Ballinger’s Bushido Karate

Why Bushido;
True Bushido is not “bullsh*to”

Bushidō (武士道), which translates directly to "the way of the warrior," is the traditional moral and ethical code of conduct followed by the samurai class of premodern Japan. It functions as a comprehensive philosophy governing how a warrior should live, fight, and die, heavily analogized to the European concept of medieval chivalry.

The Seven Core VirtuesThe formalized code relies on seven foundational moral principles that guided the samurai's daily life and decision-making:義 (Gi) – Righteousness & Justice: Doing the right thing, making fair decisions, and acting with absolute moral integrity.勇 (Yū) – Heroic Courage: Overcoming fear to act decisively, while exercising caution and emotional maturity rather than blind recklessness.仁 (Jin) – Benevolence & Compassion: Developing sympathy for others and using immense physical and political power for the common good.礼 (Rei) – Respect & Politeness: Maintaining courtesy even toward enemies, showing grace under pressure, and respecting social hierarchies.誠 (Makoto) – Honesty & Sincerity: Speaking truth with the belief that a samurai's word is an absolute contract requiring no written confirmation.名誉 (Meiyō) – Honor: Holding oneself to an exacting internal standard, where losing integrity is considered worse than death.忠義 (Chūgi) – Duty & Loyalty: Showing unwavering fidelity to one's master, clan, and ancestors above all personal desires

Evolution and LegacyWhile concepts of warrior honor emerged during the Kamakura period (1192–1333), the word "Bushido" was not widely recorded until the 16th century. It was thoroughly systemized during the peaceful Edo period (1603–1868), when samurai transitioned from battlefield soldiers to bureaucrats and administrators.

Can we adhere to the way of the warrior today? As we teach Karate and pass on its traditional roots. Sure today we’re not Samurai a some may argue that Warrior class died with the last Samurai. Possibly in its true meaning and essence. However today in modern 21st century we still have modern warriors. Warriors who are willing to defend and die for a cause with integrity and dignity and respect and honor. We find such people in our Military & Law Enforcement community. In our martial arts community perhaps finding warriors aren’t as easy. But we never know where life will take the youth who are studying Karate. Many may go on to be Soldiers. Maybe even an elite force. How about if they become Police Officers, SWAT, or other aspects of law enforcement. I know for me personally, Karate opened those doors and I joined the U.S. Army at 17yrs old and spent 20+ years in law enforcement. And my oaths I took was that of Bushido. A warrior in today’s world is not the same as Samurai but the warrior mindset still remains today.

I’ve come to the realization a long time ago that all martial arts are essentially the same in design. From Kalarjpayattu / Kalari. The ancient Indian form of stretching, wrestling and weapons system this is traced back to 1100-1200ce.

Mongolian wrestling. Aka Bokh dates back to 6000-7000bc

Ancient Mesopotamia Egyptian wrestling all the way back to 2000-3000bc but what about before that?

Did the Nephalim teach man to fight then? We go back into time of David and Goliath. When Giants roamed the earth. Giants being the Nephalim. The fallen angels, they clearly had a fighting style, or way. Be it wrestling/grappling or more. If you are a Christian and believe thru the Old Testament man has been fighting since there was man. Cain slain his brother Able with a stone from jealousy. Prehistoric Neanderthals predate even the Adam. The “others” listed in Genesis. Even the Scriptures tell us before Adam (the first man on Earth) there were the “others”. I’m no Theology expert but it makes sense.

You can take the Ancient Alien theory which has gained a lot of traction in the last 10-20 yrs. Annunaki the ones who come before. It goes even deeper than the Annunaki. But let’s not get lost in the what if’s and maybes. Because no one knows for certain about anything prior to the What has been written and proven. So we’re going to FF to ancient ROMAN Empire and the Ancient Qin Dynasty in China at 220bce and the Shang Dynasty in 1600bce.

The Roman Empire and Han’s Dynasty in China existed about the same time. Approx 200bce to 200ce.

Before I get lost in all the ancient dates and history we have to understand, man has always been farmers, gatherers, hunters, providers, and Warriors. Meaning humans have 2 arms. 2 legs, 2 knees, 2 Feet, 2 hands, 2 elbows, 1 forehead, and essentially 1 set of adult teeth. This means that’s all they had to learn to fight and defend with. But also as long as man has had those extremities he’s also had a brain to create weapons from stone, steel, and wood. We all know that most martial arts is traced back from China to Okinawa, to Japan, To South East Asia, Korea then throughout the rest of the world. But a lot of times Africa, Russia, Scandinavia, Highlands of Scotland area are all missed in that regard. Egypt, Rome, Spain, Europe, Scandinavia, Hispanic, ancient Indian, Native American, Nordic, Russia, the Earth was a big place with humans spread all about. And anywhere there were 2 men in one place there was a fight at one time or another. Whether that fight was wrestling one another to the ground, ground and pound, stabbing one or the other to death, biting the face off the other, cutting the throat of the other, essentially maiming or killing the other. It don’t matter the location or the cultural differences fighting battles was a right of passage.

Some were more barbaric than others. Some was more sophisticated & skillfully trained than another. Others may have been just wild natured and extremely skilled in hunting and used that skill to hunt and kill man.

When you go deep in the trenches warfare is warfare. Survival is survival and natural instincts kick in. Cardiovascular health plays an important part in survival. Strength and endurance play and important role in survival. And logically so does trained skilled warriors. It all plays a part in your human nature and ability to survive.

FF to modern times 1951- 1973+ after WW2, after Korean War and After Vietnam. Asian martial arts make their way to America. Chinese railroad workers secretly teach Kung Fu in China Town in San Francisco’, & Seattle to only Chinese. (Of course you have the Bruce Lee Story) and his and Wong Jak Man’s fight to the rights to teach the Gwilo . Robert Trias opens First dojo in 1946. First American tournament in 1958. Korean Karate/ TKD formed in 1955. And then we have other indigenous martial arts and traditional styles such as FMA, INDO, MALAY, Tribal African, & BJJ, JuJitsu, Judo, Hapkido, etc. the styles can go on and on and on for ever. Everyone has created their own style from one of the main system or another. In 2026 it’s all the Same. Nothing new is being presented! No one can come up with anything to top modern combat and combat sports. It’s all been done. But what I seen today that sparks this whole thing is. Robotic martial arts. This is it. The new era of martial arts. You’re faced off in your next tournament with a robot in Kata and Kumite. Or maybe in the future everyone has their own personal robot and we train them to do everything for us and we compete using it in our place! This is the future!!

Check out this video, "Robotic Martial Arts" https://share.google/S7ihKL9dtHr5WjBfo

Is this the end of humanity and Martial Arts as we know it???

Martial arts robots dazzle at 2026 Spring Festival Gala #CoolChina #springfestival2026 #kungfu Tradition meets technology in a stunning showcase at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala by China Media Group. This year's gala features robots performing synchronized martial arts routines alongside children, highlighting a bold fusion of heritage and high-tech innovation. Subscri...

Okinawan Karate Lineage: A Legacy Forged Through Generations

Okinawan karate is not simply a collection of fighting techniques. It is a living tradition shaped by generations of teachers, students, communities, and cultural exchange. Its development took place mainly in Okinawa, where different traditions emerged around Shuri, Naha, and Tomari. Over time, these traditions became important foundations for many karate schools practiced around the world today.

The historical story is often associated with influential figures such as Kanga Sakugawa, Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura, Kosaku Matsumora, and Arakaki Seisho. Their names represent different stages in the transmission and development of Okinawan martial arts. Matsumura, in particular, is frequently connected with the Shuri-te tradition, while Matsumora is associated with Tomari-te. These traditions were not completely isolated; knowledge, training methods, and teachers often crossed regional and personal boundaries.

From the Naha tradition came Kanryo Higaonna, whose teachings became an important foundation for Goju-Ryu. His student Chojun Miyagi later organized and developed Goju-Ryu into a distinctive system emphasizing both hard and soft training methods, controlled breathing, conditioning, kata, and practical application.

Another major figure was Anko Itosu, whose influence helped shape the teaching and modernization of karate in Okinawa. His efforts contributed to the introduction of karate into broader educational settings and influenced later generations. Among his students was Kenwa Mabuni, who eventually founded Sh*to-Ryu, a style known for preserving and combining techniques and kata from several Okinawan traditions.

The lineage shown in this image also includes Chojuro Tani, founder of Shukokai, followed by later teachers such as Teruo Mimoto and Masataka Osh*ta. These later generations demonstrate how Okinawan karate continued to travel beyond its original environment and develop through international teaching organizations.

Beyond technique, the tradition also emphasizes character, humility, perseverance, respect, and responsibility—values that allow karate to remain a path of personal development as well as martial skill today.

It is important to remember that martial-arts lineage charts are often simplified. Historical relationships between masters, teachers, and styles can be complex, and different organizations may present the lineage differently. A chart should therefore be viewed as an educational representation rather than a single universally accepted genealogy.

What remains constant is the principle of transmission: knowledge is passed from teacher to student, refined through practice, and preserved through discipline. Okinawan karate survives because each generation carries the responsibility of learning from the past while continuing to develop the art for the future.

Competition Martial Arts. I think there’s a strong love for watching competitions of any sort. Sports are Americas favorite passtime. Some people are just die hard competitors. And thankfully those people exist because they drive the competition market. Being an athlete no matter what sport it is you choose you have to practice, study, train to compete to win. We see alot of young competitors in most sports. By the time one reaches college age 18-22-23 yrs old. They’re burnt out of the sport. It takes someone with true discipline and love for their art craft to want to continue to compete past the age of 25yrs old. Once you reach 30’s + is pretty much not happening. There are some exceptions. But they’re 1% of the competitors. Will we see sport martial arts die off in the next 10-15 yrs?

How did I get into teaching martial arts? Was this something you set out to do in life?

This is a rather long post. Not something I can write in short form.

The true answer is NO. No I never expected to be teach martial arts, nor did I want to or have a desire to. It kind of just happened. I was never even the best or most talented student in my dojo. I guess I was just one of those ppl who enjoyed training and learning martial arts.

So how did it happen?

As I studied Karate & Kali from Tim Armstrong, & Bruce Ogle 1984-1991. I was very dedicated student. That time period alone during my HS and teenage years I could write a lot about. But I’ll save that for later. After HS. And going into the Army in 1991 I pretty much didn’t train much during that time. Until I come back home, at that time I moved to Ft Wayne, IN. I would find myself occasionally dropping in a dojo here and there where ever I was at and train with whatever dojo I visited. I never really found a place I liked or could call home after Armstrongs Karate. He set the bar pretty high for what I was looking for. So I would attend seminars whenever I could. And drop in on classes and ask to partake in some Dojos. When I lived in Ft Wayne 1994-2000 I did train in CDK/TKD for several years under Ralph White, and joined an backyard Eskrima group, ran by Kim Satterfield and Rob McDonald. I initially began training with Ralph White bc I met him at a store and he was wearing his school jacket And we just began talking and he invited me to his Dojang. I went a couple of times and I really liked his training regimine and it felt legit to me. I ended up staying around. Over the course of a few years i learned his system and tested and earned BB there. He really wanted me to help him teach school kids he had with ft wayne community schools back then. I may have been idk 24-25 yrs old. I didn’t really want to teach at all. Nonetheless, I ended up teaching a couple schools with him for a year or so. In 2000 I moved back to Muncie, IN. At that time I was still active with G**o Kim in Eskrima. Kim and I had developed a great friendship and I was a dedicated student of his as an apprentice instructor in Inayan Eskrima

Upon moving back to Muncie IN.
I got a job working in Corrections with troubled teens at a Boot Camp facility. It was a state accredited program. This was more Para Military designed than anything else. We ran it very strict like a military boot camp. It was while I worked there I met who’s been one of my best friends now for over 26 yrs (Jay Dotson) he was the DT’s instructor, MPD Sgt. and Chief of BMH Police dept. During his training course he must of recognized I had prior experience and training and at the end of the course he and I began talking. We shared information and a week later we had met up to train together and a friendship developed. I told him I didn’t really train like I used to because I had not found a place I could really invest my time in. I wanted to find a good dojo for my son. I was however still attending seminars and other training sessions wherever I could. I was interested in more FMA at that time. I was traveling to INDY & Ft Wayne regularly to study Kali and Eskrima with my 2 G**os. Bruce Ogle and Kim Satterfield.

Jay invited me to meet his teacher, Carl Jackson who was ranked 6th dan under Ron White and Bill Vichiolli then. I had been wanting to at that time get my son in to Karate. I took him to Ron White Dojo, but Mr White was not actively teaching at that time. Carl Jackson and Mr V. Who occasionally come to his dojo was who I decided to train with. It wasn’t long that Carl Jackson and I developed a close friendship as well and I already a Black belt under Armstrong (A Ron White black belt), and Ralph White, as well a G**o rank (BB equivalent) in Kali under Bruce Ogle and an apprentice instructor in Inayan Eskrima with Kim S. I still was not interested in teaching. I didn’t even want to teach my own son. I felt he would do better under someone else. I enrolled him into Mr Jackson’s Dojo. Also during this time I had met Boz who also worked in corrections at Pendleton Correctional Facility, were I later ended up working for a few years after MRDC He and I would get together at my house and train Kali. Now here’s where it shifts.

I just wanted a training partner. But in order to get Boz up to speed with where I was I had to teach him what I knew and what we worked on. Still I didn’t want to teach. But it was the only way to work out. Boz taught me and I taught him. We shared training ideas. And we went to Indy to train together with Bruce Ogle often.

As time went on. I began teaching karate at Jackson’s Karate, and Jay started his own dojo at the YMCA and I would come in and assist him when he asked me too so I was back to training 3-4 days a week Karate at 2 different locations. And on weekends driving to Indy and Ft wayne to study FMA. Theres alot of Time missing in this story bc the time line could write a book. Like meeting and training with Guru Mike Casto for many many years in Kali Silat.
Attending Inosanto Seminars, And many others in JKD, Kali, BJJ, Bando, Muay Thai,Kyusho Jitsu, I spent a lot of time training. More than teaching. I was a student never wanted to teach. But other ppl began to want to train with me. Wanted Kali, and JKD that I had learned. Then I’d do Karate on week nights and I’d often share those other arts with the adult students. And they all loved it. I guess I realized then I had a knack to teach. As time went I began a training group I called Indiana Martial Arts Academy (IMAA) it was a short lived name. It later shifted and changed to Kailat Kombatives bc most were all law enforcement, corrections officers, former military and working in security or some field where we were to keep our skills sharp for our jobs. Kailat was the name I chose. An acronym for (Ka / Karate / Kali - ilat / Silat) it also is a term that means “to close on your target” which is what our jobs had us to do. We had to close in and take down and subdue our offenders. Kailat was the perfect name. Kombatives was just that. We trained hard. We beat each other up, and we pressure tested everything. Empty hand, to knife and stick fighting. And we also went to the range and worked on tactical weapons training. This group grew from 2-4 ppl to eventually 15-25 ppl at its peak. We worked out at my back yard, in a park for years until we got a spot in the Hospital in the winter months to train indoors at the workout room. I worked security for BMH so I had access to this facility. As well as Jackson’s Karate dojo.

Teaching became more and more intertwined in my life at this time. Working full time. Trying to be a father and a husband and doing martial arts 4-5 days a week. I was really pressing the limits. But it was working. It ended up taking a toll on my marriage I didn’t realize it. Which ultimately resulted in our divorce. Although that happened I still kept going on teaching and training. Now mind you again I still didn’t want to teach!’ Lol. Then one day Jay come to me asked me to take over his school at the YmCA karate program bc of his job commitment and he couldn’t really be present as often as he wanted and asked me to teach for him and wanted me to take it over. Of course I said yes. At that moment I became a teacher which was what I never thought I’d do. I turned the school into a productive program. Kids Karate with over 30 kids and we started competing in tournaments which Jay never had the desire to do. I felt it was important for them. We would have students from Carl Jackson’s karate and Whites Karate come to my classes and on off nights we would go there. It give the students the opportunity to train 4-5 nights a week. Many took advantage of it. My adult class advanced class grew. We fought like the old days. They would glove up and go hard. And then the kickboxing and MMA class started. We had several students who began fighting in KB and MMA my son was one of them. These guys were not playing around. We brought in UFC local to Muncie veterans. Hector Urbina, Carvin Maffatau, And other amateur fighters. Ppl came to train and spar with us all the time. This was a great era for Muncie IN and myself bc. I just loved training and sharing. Everything was going good. Until 2012 I was in a serious auto accident that changed the course of everything for me. It took me 2.5 years to be able to rehabilitate myself to walk and be able to move again. Thankfully I was blessed to have great ppl who kept what I had started going without me. I would often show up on crutches to sit on sidelines and coach. But for a few years I couldn’t do anything. Here it is 2026 and I still have complications from that injury and I can’t perform like I used to. I lose my balance, can’t walk barefoot without a limp, major leg swelling. Blood clots in my legs. Can’t Kick like I used to. Every day I hurt constantly. Anyway in a nutshell I often feel like giving it all up now days. I’m 53yrs old. Been doing martial arts since I was 13-14yrs old. Age and injury has taken its toll on my body. But if I can still teach I will share my experience and knowledge as long as I can. But I still don’t want to be a teacher. lol 😂. I guess I don’t have a choice as it’s just been what I’ve done for 25+ years now. Teaching just happened. I never sought it out or considered myself as one. But I’m blessed and have had some great experiences and students since I began this journey. I’ve watched kids I taught from 6,7,8yrs old who are now grown adults with family of their own. Many of them and their parents are still training Kali with me in my monthly groups. This is a journey I never expected or tried for. But I’m grateful it landed in my lap . Some photos I have of over the years. But one thing about me is I never took many pictures most were photos others took and I ended up with. I hated being in photos. lol