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Nahashu Ryu
By: Dave Nielsen, Shihan Soke Nahashu Ryu is a systemized Karate style that
combines elements of all Okinawan Karate schools. Introduced recently in June of
2003 it is the completion of 5 years of work by me, its founder and creator. It
is the official style of Karate taught at my school and has two generations of
promoted black belts currently teaching the system.
I am also the founder of the United States of
America Traditional Karate Association and I have associate members in New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Florida, and in Tennessee where the headquarters are.
The USA-TKA exists to promote and study the traditional karate of Okinawa and
Japan and is open to anyone regardless of style who wishes to align themselves
with an organization that strives to further study and keep alive traditions
from the past while exploring new areas of development of today.
So what exactly does "Nahashu Ryu"
encompass? Well that is a good question. To begin with Nahashu Ryu's curriculum
consists of preparatory exercises, supplementary exercises, stationary and
moving basics, Kata, and kumite (fighting) skills like other traditional martial
arts. The emphasis lies in two main areas, Basics and Kata which are the
foundation of any traditional martial art.
Nahashu Ryu's basics are the same as many other
styles where stances, punches, strikes, blocks, kicks, and body movement are emphasized.
A block is a block and a punch is a punch. It is as simple as that. How good one
learns to block and punch is another story. Styles differ only very slightly in
the basic instruction and delivery of the basics. For instance in Goju Ryu
karate (hard/soft style), blocks are of the circular nature. In Shorin Ryu
karate (pine forest style), blocks are more linear or straight. Nahashu Ryu
encompasses all of these differences. Basics are the foundation of any good
Karate system and Nahashu Ryu is no different in this regard.
A new student builds his basics beginning with
his/her stances and works from the ground up. Without strong stances and good
movement the rest of the student's Karate will be sorely lacking in technique.
So students of Nahashu Ryu spend several weeks working on their stances and a
few hand techniques in order to develop proper form and balance along with
execution of good technique. Stances are introduced only a few at a time and
then with only one block and punch. A student will work a stance in movement
until he/she is executing it with some confidence and then move onto a new block
combined with that movement. Concentration on too many techniques at one time is
not the way to good Karate. We move slowly so the student is trained properly
and their Karate skills are grounded in strong basics.
Nahashu Ryu uses Kata from all traditional
Okinawan Karate styles. By the time a student reaches the grade of Shodan (first
degree black belt), he/she has a well grounded knowledge of some of the oldest
kata known to karate. From the Kata Naifanchi to Seiyunchin the student is
knowledgeable in their performance and applications (Bunkai) which is the second
and most important part of Kata training.
The techniques from each of these Kata are
learned and practiced over and over before they are put together to create the
known form of each of the mentioned Kata. After each Kata is learned the
student's of Nahashu Ryu learn the applications from each Kata. These are the
many self defense techniques within the Kata.
I have and continue to do extensive research into
the past on the creation of Kata and how they have evolved through the ages. The
interest of Nahashu Ryu centers on creating a well rounded Karate student in the
traditional manner. The founders of the various styles all studied the same Kata
when they were learning Karate. When they began teaching they themselves devised
their own systems. I have done the same by not only selecting some Kata but by
recognizing the importance of all of the Okinawan Kata.
Once a student obtains the rank of Shodan in
Nahashu Ryu they then concentrate on learning the more advanced Kata from each
Okinawan System. This can be a little misleading as there really is no such
thing as an advanced Kata. Many people will disagree with my last statement but
it is true. New Kata are only introduced when a student has shown proficiency in
the basic techniques for the particular Kata that they are going to learn. As
far as the self defense applications (Bunkai) from each Kata are concerned, one
can spend many years perfecting them from the so called simplest Kata from any
system.
Basics and Kata training are the core of Nahashu
Ryu. Kumite (sparring) drills and fighting are learned but not by full contact.
The reason for this is that Nahashu Ryu does not join the tournament circuit
because point sparring is not the concern of the system. This system exists to
learn the self defense skills that one will definitely need in a real life
situation. If students are taught to go to tournaments then they will only learn
to "pull" their punches. Although students do get hurt at tournaments
this is usually because an opponent did not pull a punch enough. When we are
faced with a real life situation of someone attacking us there are no rules. The
attack comes most of the time without notice and no referee. Most of the time a
weapon of some kind is involved. By using the sparring drills from Nahashu Ryu
which encompass all traditional Karate from Okinawa, one learns to be prepared
for such a situation.
So how does one know how they will react in a
serious situation? To begin with the sparring drills of Nahashu Ryu begin with
lots of Makiwara (striking post) training. One's punches, kicks, and strikes
must be devastating in order to defend themselves. When all other avenues of
sensible discussion and surrender fail, a student must be able to save their
life by delivering a blow that will incapacitate an attacker immediately. So
lots of body strengthening is worked on in my Dojo (school). Forearm
conditioning and punching heavy bags are a must. Developing strong and powerful
techniques as well as developing the close in fighting techniques from the Kata
are the key to defeating any opponent.
Although no contact is made the students do not
pull their punches, blocks, kicks, or strikes. They remain about a few inches
from their intended target. Only black belts are allowed to follow through with
techniques due to their experience in blocking. A thorough study into the vital
areas of the body is also taught. Combined with strength the knowledge of the
vital areas of the body make for a quick end to any attack. Randomly attacking
an area of the body is not enough in Nahashu Ryu. One learns to attack vital
areas and attacks to those areas in the sparring drills.
The students of Nahashu Ryu also learn submissive
holds in order to control an attacker. This is done at a senior level. Basic
self defense and several techniques are learned at the kyu grade level but are
only expanded on in the Dan levels. Basic self defense includes the knowledge of
how to disarm a potentially dangerous situation by verbal communication first.
Physical confrontation is only the last resort. So the student who is below the
rank of black belt learns to hit only a few, but very effective, vital areas in
order to stay safe. By concentrating on only a few the student prepares
themselves for the more advanced techniques of the black belt level.
Knife, Club, and Gun defense are also taught. The
importance of realizing that no karate is faster than a speeding bullet is
essential to a student's training. It is better to live with less money than to
die trying to be a hero. The student is taught however, that if he/she believes
that they will be shot any way, no matter how compliant they are, then they
should fight for their life.
A student is matched in a rotating sequence with
every other student in the class during these sparring drills. In the Nahashu
Ryu curriculum they are taught that they cannot choose how big or small their
attacker will be. Woman, men, and teenagers are all pitted against each other
with no regards to height or weight. This allows the students to concentrate on
which vital area they should aim for and teaches them to stand up to bigger
people then themselves. This is another reason for no tournaments. There is no
weight classification when you are being attacked. To build confidence students
are encouraged in two minute rounds of prearranged sparring. For instance, one
student will throw an upper and a middle punch only and the other will only look
to block them. This helps to build the students overall confidence and
endurance.
Once again, all of this comes only from the Kata
of Okinawa. All fighting techniques are taken from these Kata and nothing else.
Therefore a thorough knowledge of each of the Kata learned is extremely
necessary in Nahashu Ryu. And if a student's basics are poor, then there is no
Nahashu Ryu.
A student in Nahashu Ryu learns a total of seven
Kata before they are tested for first degree black belt. In addition the student
works to learn each Kata's self defense techniques, is proficient in their
usage, has strong basics, can face any size opponent, and is respectful to life
and other human beings.
Nahashu Ryu Karate was developed by myself to
show respect for all Karate from Okinawa. By combining the various styles from
Okinawa I believe a strong rounded education in the martial art of Karate is
given to each and every student. The name Nahashu celebrates the two main cities
on Okinawa where Karate was born. They are Naha and Shuri. Additionally, the
name Nahashu Ryu means the "Way of the Devastating Fist".
What led me to the formation of this style was
very simple. There is too much politics in the martial arts world and
competition. After twenty years of this I decided that my knowledge was
sufficient to develop a style of my own. Of course it is really a style that
combines other styles and does not take anything away from or add to any of the
traditions. What Nahashu Ryu offers is rounded education in traditional Karate
right from the start and a "way" that allows all students to feel
better prepared and confident.
The only new things that I have added in order to
make this a unique style, is that of three Kata that I developed that celebrate
the three cities of Karate on Okinawa. Each of my students learn these Kata at
the appropriate time in their training. They are Nahashu, Shurishu, and
Tomarishu. In them lie the techniques that are from each of the styles.
In summation, Nahashu Ryu is open for all who
want to learn rounded traditional Karate. It is the official style of the
USA-TKA and encompasses what I, the founder believes after years of study, to be
the essence of Karate from Okinawa. The essence of Nahashu Ryu Karate Do lies in
its no nonsense self defense education and its ability to develop ones character
to a high degree. In addition it teaches the techniques from the Kata in the way
they were intended (close range fighting skills). Long range sport sparring is
not the intent of Nahashu Ryu but rather the character and protection of ones
self is. Tournaments do not display the accuracy of karate for they encourage
sport. The sport of karate is good for just that purpose alone. It has no
purpose in proper self defense. Nahashu Ryu focuses on self defense.
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