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            In ancient times, a warrior was required to master many skills; some Japanese systems would include a syllabus of sword, spear, bow, stick fighting, first aid, unarmed combat, spiritual refinement, throwing weapons, chain weapons, explosives, disguise, stealth, horsemanship, swimming, strategy, methods of escape, meteorology, and geography.  A syllabus like this was called a “martial art,” and was designed not only to develop the practitioner as a human being, but more importantly to maximize survivability in violent confrontations.  Weapons were emphasized because humans are naturally tool-users; we are at the top of the food chain not because we are the strongest or fastest animals around, but because we use tools.

            Modern systems such as karate and judo are called “martial ways,” they are systems of athletic self-development based on the techniques of the older arts.  While enjoyable pastimes and even useful in a fight, such systems are not intended for use in real combat situations.  The confusion between martial arts and martial ways has led to a disdain of martial arts by many military and law enforcement professionals.  However, even modern marksmanship techniques have stances, body positions, and patterns of breath control similar to classical martial arts training which lead to higher levels of skill. 

            Although some modern practitioners have attempted to update martial arts for modern practitioners, such attempts generally have narrow curricula based on a conglomeration of martial ways.  Gogyo ryu is intended to bridge the gap between the classical warrior and modern self-defense practitioner by offering a well-rounded curriculum of efficient unarmed combat, weaponry indigenous to modern American culture, social involvement and an array of skills designed to help practitioners survive in a variety of circumstances.

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