Jikito Hoshinjutsu -- Personal self protection

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Okay, this post is going to change until I get it all written out. That's because the subject is a detailed one and it'll take me some time to properly execute it.


This is a rather detailed subject, more so than some folks would realize. Please consult my other writings on these blog pages and websites, they express the proliferation of this type of material extant within the traditions of the Yoshin school(s) and Japanese budo itself.

In the Shinden yōshin ryū the subject of self defense and self protection is collectively called Jikitō hoshinjutsu 直答保身術 'Personal self protection' and it is fair to say that, as a school, the Shinden yōshin ryū is literally a school of Jikitō hoshinjutsu. This being the case it is best to explain exactly what this is.

I will begin by explaining the meaning of the term and its elements. Jikitō 直答 is a term that means "a prompt and personal answer or reply"... so the term 'jikitō hoshinjutsu' literally means 'the art of providing a swift response in protection of oneself". But the term and artifice is most certainly not restricted to mere physical self defense against assault of our persons. The traditions (of budō!!) actually do not unnecessarily restrict themselves to this mere and paltry subject -- becuase to do so is both antithetical and ridiculous. The traditions identify mere physical self defense as being perhaps only 1/5 to 1/7 of the relevant vectors of defense and protection. By some accounts... it is only 1/10 of the relevant vectors.

Jikitō hoshinjutsu of the shinden yōshin ryū (and, of course, as an artifice itself) is by no means thus ridiculously limited or restricted and never to be approached as if it is. Methods of mere physical self defense are sought out and practiced (in the katas of the school, for example) due to a recognized need for such techniques wherein one should find themselves so beset. perhaps you'd get the picture better if I told you that in my instructors dojo, if you showed up for training and he knew that you had other issues in your life, household, business or employment that demanded more attention than all of that: your ass did NOT get to train that day!! He would send you out and away to go take care of your affairs -- sometimes after a brief pep talk about how you might best handle this type of situation. We were taught to consider this as being fully relevant and infinitely more important as a form of "martial instruction". In fact, refusal to observe this, or incidents of having observed this, actually figured into wether or not you received your next rank!! In one such episode, I had recieved my rank of yonkyu, from gokyu, based off nothing other than having so well complied with this custom and practice -- it was considered proof of sufficient advancement. I knew a man whom received Nidan (2nd Blackbelt) for exactly the same thing. If the object is to learn proper self protection, then certainly it is a fact that attending upon one's private affairs in a swift and reasonable fashion ought to be accounted as a relevant learned skill for rank advancement!





ō ū Ū Ō





Part Two of this subject.

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