The Kyusho Jitsu Kenkyukai (The Kyusho Jitsu Study & Research Group) is primarily based on the research and practice of the anatomical and acupoints charts featured in old karate books published in the early part of the 20th century (circa 1930’s) and the old Densho scrolls of Koryu Ju Jitsu systems.

Based in Scotland, with study group sessions in both Fraserburgh and Perth, we are predominantly a karate organisation but our research and practice inevitably takes us into other arts and systems, in order to understand a more holistic approach to martial arts by exploring common concepts across systems.

We organise training sessions on various aspects of Kyusho Jitsu, Atemi Waza, Tuite Waza, Kansetsu Waza and other techniques that have been displaced by the increase of sports in martial arts generally.

We regularly run seminars by instructors from various systems who are willing to teach openly many of the specialties of their systems.

As a predominantly karate organisation, we put kata at the centre of what we research and practice.

We use the standard ‘Genki’ model for teaching kata.

The form visible in the kata is known as the ‘Genki’ or base model. This is the original form or the origin of the kata.

The Genki model introduces the four elements of kata:

• Bunkai 
• Oyo
• Henka
• Kakushi

Bunkai – means “disassembly” or “to take apart and analyse”. It refers to the analysis of the various movements prescribed in the kata, as taught by the individual school. Bunkai is not the application of the kata. Breathing, stance, posture, body shifting or movement are all part of bunkai. By breaking down and analysing kata in this way, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of the principles involved.

Oyo – means ‘practical application’. Oyo moves beyond the primary pattern of the form by beginning to look at how the basic concepts and principles of kata can be applied to different scenarios.

Henka – Means ‘variation’ or ‘change’. The execution of kata and your expression will never look the same as others in spite of using the same basic model emphasised in the form. Henka allows us to take a basic principle identified in the analysis and application stage of learning kata and apply those principles to situations outside of the obvious interpretation. The emphases within the movement, the force applied to the individual techniques, the ability to coordinate the movement to
variations in attack & defence scenarios, the size of the attackers, the differences in the rhythm of the attack and many other aspects of the effect of how individual executes the pattern of the form can never be the same. Henka begins to move the consciousness outside the restrictions imposed by the form which composes the kata to expressing freely the principles taught in the kata to any dynamic situation.

Kakushi – Means ‘hidden’. Each kata includes Omote (surface, the visible part) and Okuden (the hidden part). Kakushi deals with techniques which, although always present in the Genki model are overlooked, because they are not obvious. Kata, at least within the context of karate, were originally handed down by oral tradition or ‘kuden’ so many of the hidden techniques were never recorded. It often takes an instructor from a different style of karate to that which the individual practices, to make these hidden techniques obvious. It’s important to understand that Kakushi refers to ‘hidden’ but not ‘secret’. There are no ‘secret’ techniques in karate. Only techniques that are not obvious.

There is another expression often used outwith the Genki model, and that is ‘bunseki’. Bunseki relates to all 4 elements of kata found within the Genki model. It means ‘analysis’ similarly to ‘bunkai’ but refers to a more complicated or technical analysis than bunkai. It may best be described as a technical analysis of a subset identified in the bunkai, and its
within bunseki that Kyusho Jitsu is studied.

Kata is often referred to as the ‘heart and soul of karate’, the core of all karate skills. The true essence of training lies in developing the ability to use the techniques effectively, not just performing them as a choreographed form.

The Kyusho Jitsu Kenkyukai welcomes practitioners, instructors, and martial arts enthusiasts from all backgrounds.

Whether you’re interested in joining a study session, attending a seminar, or contributing your knowledge to our research, we’d love to hear from you.