OpenJutsu Manifesto

by SJ

We are OpenJutsu, a group of open-minded martial art practitioners. OpenJutsu martial artists.
We don't follow dogma, we keep evolving and questioning everything, we don't belong to any school or style.
This is our manifest. The OpenJutsu manifest.

I. Openness

Welcoming to all. OpenJutsu is open to all martial arts and combat sports. We don't divide, we connect.
Open Minded. We keep an open mind for other opinions and are not afraid to change ours if it makes sense.
No style as style. No form as form. Each individual is unique (age, body type, personality, ...) and forcing people in one style or form is NOT the OpenJutsu way. We inspire others, we share our skills, but we won't force a single style on anyone.
Never stop learning. We train in multiple martial arts, self-defense systems and combat sports. Instead of identifying with one style, we use what works for us. We retain the mindset of a beginner, always open to explore and grow. Never blindly accepting.

II. Respect & Humility

Respectful attitude. Deliberately injuring training partners is not the OpenJutsu way. We respect each other and train safely.
Ranks yes, cults no. Ranks can be useful to motivate growth and respect is important but we don't participate in any cult behavior.
The best feedback is often silent. We learn the most from our mistakes and when we teach we let students do the same.
Play. The best way to learn is by playing. Training should be fun. We never take ourselves too seriously and we tame our ego.

III. OpenJutsu Self-Defense

We don't blindly trust the label 'self-defense'. Many schools use it to attract new students but are not self-defense at all.
Sparring is important. Self-defense training should always include combat sport elements like sparring, rolling, wrestling, ...
Current. Sticking to the past is NOT the OpenJutsu way. We use what works in the modern world and keep improving it.
Pressure-tested techniques only. Static 'ABC-techniques' with compliant opponents are fake self-defense. Of course you can learn a technique slowly at first, but techniques are worthless if they ONLY work when the opponent offers no resistance.
Adaptability. It is important to be able to adapt to any situation, to learn about using the environment, improvised weapons, ...
Principle-driven training. Instead of learning hundreds of techniques, we prefer a focus on robust universal principles.
Effectiveness above elegance. We don't care if a technique looks fancy, we only care if it works (under pressure).
Knowing violence. Many training games (eg. sparring) are not real violence but useful nevertheless. We know the difference.
Pain compliance is not reliable. Pain doesn't matter when adrenaline, drugs and/or alcohol are involved.
Keep it simple. Complex fine-motor skills are lost under adrenaline, that's why we prefer simple gross-motor skills.
Layered self-defense. Not all situations require extreme measures. We put self-defense answers in the right context.
Real violence is 90% a mental problem. That's why we condition the mind, not only the body. Mindset beats technique.
Peaceful warriors. In real life we will never escalate a situation if it can be avoided.

Train with an open mind. Keep questioning yourself. Tame your Ego and be humble. Fight for what matters.

October 22, 2022

Want to train the OpenJutsu way?

You are doing it already when you follow the principles above in any style you study. Just don't attach and keep your mind open.

There are also some OpenJutsu dojos, with the open-minded approach applied fully. For example this one from Belgium (open website).

Want to start your own dojo or reform your "closed style" dojo?

Let us know (see email below).

Contact: inNOPEfo AT openNOPEjutsu DOT coNOPEm