Takushin Budo Study Group
拓心武道研究会
Researching Budo, Testing It in Practice, and Carrying It Forward
The Takushin Budo Study Group is an internal research body of NPO IBMA. It studies the techniques, ideas, and educational value of budo. Its findings are also examined through actual practice.
Budo contains knowledge developed over many generations. This knowledge includes technique, philosophy, and education. It also includes insights related to human development.
Society and ways of life continue to change. The values people seek in budo also change over time. For this reason, preserving tradition alone is not enough.
We learn from the wisdom passed down by earlier generations. We also reconsider its essential meaning in the present. Through practice, we explore how budo can serve the future.
Position within IBMA
The Takushin Budo Study Group operates within IBMA. Its research contributes to IBMA’s educational and research activities. At the same time, it also welcomes knowledge from outside the organization.
IBMA also operates IBCO as an internal organization. IBCO mainly studies the nature and structure of budo competition. The Study Group, by contrast, studies budo from a broader perspective.
The two bodies therefore have different roles. However, they cooperate in areas such as competition and education. Their findings may also support each other’s research.
Relationship with the Takushin Budo Institute
The Takushin Budo Institute is not an internal body of IBMA. It operates as an independent research institution. It nevertheless maintains a cooperative relationship with IBMA.
The Institute conducts budo research from an independent position. When appropriate, it may conduct joint research with the Study Group. Research findings and knowledge may also be shared between them.
The Study Group and the Institute remain separate organizations. They preserve their independence while cooperating on shared subjects. This relationship allows both sides to broaden their research.
Organizational Relationship
Internal Bodies of NPO IBMA
- Takushin Budo Study Group
- IBCO – International Budo Competition Organization
Cooperating Institution of IBMA
- Takushin Budo Institute
Research Principles
The Study Group does not seek to establish one fixed answer. It places importance on exploring principles found within budo. Ideas are proposed, practiced, examined, and refined.
Research may lead to new questions. When this happens, methods and assumptions are reconsidered. Understanding is deepened through repeated study and verification.
Differences among styles, traditions, and viewpoints are respected. No single position is treated as absolute. Research develops through dialogue and the exchange of knowledge.
What is budo?
What can the study of budo bring to human life?
How should budo be carried into the future?
These questions are explored through both research and practice. They form the foundation of the Study Group’s approach.
Main Fields of Research
The Study Group places Takushin Budo at the center of its research. At the same time, it examines a wide range of budo-related subjects. Knowledge from other disciplines may also be incorporated when useful.
- Techniques and principles of karate and sword arts
- Striking, defense, transitions, throws, and locks
- Budo history, karate history, and technical lineages
- Body mechanics and methods of movement
- Budo, education, and human development
- Budo, psychology, philosophy, and ethics
- Budo and sports science
- Safe training and teaching methods
- Competition, judging, and evaluation methods
- Budo culture and international exchange
- Future approaches to budo education
Research is not limited to any one school or tradition. Outside researchers may also cooperate when appropriate. Exchange across different fields is actively encouraged.
A Research Community
The Takushin Budo Study Group is more than a general study circle. It is a research community built around shared questions. It values the continuous movement between research and practice.
Participants do not need to share the same background. Budoka, researchers, educators, and specialists may all contribute. Cooperation with experts from other fields is also welcomed.
Experience and titles are not the only considerations. The willingness to question, think, practice, and examine is important. Participants are encouraged to learn from one another.
Participation
Continued participation in the Study Group is generally based on IBMA membership. Participants are expected to understand the principles of IBMA. They should also support the aims of the Study Group.
There is more than one way to participate. Some may join ongoing research activities. Others may contribute only to a particular research subject.
Joint research with outside specialists may also be conducted. Seminars, presentations, and discussions may be organized as needed. Participation can therefore take several different forms.
From Research to Practice, and from Practice to the Future
Budo is not something simply inherited from the past. The wisdom of earlier generations must first be studied. It must then be examined and tested through practice.
Practice creates new questions, and those questions lead to further research. The results can then be tested again through practice. Through this cycle, understanding continues to deepen.
The Takushin Budo Study Group explores the essential nature of budo. It also examines its possibilities in contemporary society. Its findings are shared through IBMA activities and wider society.
IBCO – International Budo Competition Organization
IBMA also operates IBCO as an internal organization. IBCO studies fair and safe systems of budo competition. It also explores new possibilities for competitive budo.
Its field differs from that of the Study Group. However, both organizations are closely related in areas such as competition and evaluation. Please visit the IBCO page for further information.
