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Origin:
The West Coast of the United States is credited as being a major melting pot for many various Asian cultures over the
past century. Any time that multiple traditions and lifestyles are found in close range of one another, a blending between
them is inevitable. The same is for martial arts.
Those who assisted in the founding and development of Jidokan brought with them a variety of philosophies and fighting
techniqes. Prominent black belt instructors of this art owe their contributions to the study of the traditional
martial arts that include, but are not limited to, the following: Kung Fu, Kempo, Karate, Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, Tai Chi and Jeet
Kun Do.
While the actual roots of Jidokan are shrowded in mystery (probably due to the fact that the founders studied and learned
their skills independently or with peers, apart from prestigious Asian academies) the origin of this art is traced directly
back to the arts mentioned above, and the unique combinations that resulted left us with a hybrid martial art.
The idea behind such a broad range of styles is based on the philosophy that a particular technique is effective or necessary
in some situations but can be potentially useless in others. Therefore, with the passing of each belt rank in the Jidokan
society, a student has learned the basic skills in one particular style and is ready to move on, while at the same time building
upon what they've already learned. Due to the unnusually broad spectrum of fighting styles covered under the Jidokan
art, one should not be surprised if progression from one belt rank to the next is surprisingly slow and tedious.
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Brief overview:
Martial arts have long been the standard in the world
of free-form fighting. It is widely believed that a martial arts master, regardless of strength or age, can defeat anybody
who does not practice the martial arts in a weapons-free fight. Why is this?
Eastern martial arts have been around
for thousands of years. They continue to evolve, and in some cases, new ones continue to emerge. The centuries
of experience in the Far East have led to the development of a practically full-proof system of combat, in which the artist's
potential is pushed to the brink of super-human abilities.
Each major branch of martial art was founded for
a different purpose, and at a different time. Therefore, each art adds its own unique contribution to the world
of unarmed combat. Each art is effective under certain situations and can be used to improve one's health, confidence,
and, of course, knowledge of self-defense. When these varied styles are blended, the end result is a free-form system
of combat.
In this case, the term "free-form" is used loosely, describing
the fact that different martial arts are combined into one, to create a system where any individual technique can be
used in a situation where that particular style is necessary.
The goal was to create a martial art that can
adapt many different forms and techniques and use each one at the appropriate time and place. Thus, a master of this
art would be allegedly able to defend himself effectively in practically ANY fighting situation. The name of the martial
art is Jidokan; "the way of the ultimate spirit."
Philosophical Statement:
Keeping in mind the fact that general martial arts are not about specific dogmatic principles,
Jidokan practitioners are to display tolerance toward varied religious and philosophical viewpoints. Therefore,
even the specific philosophy behind the Jidokan martial art is intended to fit a broad range of personal ethics, as to remain non-controversial.
Jidokan is meant to improve one's own physical, mental, and spiritual health, but does not
display any specific religious viewpoints. The idea behind mental and spiritual health is to induce relaxation and
to help one focus and concentrate more clearly; they are not intended to promote, or conflict with, any particular
points of view other than their straight-forward purpose.
The Jidokan Philosophy:
"One should do what is absolutely MOST necessary and effective
to defend oneself from harm. Taking the initiative to set a personal goal to hurt somebody, whether spontaneously or
previously devised, is never necessary nor appropriate. Through a varied array of meditation, aerobic excercise, physical
strengthening, balance and flexibility training, and self-defense skills, a person is to achieve their full potential in mental,
physical, and spiritual areas of life, and maintain that potential. Selflessness is the most important mentality; defense
is only necessary in a worst-case scenario, and at all other times one should be preparing for such a situation. Violence
should never be a goal. Self improvement should always be a primary goal. One must never hesitate or cease
to commit the utmost effort in all areas of life."
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