Types of Taijutsu

Taijutsu is a method of movement that serves as the basis of all unarmed, hand-to-hand fighting techniques in the nine ancient Japanese martial arts, or "ryu." Literally meaning "whole-body movement," taijutsu integrates the body, mind and spirit and provides power through a series of natural movements. Weapons were only used as natural extension of these movements, as seen in Japan's legendary Ninja and Samurai warriors. It's still used today as the fundamental base for a wide array of martial arts.

  1. Training

    • Because individual taijutsu techniques number in the thousands, students don't train by memorizing the exact movements of each technique --- instead, they focus on the principles of the movements embodied by the techniques in three overall phrases. Beginners learn the purpose and proper application of physical movement and progress by allowing the movements to flow more naturally within the technique's parameters. For advanced students, the technical concept is removed completely and replaced with only natural movements used to respond to any combat and defensive situation.

    Unarmed and Armed Techniques

    • The art of taijutsu utilizes various types of unarmed techniques: ukemi, or breakfalling and rolling; dakentaijutsu, or striking and kicking; and jutaijutsu, or grappling, which is used to gain a physical advantage. Armed techniques are divided into six general types: kenjutsu, or sword fighting; bojutsu, or stick fighting; tantojutsu, or knife fighting; shurikenjutsu, or thrown weapons; and kusari fundo jutsu, or rope and chain weapons. Because the use of weapons are only a natural extension of the unarmed movements, the need to learn an entire set of new movements for each weapon is eliminated.

    Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu

    • As one of the two traditional ryu that primarily use taijutsu techniques, this form of taijutsu includes four unarmed techniques: kurai dori, a defensive posture; ukemi gata, falling and rolling; shinobi gaeshi, used for undetected movement and escape; and santo tonko no kata, use of powder to create a fog for escape. The armed techniques, known as yon-po hiden, or "four secrets," include senban shuriken, or four-pointed throwing star; shuko and ashiko, or spiked bands on the hands and feet for climbing; shinodake, or a tube used as a blowgun or snorkel; and kyoketsu shoge, which was a blade attached to a cord swung by a heavy ring.

    Kukishin Ryu Taijutsu

    • Founded in the 14th century, this ryu utilizes a combination of six martial disciplines that includes an altered form of taijutsu, also known as jujutsu. In addition to the techniques such as grappling, striking, kicking and the use of small weapons, training was restructured into eight levels to reduce the number of injuries during the learning process. The eight levels include shoden no kata, or beginner; eri jime no kata, or strangulations; chuden no kata, or intermediate; tai no kata, or body forms; okuden no kata, or advanced; moguri no kata, or diving; daisho sabaki no kata, or unarmed movements with a long and short sword worn at the sides; and muto dori no kata, or unarmed sword defense.