In the dojo we often talk about weaknesses that exist in many systems of martial art and how to overcome them. I always encourage my students to take notes and ask lots of questions. This is to help them better understand each lesson. They ask many excellent questions, many I have heard and answered before however, for the first time one of them ask if our system had any weaknesses. I thought this was a wonderful thought provoking question that deserved spending some time discussing. As I have dedicated my life and spent the last 30 something years trying to solve that very question and create a complete system; I ask my students to analyze and look for weaknesses in our system. The following paper was written by my wife as her opinion and answer to the question.
Donjitsu Do was designed as an adaptive art, based on “what if…?”, through the use of techniques once used centuries ago. The art’s intent is to encompass as many scenarios as can be thought, all-the-while eliminating weaknesses found in sport and some traditional martial art styles. Within sport styles, the competitors’ defensive techniques are limited to only those “legal” techniques allowed by the sport officials. In Donjitsu Do the only rule is that there are NO rules. Donjitsu Do is a survival art based on self-defense and self-preservation, not winning or scoring. Therefore, the rules that govern sport styles render those styles essentially useless in self-defense and survival situations. Unlike sport styles, traditional styles are centuries old and the practitioners are typically taught the style as originally passed down, keeping true, as much as possible, to its historical style. Some traditional systems even possess their techniques in written form and kept within in their system’s “bible”. These traditional systems are not adaptable as their techniques are intentionally written and strictly adhered to for the purpose of maintaining its originality and true, traditional form. While originally created and utilized for self-defense and self-preservation, some traditional systems, when adhered to too strictly, can render a portion of the style useless in modern day self-defense situations. Donjitsu Do although rich in tradition and ways of the old, focuses on utilizing the old ways and adapting them to fit with modern times. However, Donjitsu is still considered a traditional system as, along with teaching the adaptability of ancient techniques to modern scenarios, the history and traditional style of the techniques are acknowledged, taught, and learned as well. Donjitsu Do strives to eliminate any weakness or limitation that would render its style and techniques useless.
In understanding Donjitsu we often discuss what other arts have influenced the style of Donjitsu Do. Donjitsu Do is not a system in which its techniques are new but a system that utilizes old techniques from other styles. It is a compilation of techniques the founder of Donjitsu Do thought were best suited for self-defense and self-preservation. The style, however, continues to change. The Donjitsu Do of today is much different than the Donjitsu Do ten years ago. The system continues to evolve with each “what if…?” situational concept. Additionally, the ever continuing societal changes also influence the system of Donjitsu Do. As crimes are committed in new ways, Donjitsu continues to evolve to combat those crimes. Much like computer programs require constant updates, the art of Donjitsu requires updates to adapt to modern day self-defense demands and requirements.
Many martial art systems do not adapt in such a manner. As discussed, sport systems and traditional systems are bound by what their respective systems allow. Donjitsu, however, is only bound by what has not yet been thought. A question was recently posed, “what would be a weakness of Donjitsu Do?” This is a very difficult question to answer. We can compare Donjitsu Do with the generic sport style concept or with the traditional strict style concept; however we cannot render a final verdict of superiority. To compare Donjitsu Do with another style is extremely difficult as the answer is subjective and dependent upon the situation. In a sport arena Donjitsu Do’s weakness would be its rule that there are no rules. Donjitsu Do practitioners are not trained in the sport environment. Donjitsu Do practitioners lack the mindset of fighting to win as they are trained to survive – two totally different concepts with two totally different means in which to achieve. Therefore, in a sports arena, a Donjitsu Do practitioner would almost always be disqualified when utilizing techniques designed and practiced within the system of Donjitsu Do. In a traditional setting, again, the rulebook sets the stage. For instance, when comparing Donjitsu Do with Akido, the techniques are very similar, if not the same. However, the application of those techniques is vastly different. A Donjitsu Do practitioner is taught to apply the technique when and where applicable. However, an Akido practitioner is taught to only apply the technique when receiving an attack. These are two completely different systems and mindsets that utilize the same techniques. Is one weaker than another? Does waiting to apply a technique create a weakness? Or, does stealing the opportunity to apply a technique create a weakness? The answers are subjective as the situation, as well as the skill of the practitioner, determines the best application for the technique.
It is nearly impossible to provide an objective response to the question “what would be a weakness of Donjitsu Do?” Not that the system is flawless or that Donjitsu Do is the ultimate martial art, but Donjitsu Do was created with the sole purpose of identifying weaknesses and strengthening the system based on practicality and applicability. Therefore, a true weakness of Donjitsu Do would be what situation or scenario the system has not yet identified as a “what if…?” However, just because a particular “what if…? has not yet been posed does not mean the answer does not already lie within the teachings and techniques of the art of Donjitsu Do.
-Jennifer Ogle
Donjitsu Do was designed as an adaptive art, based on “what if…?”, through the use of techniques once used centuries ago. The art’s intent is to encompass as many scenarios as can be thought, all-the-while eliminating weaknesses found in sport and some traditional martial art styles. Within sport styles, the competitors’ defensive techniques are limited to only those “legal” techniques allowed by the sport officials. In Donjitsu Do the only rule is that there are NO rules. Donjitsu Do is a survival art based on self-defense and self-preservation, not winning or scoring. Therefore, the rules that govern sport styles render those styles essentially useless in self-defense and survival situations. Unlike sport styles, traditional styles are centuries old and the practitioners are typically taught the style as originally passed down, keeping true, as much as possible, to its historical style. Some traditional systems even possess their techniques in written form and kept within in their system’s “bible”. These traditional systems are not adaptable as their techniques are intentionally written and strictly adhered to for the purpose of maintaining its originality and true, traditional form. While originally created and utilized for self-defense and self-preservation, some traditional systems, when adhered to too strictly, can render a portion of the style useless in modern day self-defense situations. Donjitsu Do although rich in tradition and ways of the old, focuses on utilizing the old ways and adapting them to fit with modern times. However, Donjitsu is still considered a traditional system as, along with teaching the adaptability of ancient techniques to modern scenarios, the history and traditional style of the techniques are acknowledged, taught, and learned as well. Donjitsu Do strives to eliminate any weakness or limitation that would render its style and techniques useless.
In understanding Donjitsu we often discuss what other arts have influenced the style of Donjitsu Do. Donjitsu Do is not a system in which its techniques are new but a system that utilizes old techniques from other styles. It is a compilation of techniques the founder of Donjitsu Do thought were best suited for self-defense and self-preservation. The style, however, continues to change. The Donjitsu Do of today is much different than the Donjitsu Do ten years ago. The system continues to evolve with each “what if…?” situational concept. Additionally, the ever continuing societal changes also influence the system of Donjitsu Do. As crimes are committed in new ways, Donjitsu continues to evolve to combat those crimes. Much like computer programs require constant updates, the art of Donjitsu requires updates to adapt to modern day self-defense demands and requirements.
Many martial art systems do not adapt in such a manner. As discussed, sport systems and traditional systems are bound by what their respective systems allow. Donjitsu, however, is only bound by what has not yet been thought. A question was recently posed, “what would be a weakness of Donjitsu Do?” This is a very difficult question to answer. We can compare Donjitsu Do with the generic sport style concept or with the traditional strict style concept; however we cannot render a final verdict of superiority. To compare Donjitsu Do with another style is extremely difficult as the answer is subjective and dependent upon the situation. In a sport arena Donjitsu Do’s weakness would be its rule that there are no rules. Donjitsu Do practitioners are not trained in the sport environment. Donjitsu Do practitioners lack the mindset of fighting to win as they are trained to survive – two totally different concepts with two totally different means in which to achieve. Therefore, in a sports arena, a Donjitsu Do practitioner would almost always be disqualified when utilizing techniques designed and practiced within the system of Donjitsu Do. In a traditional setting, again, the rulebook sets the stage. For instance, when comparing Donjitsu Do with Akido, the techniques are very similar, if not the same. However, the application of those techniques is vastly different. A Donjitsu Do practitioner is taught to apply the technique when and where applicable. However, an Akido practitioner is taught to only apply the technique when receiving an attack. These are two completely different systems and mindsets that utilize the same techniques. Is one weaker than another? Does waiting to apply a technique create a weakness? Or, does stealing the opportunity to apply a technique create a weakness? The answers are subjective as the situation, as well as the skill of the practitioner, determines the best application for the technique.
It is nearly impossible to provide an objective response to the question “what would be a weakness of Donjitsu Do?” Not that the system is flawless or that Donjitsu Do is the ultimate martial art, but Donjitsu Do was created with the sole purpose of identifying weaknesses and strengthening the system based on practicality and applicability. Therefore, a true weakness of Donjitsu Do would be what situation or scenario the system has not yet identified as a “what if…?” However, just because a particular “what if…? has not yet been posed does not mean the answer does not already lie within the teachings and techniques of the art of Donjitsu Do.
-Jennifer Ogle
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