Scott Harrington

Long Thread, some meandering.

On the comparison on Koryu and Western Gun Shooters (generally 19th century American.)

There is an organization SASS -- Single Action Shooters Society, that involves dressing in period costume of the west, complete with gamblers, whores (excuse me -- prostitutes), ladies, cowboys, lawmen, and shootists. Good for some history, TV show history, some fiction, and some laughs. BUT they compete with something called LIVE AMMO for accuracy and speed in matches (against targets, of course). So they are very capable in shooting Shotguns, Winchesters, and Colt six gun revolvers. Very Competent. Some koryu do not even cut things. Some do.

Aikido is a late 20th century construct derived from a late 19th century Jujutsu derived from much earlier sources. It is a pleasant mix of philosophy, body movement, smattering of Japanese culture, on occasion weapon works, and jujutsu techniques with several different operating systems (ki, flowing, muscular, technique driven, aiki (supposedly) and a veritable mix of the previous.

From NLP (neuro linguistic programming), we get the theory that as we eliminate various big and small factors you should be able to distill the actual operating principle. What you do with the remnant is up to you.

Japanese culture / clothing is just as applicable as Western Clothing. Example - six gun shooting depends on single action mechanical firing system which requires a certain kind of holster and loading pattern (holds six, load five).

Modern pistol shooting have gone to automatics with magazines and has its own peculiarities -- some applicable to the street, police, and military -- some not so.

Most Martial arts are attracted to an art, not just by its techniques / operating system but also its cultural roots. Some end up being Japanopiles / Sinophiles / Whateverphiles. Some do not.

Back to NLP, it is rare for a martial art to be taught without certain rules (damage usually results in impromptu or unorganized practice). Cultural roots usually provide this in some manner (bowing, partner practice, etc.)

On a side note, "the 2 reps on a side, let's change" to me is the WORST training method out there. No coach or music teacher or circus trainer would EVER follow this system.

In closing, on the Western gun fighting draw competition, Takeda ryu actually does this in a competition form with drawing swords. Go figure.

In double closing . Statement by Demetrio Cereijo "There's no collar & elbow grip tradition in japanese jujutsu." -- This is wrong on so many levels.

Scott Harrington