What is a Ryukyu Martial Art?

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Easy question, right? In essence a Ryukyuan Martial Art is any system or methodology that involves martial discipline, i.e., Martial referring to military methodologies in defense of the island and/or its people, etc. It actually spans from the empty hand to the various weaponry used in that defense and/or offense solely dependent on the mandate of the Okinawan government, past or present. 

Where things get a bit sticky is the reference to “Art.” As it may pertain to the indigenous system or methodologies as described it may be about military prowess regardless of how that is applied or practiced. It also may be about both artistic and technique performance oriented skills toward a more combative, fighting and defensive applications. You will hear about skills, technique, craft and performance or better yet applications. 

Most often in our modern times when asked most instantly as if by reflex will yell out, “Goju-ryu or Uechi-ryu or Shorin-ryu or Isshin-ryu,” and so on because most of us know those particular styles as offspring of the indigenous system of Ti, sometimes referred to as “Te or Toudi.” This is pretty limited in understanding what is a Ryukyu Martial Art.

I prefer discipline because that term encompasses both the jutsu and the do of Ryukyu, i.e., those principles involving both theory and philosophy as it might come from Okinawan cultural beliefs. Isshinryu for instance, the creator of that particular style is believed to have created it from his belief system that incorporates some of the Chinese ancient classics and practices such as divining the future through the I Ching, etc. It really is about the eclectic embodiment of martial prowess from experience and the absorption of other cultural belief driven disciplines of all the surrounding cultures the Okinawan encountered over their history like China, Japan, Korea, etc. 

Also, Ryukyu is absolutely in reference to Okinawa, i.e., as referenced in the above. In essence, an Okinawan Martial Art must therefore be any and all martial disciplines born of Okinawan methodologies for fighting, combatives and defense of both empty-hand model and weapons model. Ergo, the modern name given as “Karate and Kobudo.” 

I don’t see any designations that say the more modern systems/styles created in some specified span of time from the present backward to those early years of Ti or Te or Toudi (the references to the more indigenous forms of empty handed disciplines the Okinawans themselves use today).

Here is the crunch, the historical data other than hearsay, etc., pretty much is non-existent prior to the early 1900’s and even that material is iffy at best where a lot of assumptions and speculations are involved in determining its historical origins, etc. It is so muddied that even the Okinawans cannot prove karate’s historical background. 

We can probably assume with a bit of authority that discussions in the realm of Ryukyu (Okinawan) Martial Arts will involve those systems and styles directly associated with Ti, then Naha; Tomari; Shuri, and finally Karate but we can also assume that any subject that is, was, can be or could be derived from the practice of Ryukyu MA would be acceptable topics of discussion even if they don’t directly refer to any one or group of systems or styles.

Example: Fighting, defense, fundamental principles, etc. are all present in every single form or type of martial discipline whether it originates from Okinawa, Japan, China, Korea, the United States or any of the European Union members. I would not say that medieval sword arts of the English would qualify but any principles that support that system would also support the Asian methodologies, i.e., its martial disciplines. Therefore the discussions on those principles would be acceptable in a discussion of Ryukyu Arts but the actual sword methods of the European discipline - not so much unless there can be established some connection between say, swordplay of Europe and Kobudo weaponry (which ever one that would parallel the techniques and principles of that swordplay - the distinction should be both presented or at least implied to qualify. 

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