Kyushojutsu:
Basic Theory
By Joe Swift (Mushinkan
Dojo, Kanazawa, Japan)
In recent years, karataka all over the world
have begun to reexamine and study their classical Okinawan kata.
Practical applications have been a major focus
of much of this research, and one of the key components of practical
applications is the science of well-placed blows to vital areas, pressure
points or acupuncture points. This study is called kyushojutsu in Japanese.
The first article in this series examined the
historical development of this art in Okinawa and Japan. This article continues
the examination by focusing on the basic theories behind the art.
Kyushojutsu can be, and often is, explained in
terms of two different medical paradigms: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
and Modern Western Medicine (MWM).
More often than not, the two camps seem to be at
odds with each other as to which approach is more valid. However, in this
author's opinion, either is fine, and people can probably "pick their
poison" so to speak.
What To Call The Vital
Points
As much of the original theory behind
kyushojutsu lies in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) paradigm, many
proponents in the West use the international acu-point code as nomenclature.
Others utilize terminology that is more in line with Modern Western Medicine
(MWM), citing nerves and muscles, etc.Still others prefer to use different
Asian medical or martial arts terms (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc.) to describe
the locations of the points. Adding to the confusion is the fact that while
Traditional Chinese Medicine acu-points and Western Medicine's neurological
points are often the located on the same body point, other times they are not.
Kyushojutsu Understood
In Terms Of Traditional Chinese Medicine
The TCM paradigm makes use of the principles of
acupuncture (qi flow, balance and interrelationships) to describe its methods
and effects. Perhaps a short description of the meridians may be in order here.
Centuries ago in China, doctors discovered
"passageways" of energy flow, which are called meridians (a
geographical term) in English (McCarthy, 1995). There are 12 major bilateral
meridians, for various internal organs. They are: Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach,
Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder, Kidneys, Pericardium, Liver, Gall
Bladder, and the Triple Warmer.
In addition, there are other important meridians
not associated with organs (often called Extra Meridians, or Extraordinary
Vessels), two of which run vertically along the frontal and posterior
center-line, the Conception Vessel (or meridian) and the Governing Vessel (or
meridian), respectively.Along these meridians are numerous points or
"holes" (Sato, 1996) through which energy can be transferred, or the
flow of energy can be modified, through needles, fingertips, or heat in medical
application, or though trauma in defensive application. These meridians can be
broken down into either yin (negative) or yang (positive).
In TCM for health to be maintained, yin energy and yang energy must be balanced within the body (Sato, 1996). The medical arts such as acupuncture, shiatsu, and kikoo (qi gong in Chinese) seek to restore this balance. In contrast, kyushojutsu, in simple terms, can be viewed as attacking this balance, or the flow of energy, within the body to cause bodily damage to the opponent.
One method of using vital point or acu-point
strikes employs The Five Element Theory. Some schools of TCM categorize the
body's organ meridians into five separate but interrelated elements, namely
Fire, Water, Earth, Metal and Wood (Sato, 1996). This is known as the Five
Element Theory (FET) which is used to understand how energies related to these
elements, which are associated with organs, interrelate, balance, nurture or
regulate each other.
The simplistic method of utilizing the FET in
kyushojutsu is to follow what is known as the Destructive Cycle. This,is done
by attacking the meridians in a specific order to inflict damage upon the
opponent by disrupting the flow of energy that regulates (destroys or absorbs)
the succeeding or related meridian in the cycle. The Destructive Cycle can be
easily remembered by the following formula: Metal cuts Wood; Wood drains
nutrition from Earth; Earth absorbs Water; Water puts out Fire; and Fire melts
Metal (Sato, 1996; Nakayama, 1998).
Yet another way to apply the kyushojutsu is to attack the meridians during specific time frames, known as shichen in Chinese (McCarthy,1995). This theory states that the energy and blood flow through the meridians is strongest during a specific time of day, corresponding the 12 meridians with 12 two hour periods of the old Chinese clock (McCarthy, 1995; Sato, 1996; Nakayama, 1998). The shichen are broken down into the hours of the Rat, Bull, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Bird, Dog, and Boar, respectively (McCarthy, 1995; Sato, 1996; Nakayama, 1998).
Tradtional Chinese Medicine Versus Modern
Western Medicine
Theories of applying kyushojitsu through
understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine are not without their detractors,
most notably groups of practitioners who research kyushojutsu through Modern
Western Medicine (MWM). The MWM approach is useful in providing specific,
concrete, scientific examples as to why kyushojutsu works, referring to nerve
plexi, tendons, muscles, etc.
Proponents of the MWM approach state that the
body's neurological and other systems are well understood and verified
scientifically. They point out that meridians have never been scientifically
verified (to their satisfaction) and that the whole concept of qi (or chi in
Chinese) flies in the face of MWM biochemical concept of the body and its
systems. Furthermore, since most acu-points are the same or closely located to
neurological points, MWM adherents suggest that a MWM approach makes more
sense.
On the other hand, Traditional Chinese medicine
appears to be more "descriptive" (for lack of a better word) in its
application, preferring to cite "natural" phenomenon such as the
Yin-Yang and Five Element Theory. Supporters also point out that recent
scientific investigation of acupuncture has confirmed that stimulation of
certain acu-points has produced certain organ and brain reactions that can not
be explained in terms of Modern Western Medicine.
Even in Asian circles, however, some
disagreement exists about some of the TCM theories and principles. In Japan,
for example, the Yin-Yang theory has been accepted in the Eastern medical
circles, but there seems to be some apprehension about the Five Element Theory.
As far back as the Edo period (1603-1867), the scholar Kaihara said that the
Five Element Theoryjust makes things "too complicated" (Sato, 1996).
In China, the quanfa master He Yushan stated
that the striking of vital areas in terms of the shichen (12 two hour time
periods) is preposterous, and later research showed that the blood flow cannot
be broken down into 12 equal time periods through the 12 meridians (Jin, 1928).
Rather than bickering about which medical
paradigm is more correct, however, some suggest that a better approach might be
to combine the two and come up with a concise yet comprehensive explanation
(Rench, 1999).
Numerology and
Kyushojutsu
If things weren't confusing enough, another
aspect of the study of kata and its relation to kyushojutsu is the seeming
fascination with numerology. Many tradtional kata (as Gojushiho meaning 54
steps,Nijushiho or 24 steps,Seipai or 18 hands and Senseryu or 36 hands) are
named after numbers.
While many seem to think this might be a Chinese
phenomenon, it may have actually been imported from India (Zarrilli, 1992).
While they are not the only numbers associated with the fighting traditions,
some of the more prominent ones are 18, 36, 54, 72, and 108. These numbers can
be seen in Indian, Chinese, and Japanese martial arts literature (Jin, 1928;
Zarrilli, 1992; McCarthy, 1995; Sato, 1996) and within the names of kata.
One of the most common explanation of the use of
these numbers is that there are 108 effective vital points on the human body
(used in the martial arts), 36 of which are fatal (Jin, 1928). Another school
of thought is that there are 36 vital points, and 72 variations in attacking
methodology, making a total of 108 (McCarthy, 1995). Yet another theory lists
36 fatal vital points and 18 non-fatal points (Sato, 1996).
While the exact mechanism of the numerological
aspects of the fighting traditions may be lost to antiquity, we are left with
several reminders of this ancient heritage in the form of kata names and the
number of effective vital points.
About The Author:
Joe Swift, native of New York State (USA) has
lived in Japan since 1994. He holds a dan-rank in Isshinryu Karatedo, and also
currently acts as assistant instructor at the Mushinkan Shoreiryu Karate Kobudo
Dojo in Kanazawa, Japan. He is also a member of the International Ryukyu Karate
Research Society and the Okinawa Isshinryu Karate Kobudo Association. He
currently works as a translator/interpreter for the Ishikawa International
Cooperation Research Centre in Kanazawa. He is also on the Board of Advisors
for FightingArts.com.
References:
1.Jin Yiming (1928). Secrets of Wudang Boxing.
Translation of section on Vital Points, tr. P. and Y. McCarthy, 1994).
2. McCarthy, P. (1995) Bubishi: The Bible of
Karate. Tokyo: C.E.
Tuttle.
3. Nakayama T. (1998). Kassatsu Jizai ni Naru
(To Heal or Harm at Will). Tokyo: BAB Japan Inc.
4. Rench, A. (1999). Classical
Okinawan/Japanese Pressure Points. Unpublished Document.
5. Sato K. (1996). Seiden Jissen
Tenketsu-jutsu. (Orthodox Dim Xue for Real Fighting) Tokyo: Baseball
Magazine.
6. Zarrilli, P. (1992) "To heal and/or
harm: The vital spots
(marmmam/varmam) in two south Indian martial traditions." Journal of
Asian Martial Arts. Vol. 1:1 and 1:2.
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