User:Martinclewett

Ryoute

Ryoute : Double Hand Grappling

Ryoute (両手) (commonly pronounced by English practitioners rye - you - tea and not to be confused with 琉手 Ryū-te or "Ryūkyū hand") is a hand grappling (tegumi) art that was created during 2002 in Birmingham in the United Kingdom by Martin Clewett, Robert Wall, Ian Alexander and Karl Hawkins. The name Ryoute is a Japanese language word that means “both hands”; “Ryou” meaning both and “Te” meaning hands. This name was chosen for two reasons, firstly the art has its roots in Okinawan Karate and secondly because “Double Hand Grappling” one of the four component arts of Ryoute starts by one person gripping the wrists of the other person in a cross grip configuration; left hand grips left wrist and right hand grips right wrist.

Although the term grappling is commonly associated with martial arts, Ryoute practitioners prefer to refer to Ryoute as an art, rather than a martial art. The are two reasons for this, firstly, unlike many martial arts, the grappling practiced within Ryoute has no direct practical martial function and secondly, unlike many martial arts, practitioners are encouraged to create their own forms and techniques.

Ryoute has four main component arts, these are:
1. Double Hand Grappling
2. Grid Grappling
3. Double Circle Grappling
4. Concentric Circle Grappling
Other components include:
5. Forms, techniques and principles for each of four component arts.
6. Hand drumming.
7. Music.
8. Poetry.

Double Hand Grappling

The objective of Double Hand Grappling is to achieve a win via submission using only using the following types of techniques:
a) Double hand cross grip arm joint locking techniques
b) Single hand cross grip arm joint locking techniques
c) Tripping techniques
The art is structured around an accompanying drum beat or rhythm and starts initially from a cross hand double grip. This makes it most similar in practice to Aikido and in theme to Capoeira. Hand drums or hand drum based music is often played whilst opponents grapple and the art often resembles a dance. Ryoute practitioners often refer to double hand grappling as a type of dance, however because of the element of competition this description can be misleading to the layman. Practitioners often use distinctive and unusual movements and postures that correlate to various karate kata.

Grid Grappling

Grid Grappling takes place on an array of raised foot sized surfaces arranged equidistant from each other roughly one arms length apart with six nearest neighbours; this forms an equilateral triangular based lattice (group). The number of surfaces in the array can be any number starting from seven. The objective is to achieve a win via forcing the other person off the lattice whilst remaining on the lattice yourself only using the following types of techniques:
a) Pushing the body arms or shoulders with the hand or arm.
b) Gripping and pulling or joint locking the arms and shoulders.
The art is most similar to the training practice known as Plum Blossom Stump training practiced in various styles of kung fu notably Wing Chun. Practitioners often use distinctive and unusual movements and postures that correlate to various kung fu animal styles notably Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Tiger Kung Fu, Snake Kung Fu, Leopard Kung Fu, Dragon Kung Fu, Crane (martial arts) and Eagle Kung Fu. These are used together cohesively and counter each others movements.

Double Circle Grappling

Each of the two players has their own circle which is one arms length in diameter. The circles are positioned so they lie on the ground and one touches the edge of the other. The objective is to win by forcing the other person to step out of their circle whilst remaining in your own by only using the following types of techniques:
a) Pushing the body arms or shoulders with the hand or arm.
b) Gripping and pulling or joint locking the arms and shoulders.
The art is most similar to the practice of fixed pushing hands in Tai Chi Chuan. The two circles can be extended to form a Yin Yang symbol. At the time of writing no decision has been made as to whether to use two simple circles or extended circles in the form of Yin Yang; needless to say the name of this component of Ryoute may have to be changed.

Concentric Circle Grappling

Each of the two players has their own space one inside a circle arms length diameter and one outside that circle but inside a second larger circle. The two circles are concentric and the ratio between the two circles sizes is the number e (mathematical constant) (approx. 2.71828). The objective is to establish yourself in the centre circle and depose the other person from the centre circle by only using the following types of techniques:
a) Pushing the body arms or shoulders with the hand or arm.
b) Gripping and pulling or joint locking the arms and shoulders.
c) Leg presses using the leg and foot.
This art is most similar to sticky hands practised in Wing Chun.

Grading System

Ryoute has eight student grades, beginners being classified as grade one, seven apprentice instructor grades and one instructor grade, all (non apprentice) instructors being considered equal. Student grades are taught principles, techniques and forms for each of the four arts created by instructors or apprentice instructors. Apprentice instructors are taught principles, techniques and forms but also are expected to create their own principles, techniques or forms. Instructors are expected to be able to produce principles, techniques and forms for "consumption" by students and apprentice instructors.

History

Although Ryoute is modern art, its creation was a response to an unconventional analysis of traditional forms (kata) from karate and kung fu. The creators of Ryoute hold their analysis to be more thorough than the conventional analysis used by modern martial artists (bunkai). The two approaches can be summarised as follows:

• Modern martial art’s conventional analysis involves asking the question, “What might this movement in this form be used for within combat?”
• Ryoute’s unconventional analysis involves asking the question, “What type of training practice would naturally give rise to movements that are seen in this form?”

There are two key differences between these approaches:
1. Ryoute’s analysis method does not assume that the analysed form is to be used in combat; however it might be concluded as a result of the analysis.
2. Ryoute’s analysis method starts with training methods and creates forms for those training methods for comparison purposes. Whereas modern martial art’s analysis method starts with form movements and creates techniques from those form movements to be applied within combat.

The creators of Ryoute hold that the Ryoute analysis method is more thorough because it makes less assumptions, often posing the rhetorical question, “Would a form created specifically for combat closely resemble traditional martial arts forms?”; implying that they think the answer is no. If they are right then their analysis clearly has a direct impact of the history of martial arts.

Philosophy

The four component arts of Ryoute by their very nature link to many practises and ideas that would be regarded as Shamanic in their nature for example hand drumming, dance (forms), totemism (animal styles), dualism (yin and yang) and Sacred Spaces (circle grappling). The relationship between Shamanism and Ryoute is not stated explicitly however its existence is a somewhat unavoidable conclusion especially when one considers the supposed age and traditional nature of the material which was used to create the art (see History).

Dualism is one of the primary concepts and runs through the whole art, great emphasis is placed on finding the right balance between Yin and Yang concepts if and when they are identified. For example practitioners talk about Yin and Yang (hard and soft) Qi which can be experienced as body tension and mental attitude whilst practising the four primary arts and their forms. The balance between Yin and Yang varies for the component arts:
• Double Hand Grappling uses Yin and Yang Qi depending on situation.
• Grid Grappling uses mostly Yang Qi with some Yin Qi.
• Double Circle Grappling uses mostly Yin Qi and some Yang Qi.
• Concentric Circle Grappling uses Yin and Yang Qi together simultaneously.
A dualist approach is also taken to practising drumming patterns.

Other philosophical concepts contained within the art are:
Empiricism. Since Ryoute is a physical hands-on art the idea that experience take presidence over theoretical knowledge is very important, this is known philosophically as empiricism.
Aesthetics. Since Ryoute is a creative art the ideas of the philosophy of aesthetics are important. It is certainly true that all of the aesthetic universals identified by Denis Dutton are consistent with ideals in Ryoute.

Criticisms

Ryoute has faced criticism from people who mistake it for a martial art. Criticisms usually run along the lines of “That wouldn’t work in a fight.” This is usually because it is not supposed to work in a fight. The creators of Ryoute have also criticised martial artists especially karate ka over their analysis of their own traditional forms (see History).

References

The offical Ryoute website www.ryoute.com
Criticism 1 of Ryoute on Bullshido Ryoute: The art of double hand grappling (assuming that it's a martial art)
Criticism 2 of Ryoute on Bullshido Why people don't take martial arts seriously? Perhaps this will explain... (again assuming that it's a martial art)
Martin Clewett criticising multiple applications of kata in karate on Fighting Arts.Com Multiple Applications
Martin Clewett proposing an alternative analysis method on Figthing Arts.Com Context of Kata
Martin Clewett starts by ridiculing the deadliness of bunkai and ends by deciding to create Self Defence kata Bunkai deadliness?