Kushindo

Kushindo (also Koshindo) is not a martial art discipline with an own identity but a martial training, part of a philosophical tradition with similar name, which created roots in the southern Ryukyu Islands coming from China and with early influence from Polynesian cultures [cite book
last = MacKenzie
first = Donald A
title = Myth of China and Japan
publisher = Kessinger Publishing
year = 2005
location = London, UK
isbn = 978-1417964291] . This tradition, mentioned in the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters-712 A.D.) [cite book
last = English Translator of the Shinto Religion
first =
title = The Holy Kojiki -- Including, The Yengishiki: The Harvest Ritual
publisher = Cosimo Inc
year = 2007
isbn = 978-1596059979] as the Ancient Way of the Gods, can be found at the origins of Japanese Shintocite book
last = Sokyo
first = Ono
title = Shinto the Kami Way
publisher = Charles E Tuttle Co Inc
year = 1962
pages = pp 3-9, 2
location = Singapore
isbn = 0-8048-1960-2] and Korean Taejonggyo [cite book
last = Park Jesang
first = Translator: Kim Eunsu
title = Budoji
publisher = Hanmunhwa
location = Korea
isbn = 898-6481782] , as well as Okinawan Ijun [Citation
last=Reichi
first= Christopher A.
year= 1993
title= The Okinawan New religion Ijun
periodical= Japanese Journal of Religious Studies
issue= 1993 20/4] . It was greatly influenced by ancient Chinese Taoism and animism. Today the original Koshindo tradition is almost extinct but has branched out in diverse Shinto streams and other less known philosophies.

The martial practice of Kushindo, which as other martial arts practices in many oriental philosophies, was created for promoting the integration of body and mind in its practitioners, is based on joining and leading the energy of the attacker rather than clashing or stopping itCitation
last= Saadakachu
first= Ninsuu
year= 1961
title= Aiki no michi haru
periodical= Kushindo shii
place= Ishigaki
publisher= Futuki Chichung] .

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Etymology

As all nomenclature used in the ancient Ryukyu Islands, resulting from a blend of Chinese, Japanese and local dialects and its oral transmissioncite book
last = Shunzo
first = Sakamaki
title = Ryukyuan Names
publisher = Honolulu: East-West Center Press
year = 1964
pages = pp 11, 27
location = Honolulu] , Kushindo was written in a variety of ways depending the nationality of the writer. The term Kushindo which corresponds to the Japanese pronunciation Koshindo (sometimes Koshintō) was originally translated and orally transmitted mostly as the Ancient Way of the Gods hence its later ambiguation with similar terms and its loss of identity when ideograms acquired different pronunciation or language transformation (Chinese/Japanese) similarly with what happened to the word Shinto.

ymbology

There are diverse symbols used in Kushindo. The symbol most often seen at the temples and dojo is a circle from where a smaller circle has been cut and placed as protruding from the outside border of the main circle. This means mainly the spirit transcending the physical body but also the Shin and the "Nature of things" coming to take a place within each one who makes a space for them in his life. In the martial practice it represents the main principle of a larger circle (movement) taking in or dominating the smaller circle (movement) and the inverse principle of creating a small circular movement for escaping the larger one, two principles used profusely in martial art practice.

This symbol was at some point also adopted by some shrines of the Koshin-do folk faith because of its similitude with the monkey Kukurizaru, who can help those who really want to be good, to become a better person. The Koshin faith had at some moment the same Taoist roots of Kushindo and shares some traditions and some precepts as the belief that everyone can become a better being if abandoning some desires which only confuse the spirit. However, the Koshin-do faith became more of a folk faith when absorbed by Buddhism. [cite book
last = OhnukiTierney
first = E
title = Monkey as Mirror Symbolic Transformations in Japanese History & Ritual
publisher = Princeton University Press
year = 1992
isbn = 978-0691028460]

Today

Kushindo martial training and the Dojo dedicated to its practice, are uncommon in Japan and Taiwan where some can be found in i.e. the southern Ryukyu and Hsiao Liuchiu. Still more uncommon are in the Western Hemisphere been Sweden, Poland and Florida (USA) three places where can be found. No efforts seem to be done to popularize this practice and it remains only as an optional training in some few temples or Koshindo schools. Usually, practice is closed and cannot be freely joined unless a traditional introduction to the instructor is provided. Even in the rare places where anyone can in principle join the training, the final acceptance is up to the chief instructor..

Because of lack of centralization and modern structure, there are no written guidelines to its practice, it mostly follows tradition. Dan rank does not exist in Kushindo and degrees, ranks or mastership are not in use. However, who practices the martial art side of Kushindo as a separate discipline, may attain and follow levels in what practitioners call Aiki no michi (the path of Aiki).Citation
last= Aiki no Kumichi
first= Dojo
year= 1991
title= Introduction to Kushindo for Beginners .Aiki no michi . Training and Etiquette
periodical= Kushindo in daily practice.
place= West Palm Beach, Florida
publisher= The Penbro Foundation.] The training indumentary is a keikogi which in some Dojo combines black jacket and white pants or inverse depending on the role of a given student as senpai or kōhai. Black hakama is allowed and red hakama has been seen occasionally in ritual or in seldom happening public displays.

Practice

Kushindo looks similar in its practice and inspiration to modern Japanese aikido, to older aikijutsu and to Korean hapkido but it is not related directly with any of these arts.

The principles of practice are:
*Circular movements for simple evasion or for absorbing the attacker's motion and ending in throws and locks are the most used techniques.
*Strategically applied strikes and pushes, with open or closed hands as well as using elbows, wrists, shoulders, knees, hips and feet, are also applied for disabling or to momentarily distract the assailant while applying the main movement.
*Pressure, impact or pinches in specific points of the body are used with the same ends as well. The main purpose is to end an attack in the shortest time possible and with the simplest and most definitive method rather than to engage in a fighting sequence. Special attention is given to don't cause unnecessary damage, going even to the extent of protecting the attacker in his own fall through making this oblique to the ground rather than vertical. Pain and momentary physical disabling are however allowed methods for obtaining control over the situation.

The practice is based on simulated attacks against the practitioner, with empty hands or weapons and by one attacker or in groups. The practitioner must evade, throw or control the assailants. Techniques can be interlaced in a creative flow and there are not established techniques for each kind of attack. Part of the training is also to practice intervention in an attack against another person.

Physical strength is given no attention, while strategy, circular movement, flow (ryu), breath power (kokyu) and the use of life-energy Shiji [cite book
last = Lebra
first = William P
title = Okinawan Religion: Belief, Ritual and Social Structure
publisher = University of Hawaii Press
year = 1966
pages = pp 26-29
location = Honolulu
isbn = 0-87022-450-6] (similar to Japanese Ki) are emphasized.

The Madake bamboo and the triple circle are motives commonly found at the places where the martial training of Kushindo is still practiced, they represent specific characteristics of that martial practice.

Exercises and ritual, including breathing methods, with the specific intention of infusing the body with cosmic energy are an important part of the practice. This methods are similar to those used in some Shinto derived religions as Oomoto or Konkokyo [cite book
last = Kitagawa
first = JM
title = On Understanding Japanese Religion
publisher = Princeton University Press; Limited
year = 1992
pages = p 170
isbn = 978-0691102290]

Principles shared with other martial arts

Morihei Ueshiba founder of modern Aikido refers in his Doka (particularly 11-13) [cite book
last = Stevens
first = John
title = The Essence of Aikido
publisher = Kodansha International Ltd
year = 1993
pages = pp 39-76
location = Tokyo, Japan
isbn = 4-7700-1727-8] his inspiration on the Ancient Way of the Gods for the True Techniques of Aikido.

Also Noriaki Inoue founder of ShineiTaido (previously Aiki Budo), refers in an interview [cite book
last = Pranin
first = S
title = Aikido Masters
publisher = Aiki News
year = 1993
pages = p 38
location = Japan
isbn = 4-900586-14-5] to have been inspired on "the ancient warriors of Koshindo".

Both Ueshiba and Noriake were followers of the Oomoto-kyo religion until its incident (December 1935) and of other Shinto streams thereafter.

The martial practices related with Koshinto are also mentioned in diverse martial arts closely related with the ancient Shinto and sometimes with Shugendo. This is for example the case in the Tenshinhyouhou・Ryuko no maki scrolls of the Kuki family [ja iconcite book
last = Kiyotaka
first = Ago
title = Kukishinden Zensho
publisher = Shin Kokumin Sha
year = 1983
isbn= 4-915157-36-9 (NDLC HL31 NDC(8)171.9)] , heads of the Kukishin Ryu.

There are some martial arts who have used or use Koshindo as a way of reference to their Shinto related past or to their inspiration [ja iconcite book
last = Omiya Shiró
first = and Nobuyuki Hiragami
title = Koshindo to Koryu Bujutsu
publisher = Hachiman Shoten
year = 1996
location = Tokyo
isbn= 4-89350-186-0 (NDLC SB391 NDC(9) 147)] while others use the voice "kushin" (with different meanings) or the similar sounding term Kyushindo in their names, these however have no direct relation with the martial practice of Kushindo.

Some temples and schools from diverse oriental philosophies and religions have martial arts training, not as a separate discipline but as an optional practice available to their followers, similarly to Kushindo. This is mostly seen in religions or groups with ancient Shinto (koshinto) or ancient Taoism lineage, as well as in other faiths where there is an emphasis in the harmony of Man and Nature.

Its permanency

While Kushindo practice seem to have been reduced through time to few temples and dojo, with no particular effort or interest in adopting a more modern system of transmission, it has nevertheless standed until now the test of time as its religious roots of Koshinto have, or in a more poetic way: "Hid in the depths of many a patient soul the Ancient Way of the Gods is unforgotten" [cite book
last = Huntly
first = Hope
title = Kami No Michi: the Way of the Gods in Japan
publisher = Kessinger Publishing Co
year = 2003
pages = p 341
isbn = 978-0766177109] .

References

ee also

* Ko-shinto
* Koshinto
* Koshin-do