The Wits Tai Chi and Kobujutsu club has been one of the longest running martial arts clubs in the university starting in the 1970¡¯s. Our classes have been taught by Sensei Lee Jardine who has achieved a 5th dan in traditional Yuishinkai Karate and RyuKyu Kobujutsu, and has been a Tai Chi practitioner for almost 20 years.

Originating in ancient China, Tai Chi Chuan directly translates to mean Supreme Ultimate Fist. Tai Chi is an internal Chinese martial art which focuses on spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects and is one of the most popular forms of health exercise in the world. Tai Chi helps the practitioner to understand a need to balance both body and mind and teaches the art of flowing with oneself and others.

Both young and old can train Tai Chi.  Each person who practices the art learns to listen to their own body and focuses on improving the self. In Tai Chi there is no comparing or competing, therefore no winning or losing over anyone but oneself. However, all our forms have self defence applications which we will be happy to show.

No prior experience in any martial art is necessary and we are more than willing to help anybody who is willing to learn. Tai Chi also offers a large variety of stretches and breathing techniques that will help relieve muscle strain, increase flexibility and balance while relaxing the mind.

Ryukyu Kobujutsu, the ancient martial art of Ryukyu Islands was first recorded to have been used in a 100-year war seven hundred years ago. It consists of "Toshu-jutsu" (empty hand techniques) and "Emono-jutsu" (weapon techniques). Nowadays they are generally considered as two arts - the former known as "Karate" and the latter "Ryukyu Kobujutsu". 

In our school founded by Motokatsu Inoue O¡¯Sensei, Ryukyu kobujutsu is taught alongside Yuishinkai Karate.

The school of Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shinko Kai and Yuishinkai Karate is a non-competitive organisation because it implies that the style must be strictly standardised for everyone to conform to competition regulations, which is detrimental to developing a personalised style suited to the individual. 

Our Karate system comprises of styles from Shuri-te, Naha-te, Tomari-te and Aragaki-te. There is also emphasis on traditional techniques of locks, throws and takedowns. 

Our Ryukyu Kobujutsu system comprises of the practice of  eight weapons, that being Bo, Sai, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Kama, Tekko, Tinbe and Surujin.

Through both Ryukyu Kobujutsu and Yuishinkai Karate, we aim to achieve complete control of the mind and body through dedicated training to improve the character of the individual.

Tai Chi & Yuishinkai Kobujutsu Sports Officer

Ferdinand Kelly

Office: 011 717 9417

E-mail: Ferdinand.kelly@wits.ac.za

Tai Chi & Yuishinkai Kobujutsu Chairperson

Juliette Love 

E-mail: 2095873@students.wits.ac.za

Links

https://sites.google.com/site/internationaltaichisociety/

http://www.ryukyukobujutsuhozonshinkokai.org/