Martial arts instruct students in forms of defense that involve punching, kicking, blocking, grappling, wrist-locking, throwing and weapons study. The scope of martial arts spans many styles and philosophies.
Systema
Systema is a Russian martial art whose contributions to the fighting world are frequently overlooked. Designed to create highly adaptive combatants who can respond to multiple fighting scenarios, Systema emphasizes combat drills and sparring over orchestrated sequences, and focuses much of its training on the ability to control the six body levers, which are the neck, elbows, knees, waist, shoulders and ankles. Emphasizing pressure points and a devastating striking technique known as the ballistic punch, Systema offers its practitioners a practical and deadly knowledge of how to weaken and conquer an opponent's body during combat.
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu
Also known as ninjutsu and ninpo, Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art with roots dating to 12th century Japan. Using nine ninja and samurai "ryuha," or fighting arts, the Bujinkan school instructs practitioners in unarmed combat, rolls and break falls, survivalist techniques, weapons training, stealth and evasion. Emphasizing maneuverability and leverage over brute strength, Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is taught by registered shidoshi, or instructors, who have passed the requirements set forth by grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi. All instructors of the Bujinkan arts and methods are required to regularly travel to Japan to receive personal instruction from Hatsumi in an attempt to preserve the authenticity of the martial art style.
Kenjutsu
Meaning "the art of the sword," kenjutsu is a traditional Japanese sword art that includes schooling in many classical katana and bokken techniques. While the aim of kenjutsu is to hone a practitioner's ability to use the katana, or Japanese sword, practitioners often use the wooden bokken alternative for a much more forgiving practice weapon during training. Traditionally, hundreds of dojos throughout Japan taught their own kenjutsu techniques, but the techniques could be sorted into three major schools: Kage-ryu, Itto-ryu and Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu. The common modern alternative to kenjutsu is kendo, a style in which practitioners attack each other with bamboo swords called shinai while wearing protective armor. While similar in some of the blocks and strikes, kendo lacks many of the more dangerous elements and sword cuts studied in kenjutsu.
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