Rinkiohen-Do
A Family System of Martial Arts
Rinkiohen-Do (臨機応変道) loosely means the "Way of Adaptability". The full definition of the word Rinkiohen is: Rinki-Ohen - "adapting to circumstances, do something on a play-by-ear basis, extemporaneously, impromptu, flexibility, adapting to circumstances as they arise". As a martial art, it is a system that recognizes that there is nothing more fundamental to life than change. Those who are able to adapt to change survive, but those who are able to cultivate change thrive. Whether it be in person to person combat, battle field strategy or the cycles of change found in Nature and Man, the understanding of the transformational process of change has been the subject of great minds over millennia. These minds left us literary works like I-Ching, Tao Te Ching, Art of War and others.
As a martial art, it is a system that is based on universal principles that make any martial artist successful. Far from a system of technique collecting, Rinkiohen-Do emphasizes the development of practical skill sets and a functional understanding of how and why a technique or strategy works.
The structure of training and development of Rinkiohen-Do is based on what we would call Internal Alchemy. Each level within the grading system is associated with an element and a phase of development. The elements are known in Japan as "Godai", but these are not elements you would find in a science lab or a periodic table, these elements are principles. In Sanskrit the term would be Tattva/Tattwa, which means "that-ness", "principle", "reality", or "truth" and is seen as a quality more-so than a thing. The elements are Earth, Water, Fire, Air & Void. In Rinkiohen-Do each element is associated with a particular state of consciousness, pattern of movement, psychological perspective and method of expression.
Rinkiohen-Do is divided into two major areas of study and practice; external (omote) and internal (ura). The external part of the curriculum covers the physical training of the exercises, techniques and strategies of the martial arts. The internal curriculum covers the training and techniques of internal development, focusing on breathing exercises, meditation and other practices designed to awaken dormant qualities within the student as well as expand awareness.
As a martial art, it is a system that is based on universal principles that make any martial artist successful. Far from a system of technique collecting, Rinkiohen-Do emphasizes the development of practical skill sets and a functional understanding of how and why a technique or strategy works.
The structure of training and development of Rinkiohen-Do is based on what we would call Internal Alchemy. Each level within the grading system is associated with an element and a phase of development. The elements are known in Japan as "Godai", but these are not elements you would find in a science lab or a periodic table, these elements are principles. In Sanskrit the term would be Tattva/Tattwa, which means "that-ness", "principle", "reality", or "truth" and is seen as a quality more-so than a thing. The elements are Earth, Water, Fire, Air & Void. In Rinkiohen-Do each element is associated with a particular state of consciousness, pattern of movement, psychological perspective and method of expression.
Rinkiohen-Do is divided into two major areas of study and practice; external (omote) and internal (ura). The external part of the curriculum covers the physical training of the exercises, techniques and strategies of the martial arts. The internal curriculum covers the training and techniques of internal development, focusing on breathing exercises, meditation and other practices designed to awaken dormant qualities within the student as well as expand awareness.