New Reflections on an Old Style: Yabe Jiu-jitsu Today

Shihan Terrence Bowlin: Preface by Hanshi Clay Worley

Yabe Jiujitsu is an art that was made famous around the turn of the last century. President Teddy Roosevelt enjoyed its practice, and it was popular with police officers patrolling the streets of New York at that time.  Since then, the number of those who practice the art are fewer.  It is even harder to find books on the subject. A classic five-volume set, written by the style’s founder, is out of print. Being over 100 years old, each book is considered a rare antique. The lessons are timeless, though. Yabe’s remaining practitioners have evolved the system to meet today’s threats while retaining the spirit and structure of long ago.  In short, Yabe Jiujitsu lives, and it has interesting parallels to other arts like Isshinryu Karate. Now, consider the perspective of a modern, Jiujitsu master with 40 years in the martial arts, including 15 years of experience as a Texas Corrections Officer.  Not many can say they have had to put their techniques to use as a part of their everyday work often facing death row inmates with nothing to lose, and he has the many scars to prove it.” Just ask his fellow officers what it was like to work alongside him in those situations…armed with a radio and “empty hands.”

Martial arts have a proud history, traditional training methods, and materials. Yabe Jiujitsu has moved from hard-to-find books to a new series of videos being recorded that show techniques and fighting strategies. With the world facing a new problem, the COVID-19 pandemic has us as martial artists making even more videos than before to help deliver the knowledge of the many different arts.

Keeping in mind that there are many different learning styles, I feel it is still important to write down information. This lets people see how techniques look (through the mind’s eye) when it comes to blocks, kicks, sweeps, throws, and other techniques.

History shows us that books and videos can be good aids to learning martial arts. As teachers, we prefer to bring the curriculum to life on the training mat together with our students.  It is not always possible to do that, and so we must adapt. We not only adapt to our circumstances, like the pandemic, but we must also understand the nature of the new students who have come to learn from us. This latest generation of students loves smartphones and their apps. Therefore, video learning from outside the dojo is here to stay (at least in some form). 

As a collective group of instructors, we must embrace this chance to record more of our knowledge on video. If we do not try to save our martial arts heritage in this way, we may lose it. The latest generation (and maybe the next one) may simply lose interest if we do not show them content in ways that keep them focused. To help make this point, I will share a little bit of my martial arts background.

I come from Yabe Jiujitsu (founded by Yae Kichi Yabe). Specifically, my line of instruction traces back to Master Seisu Quan Setsu.  It is not clear if Master Quan Setsu was a first-generation student of the founder, but he went on to start the Yang Ki Yin Jiujitsu Association International. Professor M.A. Gowdey was a member of this association and a direct student of Setsu; my teachers (who trained under Professor Gowdey) were Master's James Hermann and Charly Hilton. With my instructional heritage in mind, know that Yabe Jiujitsu started as a linear martial art. Professor Gowdey decided to change strategies with the introduction of curved techniques. This revision of Yabe Jiujitsu became a signature strategy of the Yang Ki Yin Jiu-jitsu Association. Time progressed, the nature of physical threats changed, and still other emerging leaders of the art made their imprints: Masters Hermann and Hilton put their spin on what they learned, calling it Jym Cha Ryu. Hence, 40 years into my training with them and other instructors, I started TR Bowlin Ryu Jiujitsu. 

TR Bowlin Ryu has a lot more mat work than prior versions of Yabe Jiujitsu. “At the end of the day,” though, you must learn to protect yourself without a mat. So, of course, we go outside and train how to fall without one. There are some basic similarities between our style and other forms of Jiu-Jitsu in terms of punching, kicking, locks, etc. We also teach a lot of vertical punching (like Isshinryu Karate) and reverses for locks. We practice in traditional uniforms and normal clothes to get a feel for both sides of training. When wearing normal clothes, though, students learn how Jiu-Jitsu works in a more realistic setting.

As I look at becoming 50 next Spring and remember that I was the second person to reach black belt under Master Hermann, I must acknowledge that none of us is getting any younger. Just as we have adapted our art over time, we must also adapt the ways we preserve it for future generations. Write down what you can, publish, and continue teaching on the mat; just don’t say “no” to video.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given us all a new dose of reality. It affects the way we train and teach. This is new for all of us. Like many other people, I love tradition, and I also love the freedom to experiment and explore. That doesn’t mean what came before us is not good enough for today. We just need to be ready and willing to adapt.  That means we must look at the past and the present with an open mind. I am happy to learn, respect, and honor the arts.  We are all proud of our martial arts heritage, and we should be. Thank you for reading my essay. All comments and questions are welcome.