu formally began with its first dojo in Frankfort. Over the next two decades, Thomas Mitose (of Kosho Shorei-ryu), Bruce Juchnik (of Sei Sosho Shorei Kai), and Nimr Hassan (of Koga Ha Kosho Shorei-ryu), would all agree that William Durbin had created a system of Kempo and that Mr. Durbin was the head of that system. Bill "Superfoot" Wallace has also personally recognized that Kiyojute Ryu is a system of kempo and he was given a rank in the system. Lastly, in 1999, Ramon Lono Ancho of Kodenkan also recognized Kiyojute Ryu . William Durbin also states in his book that he has received an endorsement from Bill Beach of Hawaiian Jiu-Jitsu. . However, the only verified sponsoring organization for the Ryu was created by Sacharnoski and William Durbin was the vice-president of that organization at one time.
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Kiyojute Ryu began to spread beyond Frankfort, with some of Durbins students going on to open dojo in Louisville, Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, Cleveland, Ohio, the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, Urbana, Illinois, and Hendersonville, Tennessee. Throughout the 1990s, Durbin continued to train in various arts as he taught. By 1994 he had been granted Shihan status in Karate, Jujitsu, Aikijujutsu, Kobujutsu (all under Sacharnoski) and Ninjutsu (under Nimr Hassan). According to Durbin, he has separately been awarded Yudansha ranking in Togakure-ryu Ninjutsu under Masaaki Hatsumi of Bujinkan). The Ryu incorporates elements of each of those arts into its curriculum. It should be kept in mind, however, that William Durbin's writings are the only source offered for his claims that the Ryu is recognized by well known people in the martial arts community (an example of circular reasoning) (Nimr Hassan is the one exception to that).
In 2001, Durbin published Mastering Kempo, a general textbook of Kempo history, philosophy and technique. In 2004 he published Koga Ryu Ninjutsu, a book on the history and basic techniques of ninjutsu. The first printing of Mastering Kempo refers to Durbin as having a PhD. Once the actual nature of Durbin's doctorate was pointed out to the publisher, all subsequent printings no longer made such reference.
[edit] Doctrine, Techniques & Methods
Kiyojute Ryu specifically attempts to be a comprehensive martial art that can provide for all aspects of martial arts training. Ideally, a student of Kiyojute Ryu can be skilled in a wide variety of weapons, unarmed attacks, grappling techniques, and other defensive techniques. As part of its attempt to provide balanced and well rounded self defense training, its curriculum includes elements of Karate, Jujitsu, Aikijujitsu, Kobujutsu, and at more advanced levels Ninjutsu (referred to as "Nimpo," the patience principle, within Kiyojute Ryu) and Toide or Karatejutsu (referred to as "Shuho", the taking principle). This means that the training includes a wide variety of punches, chops, kicks, blocks, throws, counterjoints, chokes, as well as weapon techniques and stances. These techniques derive from a few key forms of energy flow (push-pull, dynamic sphere, glass ball-steel ball, etc.) and the core art focuses on unifying these energy flows. The goal is to be able to transition quickly and smoothly from, say, grappling to punching, back to grappling, to a hip throw, and finishing with a choke. It's primary tactical philosophy is to safely end a situation as efficiently as possible (which means avoiding a confrontation wherever possible and using the minimum amount of force where it isn't).
Each promotion for kyu rank requires a student to learn at least three empty hand techniques (punches, elbow strikes or chops), two blocks, three kicks, three throws, two counterjoint techniques, a weapon, and to demonstrate a freestyle kata with unarmed combat. Dan rank promotions involve larger varieties of techniques, as well as specialized forms of kata and the mondo, an oral examination by the Soke consisting of a personal discussion with him about the spiritual aspects of martial arts and a written reply to a set of philosophical questions.
The core weapons curriculum begins with the Hanbo, and proceeds to Bo and Nunchaku in the "colored belt" ranks, black belts study the kobo (a very short stick about 6 inches long), sai, tonfa, manriki-gusari and shuriken. Other traditional Japanese and Okinawan weapons, such as the katana, Jutte and Kusari Gama are also taught, but to a lesser degree.
Unlike many other martial arts, Kiyojute Ryu Kempo has no "tournament" or "sport" aspects, and training for competitions is never conducted. The instruction is in a family atmosphere, where students train as partners instead of adversaries. Training is relatively informal, with little ritual aside from formalized bowing to begin and end class and a formal ceremony involved with belt tests and promotions. Part of the family atmosphere is the practice that its dojo are not widely distributed, and the Ryu does not aggressively expand, and there are only (as of 2005) around a half-dozen dojo, spread throughout Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois and Tennessee, instead of being spread with a "franchise" mentality. New Kiyojute Ryu dojo typically only open when an existing student of a dojo that has earned a dan rank moves to an area that does not already have a dojo and opens their own.
Also quite unlike many other martial arts, there is no sparring (in the conventional sense) in Kiyojute Ryu Kempo. Like several other Japanese and Okinawan arts such as Shorinji Kempo, Kiyojute Ryu Kempo instead practices using Embu, or "Martial Demonstration", which it considers a revival of an older training method used in some places before modern sparring became popular. In Embu, after bowing to begin, the uke begins by attacking the tori, but intentionally pulling the punch just short of contact. Ideally, the tori learns targeting and control from this, and eventually throws full speed, full power strikes, precisely controlling their location so that they do not harm their uke (harming ones uke is grounds to immediately fail a promotion test in Kiyojute Ryu). The uke responds immediately after the attack is thrown by blocking, dodging or otherwise responding to the attack, and returning with their own counterattack. This cycle continues as long as the practitioners wish, although an Embu ends when the uke is thrown, choked, or counterjointed, and placed on the ground were the tori delivers a "final blow" to end the exercises. Part of the defense-oriented philosophy of Kiyojute Ryu is that the aggressor (whoever throws the first punch) is the one who is defeated, so whoever begins the Embu with an attack is the one who is thrown in the end . A demonstraton video of a Kiyojute Ryu aikiho embu performed by one of their high ranking black belts and masters can be found here - notice the level of emphasis placed on real world street level self defense that is apparent. Randori is also used in practicing akijujutsu and jujutsu techniques.
Another major departure from the attitudes and training methods of most current martial arts schools is the free form of the Kiyojute Ryu. Students in Kiyojute Ryu are encouraged to find their own way in the martial arts, adapting techniques to their body-types and spontaneously responding to attacks in a free-form manner, using the techniques taught to them in the fashion which best fits their own body and style; most modern budo systems handle this issue in just the opposite way, trying to make all students move and respond in a uniform manner. This change of training in modernity, the-ryu believes is largely related to the development of the yakusoku kata (preset form) of practice created by Anko Itosu for the training of schoolchildren. In marked contrast to this modern development, Kiyojute Ryu teaches a freestyle kata wherein the student responds intuitively to imagined attacks - something similar to shadowboxing. This form of training allows the student to respond in a method suited to himself, and it also develops what it considers the most important attribute of true self-defense, namely, spontaneity.
[edit] Religious and Spiritual Aspects
Kiyojute Ryu makes a point of being a martial art that combines mental, physical and spiritual aspects of training (the three parts of the tomoe are meant to symbolize this). Many of the differences from other arts come from the philosophy of its founder. As a Baptist minister, Durbin has tried to create an art that reflects his spiritual and moral values, and places an emphasis on self defense, compassion for ones fellow man, and responsible use of force rather than on aggression, destruction, or hurting others. Durbin is fond of noting that historically, great martial arts masters such as Morihei Ueshiba combined spiritual training along with physical training, and that many great masters were also clergy. An underlying concept of Kiyojute Ryu Kempo is that the Ki of Asian martial arts is the same basic divine force as the Christian Holy Spirit. In fact, Durbin teaches that Jesus Christ spoke to him face-to-face and instructed him to create Kiyojute Ryu.
As an individual advances through the black belt ranks, they are encouraged to develop a personal relationship with God. All promotions within the black belt ranks require tests of spiritual and moral character as well as tests of physical skills. These tests consist of essays and private conversations (called mondo) with the head of the system, William Durbin, on such issues as "how can you improve your relationship with God?". Based on these conversations and essays, the head of the system decides how spiritually advanced the student is.
Kiyojute Ryu was founded by a Baptist minister and the spiritual teachings of the art do have a distinctly Christian overtone. The following is from the Ryu's FAQ[citation needed] and explains how religion is handled within the Ryu:
"Like most martial arts masters, at least in the classical sense, I am a very religious person. Actually I am an ordained Baptist minister. But this is no different than Morihei Ueshiba being a Shinto priest and Michiomi Nakano (So Doshin) being a Zen Buddhist priest.
However, like those masters, I teach Kiyojute Ryu Kempo openly to people of all walks of life. The only requirement I have is that a person should have a fundamental belief in God in some form. A person who just does not believe in God cannot possibly reach the highest levels of the martial arts, since they are of a spiritual nature.
In Japan the martial arts have been called Shin Ken, meaning divine fist. In Okinawa they were known as Kami Te, divine hand. In both cases the belief is that the martial arts are inspired by God. I believe this with all my heart. But I know that God loves all people in all countries, so that he has reached out in many ways to touch the lives of His children. Thus as long as a person has some concept of God, they can reach the highest levels in Kiyojute Ryu with no problem.
If you ask me my personal experience with God, you will learn about Jesus Christ, for this is how God touched me, through His son Jesus. However, we have students in Kiyojute Ryu who are of all Christian faiths, Buddhists, Hindu, Sikhs, Bahá'í, and even Wicca.
The only people who have ever had any trouble with the philosophy of Kiyojute Ryu have been people who do not believe in God at all. But in all my years, this has only been two people. So as long as a person believes in God, regardless of any other aspect of personal belief, they can easily learn and train in Kiyojute Ryu."
NOTE: It should be kept in mind that neither Shinto nor Zen Buddhism have a belief in God. It is therefore unlikely that Shintoists (such as Morihei Ueshiba - the founder of Aikido) or Zen Buddhists (such as So Doshin - the founder of Shorinji Kempo) held or hold beliefs in God, but Durbin insists that "a person who just does not believe in God cannot possibly reach the highest levels of the martial arts, since they are of a spiritual nature" (taken from the Ryu's FAQ mentioned above). Based on this statement, one of two things must be true. Either Durbin does not know that Shintoism and Zen Buddhism have no concept of God (which brings into doubt the merit of his "doctorate" in Oriental Philosophy) or Durbin does not believe that Shintoists (like Morihei Ueshiba) and Zen Buddhists (like So Doshin) have ever reached the highest levels of the martial arts.
[edit] Uniforms, Belts & Titles
The uniforms of Kiyojute Ryu are the typical Gi of many martial arts schools. Either black or white gi are allowed, although most students and instructors wear black gi by tradition. A patch of the Kiyojute Ryu Tomoe is worn on the left breast. The color of the obi, or the belt signifies rank. A fairly simple ranking system and belts exists, the Kyu ranks: White (not a rank per se, instead denoting a lack of rank), Yellow (Gokyu or 5th Kyu), Green (Yonkyu or 4th Kyu), Brown (Sankyu, Nikkyu, & Ikkyu;3rd through 1st Kyu), and the Dan ranks: Black (1st to 10th Dan). Those few who have earned Shihan status (usually at least 5th Dan) are entitled to wear a red and white striped belt, while Hanshi (usually at least 8th Dan), Soke Dai (assistant to the headmaster), and the Soke (headmaster) are entitled to wear a red belt as a mark of highest rank.
In addition to belt ranking, a system of traditional Japanese martial arts titles exists, from Sempai (a title sometimes given to senior brown belts and low-ranking Black Belts), to Soke (the master of the entire-ryu). Those who have earned a title have their title and first name embroidered on the ends of their belt in gold thread so that it is clear at a glance what their name and title is, for the benefit of new students to identify instructors and remember their names. Under normal conditions, only a black belt who has earned the title of Sensei is allowed to serve as an instructor under normal cirrcumstances.
Within Kiyojute Ryu it is possible to engage in specialized instruction in the various arts that contributed to the formation of Kempo. After dedicated study, auxiliary ranks in Karate, Jujitsu, Aikijujitsu, and Karatejutsu can be awarded. Those students who pursue specialized instruction in kobujutsu and nimpo receive auxiliary ranks in the older menkyo system (Kirikami, Mokuroku, Menkyo Sempai, Menkyo Sensei, Menkyo Renshi, Menkyo Kyoshi, Menkyo Shihan and Menkyo Hanshi). Provisions exist for the awarding of Menkyo Kaiden, primarily as a method of naming a Nidai (2nd Generation) Soke.
For a student to test for higher rank (at kyu level), they must have completed at least 50 hours of dojo instruction, at least 6 hours must have been under an instructor of at least Shihan status, and they can test for belts no more often than every 6 months. Candidates for promotion to black belt ranks require at least 100 hours of instruction and can only test at most once a year. Promotions to ranks above godan (5th Degree Black Belt) are only given at the discretion of the Soke, and not through normal testing. Also, to earn a black belt a candidate must be at least 16 years of age and has earned 1st kyu brown belt or Ikkyu, which can take roughly 3 years. William Durbin doesn't allow individuals under 16 to earn black belts because he doesn't teach choke holds to children, which leaves there training incomplete to take a black belt test; but they are instructed upon and are taught their chokes before they take there test when they turn 16.
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ Durbin, William (2004). Koga Ryu Ninjutsu. Boulder, CO. ISBN 1-58160-459-9}, pp 25.
- ↑ ibid p. 100
- ↑ ibid
- ↑ Durbin, William (2001). Mastering Kempo. Champaign, IL: ISBN 0-7360-0350-9, pp 171.
- ↑ ibid, Rear Cover.
- ↑ ibid, p.118
[edit] Publications
- Durbin, William (2001). Mastering Kempo. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. ISBN 0-7360-0350-9.
- Durbin, William (2004). Koga-ryu Ninjutsu. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN 1-58160-459-9.
- Durbin, William (1989). Shogei Toitsu Kempo Handbook. Private Publisher. ISBN Unregistered.
