We are a part of a global collaboration of martial artists who are preserving the vitality of traditional styles, by going beyond the artificial restrictions of big organizations and the limitations inherent in individual practice, freeing us to go deeper into training, research and exploration.
Challenge
An artificial limit is placed on martial arts when practitioners, even able and well-intentioned ones, feeling the need to build a reputation, build an organization, retain and recruit members, maintain a personal image and define a brand positioning for their school or style, and so shut out the novelty, unpredictability, and risk-taking which are necessary to successfully explore, test, innovate, and create a living martial art.
A martial art responsive to the real life needs of the members, and the practical defensive and combative requirements of the present moment.
Insight
Old patterns, best guesses, or blind acceptance of dogmatic authority will not solve the issues of training, skill acquisition, maturity or personal freedom.
Advantage
Yamabayashi Shorin Ryu is relevant to the urgent challenges we all face: in self-defense, fitness, health, focus, insight and character. It contributes to deeper fulfillment in sports and academics for students, and in the personal, professional, family and working life of all participants.
We appreciate our legacy. We build on the accumulated knowledge of the past. We use it and challenge ourselves.
This is the same approach taken by the Okinawans who continually refreshed their style and deepened their knowledge over the centuries.
Yamabayashi Shorin ryu is exhilarating, challenging, powerful and flexible. People with diverse interests, abilities and aspirations benefit.
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Post and photo Copyright © 2023 Jeffrey Brooks
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read True Karate Dō –
“One of the best books I’ve read in years, inviting and compelling.
Jeff Brooks moves effortlessly from martial arts to Buddhism to consciousness studies, self-transformation, and related fields in this wide-ranging and Illuminating study that has much to offer both novice explorers and veteran practitioners.
A splendid achievement.”
— Philip Zaleski, Editor, The Best Spiritual Writing series
True Karate Dō is available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover and Kindle Edition