Ju Ki Do translated to English means “The Gentle Powerful Way.” The style founded by Kyoshi Ivan Ujueta in 1988, is inspired by 14 traditional martial art disciplines from 5 different countries.
The primary philosophy of Ju Ki Do is to disable a man from doing wrong and enable him to do right. Our current society is rapidly losing the concept of value for human life. This is evident by the ever increasing atrocities committed against one another on a daily basis. The mindset of vengeance and self-justification runs rampant through our communities. Ju Ki Do opposes this mindset by teaching students an art more difficult to master than destruction; the art of healing.
The term Ju conveys a concept of being gentle or yielding. It is the idea of not meeting force with force, but rather embracing and redirecting.
The term Ki is representative of power. More specifically the life energy or internal power.
The term Do is a path or a way. In other words a mindset or perspective to abide by.
Inspiring Founders
(September 14, 1902 - October 7, 1994)
Carlos Gracie is the founder of Brazilian JiuJitsu and the first in the line of Gracie Brazilian JiuJitsu. Carlos Gracie trained under Misuyio Maeda for 3 years in Judo/JiuJitsu. Carlos Gracie founded his own school in 1925 and trained his brothers in they style he had learned from Maeda.
(December 28, 1938 - Present)
Grandmaster Chaka Zulu is the founder of Zyu - Jitsu Ryu.
Grandmaster Chaka Zulu is the founder of Zyu - Jitsu Ryu. He began his martial arts training through Judo classes at the YMCA in Harlem when he was 10 years old. In 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp, where he trained in hand - to- hand combat and earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. When he was discharged in 1962, he continued his training under Grand Master Frank Ruiz in Nisei Goju Karate and Professor Moses Powell in Jiujitsu and received black belts in both systems. He also taught African dance and received the name "Chaka Zulu" at the 1964 World's Fair by the African Zulu tribe dancers. He opened his own school in New York in the 1970's. He founded his system of ZuJITSU RYU: The Art of Zulu in 1984 after he realized that the style he was teaching was unique and different.
(November 9, 1904 - June 15, 1986)
Choi Yong Sool is the founder of the style of martial arts known as Hapkido. Born in Korea, he was taken to Japan at the age of eight. He returned to Korea after the end of World War II. Hapkido is a combination of the Korean word "Hap" meaning "harmony" or "coordination' and Ki meaning energy. So the term translates to mean "the way of harmonizing energy".
(April 25, 1888 - October 8, 1953)
Chojun Miyagi is the founder of the martial arts style known as Goju Ryu. He was born in Okinawa and began studying Karatedo at the age of nine. He began to study Chinese martial arts in 1915 and combined the knowledge of Okinawa Karate with Chinese Martial art to create the style of Goju Ryu which translated means "The Hard and Soft syle"
(March 19, 1931 - December 15, 1990)
Ed Parker is the founder of American Kempo. He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and trained in Kenpo under William Chow. He opened up his own school in the U.S. in Utah in 1954.
(July 2, 1934 - June 20, 1995)
Frank Ruiz founded Nisei Goju Ryu and trained under Peter Urban. The term "Nisei" means second generation, meaning this style is the second generation of Gojo Ryu after American Goju Ryu. In 1969, Grandmaster Frank Ruiz was hit by a car going 80 miles per hour and miraculously survived in part to his training.
(November 10, 1868 - April 26, 1957)
Gichin Funakoshi founded the style of martial arts known today as Shotokan Karatedo. Shotokan is named after Funakoshi's pen name "Shoto" which means "waving pines". "Kan" means "house". Shotokan directly translated means the House of Shoto.
(January 20, 1909 - May, 1989)
Gogen Yamaguchi studied Goju Ryu under its founder Chojun Miyagi. He was a prominent figure in the martial arts world. Nicknamed " The Cat", Gogen Yamaguchi was well known for killing a tiger with his bare hands while imprisoned in a Soviet concentration camp during World War II.
(October 1, 1913 - January 29, 2009)
Helio Gracie is a prominent figure in the development of Brazilian JiuJitsu. He trained under his brother Carlos Gracie. He is well known for his match against famed Judoka Masahiko Kimura as well as his 3 - hour match with of his former students.
(November 9, 1914 - July 14, 2002)
Hwang Kee is the founder of Tang Soon Do as well as the martial arts organization Moo Duk Kwan ("School of Martial Arts"). His style is influenced by the Korean martial arts style takkyeon and karate. "Tang Soo" is the Korean translation of "empty hand" which is the translation of the word karate, a style influenced by Japanese and Chinese martial arts. He first founded his school in 1945, under the name Hwa Soo Do, but after little success he changed the name to Tang Soo Do as the term "Tang Soo" was more known in Korea. Taekwondo was founded a year later in 1946.
(July 27, 1923 - April 26, 1994)
Masutatsu Oyama is the founder of Kyokushin Karate, the first and most influential style of full contact karate. Born in Korea, he moved to China when he was nine and learned Chinese martial arts from a farmer. At the age of 15, he joined the Imperial Japanese aviation school. After World War II, he trained under Gichin Funakoshi in Shotokan Karate. During this time, he often fought with U.S. Military Police due to his anger of losing friends who were kamikaze pilots during World War II. To combat his anger, he retreated to Mt. Minobu and trained rigorously. In 1953, he founded his own dojo, with a reputation for being rough, as his training was intense. He is well known for killing bulls with his bare hands.
(November 18, 1878 - November 18, 1941)
Mitsuyo Maeda, also known as Conde Koma (Count Combat), is a prominent Judoka who pioneered Judo across the world. He is most well known as the " Father of Brazilian JiuJitsu) as he taught its founder, Carlos Gracie, Judo/Jujutsu.
(December 14, 1863 - April 26, 1969)
Morihei Ueshiba is the founder of the style of martial arts known as Aikodo. Ueshiba studied a number of martial arts in his youth and served in the Japanese army during Russo - Japanese War. Aikido translated to English means "the way of unifying life energy" or "the way of harmonious spirit". The art itself is a true unity of martial studies, philosophy and religious beliefs.
(August 14, 1934 - April 7, 2004)
Peter Urban is the founder of American Goju Ryu Karate. He trained under Gogen Yamaguchi during his time in the U.S. Navy. He returned to the U.S. in 1959 and started his own Goju Ryu school. In 1964, Peter Urban returned to Japan to ask Gogen Yamaguchi for his permission to create an official Goju Ryu club in the U.S., to which Gogen Yamaguchi replied no, citing that "according to Bushido that no white man can achieve nirvana". This angered Urban, who replied "that according to Bushido Japan can never lose a war". With both parties angered, Urban returned to the U.S. and established an American Goju Ryu club without permission.
(January 25 -
Rick Diaz is the founder of the system Ichimaru Kai Kun. In 1964, he began training in Taekwondo, until he saw American Goju Ryu founder Peter Urban in a magazine. He then trained under Peter Urban and was one of the last students to receive a black belt from him. He has also trained under Chaka Zulu.
(October 10, 1940
William Cheung is a prominent practitioner of Wing Chun. Growing Up, he trained in Tai Chi. However, after he saw a gang leader easily beaten up by Yip Man using what was then thought as woman's kung fu, he decided to train under him. William Cheung trained with Yip Man for three years, also meeting and training with a young Bruce Lee. He moved to Melbourne, Australia in 1973 and founded a traditional Wing Chun school. He is currently the Grandmaster of his lineage of Wing Chun.
(October 1, 1893 - December2, 1972)
Yip Man is one of the most influential Wing Chun practitioners. He studied under Cha Wah - shun and Leung Bak (whose father Leung Jan had trained Cha Wah - shun). He later moved to Hong Kong, where he started his own school and had several famous students, the most popular being Bruce Lee. The style Wing Chun is named after the first master of the style, a woman named Yim Wing Chun, who taught martial arts by a Buddhist nun for self - defense.
(October 28, 1860 - May 4, 1938)
Jigoro Kano founded the style of martial arts known as Judo. The term Judo translated to mean "the gentle way". Judo is the first Japanese martial art to become an official Olympic sport.
Styles
Ju Ki Do is inspired by the following styles:
- Judo: Judo is a martial art form derived from Jujutsu. The style was formed at the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo, Japan in 1982 by Professor Jigoro Kano, who mastered several styles of Jiujutsu in his youth. The word Judo itself means “the gentle way” and is a style that seeks to use an opponent’s energy against him and eliminated some of Jujutsu’s much more dangerous techniques. Judo was first introduced to the U.S. in the late 19thCentury, and in 1904 Yoshitsugu Yamashita, one of Kano’s students, traveled to the U.S. and taught Judo to Theodore Roosevelt and West Point cadets. For more information visit: http://kodokanjudoinstitute.org
- JuJutsu: Jujutsu does not have one definite source from which it originated, but finds its fame from feudal Japan, as it is often thought as the martial art used by samurai who had lost their weapons. The actual term Jujutsu was first used in 1532 when Hisamori Tenenuchi officially established the first school of Jujutsu in Japan. After the end of feudal Japan and the samurai, the battle application of Jujutsu became obsolete, and a more practical application was needed. This is where Judo, Aikido, and Brazilian Jiujitsu developed. For more information visit: http://www.historyoffighting.com/jujitsu.php
- Aikido: Aikido is another martial art derived from Jujutsu. The style was formed in Japan by Morihei Ueshiba. Aikido, which means “the way of unifying life energy” or “the way of harmonious spirit”, has a greater focus on personal and spiritual development and isn’t meant to be seen as a sport, but rather a way to master one’s self to create harmony. For more information visit; https://aikido.mit.edu/history-aikido
- Goju Ryu: Goju Ryu is a form of karate that traces its origins back to Okinawa, Japan. Founded by Grandmaster Chojun Miyagi, he was trained in Naha-Te (one of two forms of karate in Okinawa) under Grandmaster Kanyro Higaonna, who trained in China. The name of Goju Ryu was later coined by one of Chojun Miyagi’s students, who stated that the style that he was taught was “Ho Goju Donto” or ‘the way of inhaling and exhaling is hardness and softness.” For more information visit: http://www.spokanekarate.com/goju-ryu-history/
- Hapkido: Hapkido is a Korean martial art founded by Choi Yong Sool, who during the Japanese occupation, worked for the patriarch of Daito Ryu Aikijitsu (a Japanese martial art). When Choi returned to Korea, he quickly received his first student, a brewery manager who was a 1stDan blackbelt in Judo. This student helped him establish a school to teach Dae Dong Ryu Yu Sool (the Korean name for Daito Ryu Jujutsu). Choi’s knowledge of this style along with the influence of Judo from his first student helped create the style of Hapkido. Hapkido was introduced to the U.S. in 1964 by Sea Oh Choi, who opened a school in Los Angeles, California. For more information visit: http://modernhapkido.org/history.htm
- American Kenpo: American Kenpo was founded by Ed Parker in 1954. In an article in the Los Angelas Examiner, Ed Parker stated that the style “combines Judo, Jiu Jitsu, boxing, some wrestling and much of the rough and tumble of street fighting.” Form more information visit: https://www.americankenpo.com
- Brazilian Jiujitsu:- During the period in which the war application of Jujutsu had come to an end, and a new practical style was being sought after, Brazilian Jiujitsu was created. Japanese Jujutsu/Judo was introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil in 1914 by Esai Maeda (AKA Conde Koma). The style was further developed by Carlos Gracie, who modified the techniques to emphasize the use of leverage and timing over strength and speed. For more information visit: http://www.gracieacademy.com/history.asp
- Shotokan Karate Do: Shotokan karate is a Japanese martial art established by Gichin Funakoshi, the “father of modern-day karate”. Sensei Funakoshi who had been taught karate in Okinawa early in his life, modified the art with influences from other traditional Japanese martial arts such as Kendo and integrated their philosophical aspects into his training. For more information visit: http://www.reddeerkarate.com/history.php
- Tang Soo Do: Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial arts influenced by the traditional Korean martial art of Taekkyon, Chinese martial arts systems, and the Okinawa discipline of Karate. The art has its origins during the Three Kingdoms era of Korea, but was established as a style in 1945 by Grandmaster Hwang Kee. The style was brought to the U.S. by Grandmaster Cheezic, who served in the Airforce in Korea and brought back his knowledge of the style after training there. For more information visit: http://www.tang-soo-do.org.uk/history.html
- Kyokushin Karate: Kyokushin karate is famous for being a “harder” style of karate which allow full contact sparring with little protective gear used. The style was created in Japan by Masutatsu Oyama who disagreed with the ideal that traditional karate should be non-contact. Kyokushin was brought to the U.S. in 1957 in Hawaii. For more information visit: https://www.livestrong.com/article/108186-kyokushin-karate-training-methods/
- Wing Chun: Wing Chun is a system of martial arts developed in Southern China in the 18thcentury. The originator of the style was Buddhist nun Ng Mui, who was the master of Shaolin Kung Fu and built upon this style. The name Wing Chun itself comes from Ng Mui’s first student; a woman named Yim Wing Chun. The style was passed down from Wing Chun eventually to Yip Man who brought the style out of China to the world. For more information visit: https://grandmasterswingchun.com/concepts-of-wing-chun-kung-fu/yip-mans-lineage/
- Tai Chi Chuan: Tai Chi Chuan is one of the three major branches of the traditional Chinese martial arts and is based on the Taoist philosophy that stresses the natural balance in all things and the need for living in spiritual and physical accord with the patterns of nature. The origins of the art itself are unknown, but the first known Tai Chi school was located in the Chen Village, which gave birth to several styles of the art. Tai Chi itself spread globally during the communist revolutions in China, which targeted teachers and fighters of the art and caused them to flee China. For more information visit: http://www.taichisociety.net/tai-chi-history.html
- 5 animal Form Kung Fu: Five animal form Kung Fu, also known as Shaolin Kung Fu, is a Chinese martial art has origins that dates back to around 525 A.D. when an Indian monk known as Bodhidharma brought martial arts to China. The five animal forms are dragon, tiger, crane, leopard, snake which represent a particular aspect of Shaolin Martial Arts. For more information visit: http://www.goldenlion.com.au/kung-fu/history-kung-fu/
- ZuJitsu: ZuJitsu was founded by Grandmaster Chaka Zulu in 1984. The style is based on Grandmaster Chaka Zulu’s unique training methods such as “Space Fighting” and “Fighting Rhythms”. He believes that each student is unique and thus needs to be taught based on their own abilities and limitations. For more information visit: https://www.zujitsu.net
Kyoshi
