Kodawari Hombu Dojo
About Us
In the most simple of terms, the Kodawari Hombu Dojo (こだわり本部道場)1Kodawari (こだわり) is a Japanese concept that refers to a relentless pursuit of perfection in a given field or area of study with a level of attention to detail that borders on the fanatical or obsessive. is about teaching and passing on the personal2The martial arts and combative sciences of Okinawa are NOT militaristic or battlefield oriented. They are specifically designed as personal or individual skills life preserving arts and combative sciences that originated primarily on the island chain of Okinawa with a heavy influence from Chinese martial arts. In addition, secondary or ancillary arts and skills from a variety of other martial practices are also included in an attempt to create a combative paradigm that is broken into the following main components.
Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu
Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu (龍精派琉球拳法唐手術)3 Ryusei is translated as “dragon spirit” and ha refers to a school, system or faction. Ryukyu refers to the island chain of Okinawa. Kempo is the Japanese way to say quanfa from Chinese and refers to “fist law” and would generally be translated as boxing or fighting technique. Karate uses the old way of referring to Okinawan fighting methods by using the kanji 唐 that means “China” as opposed to the character pronounced they same way that translates as “empty”. Jutsu means skills, techniques or science and separates the art from the do or way based arts that are more interested in self-perfection as opposed to self-protection. is the main art represented and taught by Michael Davis at the Kodawari Hombu Dojo.
More information on Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu can be found by clicking on this link (it will open in a new browser tab) or click below:
Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kobudo
Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kobudo (龍精派琉球古武道)4 Kobudo is made up of three (3) separate kanji. The kanji 古 or “ko” is translated as old, the kanji 武 or “bu” is translated as warrior and the kanji 道 or “do” is translated as way or path. Therefore, the combined word is translated as “old warrior ways or methods. In the world of Okinawan martial arts, kobudo is generally used when one is referring specifically to weapons arts or skills. It is not uncommon for older schools of martial arts (koryu – 古流 or old school) from the mainland of Japan to use it to mean something quite different. is the weapons based arm of the primary combative arts taught at the Kodawari Hombu Dojo.
Matayoshi Kobudo Weapons
More information on Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kobudo can be found by clicking on this link (it will open in a new browser tab) or click below:
Ancillary Martial Arts & Studies
Fire and Water Methods
Michael “Many Kicks” Davis
Godan ~ Renshi ~ Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu
Kinryu – Gold Dragon
If you have not read about “The 9 Dragons of the Kodawari Dojo“, you can do so by clicking here. In doing so, understanding the “Kinryu” or Gold Dragon will make more sense to you.5Generally speaking, there are a total of nine (9) planned individuals who have the rank of Shuseki Shihan (首席師範) or “Chief Instructor” within the Kodawari Dojo. These individuals will serve as long term advisors to Sensei Davis and the dojo. Biographies will be added as individuals are offered and accept the position. Please note that this is a title or Kyoiku Shogo (教育称号) that applies ONLY to the Kodawari Dojo and is NOT intended as any sort of rank increase generally.
Qualifications
What follows is probably more background and information that you could possibly want on my qualifications, ranks and styles studied over an almost 50 year span of history. However, it is thought that this might be important to some and it will certainly help to understand where I am coming from in regards to much of my commentary here.
- Almost 50 years of total martial arts experience, covering Okinawan, Japanese, Chinese and Filipino combative and energetic arts.
- Godan (五段 – 5th degree black belt) and a renshi (練士) teaching license – Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu (龍精派琉球拳法唐手術).6More informatation on Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu can also be found here: Welcome To Our Dojo! – Who we are, what we do and what to expect and here: Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu
- Godan (五段 – 5th degree black belt), Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kobudo (龍精派琉球古武道 – Matayoshi Kobudo – 又吉古武道 – based).7 More information on Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kobudo can be found here: Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kobudo and here: Welcome To Our Dojo! – Who we are, what we do and what to expect
- Yondan (四段 – 4th degree black belt) and a renshi (練士) teaching license – Matsukaze Aikibudo (松風合気武道)
- Yondan (四段 – 4th degree black belt), Shotokan Karate-do (松涛館空手道).
- Sandan (三段 – 3rd degree black belt), Goju-ryu Karate-do (剛柔流空手道).
- Experienced in Yangshi (揚式), Chenshi (陈氏) and Wushi (吳氏) Taijiquan (太极拳).
- Extensive training in other Chinese martial arts (中国武術 – Chugoku bujutsu) such as Baguazhang (八卦掌 – eight trigram palms) and Xingyiquan (形意拳 – form intent fist), including many of their energetic components and trainings.
- Extensive training in other Chinese energetic arts (気功 – qigong and 內功 – neigong or, if preferred, kiko and naiko).
- Highly trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine (中药 – Zhongyao) with an emphasis on the combative use of vital points (急所 – kyusho or 点穴/點穴 – dianxue).
- Highly trained in Traditional Chinese Herbology (传统中草药学 Chuan Tong Zhong Cao Yao Xue), with an emphasis on the creation and formulation of iron palm(tie zhang – 鐵掌 or Omoi Te – 龍精派重い手) related dit da jow (跌打酒 – hit fall wine) and other assorted herbal based products.8More information on the Ryusei-ha Omoi Te taught by the Kodawari Hombu Dojo can be found here: Ryusei-ha Omoi Te or Heavy Hand
- 1Kodawari (こだわり) is a Japanese concept that refers to a relentless pursuit of perfection in a given field or area of study with a level of attention to detail that borders on the fanatical or obsessive.
- 2The martial arts and combative sciences of Okinawa are NOT militaristic or battlefield oriented. They are specifically designed as personal or individual skills
- 3Ryusei is translated as “dragon spirit” and ha refers to a school, system or faction. Ryukyu refers to the island chain of Okinawa. Kempo is the Japanese way to say quanfa from Chinese and refers to “fist law” and would generally be translated as boxing or fighting technique. Karate uses the old way of referring to Okinawan fighting methods by using the kanji 唐 that means “China” as opposed to the character pronounced they same way that translates as “empty”. Jutsu means skills, techniques or science and separates the art from the do or way based arts that are more interested in self-perfection as opposed to self-protection.
- 4Kobudo is made up of three (3) separate kanji. The kanji 古 or “ko” is translated as old, the kanji 武 or “bu” is translated as warrior and the kanji 道 or “do” is translated as way or path. Therefore, the combined word is translated as “old warrior ways or methods. In the world of Okinawan martial arts, kobudo is generally used when one is referring specifically to weapons arts or skills. It is not uncommon for older schools of martial arts (koryu – 古流 or old school) from the mainland of Japan to use it to mean something quite different.
- 5Generally speaking, there are a total of nine (9) planned individuals who have the rank of Shuseki Shihan (首席師範) or “Chief Instructor” within the Kodawari Dojo. These individuals will serve as long term advisors to Sensei Davis and the dojo. Biographies will be added as individuals are offered and accept the position. Please note that this is a title or Kyoiku Shogo (教育称号) that applies ONLY to the Kodawari Dojo and is NOT intended as any sort of rank increase generally.
- 6More informatation on Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu can also be found here: Welcome To Our Dojo! – Who we are, what we do and what to expect and here: Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu
- 7More information on Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kobudo can be found here: Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kobudo and here: Welcome To Our Dojo! – Who we are, what we do and what to expect
- 8More information on the Ryusei-ha Omoi Te taught by the Kodawari Hombu Dojo can be found here: Ryusei-ha Omoi Te or Heavy Hand
Densho
All articles written by Michael Davis should be considered densho
- 1Kodawari (こだわり) is a Japanese concept that refers to a relentless pursuit of perfection in a given field or area of study with a level of attention to detail that borders on the fanatical or obsessive.
- 2The martial arts and combative sciences of Okinawa are NOT militaristic or battlefield oriented. They are specifically designed as personal or individual skills
- 3Ryusei is translated as “dragon spirit” and ha refers to a school, system or faction. Ryukyu refers to the island chain of Okinawa. Kempo is the Japanese way to say quanfa from Chinese and refers to “fist law” and would generally be translated as boxing or fighting technique. Karate uses the old way of referring to Okinawan fighting methods by using the kanji 唐 that means “China” as opposed to the character pronounced they same way that translates as “empty”. Jutsu means skills, techniques or science and separates the art from the do or way based arts that are more interested in self-perfection as opposed to self-protection.
- 4Kobudo is made up of three (3) separate kanji. The kanji 古 or “ko” is translated as old, the kanji 武 or “bu” is translated as warrior and the kanji 道 or “do” is translated as way or path. Therefore, the combined word is translated as “old warrior ways or methods. In the world of Okinawan martial arts, kobudo is generally used when one is referring specifically to weapons arts or skills. It is not uncommon for older schools of martial arts (koryu – 古流 or old school) from the mainland of Japan to use it to mean something quite different.
- 5Generally speaking, there are a total of nine (9) planned individuals who have the rank of Shuseki Shihan (首席師範) or “Chief Instructor” within the Kodawari Dojo. These individuals will serve as long term advisors to Sensei Davis and the dojo. Biographies will be added as individuals are offered and accept the position. Please note that this is a title or Kyoiku Shogo (教育称号) that applies ONLY to the Kodawari Dojo and is NOT intended as any sort of rank increase generally.
- 6More informatation on Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu can also be found here: Welcome To Our Dojo! – Who we are, what we do and what to expect and here: Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu
- 7More information on Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kobudo can be found here: Ryusei-ha Ryukyu Kobudo and here: Welcome To Our Dojo! – Who we are, what we do and what to expect
- 8More information on the Ryusei-ha Omoi Te taught by the Kodawari Hombu Dojo can be found here: Ryusei-ha Omoi Te or Heavy Hand