Styles

The World Budo Kai caters for many different styles of martial arts. The main styles that are already members are shown below

Aikido

Morihei Ueshiba

1883 – 1969

Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba referred to by his title 'O Sensei' or 'Great Teacher'). On a purely physical level it is an art involving some throws and joint locks that are derived from Jujitsu and some throws and other techniques derived from Kenjutsu. Aikido focuses not on punching or kicking opponents, but rather on using their own energy to gain control of them or to throw them away from you. It is not a static art, but places great emphasis on motion and the dynamics of movement.

Upon closer examination, practitioners will find from Aikido what they are looking for, whether it is applicable self-defense technique, spiritual enlightenment, physical health or peace of mind. O Sensei emphasized the moral and spiritual aspects of this art, placing great weight on the development of harmony and peace. "The Way of Harmony of the Spirit" is one way that "Aikido" may be translated into English. This is still true of Aikido today, although different styles emphasize the more spiritual aspects to greater or lesser degrees. Although the idea of a martial discipline striving for peace and harmony may seem paradoxical, it is the most basic tenet of the art.

Ju Jitsu

(jujitsu, jiu jujitsu, ju jutsu) is a martial art based on a moving system of striking, locking and throwing techniques. With a strong emphasis on the use of an opponent's body weight and movement, Jujitsu provides a highly effective means of countering physical attacks from both armed and unarmed assailants, irrespective of the defender's own strength, weight or gender.

Students of Jujitsu are taught defenses for real attacks like kicks and punches, and also less harmful -- but equally unjustified -- intrusions like grabs to the wrists and body. Students also begin to learn defenses against weapons such as bottles, coshes and knives early on. 

Kung Fu

Approximately 3000b.c, recorded history indicates that a form of unarmed combat was practiced in China and India. In the year 2674 bc the Yellow emperor, Huang Ti was recorded as having employed Chuan Fa in battle. This was undoubtedly not the first time unarmed combat of some description was used in battle.

Between 206 bc - 225 ad, the six chapters of hand fighting, Shou Po, were mentioned in the Han book of arts, Han Shu I Wen Chih.
190 - 265 ad, Hou To, a famous Chinese surgeon and discoverer of anesthetics, developed a sequence of moves for the promotion of health. These moves were later further developed into a martial art. They were based on the movements of the deer, tiger, bear, monkey and native birds of the region. These movements were a refinement of the, by then, ancient methods employed by the Chinese.
From India many wandering monks brought with them their martial skills, although some believe these movements were only used as exercise. These monks arrived in China , where they spread their teachings to the population. They also shared their martial skills as well, probably to the more dedicated disciples.
Around 530 ad, Tamo arrived in China . Tamo, also known as Bodhidarma in Sanskrit, or Daruma in Japanese, was a prince and warrior of Southern India . He was a Zen (Ch'an in Chinese) Buddhist and the 28th Buddha. He finally settled at a Shaolin temple in Honan province built by Emperor Hsiao Wen, in the Wei dynasty 386 - 534 AD.
Tamo developed a stationary form of exercise that emphasized breathing which is believed to have been the art of Shih Pa Lo Han Sho, or 18 hands of Lo Han. Lo Han is generally used as a term describing the famous disciples of Buddha. These breathing exercises were probably the forerunner of Chi Kung. They were the foundation for almost all martial arts practiced today. They were probably never intended to be utilized as methods for fighting. They were a way for the monks to condition their bodies enabling them to endure the rigors of attaining enlightenment. In later scripts this, by then, fighting art was recorded as Chuan Fa or fist Method. Tamo, therefore, could be thought of as the catalyst or founder of Shaolin Chaun Fa, Kenpo.
During the period 520 - 1600 ad the Shaolin (Sillum in Cantonese, Shorinji in Japanese) temples became the mainstay for Chinese martial arts. Shaolin Chaun Fa, originally an internal system, later developed as external systems.
In the Sung dynasty 960 - 1279 ad, General Yuen Fei, wrote a set of twelve lessons of tensing movements, Paluanchin. These movements, believed to be for health and conditioning the body, have an obvious link to the practice of martial arts.
Around 1300 ad, Chuen Yuan, a Shaolin priest, revised the 18 hands of Lo Han to 72 movements. Yuan spread this form over China while in search of other martial artists and their knowledge. He met with Li Ch'eng and Pai Yu-Feng in Lanchow of Kansu. Pai Yu-feng was known for his martial ability. Together, in a Shaolin temple in Honan , they increased the original 18 hands and Yuan's 72 movements into 170 movements. These movements became the basis of all Shaolin Chuan Fa, becoming the five styles of Dragon, Tiger, Leopard, Snake and the Crane.
Another famous martial artist of this time particularly in the internal arts was Chang San Feng. An acupuncturist and martial artist, he is believed to have developed Dim Mak, the striking of pressure points to render a victim helpless. He is also credited with the development of Tai Chi Chuan which he devised by combining the Crane and Snake systems, masking the deadly potential of what he had created. At about this time it is believed Shaolin Chuan Fa spread further a field to Okinawa , Japan and Korea . In these countries .
Chuan Fa was integrated with their own fighting methods to create more systems .
Bo Jutsu and Chinese Staff
Chinese staff the use and application of 6ft or 4ft red oak poles. There are many exercises that help to strengthen the forearm and bicep muscles, otherwise know as the exercises of Dah Jong.

Internal and external timing is mastered along with the application of many armed and unarmed techniques.

Bo Jutsu is the use and application of many weapons, the basic weapons used in Bo Jutsu are.
The Sword
"The medieval Chinese dynasties saw great advances in metallurgy. Some, like the ability to produce cast iron, were far ahead of such technology in the Europe. Others, like the mastery of efficient, large-scale steel production, enabled the Tang and Song dynasties to become major military powers in east Asia."
"Research to date shows that the sword smiths of China, over the last 20 centuries, have crafted blades combining the following attributes:"
"In a sword, these goals can be mutually exclusive. Hard steel tends to be brittle; a resilient, springy steel is softer and will not hold an edge as well. Chinese smiths got around this problem by combining hard and soft steels in varying ways. There are three basic methods. One is called baogang, or "wrapped" steel. The hard, high-carbon steel that forms the cutting edge looks, in cross-section, like a "V" which encloses a softer core of mild steel. The core metal is often folded upon itself for more strength, or layered with wrought iron for the same effect. A baogang blade must be made with a fairly thick jacket of hard steel, or else it loses its strength with repeated sharpening and grinding."
"A more common form of blade forging is qiangang, or "inserted" steel. The high-carbon edge forms a core with is sandwiched between "cheeks" of mild steel. The cheeks are often made of alternating layers of iron and steel, which produce a pattern on the surface when the blade is polished. A skilled smith can manipulate the layers to produce patterns of great beauty, in addition to providing structural strength to the sword."
"The last major type of forging is known in the West as "twist core". This type is formed of parallel bars of twisted layers of hard and soft steel, all welded into a single unit under heat and hammer. When ground and polished, the surface resembles rows of feathery, star-shaped, or swirling elements."
"The other area in which Chinese smiths showed considerable ingenuity was hardening the blade by heating and quenching in liquid. This technique is almost universal, wherever blades are manufactured. China was one of the few places in which techniques were devised to differentially heat-treat the edge, as opposed to the entire blade. This practice increased the strength and cutting ability of the blade. It was developed to the highest level by the Japanese, who originally utilized the skills of immigrant smiths from China and Korea."
"The beauty of the Chinese sword smith's craft is an art form just beginning to be rediscovered in China and elsewhere. We live in a time when new discoveries are made day to day. As we begin to see the beautiful patterns that raise from the marriage of form and function to create a sword blade of superior quality steel, we are only beginning our study of the Chinese armor's craft. There many other areas of study waiting to be explored, from decorative motif and their symbolism to the blade aesthetics that are subtly married to function."
The Three Sectional Staff
"The Three-Sectional Staff is one of the most difficult and versatile weapons within the Chinese Martial Arts. Typically thought of as a Northern Chinese weapon, the Three-Sectional Staff can be used as both a short range weapon and as a long, flexible whip-like weapon."
"The three sectional staff, is a Chinese flail weapon that consists of three wooden or metal staffs connected by metal rings or rope. A larger, more complicated version of the well-known nunchaku, the staffs can be spun to gather momentum resulting in a devastating strike, or their articulation can be used to strike over or around a shield or other defensive block."
"These staffs were designed for Defence against spears and other long weapons. Historically made of white oak or Chinese red maple, modern staffs are constructed from rattan, bamboo, various hardwoods or aluminum. For optimum fit, each of the three sticks should be about the length of the combatant’s arm and have a combined diameter that easily fits in the hand."
"The total length of the weapon is the same as the Chinese staff, the gwan, creating a larger circle of available targets around the combatant. Many of the techniques are similar to that of the staff, so spinning moves over the head and behind the back can be practiced with a regular staff. The three sectional staff has the advantage of being used both as a long-range weapon or a short-range weapon. Acting as an extension of the users arm, the three sectional staff can strike, block, stab, sweep legs and whip, often with different sections of the staff acting at the same time. The chains or binding ropes of the staff are used to entangle an opponent and their weapons."
The Spear
"When you use the spear you must judge where you are going to hit and focus your eyes on the target. Focus your eyes on your opponent's head, torso, or foot. When the spear is thrust, you should coordinate the weapon with your mind, hands, and feet. Your spear should shoot like a dragon rising from the sea. The motion must be able to surround the opponent body. With that action, you will be able to hit him.
The spear (ch'iang/qiang) is as ancient as China. Not only is it considered to be the oldest military weapon in China, the spear was originally developed as a horse soldier's weapon. Before 400 B.C., foot soldiers used either a nine foot spear or an eighteen foot spear. These spears combined a thrusting point with a hooking or slicing blade.
Unlike the spear that is used in other parts of the world, the Chinese spear was never meant to be thrown. Instead, a specialized set of techniques was developed that strongly resembled the single-headed staff techniques. Staffs of various lengths derived spillover value from some of the spear tactics, although they have complete systems of their own.
Throughout the years there has been many versions of the spear. The design of the spear normally depended on the dynasty it was in. It was said that in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1280 A.D.) that General Yue Fei added a hook, which was sharp on both edges to the metal end of the spear. This gave him an advantage because he could also cut of the legs of horses. Generals even added the metal taper on both ends to increase the weapons killing potential.
The spear was primarily used for stabbing although it could be used for sweeps, slashes and blocking. Blocking is usually done with the shaft part of the spear. Since the spear was so versatile it was given the title “King of the Long Weapons

Karate

"True karate is this: that in daily life one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice."
Gichin Funakoshi
Karate can also be described as a martial art, or fighting method, involving a variety of techniques, including blocks, strikes, evasions, throws, and joint manipulations. Karate practice is divided into three aspects: kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).
The word karate is a combination of two Japanese characters: kara, meaning empty, and te, meaning hand; thus, karate means "empty hand." Adding the suffix "-do" (pronounced "doe"), meaning "way," i.e., karate-do, implies karate as a total way of life that goes well beyond the self-defense applications. In traditional karate-do, we always keep in mind that the true opponent is oneself.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a gentle very low impact form of exercise. Suitable for all ages and abilities.
It encompasses breathing exercises and slow stretching techniques often in patterns and forms.
It enhances flexibility, increases strength and stamina, thereby enhancing feelings of well-being.