Content Blocks of Nihon Taijutsu - Self-Defense

 

1. Normative, Attitudinal, and Conceptual Aspects, Rei Gi · 礼儀作法:

This refers to understanding aspects related to ritual and etiquette in Taijutsu; the importance of maintaining safety and injury prevention during practice; knowledge of the terminology to name the learned techniques; fostering a tolerant yet pragmatic attitude of collaboration-opposition among practitioners; learning traditional teaching-learning methods and the Fundamental Principles of the martial art; learning technical-tactical training systems individually, with a partner, studying attack-defense techniques in pre-established forms, Kata, and in free practice, Randori.

2. Historical and Cultural Background, Bunka · 文化:

This refers to the historical and conceptual knowledge of martial arts in general and Taijutsu in particular, its origin in Japan and its evolution in the West to the present day; its theoretical-practical knowledge as a method of self-defense and its teaching-learning as a traditional Japanese cultural expression.

3. Fundamental Technique, Kihon Waza · 基本:

This refers to the taxonomy of the technical content of Taijutsu to facilitate learning and rational organization for teaching. It is divided into:

3.1. Fundamental movements.

3.2. Fundamental techniques.

There are 2 classification models referring to:

1. Classification of techniques based on the intended purpose of their execution:

   1.1. Vital point striking techniques, atemi waza.

   1.2. Joint locking techniques, kansetsu waza.

   1.3. Throwing techniques, nage waza.

   1.4. Strangulation techniques, shime waza.

   1.5. Immobilization techniques, osaekomi waza.

2. Classification of techniques based on progressively increasing execution difficulty, hierarchically ordered for pedagogical objectives in five technical levels, Gokyo no Waza - 五教の技.

4. Practice of Pre-Established Forms, Kata · 型:

This refers to learning a system of prearranged movements organized according to the progressive difficulty of their execution. Through pre-established attack and defense forms, proper self-defense techniques are demonstrated according to the fundamental principles of Taijutsu.

5. Self-Defense Techniques, Goshinjutsu · 護身術 :

Self-defense techniques that use all natural weapons of the body to apply strikes, joint locks, throws, strangles, and immobilizations as responses to various types of attacks, both armed and unarmed, against one or multiple assailants.

6. Free Practice, Randori · 乱取り:

This refers to practice between two combatants who freely apply fundamental techniques, kihon waza, pre-established forms, kata, and learned self-defense techniques, goshinjutsu (Jujutsu), in a realistic situation, ensuring that they do not harm each other and in accordance with the fundamental principles of Taijutsu.

7. Prepared Technical Demonstration, Embu · 演武:

This refers to the free, creative, autonomous preparation and subsequent display as a technical demonstration of pre-established self-defense forms that, due to the practitioner's interest or affinity, showcase the content, objectives, and principles of Taijutsu.