In the late 1960’s Jim Harrison founded the first Bushidokan school in Kansas City, Kansas. Harrison had studied judo and was top in his league. During this time he had also studied Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate and was top at this style as well.
Bushidokan is a combination of Judo, Okinawan Karate and JuJitsu, but it emphasizes a karate which resembles Shotokan. Bushidokan trains students in effective street self defense. Physical conditioning is very important and includes leg stretching and abdominal conditioning. Tournament fighting is also a large of part of Bushidokan training.
Beginning students learn seven basic stances, seven basic strikes (six linear and one circular), seven basic blocks (one of which is circular) and seven basic kicks. They also learn self defense techniques that are not included in the “basic” seven. These techniques include a number of throws, a few soft (redirecting) blocks, and several wrist and hand locks. Two basic self defense strategies, a direct counter and an indirect counter, are taught for each type of attack. Students also learn different sparring techniques which they can use either in no contact or full contact sparring.
Bushidokan has only two “official” katas, but students are encouraged to learn other Shotokan katas as well.
Bushidokan is an external Martial Art with only mild references to the internal arts. At the end of the Taiso which begins each class, Mizu No Kokoro (“mind like water”), is performed.
