Q: Is Budo Taijutsu for me?

A: Budo Taijutsu is good for all people-- for anyone who wants to learn to defend themselves and improve their lives. You should be in generally good health and be able to engage in vigorous physical activity. We can improve on any condition. You do not have to be an athlete, and you do not have to be interested in competitions. It is for people who want to train hard and don't mind the occasional scrape or bruise.

Q: What is Budo Taijutsu? I've never heard of it.

A: Budo Taijutsu is an umbrella term for an amalgamation of six Japanese martial arts that date back centuries. The word Taijutsu is another word for jujutsu. Our six martial arts were primarily used by Samurai clans, although we have a system of Ninpo Taijutsu as well. See our History page, under Resources, to find out more about our six styles.

Q: Do you teach children?

A: No. We only accept men and women over the age of 16; though exceptions can be made in special cases. Martial arts at this level of intensity are not appropriate for most children.

Q: Do you train women?

A: Yes. Women have been successfully employing these techniques for hundreds of years. We have a good proportion of women students.

Q: What is “Mixed Martial Arts”?

A: It's a modern term for an old idea. Originally (as with our styles) combative arts involved everything that might happen in actual combat-- striking, kicking, grappling, clubs, knives, swords, etc. As times became less dangerous, many martial arts split into two major specializations: striking and grappling. For example, judo only practices grappling, whereas kickboxing only punches and kicks. Some modern systems, in an effort to solve this problem and return to a more comprehensive method, have taken separate, different disciplines (such as wrestling and boxing, or jujutsu and Thai boxing) and bound them together.

Q: I used to train at the Missouri Budo Taijutsu Dojo years ago, and I want to come back. Is my old rank still good?

A: Due to advances in our methods and reorganization of structure, and the nature of one's own skill deteriorating, we require recertification on past ranks. Anyone absent for six months must recertify for their last rank. Anyone gone one year or longer must recertify for all their ranks.

Q: What is expected of me?

A: You need to pay close attention, and to train with safety in mind. You must follow instructions carefully. Do not overextend yourself early. You must act seriously without horseplay. Furthermore, while inwardly benefiting from prior martial arts experiences, you must "empty your cup" so that we may pour our art into you. If you do not do this, then you will not be able to take it in. Most importantly, you must bring with you a good heart and a respectful attitude.

Q: How can you claim to practice “traditional” martial arts?

A: First of all, how do you define traditional? What does that mean? To us, "traditional" means fighting systems that were (and still are) used for actual combative purposes-- not watered down for supposed spiritual enlightenment or sports. "Traditionally", martial arts were used on battlefields to kill people. A traditional martial art therefore must be combat worthy in every sense of the phrase, otherwise it is neither traditional nor is it a martial art.

Too many so-called "traditional martial arts" are in fact pretend martial arts, relying on cooperation and unrealistic techniques. Many martial arts schools are simply day care centers for baby-sitting children, having nothing whatsoever to do with actual martial arts. Most 'koryu' or old-style systems have evolved into historical reenactment-- so ritualized that it no longer bears any resemblance to actual combat.

We say we are traditional because we respect the culture and ethos of the country from which our systems come, and adhere to the historical forms and methods of our six Ryuha-- but we restore them to their original intended purpose. We practice in a dojo, not a gym, and within you will find as traditional a Japanese atmosphere as possible, with proper Japanese manners and phrases. And in order to ensure our students' abilities are real, we test our martial art systems under as many realistic conditions as we can. These conditions include the outdoors in various weather conditions, using weapons, multiple attackers, and by simulating various real life situations that people might have to face.

Q: Do you compete in tournaments?

A: We neither encourage or discourage our students from participation in MMA tournaments. Our primary objective is to equip our students with the ability to protect themselves in real-life "street" situations without rules of any kind, and to grow in all ways as individuals. However, we realize that some of our students will want to take part in competitions, and for those that do, we will support them in every way necessary and we will prepare them to succeed.

If a student wants to compete in a judo competition, we would prepare them for success. The same holds true for a full-contact karate tournament, a kendo tournament or any other kind of tournament.