NO WAY?

 By Phillip Starr

There's a considerable difference between what the Japanese refer to as forms of “jutsu” -like jujutsu, kenjutsu, aikijutsu, and even karate-jutsu – and the forms referred to as “do” - judo, kendo, aikido, karate-do, and so on – that evolved from them. Most of you probably know this already. The character for “jutsu” (術, or 术 in simplified Chinese) is pronounced “shu” in Chinese and refers to an art of some kind. In the Japanese martial arts, the “jutsu” arts were/are focused on protection of oneself, one's family, and one's clan. They have just one function...combat. Period. That is the beginning and end of the “jutsu” forms.

The character for “do” (pronounced “doe”) is written 道 in both Japanese and Chinese and is pronounced “dao” in Chinese. It refers to a road or path and is often translated as “Way.” The well-known martial “do” forms, such as judo, kendo, aikido, and karate-do, as well as their cousin “do” forms, such as chado (the art of making and serving tea; the tea ceremony), kado (the art of flower arranging), shodo (the art of writing calligraphy with a brush), and so on, seek to go beyond technique; they aim at developing the character and “spirit” of the practitioner. In this regard, the “do” forms refer to a way of living. They cannot be regarded as hobbies and practiced just every now and then. They are a way of life.

Distractions are many and varied, coming in many different shapes and flavors. These can easily obstruct the devotee from seeing inside himself; the mirror into which he/she peers will be warped and muddied. This is, I believe, why younger people have such a difficult time when trying to follow a “do”; too many distractions that stir the hormones and thus, the emotions. Besides that, a “do” requires that we study the history of our art and how its native culture has impacted it. This means that we must learn something of the culture itself and to do that, we have to remove our “Western-tinted” glasses and see with an open mind. For many people, this is just too much to ask.

It should be noted that “jutsu” and “do” forms, per se, do not exist within the Chinese martial arts. Although many of their followers make the practice of these arts a lifestyle of sorts, what they focus on is the “jutsu” aspect(s); that is, technique. And that's the be-all, end-all of their practice. For instance, the original term for “martial arts” in Chinese is “wushu.” Of course, that term is currently used to refer to an art form that combines martial arts movement with gymnastics and some aspects of Chinese opera. This is true even in China today. Wushu is known as a performing art only; it has no actual combat effectiveness. When they refer to a traditional martial art, they use the term “gong-fu”, which literally refers to a high skill that is realized only through a lot of practice over time.

Trying to explain the meaning of a “do” discipline to the Chinese is very trying. They're a very pragmatic people and see no practical, concrete reason(s) for practicing a “do” form. If it doesn't make them extra money or otherwise provide them with something material, why do it?

Part of my life's mission is to bring this aspect of training to the Chinese martial arts. I've been accused of trying to “Japan-ize” these arts, but that simply isn't true. I believe that one of the reasons the Chinese martial arts are in a rapid decline is because they have always been, and continue to be focused on the “jutsu” side. Although personal self-defense has become a very real necessity in our modernized world, this is the 21^st Century; we've got guns. Why spend countless hours pouring sweat, enduring aching muscles and split lips and all the rest of it just for the sake of self-defense? Isn't a firearm much more effective? Why follow ages-old disciplines that require so much dedication and training? They're outdated aren't they?

Well, in so far as the “jutsu” side is concerned, yes (although they're very handy at times when you don't have your gun with you) but that's not why we follow a “do.” For some (perhaps many), learning the “jutsu” form is enough but for others; for those who wish to delve more deeply and travel further along the path, there is the “do.”