Foundations of Tode
This page reflects some of the foundational skills of the old Okinawan China Hand system, skills in danger of disappearing with the development of sports karate. It highlights early influences on the subsequent development of Tode and some of the key masters involved in the transition of Tode into the earliest karate systems, many of them prominent figures in the original Tode Research Society.
Many of these foundational skills have all but disappeared from modern karate. Some karate styles have preserved them but they tend to be fragmented across individual styles, making it difficult to practice them under a single system.
These foundational skills include anatomical targeting (known as Kyusho Jitsu) and striking methods (known as Atemi Jitsu), the practice of Kiko (often referred to as Japanese Qigong), the understanding of medicinal herbs used largely to treat injuries or to protect the hands, arms and body during makiwara practice and Kote-Kitai (arm toughening exercises), the use of Hoju Undo (supplementary equipment training) and the practice of Kobudo, as an embedded practice with empty hand training are typical examples of some of the foundational skills crucial to the old China Hand system.
Acupoints and Human Nervous System Anatomy
The old China Hand system was a result of the transfer of knowledge from Chinese boxing systems, particularly those that developed around the South eastern Chinese province of Fujian, links that go right back to the 14th century.
The Bubishi - The Bible of Karate
In terms of the written history of karate, perhaps the oldest martial reference we have is the Bubishi, a text of unknown origin, that was owned by prominent 19th century Okinawan karate masters. Written in the Fujian dialect it is a manual which highlights Traditional Chinese Medicine practices, the 36 vital points first identified by the Taoist monk Feng Yiyuan and details relating to the Shichen theory (Diurnal Cycle) of TCM and relevant information about the Southern Chinese boxing systems.
Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952)
Kenwa Mabuni was one of the first generation instructors who lived through and influenced the transition from the old China Hand system into modern karate.
Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953)
Chojun Miyagi was a pivotal figure in the transition of the old China hand system and modern karate. His primary teacher was Kanyro Higaonna, who had spent 14 years training in China and was in possession of the Bubishi, apparently quoting from it often.
Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957)
Gichin Funakoshi published details of 40 vital point locations titled ‘Jintai Kyusho’ (Human Body Vital Points) in his 1935 edition of ‘Karate-do Kyohan’.
The charts he used were thought to be based on Densho scrolls from Shindo Yoshin Ryu jujutsu presented to him in Japan by Hironori Ohtuska.
Soken Hohan (1889-1992)
Hokan Soken’s ‘Secret Notes’ are attributed with the re-introduction of kyusho back into mainstream Karate. These notes were given out to U.S. students at the Kadena Airforce Base by Soken’s student and Chief Instructor Fusei Kise, who taught at the base. The notes were apparently translated into English by Kise from Pressure Point charts drawn by Soken.
Jigoro Kano (1860-1938)
Jigoro Kano, in his 1931 unpublished work ‘Judo Kyohan,’ complied a chart of 12 vital points called kyusho or ate dokoro, and 23 atemi or body-striking techniques from Tenjin Shin’yo Ryu Ju Jitsu School to create the Kodokan atemi waza (body striking techniques).
Kano incorporated these striking techniques into kata, notably Kime no Kata and Itsutsu no Kata and introduced them alongside Kappo (Resuscitation) techniques.
Contemporary revival of Kyusho Jitsu
It was U.S. Karate Instructor, George Dillman, who was really responsible for the revival of Kyusho Jitsu and its widespread re-introduction into Karate. Dillman claims to have learned these techniques from a number of Okinawan Karate masters but the two most responsible for imparting knows he of Kyusho to Dillman were Sokon Hohan & Taika Seiyu Oyata.
Almost every practitioner of kyusho today, certainly as far as Karate is concerned, trace their lineage directly back to Dillman in one way or another.
Morehei Ueshiba (1883-1969)
Morehei Ueshiba studied Daito-ryu Aiki Ju Jutsu under Sokaku Takeda from 1915, receiving a teaching certificate (kyoju dairi) in 1922.
The Daito Ryu system included a vast curriculum of techniques, including specific knowledge of kyusho points for striking, joint manipulation and nerve attacks. Specific, detailed lists of the vital points themselves are typically found within the technical scrolls (‘eimeiroku’ and ‘hiden okugi no koto’) of Daito Ryu, which Ueshiba received.
Taika Seiyu Oyata (1928-2012)
Taika Seiyu Oyata is probably more responsible for the popularity of Kyusho Jitsu today than any other practitioner. Oyata learned the art of Kyusho Jitsu from Wakinaguri no Tan Mei, a 6th generation Okinawan whose family migrated to Okinawa from China. Wakinaguri was considered an expert in vital point striking.
Oyata was considered a true master of Kyusho Jitsu and demonstrated the art frequently in the U.S. during the late 1970’s.
Kampo - Traditional Japanese Medicine
The first medical law of Japan (‘Ishitsu-rei’) was established in 701. It explains the medical system of acupuncture in detail, showing that acupuncture was being administered under the authorisation of the national government. For the next 1200 years, acupuncture continued to be an important facet of public health in Japan.
Sekkotsu & Hone-Tsugi or ‘Bone Setters’
Japan did not completely abandon Traditional Japanese Medicine after the Meiji Restoration (1868-1869).
Sekkotsu, the traditional Japanese art of bone-setting had been used to treat wounds, bruises, reduce dislocations and set bone fractures throughout the centuries and continues to be practiced in Japan today.
Sekkotsu developed from the study of injuries in battle. Sekkotsu also taught practitioners how to identify weak points in human anatomical structures and became part of the teaching in many traditional martial arts schools. The application of medicinal herbs, herbal compresses, massage and diet, has always been part of traditional Sekkotsu practice.
The resurgence of Traditional Japanese Medicine (TJM) or Kampo
Chinese ideas and medicines were a vital part of medical knowledge exchange with Japan, which resulted in the passing of ‘Ishitsu-rei’, the first medical law of Japan in 701.
Following the Edo period (1600-1868) Japanese physicians were exposed to both Dutch and German medicine. In the latter part of this period, interactions with Dutch traders and physicians occurred initially through the port of Nagasaki and the influence of western medicine quickly spread throughout Japan.
The Revival of Traditional Japanese Medicine
Since 2001, Kampo education has been incorporated into the model core curriculum for all medical students in Japan.
There are an increasing number of clinical trials and scientific studies being conducted to establish an evidence base for Kampo, with research departments and outpatient clinics specialising in Kampo medicine established at many Japanese universities.