ryoute freestyle karate, ryoute, double hand grappling, kata bunkai, kata applications, kusanku, naihanchi, naifuanchi, tekki, sanchin, rokushu, tensho, passai, bassai, cross hand grappling

The Ryoute Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Martinclewett

Ryoute literally means ‘both hands’ in Japanese but this is just a direct translation of the name into English and obviously does not fully describe the art. It is not really possible to give a complete description of Ryoute because Ryoute is an art and like other arts it is open to individual interpretation. Suffice to say that people doing Ryoute know what it is. What follows is a brief and ultimately incomplete description of Ryoute to help you get some idea of the art with out actually seeing it or doing it.

Ryoute could be described as ‘the art of double hand grappling’. This means that both hands are used in grappling. However ‘grappling’ can mean different things in different martial arts. In Ryoute ‘grappling’ means using your hands to grab any part of your training partner’s arms (usually the wrists). So head locks, rugby tackles and other standard wrestling techniques are not allowed. Ryoute is not wrestling.

Although the name ‘Ryoute’ is a Japanese word, the art was actually established in the United Kingdom by a group of Karate enthusiasts whilst searching for a universal technical format in which the movements of karate kata could be used. The name ‘Ryoute’ was chosen as a convenient way to summarise the format which they arrived at into a single identifiable name. Therefore Ryoute has no direct Japanese roots. It should also be emphasised that Ryoute is not a style of Karate. From a beginner’s point of view, Ryoute has absolutely nothing in common with Karate and to appreciate the link between Ryoute and Karate requires an advanced understanding of both arts. In any case Ryoute is not a Budo (Warrior Way) but Karate is very much linked to the ideals of Budo.

In many martial arts the objective of participation is to acquire combat skills together (usually) with some kind of ‘spirituality’. This is not true of Ryoute. Ryoute is not a method of fighting and has no spiritual philosophy to impart. Ryoute is a recreational art and therefore the objective of participation is primarily enjoyment. Ryoute allows people to experiment, be creative and define their own style but it also offers them the opportunity to test their style inside an agreed format (double hand grappling). Really it is possible for anyone to practise double hand grappling, Ryoute clubs are merely centres of excellence that allow people to acquire formal certification.

Ryoute is unusual among martial arts in that it is partly competitive and partly non-competitive (dance like), this makes it similar in some ways to the Brazilian art known as Capoeira. To play Ryoute too competitively ruins the art and people’s enjoyment of the art. Ideally practitioners take the opportunity to win when it is presented to them but do not actively seek victory. However maintaining a position of control is essential in order to avoid losing. Ultimately how people play Ryoute is very much based on there personality and mood. As with all recreational arts, being too competitive can spoil it.

There is no striking or body-to-body contact allowed in Ryoute, and typically one person is gripping the wrists of the other person in a right-to-right and left-to-left configuration. Ryoute matches and training are accompanied with drumming to keep things moving. The drumming also helps people find the right balance between competitive and non-competitive play.

Ryoute, like other martial arts, has a grading format. The grading format consists of eight student grades, seven apprentice instructor grades and one instructor grade. Grades are awarded at Ryoute meetings that are held every three months called ‘Gatherings’. At a ‘Gathering’ all available members from all the clubs in a particular region meet up and train together to ensure that clubs do not become too insular and that high standards of skill are maintained. Therefore it is possible to become an Instructor after four years of training twice a week (See note 1).

NOTES

1) See Grades