ZANCHIN BUDO

Zanchin budo is a martial art of the future. It belongs to the category of complex combat styles and encompasses strikes, punches, kicks, joint locks, throwing, choking, locks, fight with a short, middle and long staff, Japanese sword, knife and Okinawa chain sticks. It is practiced against one or more attackers, in standing position or on the ground. It is a sophisticated training system, including not only the basic postures and movements but also specific training of estimating the distances and creativity to use and interconnect different technical principles.

In 1995, this system was first presented to the public by the soke. Since 1999 it has been officially taught under the patronage of the Budoshinkai Organization. In 2003 the first manual was published in the Czech and Slovak Republics and in 2007 a training program on DVD was offered to the public. Since 2003 zanchin budo has been also presented in Germany, Japan and India. Zanchin budo can be translated as: zan = mountain (principle), chin = true (unchanging), bu = combat (martial), do = way (way of life). The name can therefore be understood as: way to study the principles, way of truth. There is also a mental training and transmission of spiritual teaching, forming a part of practicing zanchin budo.

The basic technical principle of this martial art is the concept of pliancy or flexibility, integrated into zanchin budo from the traditional martial art ju jutsu. Let us look at its history in detail:
Scientists estimate that the origins of Japanese civilization on Islands of Japan date back to the Paleolithic age (50 000 B.C.). At that time the bases of first combat styles were formed. Some neighbouring countries had more developed societies with more sophisticated combat styles. In consequence, many Japanese warriors tried to imitate their methods. First records about contacts with outside world can be found during the Yayoi Period (250 B.C. - 250 AD). First contacts with China took place in 57 AD, and in 369 AD, Korea was invaded for the first time by the rulers of the Yamato Province (later called Japan). There was also an influence from an archipelago Ryukiu (later called Okinava), with new combat methods "tode", based on the experience of local inhabitants and know-how imported from China and India. It is therefore presumable that combat styles in Japan were influenced by neighbouring nations. There is however an evidence of primitive combat methods existing on Japanese islands even before the first contacts with the outside world. The Nihon-Shoki (Chronicles of Japan), written on request by the emperor in 720 AD mentions special tournaments held in the Izumo region since 23 AD. During these tournaments, the warriors officially tested theirs skills in front of emperor Suinin. The tournaments were called Chikara-Kurabe and fighting techniques used by the warriors are known as Sumai. The tournaments became very popular and Sumai, later called Sumo, developed further. Later, during the Nara Period (650 - 793 AD) the tradition of annual combats was established, with warriors from different regions participating in them. There were several religious elements incorporated into sumo, and the combat turned into a ritual. Sumo became very popular during the Heian Period (794 - 1191 AD). The emperor Nimmyo attempted to make this combat style popular as a symbol of military power and included it in the military training. Sumo, and its special form called Kumiuchi, probably influenced the formation and development of combat techniques later called ju jutsu.
Because of almost constant domestic wars and conqueror policy of ruling casts, the martial arts developed intensively. In the old sagas Konzaku Monotagari, written in the second half of 11. century, the author mentions a combat style Yawara, which was based on the Sumo techniques. It is probable that Sumo became the most probable Japanese base for the most other, later developed weaponless fighting styles. Different styles of ju jutsu in Japan show an influence of neighbouring countries, it is however very difficult to prove this relation, because many representatives of traditional styles accentuate their pure Japanese origin.
Development of different fighting styles till the beginning of the first millennium AD will probably forever remain a mysterious space-time, because there are only a few authentic materials. Since the beginning of 10th century, clear bases for later fighting styles (bugei) start to develop, ex. tai jutsu - weaponless fighting, ken jutsu - fighting with a sword, kju jutsu - archery etc. All this is caused by the new conception of government. The power is centralized into a shogunate (central military base) and different administrative bodies in form of provincial leaders and their vassals. A new military aristocracy (bushi) emerges, playing a key role in governing the country and supporting the development of martial arts. The Kamakura Period (1192 - 1336 AD), as well as the subsequent Muromachi period (1337 - 1573 AD) are considered to be the golden age of martial arts. While the country suffered from quarrels for supremacy, martial arts thrived. During these two periods training was gradually systematized and first specific fighting styles emerged in 15th century. Their history can be traced in documents of that period. The term ju jutsu, as a name of weaponless fighting style or fight with short weapons, starts to be regularly mentioned in documents during the Tokugawa Period (1603 - 1867 AD). The previous names of combat styles are considered to be predecessors of ju jutsu, ex. torite, hakuda, yawara, kogusoku, shibaku, hobaku, kenpo, koshi no mawari, tai jutsu, aiki jutsu etc. To the most famous classical schools (ko ryu) belong yoshin ryu, sekiguchi ryu, kito ryu and daito ryu. The concept of pliancy or flexibility makes physically weaker persons able to defend themselves. It uses the attacker´s strength as a source of energy for self-defence. Tens of effective styles were created on the base of this concept, using it practically in different ways. To the most interesting styles belongs aiki ju jutsu daito ryu, working with energy ki. The history of this style is very interesting and worth studying in detail.
According to the mythology, the two gods named Katori and Kashima mastered using ki and taught this skill to a few chosen people. The legend mentions the emperor Seiwa Tenno (reigning 858 - 876) and his son Teijun as first people to know this secret. However according to documents of that period, it is Shinra Saburo MinamotoYoshimitsu (1056 - 1127) who is considered to be the founder of the school. He was a heir of tegoi martial art of family Genji and excelled in both literary and military arts. He mastered sumo, the game sho and made his name as a military commander. He is known as an excellent warrior and innovator who spent much time to study classical military strategies and developed new, based on his own experience from fights and anatomy studies. He examined the bodies of dead warriors directly on the battlefield and searched for techniques with maximum efficiency. He lived on the castle Saburo Daita in Oe (modern Shiga prefecture). During the wars Gossanen no Eiki (1083 - 1087 AD), he was awarded the rank of Kai no Kami (Lord of Kai province). One of his sons, Yoshikiyo, is said to have lived in the village of Takeda, and thus adopted the family name of Takeda. This marked the beginning of the famous Takeda family, whose history is connected with a martial art aiki jutsu. The complex of combat knowledge was called Takeda no heiho. The original name of martial art aiki jutsu was aiki in ho jo (in and jo are Japanese expressions for Chinese jin and jang), ai means harmony and ki is the name for energy. The transmission of this martial art was highly secret. Only carefully chosen adepts could be taught and they were tied to a total secrecy. The fame of this family continued to grow till the end of reign of daimyo Takeda Honorubu "Shingen" (1521-1573), whose assassination lead to contest for power in the family. Before his assassination, Takeda Honorubu asked his nephew Takeda Kunitsugu to move to the Aizu domain (part of modern Fukushima prefecture) to protect the family from raids of Tokugawa and Oda. Takeda Kunitsugu arrived in the Aizu domain no sooner than in 1574. The Takeda Family was defeated in 1575 in the Battle of Nagashimo and Takeda Katsuyori, the son of Takeda Honorubu, committed seppuku after the defeat. An invasion into the Kai province lead to destruction of the Takeda army, and family members living in the Aizu domain were the only, who were able to preserve the family martial art. A new Takeda family emerged, adopting the name of the domain they were living in (Aizu). Takeda Kunitsugu offered to Ashino Moriui, lord of the Aizu domain, to train his best men in martial art of Takeda family. The art therefore continued to be transmitted. Some of the adepts settled in monasteries and developed there their skills. From that time originates the name daito ryu aiki jutsu (school of great East). Dojo Nishikan became the main training center. In 1643 Hashina Masamori was appointed to be the lord of the Aizu domain. He became an adviser for Tokugawa family and developed a special style of martial art, tactics, technique and organization focused on defense of the palaces (oshikuchi). The leaders of the family were asked to train the body guard of shogun. Thanks to Hashina Masamori, ha ito ryu ken jutsu was included into the training. Both martial arts made the base to train the warriors and became a compact training system. The members of old Takeda family, as well as their relatives from Aizu, were tied to a total secrecy and the martial art was preserved as a family treasure. One member of Takeda family called Takeda Soemon (1758 - 1853) transmitted his art to his son Takeda Sokichi and also to Saigo Tanam from Aizu family. Takeda Sokichi became a famous sumotori, but was not declared to be the main successor of daito ryu. Saigo Tanamo (1829 - 1905) was a leader and became therefore the head of all family (o karo) and main successor of the tradition. Takeda family was fragmented many times, by fights with other families as well as by alliances with members of other families. Takeda were again defeated in 1868 in the Battle of Shirakavaguchi. The family was almost destroyed and most warriors trained in daito ryu were killed or committed seppuku. Saigo Tanamo however survived and tried to find his successor. Saigo became a priest at the Nikko Toshugu shrine, changing his name to Hoshina Genshi. Saigo then selected as his first successor a boy named Shida Shiro (1866 - 1922). Shida Shiro was trained in the art for few years, but in 1883 he met Jigoro Kano (founder of kodokan), stopped studies of daito ryu and devoted himself to studying judo. Finally he deserted both systems and some sources mention him to become great master of archery (kyudo). The second person chosen by Saigo Tanamo as a successor was Sokaku Takeda (1859 - 1943), the second son of Takeda Sokichi. Sokaku Takeda was born 10th April 1859 in the Takeda residence in Oike in the Aizu domain and from his childhood was trained by his father in techniques aiki jutsu, ken jutstu, sumo and bo jutsu. He also studied ha ito ryu with the master Toby Shibua in dojo Yokikan. In 1873 he traveled with his father to dojo Sakakibari Kenkichiho, where he had possibility to study jikishinkage ryu. There he had a unique possibility to study with many excellent masters, members of special school Kobusho. This school was run under the patronage of Tokugava shogunate and was attended only by members of highest social classes. There he mastered also techniques of shuriken, jo and spear hozoin ryu. Sokaku Takeda searched all his life for opportunities to learn several martial arts. He traveled throughout Japan and tested his skills. In 1875 he met Saigo Tanamo, being a priest at that time, and asked him for instructions about entering a monastery order. Sokaku was not yet ready for temple life, and became a disciple of oshikiuchi. Tanamo trained him in this art and inspired him to lead a deeper spiritual life. From his childhood, Sokaku Takeda experienced a lot of spiritual training and used to visit priests very often during practicing martial arts. From time to time he went to retreat and meditate on holy places as Mountain Futara in Nikko or Haguro in Dewa. During the Takamori Saiga rebellion against the troops of the new Meiji government, Sokaku Takeda was determined to fight against the abolition of the samurai rank and to preserve the original rules, he was however not able to get to the battle-fields in time. Maybe that is why he later became a pioneer and propagator of the Takeda samurai martial arts and taught them intensively. In his life he had several thousands of pupils and became famous as choku no so (he, who revived daito ryu). He was the first master of daito ryu who taught his disciples regardless of their social status and he started to use the name aiki ju jutsu for his martial art.
A lot of things happened after the decline of samurai rank (19th century) which moved aiki ju jutsu out of public concern. New training concepts emerged, for example judo (founder Jigoro Kano) and aikido (founder Morihei Ueshiba). These concepts use ju jutsu and aiki jutsu, but add a new philosophy approaches and other training methods. Zanchin budo emerged much later and enriched the original concept with knowledge of martial arts from other parts of the world. Its principles are not different from other famous schools as daito ryu aiki jutsu or kito ryu ju jutsu, it however uses new training methods, it does not concentrate on model situations but reflects a contemporary equipped attacker, develops fight on the ground, uses different testing system and respects the knowledge of other martial arts. Most important is a general knowledge of different principles, creativity and freedom of expression. The testing system follows the famous kyu/dan model which originates from Japan. There are 6 student grades, 3 advanced grades and 7 master grades. The usual training garment is called gi, for outdoor exercise it is possible to use usual clothes.

There are also several weapons used to practice zanchin budo. The basic weapons are: hanbo (short staff), jo (middle-sized staff) , bo (long staff), ken (sword), tanto (knife), nunchaku (chain sticks). Every of these weapons has its specific characteristics. Generally it is possible to say that the students learn how to use all these weapons to understand their advantages and disadvantages. During the the teaching process, the basic training is divided into several grades up to 4th dan, being the last grade with usual exams. Higher grades represent a title of honour and appreciation of personal contribution to the development of martial arts, similarly to other arts. When you observe the fighting techniques of zanchin budo closely, they might resemble to efficient techniques of martial arts from different parts of the world. It is true, zanchin budo is not a clear-cut style. You can find here elements from muai thai, vale tudo, sambo, wing chun or hapkido. It is important to cross the borders of styles, forget the doctrines, be free and understand what is a technique, a principle a method. In spite of this freedom, zanchin budo is systematic and logic. It is developed for intelligent people who like to think and act with discretion and enthusiasm. Nowadays, the training systems of martial arts from all over the world are interconnected. There are many new popular programs reflecting this situation. In last 30 years, we have experienced an important permeation of cultures, based on fast development of transport and communication, and zanchin budo has therefore the chance to become the martial art of the future. There is a development which is very difficult to stop. Every person is an individuality, trying to find what suits him/her. Zanchin budo is an integral program crossing the borders. Similarities can be found in music, diffusion of different styles leads to new interesting changes. People learn one from another, they comunicate, search for common topics and make friends. Interesting, isn´t it?

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