Martial Arts in Shanghai - In ENGLISH

You've seen graceful ayi's doing Tai Ji in the mornings, and you've thought "I'd like to try that". Or maybe YouTube has once or twice recommended a video about "How to Choose the Right Martial Art Style" cause maybe you used a Taiwan Vee, Pee, Ennn. And that got you interested. "Yea, I'd like to be able to Bruce Lee/Chuck Norris someone if they came at me". Or maybe you've thought, "damn, my kids need a little something to burn off that extra energy they get from their Zrou school lunches".

Well, you (or your kids) can learn mixed martial arts here in Shanghai, in English. And it's way more than just fighting, forms, and tradition. Mind and body dear readers. 

We neglect our mental health in favor of our physical goals. Fad workout regiments specialized gyms often place emphasis on physical development only, minimizing the importance of mental well-being. Down with these sorts of things! Go through these slides, and we'll introduce you wonderful people, to a rich martial art that you can learn here in Shanghai. And later, we'll introduce  the calm, staid founder/Sensei of Yoseikan Budo Shanghai, Julio Moscoso (pictured above). 

Julio is fluent in mandarin, has many classes that are mixed, so you can bring your friends who speak Chinese too.

Let's Get One Thing Straight First

Experienced. Newbie. Young. Old. Fit. Not Fit. 

Don't let these things stop you from reading on.

Different from other sport and martial disciplines, complex forms and ideas are NOT only for gym bunnies or the experienced.

The goal is mastery of the body and building endurance of the mind from day one.  This is for you. Yoseikan is an art form that is open to all skill levels, and geared towards people interested in questioning how they train their minds and bodies in fitness, sports, and martial arts. 

Imagine having a kid who's mentally and physically disciplined. Imagine a version of you that's mentally and physically disciplined. The world needs a little more of this, doesn't it ladies and gentlemen? 

Definition: Yoseikan Budo Is...

Yoseikan Budo is a unique form of mixed martial arts that originates from a pre-WW2 style of aikido, and has connections to judo, jujutsu, and karate. Later in its development in Europe in the ‘70s and ‘80s, elements of Western boxing and wrestling were introduced. 

Yoseikan came before modern MMA. Its is a "composite" Martial Art, (it integrates forms and techniques from other schools) — and that’s the Yoseikan mandate: to adapt.  It is, however, not a synthesis of a collection of arts, but rather a system of developing a core mental perspective and understanding of movement to which other art forms can be incorporated. 

Origins and Evolution

Yoseikan Budo originated when photographs were still in black and white...in 1931.

Created by its founder Minoru Mochizuki, a student and assistant to Jigorō Kanō, the founder of judo, and Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido.  

The art form was introduced to the West by his son Hiroo who imported the concept to France in the ‘70s, in much the same way Bruce Lee introduced his own Martial Art form to the States.  Hiroo created the contemporary style and focus of the art; the constant searching of innovation and evolution -- learning and incorporating elements from different schools -- while adhering to the core philosophic principles. 

Hiroo was a major innovator and a popularizer of the art, developing a huge following in France, Australia, and North America. 

Yoseikan Budo Today

Established in over 100 associations in countries all around the world, Yoseikan Budo has gone through decades of changes and modernization.  Today, it is both a traditonal Martial Art adhering to principles and rules, set down almost 100 years ago and is a modern international sport.     

Yoseikan Budo in Shanghai

Where do martial artists train in Shanghai? In a 300sqm professional venue in Huangpu of course! Yoseikan Budo Shanghai is a comprehensive Martial Arts studio, offering classes in aikijujitsu, kenjutsu, grappling, MMA, kick boxing, and self-defence. They work with students of all ages and skill levels, in group and one-on-one situations. Improve your physical technique and fitness, and your mental efficiency, perspective, and insight.  

Unique to Shanghai are their Yoseikan classes, which incorporates a full spectrum of classes. 

The Place Where Truth Is Taught

The name “Yoseikan” has a few different translations — "the place where the truth is taught" or alternately "place for practicing what is right”.   The intention behind the name, however, is not to assert the dominance of Yoseikan itself, but describe a mindset in which what is “true” and “right” comes from the individual, as they discover how a range of techniques and styles compliment each other in their own individual experience.  

The “place” in this context is more a metaphorical space within the individual themselves to be explorative and open-minded in the search for the “truth” that works best for them.  

Three Principles

Specifically, modern Yoseikan, and the form taught at Yoseikan Budo Shanghai, comes from three bedrock considerations:

• Freedom and Development — free and individualized expressions through movement.

•Specific Body Form — balance in static and dynamic forms with the body used the same way for both.

•Power Optimization — improved efficiency through optimizing power. 

According to these principles the goal is a healthy and flexible mind and body, unique to each student. 

Yoseikan Budo and Mixed Martial Arts

Many of the people who join Yoseikan Budo are already highly ranked in some other form of martial arts, but want to experience a more comprehensive experience which the framework of Yoseikan allows for.  

Despite working with cross-training different Martial Arts back in the 1930s, Yoseikan really became a precursor to modern MMA in the ‘70s, when Eastern martial art forms were merged with Western combat styles.  Finding older forms of Martial Arts limited and outdated, Minoru Mochizuki and Hiroo began the work of revising everything with an emphasis on biomechanics — how the body moves naturally and its inherent restrictions — with a new focus on self-defense and open-handed combat, along with weapon training.  

This search for diversifying styles, improving on one’s deficiencies, and improving all areas technique is the common goal of modern MMA fighters who are also observing, adapting, and innovating what they do in the ring.    

Lesson One (and 100): How to Transfer Power

"Every movement you learn is the foundation for the rest. You don’t need to step back: every step you make will help you advance during your journey."  

And how might this look as a lesson in a typical class?

After warming up, with your instructor, you talk about your body and how to move it efficiently.  You study how to transfer power from one place to another. Much like throwing a ball, a punch starts from the floor, pushing with your feet.  

Transferring Movements to Techniques

After learning this simple motion — throwing a ball, throwing a punch — you would then go to the grappling area and transfer this skill to a judo throw.  Hook your opponents arm and with the same motion, perform the throw. 

One correct motion forms the basis of several techniques and it is a matter of distance as to how they are each deployed: throwing a spear becomes throwing a punch becomes throwing an opponent.  

Common Movements, Infinite Techniques

Just one biomechanic movement can form the basis of a whole class. Movements can be vertical straight movements, horizontal, or diagonal.  The classes progress on exploring the different ways one can deploy a technique with a common movement. 

Who Will Be in the Class With Me?

Reflecting the eclectic orientation of the discipline itself, students are coming to the class with different goals in mind.  For some, it’s a fitness and cardio workout, others have a deeper interest in MMA and are looking to improve their techniques.  For others, it’s about getting a mental workout and gaining perspective that can help them in their daily lives. 

Whatever you situation and whether you are looking for one-one-one or group classes, the studios founder Julio Moscoso can tailor your program to you. 

Sensei Julio Moscoso

Julio comes from the land of sangria. Reino de España. This man has used his martial arts to train police officers in Taiwan, kept out riff-raff from nightclubs as a bouncer, and has years of competitive experience. He's the real deal. 

This good sir has been training in Yoseikan for more than two decades, and is the official representative for Yoseikan Budo in China. He is a 2nd degree black belt and certified coach in Yoseikan Budo. He trained under masters in France that brought and popularized martial arts to the entire continent of Europe. Like many reading here, he ventured to Asia for a change, and... never left. Venturing over to Taipei initially to learn, he was eventually asked to teach while he was studying, and eventually made his way to Shanghai. Over the years, he had many masters including Mario Ambrosini (a former WYF Technical Director and Yoseikan Budo World Champion).

Philosophy for Life

Julio Moscoso: "I encountered martial arts in the '90s, watching ninja movies when I was a teenager.  I thought these guys are super human, doing all these things. Very versatile.  But in the training I was seeing — say in taekwondo it’s kicks, boxing is punching, and judo is throws — it’s very specialized.  But I was thinking in real life, not only in martial arts, you will find some struggles or encounter some new things, but you don’t know how to react because you are in this box and have this mindset. 

So when I found Yoseikan, it was a different approach. 

My teacher said, “oh, you can do Taekwondo, that’s great, now try this and this.”  

Whereas other places will tell you that that is wrong.  

“You’re doing it wrong — this way is the best way.”   

So, I found it was a philosophy for life as well — to always be trying new things and not being afraid to try new things.  Embracing change.  Knowing you have many tools and being flexible in your head and flexible in your body." 

Facilities at Yoseikan Budo

Yoseikan Budo is located off the beaten path in a quiet lanehouse.

It's on 1124 Xinzha Lu, near Jiangning Lu in Jing'an.  

The studio trades on that traditional Shanghai feel in the heart of modern Shanghai.  They've got a small outdoor gym area and the dojo itself is a one-room space, equiped with training equipment, mats, and mirrors.  

Classes are 1 hour each, held daily in a number of fields, including jujutsu, kick boxing, kenjutsu, and more. Drawing on all of those, the Yoseikan classes are Tuesdays at Thursdays at 8.30pm. 

Yoseikan in Action

A video is worth a thousand pictures. Here's a video montage of Julio working with his partner Kevin, an instructor from Taipei.

Contact Yoseikan Budo Shanghai

Interested? Scan the QR code and add Julio on WeChat right now!