Tsue Kakuto Philosophy

Tsue Kakuto is a modern cane combat method.  It is not intended to be a complete combat system or a complete cane combat system.  Instead the method focuses on the use of the cane to maintain the advantage of time and distance and to protect the practitioner from close combat with an opponent.  Tsue Kakuto provides an additional set of skills for the martial arts practitioner and can be added to any other cane, weapon, or unarmed system.  In our view the development of an effective system for personal combat depends upon competence in a variety of approaches, both unarmed and with martial arts weapons.

Tsue Kakuto is a composite method, grounded in principles of weapon use that originated in Medieval Europe in the 1300s and that developed into a highly efficient system of weapons use over a 600 year period, culminating in singlestick play, cane defense, and dueling sword and dueling sabre technique of the early 1900s.  Integrated with this background are modern techniques for cane use based on the work of a variety of Eastern martial arts and martial arts cane practitioners.  In addition, techniques used in the method are based on modern sports science, optimized for observation, decision, and action with maximum speed, force, and control.  Tsue Kakuto is a learning system, with the expectation that the method will continue to evolve.

Tsue Kakuto is a simplified system, with a focus on the mastery of a limited selection of techniques combined with the development of tactical awareness, the ability to select appropriate choices of technique to achieve objectives in the fight, and the ability to apply those techniques in the right time and space relationship.

Tsue Kakuto depends on self-knowledge, self-discipline, and self-control.  Practitioners must be able to recognize their motivations, strengths, and limitations and integrate those with their application of the method based on the situation.  Practitioners must be able to use the method with calmness under pressure, wide awareness while focusing, intelligence in selecting tactics that will result in victory over an opponent, physical and mental control of the duration and intensity of the force exerted appropriate to the situation, and courage in combat.

Tsue Kakuto is a combat method.  However, in developing the skills needed for combat, practitioners are expected to develop stamina; physical coordination; leg, arm, and central core strength; balance; muscular control; speed; efficiency of movement; relaxation; sense of timing and distance; sense of flow in combat; and ability to integrate observation and make decisions based on rapid analysis under pressure - all valuable outcomes of a well designed physical fitness and exercise program.  Tsue Kakuto succeeds if it makes its practitioners more physically fit and healthier, regardless of the actual use of the cane in personal combat.

Tsue Kakuto is a combat method.  Its techniques and customs are designed to optimize combat performance.  In particular, techniques taught and customs in the training facility will never inculcate in practitioners patterns of activity that would result in injury or death in actual combat.

Tsue Kakuto values all practitioners - all are engaged in a search for knowledge and improvement in a learning method that continually seeks to improve its technique and application.  Ranks and belts represent service, experience, effort, and the development of proficiency, but they do not confer superior status as a human being.  This is a serious art for serious people who wish to learn and develop and who will treat all other practitioners with dignity, respect, and friendship.   The use of hazing, physical training as punishment for incorrect performance, physical enforcement of rules through violence, sexual harassment, and other such illegitimate behavior is incompatible with the values of this method, and will result in the immediate expulsion of those involved from the method and the revocation of any ranks or honors bestowed.

Tsue Kakuto values and insists on safety in training, including the use of appropriate protective equipment.  A practitioner injured in training is one who cannot to continue to train effectively and one who could not use the method to full effectiveness in combat.  Loss of this capability through unsafe practices is an unacceptable violation of our principles of learning.    

Tsue Kakuto respects and values other fighting arts in general and cane systems in particular.  Every such art represents valuable knowledge that has been hard won by dedicated practitioners through years of effort.  As a new system we have much to learn from all arts.