Hoshin

Although almost all fighting systems have the objectives of teaching strategic methods of self defense, building self-esteem, self-confidence, instilling respect and inspiring self-discipline, Hoshin began with the intention of including the healing and spiritual disciplines as well. Throughout the history of the system, its effectiveness in integrating other arts and developing the full potential of its practitioners has been proven time and time again.

Hoshin is an American eclectic martial art developed in Michigan by Dr. Glenn Morris. It is a combat form similar to savate, aiki-jutsu, and jujutsu. Hoshin is technically scientific self-defense based on traditional warrior training drawn from India, China, and Japan as well as modern Western traditions like defendu, Quick Kill, and Dance De Rue savate. It includes kicks, blows, grappling, but the emphasis is on meditation, energy, joint locks, pressure points, weapons, ground techniques and throws. It should be noted that this is a combat art and not a sport form. All of the techniques, if properly applied, disrupt the body's electrical systems and often break bones. As this training requires contact, and most of the techniques cause pain even when applied with no intent to harm, much emphasis is placed upon warming up, building flexibility, and learning safety procedures such as how to fall, how to care for your training partner, and healing techniques. You will learn them, you will love them. Hurt rather than harm; Harm rather than injure; Injure rather than maim; Maim rather than kill; Kill rather than be killed.

Students are expected to learn and use normal dojo courtesies. Bowing in and out of the dojo is expected, and all students are expected to know the ceremonial bows even if they are seldom used. Once you have been accepted into the system, you will be expected to wear an appropriate colored patch and belt. Dogi, or t-shirt are worn during class if required by the instructor.

Hoshin students are required to study the works of teachers both living and dead. Usually, students will read one book a month applicable to the level they are at and reports are submitted at the last class of each month. Reports go toward the grading mark of the student. Students may not grade if their association fees are outstanding. Class fees are typically paid by timely tuition and grading fees are due on or before the day of the test.

Why Does Hoshin include Meditation and Intention Sensing?

Meditation is very important to a complete, and well rounded martial artist. Meditation teaches us how to breathe, and how to react to stressful situations from a relaxed and almost calm point of view. By reacting in a calm manner, our bodies react faster and more fluidly, therefore we are not tense, or choppy in our movements. Meditation and basic centering of one's self enables us to be more aware of our own mind and body, and what's going on around us, thus leading into the subtle side of the martial arts: sensing intention and chi or energy work.

Sensing chi, or someone's intention is a very valuable tool from a self protection standpoint. With the correct training, intention sensing can act as your first line of defense, or like a radar of possible incoming threats. If you can sense an attack on your body before the threat is in your personal space, you not only have much more time to react to the attack, but you also have so many more options available for countering or defending against the attack.

As a well rounded and intelligent martial artist, we want to use all of the tools available to us, whether they originate from a combat or healing background. If you look at the meridian systems from acupuncture, you have a ancient proven system of healing the body from a holistic approach. If you take that same meridian system, and play with it from a combat standpoint, you now have a ancient proven system of destructively affecting the human body. By combining the ability to project chi into the correct meridian points, you now have an effective add-on to your physical self protection techniques. This enables you to not only use less of your own physical energy in the attack, but you can also cause other lasting effects on the attacker that are not only physical, but electrical as well.