Houston Budokan

Judo (The way of gentleness) Early Judo was similar to Jiu-Jitsu in several significant ways, including dress, techniques, and philosophy. Today, Judo is an Olympic Sport and is generally practiced in almost every country in the world. The first Judo school, called the Kodokan, in Tokyo, was founded in 1882, and it still sets the guidelines by which all forms of Judo are practiced.

Karate-do (The way of the empty hand) An unarmed, defensive art with a history that spans many centuries, originating in the Shaolin fighting arts of China and later developing in the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa), combined with indigenous grappling techniques, and in Japan. Japan-Karate-do Ryobu-Kai is founded on the search for the ideal style of Japanese karate..

Goshin Jiu-Jitsu (The way of self defense) As taught today encompasses empty-handed self-defense techniques developed from the centuries old military arts (Bujutsu) of the Japanese Samurai Warriors. The term Jiu-Jitsu, formulated in the Tokagawan era, translates to the art (Jiu) of yielding, softness, subtleness or pliability and (Jitsu) from Bujutsu. The arts of Zen, Aikido, Judo and Karate-do evolved from the same historical influences.

Kendo (The way of the sword) in Japanese and is, in essence, Japanese fencing. Traditional Japanese fencing was originally practiced by Bushi or Samurai. Kendo deals with the physical and mental skills necessary for sword fighting. The goal of Kendo to develop the physical and spiritual aspects of the practitioner. Kendo is the most popular of the martial arts in Japan.

Iaido (The art of drawing the sword) out of its scabbard, cutting one's opponent with a single killing blow, removing blood from the sword, and returning the sword to its scabbard with a minimum of exertion. The essence of Iaido is to form a non-combative discipline practiced exclusively for an individual's spiritual cultivation.

Kobudo (The art of ancient weapons) At different times and for various reasons during its history, weapons were banned on the island of Okinawa. The resourceful Okinawa’s adapted everyday farming and fishing implements as weapons for self-defense. Over time, the use of these weapons became formalized into a beautiful, graceful, and effective art that has been passed down from generation to generation.