THE SHINJINBUKAN SYSTEM — INTRODUCTION
Introduction Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4
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These articles are based on accounts of my training under Onaga Yoshimitsu Kaichō. Jimmy Mora
Okinawa Karate Dō, originated by combining Ti, the ancient Okinawan Martial Art, with Chinese Kung Fu and other Asian fighting arts. Okinawa Ti, also known as Okinawa Te in the West, evolved over hundreds of years. However, like in any other human endeavour a quantum leap occurs only a few times in history. In terms of Martial Arts, Onaga Sensei achieved a quantum leap in the evolution of Okinawa Karate Dō. His knowledge of Ti allowed him to develop a Martial Arts System without the limitations of a Karate style.
Onaga Sensei teaches Ti as an endless process adaptable to every situation by understanding the process itself and not the end result. For example, all Karate styles only study the arrival point of motion: position 1, next position 2, etc. However, Ti studies the entire line of motion, or path of movement created by the human body. For example, how to connect position 1 and position 2. In Ti, we are always searching and asking: What is the line of motion?
The study of Ti incorporates unique principles of body mechanics, body conditioning and fighting techniques into a complete cohesive System. Most Martial Arts have training curriculums that are not integrated into a cohesive unit. On the other hand, the study of Ti requires the integration of all training curriculums into ONE cohesive System of body mechanics. If not, the different aspects of Martial Arts training will not work together. Ti applies the same body mechanics or "body usage" in all aspects of training: body conditioning, katas, kihon gatas, fighting techniques and other technical drills. According to Onaga Sensei:
Ti is the key that opens the door to understanding all Martial Arts. Without Ti, a Karate style is limited by the content of its training curriculum. For many Martial Artists, after years of training Katas, doing sparring or hitting the makiwara, there are still many unanswered questions.
In the Shinjinbukan System, from the first day of training the most important question is: Why?
Why it works? Why it doesn't work? Why we use this technique? Why is it true? Why is it false? Ti is endless and in constant "state of flux". It is contantly being developed by today's Tiyigaya (Ti practitioners), who are doing better Karate and Ti than the "ancient masters". If this is not true. If we could never improve upon past generations, then, why train so hard? Why train at all?
Ti is true Karate, but Karate by itself has no Ti, because it is limited by being a just a "Karate style".
Introduction Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4
