Philosophy of Namido Jujitsu
When the original four founders of Namido Jujitsu formed the Yudanshakai, it was based on the JU principles of Judo and Jujitsu. The Shodai Soke, came up with the name and the philosophy of the wave based on the idea of his Japanese teacher, who said, “ if you understand an ocean wave, you understand the martial way.” The wave is a powerful force that starts only when there is a disturbance, which disrupts the peace and tranquility of the ocean. The wave starts from the base of the ocean and creates forward momentum. Two thirds of the wave is underneath the top surface, while one third of the wave is seen above the surface. The wave maintains perfect balance throughout it’s course and generates its strength from the base. The water principle is an essential part of most soft and mixed styles, because water continues to move whether it goes up, over, or around anything in its path. It usually takes the path of least resistance however, when it comes to a wave, its power is unstoppable, it devastates anything within its path. The wave attacks over and over, weakening the target even more each time it crashes head on with perfect balance.
Namido Jujitsu has evolved over the years to accommodate both the traditional Jujitsu practitioner as well as the modern MMA Jujitsu practitioner. Namido Jujitsu is a well-rounded martial art appropriate for the mean streets and potential dangers we face in today’s society. A Jujitsu art should be three dimensional in it’s teachings to make it complete, when training for self-defense. Firstly, dealing with an assailant while on your feet. It disturbs me that today’s martial artist, want to concentrate their training totally on the ground work and call it jujitsu while ignoring the other components of the art. A martial artist should be able to deal with an attacker from all areas, but in self-defense, the ground is the last place you need to be if at all avoidable. Secondly, a Jujitsu art should teach students, to deal with someone who is attacking you with a weapon. Most MMA fighters, who continuously win over and over again in the ring, have no idea how to deal with someone on the street with a weapon. Thirdly, a Jujitsu art should teach how to throw an assailant to the ground for maximum control. Since the popularity of the MMA, there has been a separation of the Judo art from the Jujitsu art as if they were not related. The fact still remains that Judo was formed from a Kito Ryu Jujitsu practitioner. Kito ryu Jujitsu was the art used by the Sumurai on the battlefields. Kano Sensei developed Judo from Jujitsu to preserve the Jujitsu arts, and it was never intended to become totally separated. Today’s MMA practitioners have substituted the Judo throws of Jujitsu with wrestling takedowns, which is not necessarily wrong, but it takes away from the art as it was intended. Fourthly, a Jujitsu art should teach how to deal with an assailant, should the practitioner be knocked to the ground. Some styles refuse to work the grappling into their art as if they will never go to the ground. Lastly, a Jujitsu art should teach a practitioner to deal with more than one assailant.
I have practiced the martial arts for 30 years now and have had the privilege to cross train in many arts. I have seen many stylist preach that their art is the best and that they can kill an attacker with one strike. I have been a full contact fighter most of my martial arts career and I have been hit with many good strikes by some of the best fighters in the martial arts and I am still breathing. The Ultimate Fighting Championships have put an end to a lot of this kind of reasoning, but there are still many out there that feel they can still defeat most styles with a one dimensional art.
Namido Jujitsu has evolved considerably from its beginning. The system at first was totally based on Judo and Jujitsu, with a focus on the Ju art of Judo. Since then, Namido Jujitsu has become a melting pot of many arts that has influenced it philosophy. Namido Jujitsu is a self-defense art and is of the opinion, if it works, use it. Our techniques have been compiled from many great systems such as Judo, Japanese Jujitsu, Brazilian Jujitsu, Karate, Jeet Kune Do, Kali, Western Malay Kickboxing, Boxing, Kenpo jitsu, Hapkido, wrestling and Muay
In all combat situations, you have fleeting opportunities, and one must have the ability to recognize and react to the opportunity before it disappears. In order to do this; one must be able to put himself in a position to take action. A practitioner can have the greatest strength, the greatest timing, and the greatest techniques, but if he doesn’t have the position to apply the techniques, he has nothing.
Namido Jujitsu has three components to it’s system, 1.Evade and Invade for position, 2. Devastate and neutralize the opponent, 3. Immobilize and control the opponent. Namido Jujitsu practitioners use whatever means possible to accomplish the self-defense objective, once a disturbance has occurred by an attack upon our person.
Namido Martial Arts Yudanshakai, in no way will criticize any other martial art, however, we do recommend that all artist take a look at their respective art and examine the weaknesses in it. All arts have weaknesses and they all need each other at some level to make them complete. If you are a Karate practitioner, you should look for a Jujitsu art to fill in the gaps for thowing and grappling. If you art a Judo or Brazilian Jujitsu practitioner, you should look for a Karate or Kickboxing art to fill the gap in your stand up skills.
Namido Martial Arts Yudanshakai, is a Christian Organization that wants to unify the arts and the artist. We embrace all styles and Christian denominations. We want to be a haven or sanctuary to those who are tired of the politics of the martial arts community in general. We want to offer the leadership and continued training for you if you want a place to continue your ranking in your respective art. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please contact us.
In Christ Service,
Shihan Michael Frazier
Ni-dai Soke
Namido Martial Art Yudanshakai