What's in a Name?
Tracing the Circle – Weekly Meditations on the Practice
“What’s in a Name?”
Dotokushinkai is the shorthand public name for the organization, Dotokushin Bugakusha (also known as Daode Wuxue She in Chinese). "Dotoku" is the ancient philosophy of the Way and Virtue; "shin" means "heart". Dotokushin can be translated as "righteous heart" and represents the aspiration of practitioners, the wish to have a righteous heart. "Bugaku-sha" means "martial study society". Most frequently, the name of the organization is rendered in English "Dotokushinkai Martial Arts Research Institute".
The Konanryu (hard-soft school) arts practiced in Dotokushinkai fall into the combined budo of Konanryu tode (karate), jujitsu, and aikijitsu, descended from the martial arts practiced and taught by Dr. Albert C. Church, dai-soke, and his disciple, Raymond O. Isgett, through the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai (Shorinji Tetsukenryu, Kamishinryu, and attendant Kamishinkai arts) and the Nippon Kobudo Doshikai. The Konanryu line is Jim Keenan's personal or "family" practice, preserving and expanding on the technique and wisdom he received from these outstanding masters and teachers.
Jim, who began his martial art studies in 1965, was a student in the tradition of Soke Church from 1972 until Dr. Church's death in 1980. For the sake of avoiding conflict, Jim adopted the name of his school as the name of the whole organization, “Dotokushinkai Bugakusha.” As an umbrella organization, Dotokushinkai also includes schools and practitioners of other systems supported by Jim. Among them are Okinawan karate (Isshinryu), Israeli Krav Maga, Chinese Chuanfa (Qilin), and Chinese Internal Arts (especially taijiquan and baguazhang).
In terms of process, Konanryu tode uses the archetypal kata found in the three main streams of Okinawan te to isolate and study energetic movement and interactive relationships. Naihanchi, Sanchin, Seisan, Seiuchin, Bassai are some of the systems most often selected first. (Note: Within Dotokushinkai archetypal kata are viewed each as its own martial system, not merely as one of many kata in a great catalogue of ‘learnables’). The base intent of the practice is to develop genuine martial skill, emphasizing multiple person engagement. Transmission tends to occur in small groups and stresses the classical tradition of one-on-one mentoring rather than modern assembly line teaching. Techniques are taught as arising from relationships rather than as external constructs.
There is no kyu rank, only mudansha and yudansha. As a rule, only one kata is studied to attain a black belt, first degree. This typically takes several years of dedicated practice across a broad spectrum of modalities (including weapons), after which the student may choose from an extensive range of further studies. As a rule, the instructor assigns the first kata based on an individual's personal desire, body type and energetic emphasis. Outdoor practice with frequent location changes, street-clothes, use of environmental training tools, etc., exemplify Dotokushinkai methods.
The process of reaching initial mastery is an arduous, exacting process, challenging practitioners physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Teaching emphasis is on providing accurate and clear transmission of the arts and not on quantity of students taught. As a result, students who reach their first black belt level demonstrate superior skill and understanding.