Budo in London

Cityultimas guide on Budo in London covers Budo Clubs in London, with contact details and maps. There are also great resource links to Budo Organisations and Budo Equipment.

Budo is part of our Japanese Guides which also includes Sushi in London, and Noodle Bars in London

London is home to hundreds of different Japanese Martial Arts Clubs Aikido, Aikijujutsu, Budo, Bujinkan, Iaido, Jodo, Judo, Jujutsu, Karate, Kendo, Kenjutsu, Kung Fu, Kyudo, and Ninjutsu

Jujutsu ( jūjutsu?), literally translates to "art of pliance". More accurately, however, it means the art of using indirect force, such as joint locks or throwing techniques, to defeat an opponent, as opposed to direct force such as a punch or a kick.

Kenjutsu (Kenjutsu?) literally means "the art/science of the sword". Although the term has been used as a general term to refer to swordsmanship as a whole, modernly, "kenjutsu" is more often used to refer to the specific aspect of swordsmanship dealing with partnered sword training. It is the oldest form of training, and at its simplest level, consists of two partners with swords drawn, practicing combat drills.

Iaidō ( Iaidō?), which would be "the way of mental presence and immediate reaction". The practice includes the drillls and training to draw the sword undetected.

Ninjutsu ( Ninjutsu?) is the martial art, strategy, and tactics of unconventional warfare and guerilla warfare.

The Bujinkan is an international martial arts organization based in Japan and headed by Masaaki Hatsumi, it is best known for its association with ninjutsu. The system taught by this group, called Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu, consists of nine separate martial arts traditions.

Judo (jūdō?), literally meaning "gentle way" or "way of softness", is a modern martial art, practiced primarily as a sport, and is a form of grappling. It contains substantially the same emphasis on the personal, spiritual, and physical self-improvement of its practitioners as can be found throughout gendai budō.

Kendo (kendō?), meaning the "way of the sword", is the sport of Japanese fencing. It is a relatively modern evolution of the art of kenjutsu, and its exercises and practice are descended from several particular schools of swordsmanship.

Aikido ( aikidō?) is a gendai budō, a modern Japanese martial art, developed by Morihei Ueshiba Ueshiba Morihei, 1883 – 1969). The art consists of "striking", "throwing," and "joint locking" techniques and is known for its fluidity and blending with an attacker, rather than meeting "force with force"

Kyūdō ( Kyūdō?), which means “way of the bow,” is the modern name for Japanese archery. Originally in Japan, Kyujutsu, the “art of the bow,” was a discipline of the samurai, the Japanese warrior class.