Koryu Bujutsu went out of style long before the arrival of "dancercizers" or any form of mass media, for that matter. Koryu Bujutsu, by definition, included sword fighting, spear fighting, archery, horsemanship, swimming and other Japanese medieval military arts. Empty-hand fighting in real traditional Bujutsu was limited to skills in keeping those weapons in battle (what we might call today "weapon-retention") and some basic defenses against similar weapons (spear, sword, and etc.) when one lost one's own weapons. Pre-eminent among the arts was swordmanship and defense against swords.
With Meiji Restoration, a modern military force and banning of sword-wearing, many of the Bujutsu systems went through a process of transition. Many of them began to concentrate more on empty-hand skills (since weapons were largely banned) to remain "current." Many systems of this period (such as what eventually became Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu and Aikido) demonstrate their origin in their techniques in that they are derived from defending against "traditional" attacks (overhead "chops" - sword, Bo attacks - spear, etc. etc.). These transitional systems were initially restricted to the members of particular clans, but some were taught to outsiders, largely for money. Lacking a coherent, scientific training curriculum, techniques were often taught at a price (meaning there was price per technique). Despite this, even the transitional systems like Kito-Ryu Jujutsu, Fusen-Ryu, Daito-ryu were all going out of favor by the middle of the 19th century (they did completely after 1947).
About this time (late 19th century), Kano Jigoro created the first modern martial art (or science, to be exact) in Kodokan Judo, by combining Western scientific principles with the techniques of the "transition" Bujutsu. For the first time, principles of leverage, balance-breaking (Kuzushi) and others based on physics were taught in a specific curriculum. Randori came into being. When Tokyo Police held the first contest (the Ultimate Fighting Champion of its day) to select the most ideal self-defense system for its officers, Judoka from Kodokan demolished the practitioners of every Jujutsu-Ryu that came to participate.
This event basically ended "Bujutsu" in many ways. They survived in obscure form by emphasizing the mythical and mystical elements of their systems. In today's America, it has become fashionable to say that one trains in an "ancient, lost fighting art, shrouded in mystery." But the reality is that true Koryu Bujutsu went out of style with Meiji Restoration. Transitional systems looking for a new role hung on for another fifty years or so, but was finally fogotten and faded into obscurity by the end of WWII.
Today, it is my opinion that those who seek to learn viable self-defense skills are better served by training in rational, scientific systems of fighting in firearms, knives, sticks and empty-hand skills rather than "ancient" systems with a touch of romantic aura. Koryu Bujutsu is a beautiful thing as a well-preserved Japanese blade is a beautiful thing, but in practicality, both are obsolete and have been for over a hundred years. Now, does that mean you cannot use Koryu Bujutsu for self-defense? No. I suppose it is about as viable as using a Kantana for self-defense. But there are better alternatives that produce much better results with corresponding less effort.
Remember Kano's maxim of Judo: Minimum Effort, Maximum Result.
If "art," "beauty" or "history" is what one is interested in, certainly Koryu Bujutsu is fantastic, but if self-defense is what one is looking for, then Kano's maxim applies.
Skorzeny
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For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. Sun Tzu
[This message has been edited by Skorzeny (edited June 29, 2000).]
