Kosho Ryu was brought to Hawaii and therefore to the United States in the 1940’s by James Mitose.
The philosophical teachings, which were largely ignored by many of Mitose Sensei’s early students, (with the notable exception of the late Thomas Young) play a major role in the manifestation of the physical combative arts of Kosho Ryu. Without them, true understanding of Kempo is not possible. Kempo is not a martial art–It is much more.
Look for Similarities
The Kosho Ryu practitioner studies natural law. In so doing, he has the ability to see similarities in all movement. Therefore he holds no prejudice toward or against other styles or martial systems. Kosho Ryu practitioners understand that the only real differences between martial arts pertain to the cultures from which they come. Cultures produce various tendencies that shape the way arts are taught. Although teaching methods are delivery modes for the understanding of the essence of an art, the arts themselves are very similar. Bruce Juchnik Hanshi is well qualified to make a statement such as this. He holds mastery-level knowledge and certification in over ten distinct martial art forms.
Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo originated in Japan. To practitioners, Kosho Ryu’s Chinese roots are apparent in its basic philosophy. Because Kosho teaches them to look for similarities, they see no substantial difference between Kosho and studies from Korea, Indonesia, China, or America.
All human beings move basically the same way. All motion is related. The same emotions are experienced by all of mankind. Fundamentally, human beings are similar, throughout continents, cultures, and time.
Natural Law
The study of physics is only part of the understanding of Natural Law. Kosho Ryu Kempo-ka also studies the natural laws of our basic individual philosophy. One can understand the physics of both our internal and external structures. Students seek to understand who they are as they relate to others based upon their past experiences and prejudices.
Body movement changes, much like personalities change, based on an individual’s momentary and long-term mind-sets and their physical prejudices. Understanding that both they themselves and potential adversaries are governed by these natural laws. Kempo-ka apply a great many strategies to handle potential conflicts successfully. This is what makes it possible to defeat an opponent without throwing a blow. In fact, it is possible to defeat an opponent by strategically manipulating his ki (mind set in this case). These are based on an understanding of his prejudices, in such a way as to make him decide to never attack you in the first place! Psychology is physics applied to the mind.
Objective
The objective of the Kosho Ryu Kempo-ka is to be able to relate to everything, abandon prejudices, and thus rid conflict from life. Conflict is usually created from differences of opinion pertaining to physical or philosophical prejudices. Once you eliminate conflict (emotional or physical) and understand laws and principles, you learn to see yourself as the root of all of your conflict.
Once the source of conflict is known, it can be eliminated. Happiness is the result. Kempo-ka become content, able to harmonize with and accept life’s events, and able to control their environment. Once you learn to control yourself and your environment, controlling or redirecting an attacker is possible as well.
Kempo
While Kempo literally translates from Japanese as “Fist Law,” its meaning can be traced back to what is called the mudra, which are hand postures. Each of kempo’s hand postures represent both the physical and the spiritual realm. These realms are inexorably linked. Kempo itself is an entity. It is not a style of martial arts or a form of techniques.
Yet this is a difficult concept to understand and therefore in our society today it is, unfortunately, largely looked upon as a martial art.
James Mitose Sensei, explained that Kempo is a philosophy. Mitose brought Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo from Japan to the United States as a philosophy of growth, of study, and of struggle. The martial arts become simple, even self-evident, through understanding the process of these three elements.
Within Kosho Ryu Kempo, there are many sub-arts of study. The purpose of the study of various different art forms is to learn to see the similarities in all of them. Three general categories of study are the healing arts, the cultural arts, and the martial arts. All three are interwoven.
The study of healing arts helps the martial artist understand anatomical strengths and weaknesses as well as the natural flow of energy and how that energy might be directed. In turn the martial arts help the healer better understand the practical application through the study of movement.
The cultural arts play a similar role. Included in the cultural arts is the study of history or densho, an important element in both the martial and healing arts. Language is also studied from all perspectives. The study of the Japanese language creates the ability in the disciplined student of Kosho Ryu to understand the history and cultures of other people. This in turn ties in with the philosophy of looking for similarities, eliminating prejudice and conflict, and creating happiness and peace in their lives.
Each of the many sub-arts of study in Kosho Ryu eventually intertwines. Aruki waza, for instance, which is a combative technique involving proper posturing toward an opponent in Bujutsu, is also utilized in the studies of swordsmanship, shodo (ancient Japanese brush calligraphy), and healing arts. This type of lesson initially brings students to confusion. Eventually, it allows them to understand Mu, nothingness. That is the purpose of the study of Kempo in Kosho Shorei Ryu. Once that is accomplished, one sees everything, and at the same time realizes that it is really nothing.
Hanshi Bruce Juchnik and the Sei Kosho Shorei Kai supplied this information.
CHAPTER 2
The Objective
Mind Like Water
As we go through life on our journey as martial artists, we learn many lessons – some martial lessons, some life lessons. If we look deeper into these lessons, we start to see that the two are connected. Principles we learn while studying martial arts start to have a direct relation to much needed principles/concepts that help guide us on our journey in life. This also works the other way around.
Let’s take a look at the concept of Mizu No Kokoro or “Mind Like Water,” which involves having a mind that is not “stuck,” but flowing and constantly changing to adapt to circumstances we encounter. This concept is extremely important to leading a fulfilling life. As individuals, we all have problems, challenges, and hardships that come our way. If we focus only on the problems, challenges and hardships, instead of the solutions or actions, our mind becomes “stuck.” Having this frame of mind is not conducive to solving problems or finding a course of action that will allow us to overcome these obstacles.
After all, the willingness to take action to deal with these challenges in life is what makes us stronger, well-adjusted individuals on this journey. If we focus on the solution instead of the problem, our mind takes on the mannerisms of water, which finds its way around, over, under, or through whatever obstacle in its path.
If