ABOUT MANAKAI MARTIAL ARTS
The Manakai Martial Arts system is of the old school with liniage tracing from, Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (a Bujutsu school set up by Iizasa Chōisai Ienao 1387–1488 in Japan) and Daitoku Ji, Kyoto, Japan (Lineage dating back to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Oda Nobunaga, (samurai and daimyō (feudal lord)) and Hakuin Ekaku, one of the most influential figures in Japanese Zen Buddhism). Rank denotes the individuals learning and skill at bettering themselves overtime. This is the way of Manakai (Mana is based on the Japanese term Manabu or learning). It does not just mean copying but delving more deeply, learning in the truest sense. It is all the researching and exploring and identifying one’s journey that is as individual as they are.
So, in the practice, one devotes themselves, as students, to learning each technique regardless of where it fits into the syllabus. This approach assists them to learn and keep what works best for them. As students attend more classes, they learn more and more techniques that may or may not ever be repeated. The goal is to be able not only to replicate and adapt them but also to create similar and new techniques.
Every one of us is different. I have always thought about how difficult it is to mould oneself to a system. That said, I have done that, but I have sought to adapt what I learned to suit myself. Without this, one can never reach the depths of the real meaning of the art form.
This system is founded on the ability to master the techniques to one's self, and not on how well you copy a fixed form. The students are graded on their ability in honing their techniques to themselves in the most adaptive way and understanding the applications for those techniques. Students tend to learn much more without the stress of learning specific techniques and forms that might not suit them, and which may prove useless if they were to find themselves compromised, or in a dangerous situation.
Jack Harris, Founder - Manakai Martial Arts
WHAT IS BUJUTSU vs BUDO?
Bujutsu refers specifically to the practical application of martial tactics and techniques in actual combat. The terms Bujutsu (“Warrior Art”, or “Warrior Technique”) and Budo (“Warrior Way”) illustrate a subtle but important distinction between the philosophy of Koryu and Gendai arts. Specifically, “jutsu” implies a set of physical skills used for combat, while “do” denotes a more philosophical and/or spiritual focus.
While Koryu can have a great depth of philosophical and spiritual aspects to their study, in general focus is placed on effective methods of combat. Inversely, Gendai Budo can often be extremely effective for fighting but is predominately focused on philosophical and spiritual refinement.
WHAT IS KORYU and GENDAI?
Koryu literally translates to “Old School”, a Koryu is any martial arts system whose founding predates the Meiji Restoration in 1868. The Meiji Restoration is notable since it is the transition into what can be considered “modern” Japan. The name of the event is derived from Japan’s “Restoration” to imperial power under emperor Meiji. It marks a major socio-political shift as well as a restructuring of Japan’s military.
Gendai is translated as “Modern”, Gendai is any tradition formed after the Meiji Restoration. Gendai Budo is based on one or – more commonly – several Koryu arts.
Gendai Bujutsu
Taking the term Bujutsu (“Warrior Art” or “Warrior Technique”) as opposed to Budo (“Warrior Way”) Manakai Martial Arts System incorporates modern combative techniques with the way of old. The system allows the introduction of modern aspects and context in training for self-defence in whatever way works. Not focussing on a particular style but rather on the “Technique” that works for the individual and allows for expansion and personal growth for everyone.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi Clan
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Virtues of the Bushido Code
Rectitude or Justice
Courage
Benevolence
Respect
Sincerity
Honour
Loyalty
1. Rectitude or Justice
Bushido refers not only to martial rectitude, but to personal rectitude: Rectitude or Justice, is the strongest virtue of Bushido. ‘Rectitude is one’s power to decide upon a course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering; to die when to die is right, to strike when to strike is right.’ ‘Rectitude is the bone that gives firmness and stature. Without bones the head cannot rest on top of the spine, nor hands move, nor feet stand. So, without Rectitude neither talent nor learning can make the human frame into a samurai.’
2. Courage
Bushido distinguishes between bravery and courage: Courage is worthy of being counted among virtues only if it’s exercised in the cause of Righteousness and Rectitude. In his Analects, Confucius says: ‘Perceiving what is right and doing it does not reveal a lack of Courage.’ In short, ‘Courage is doing what is right.’
3. Benevolence or Mercy
A human invested with the power to command and the power to kill was expected to demonstrate equally extraordinary powers of benevolence and mercy: Love, magnanimity, affection for others, sympathy, and pity, are traits of Benevolence, the highest attribute of the human soul. Both Confucius and Mencius often said the highest requirement of a ruler of men is Benevolence.
4. Politeness and Respect
True warriors have no reason to be cruel. They do not need to prove their strength. Warriors are not only respected for their strength in battle, but also by their dealings with others. The true strength of a warrior becomes apparent during difficult times.
Politeness should be the expression of a benevolent regard for the feelings of others; it’s a poor virtue if it’s motivated only by a fear of offending good taste. In its highest form Politeness approaches love
5. Honesty and Sincerity
When the samurai say that they will perform an action, it is as good as done. Nothing shall stop them from completing what they say they will do. They do not have to give their word, and does not have to promise, for speaking and doing to the samurai are the same action.
Sincerity must be exercised in everything a samurai does, for without which the virtue is Kyorei — an empty form.
6. Honour
Though Bushido deals with the profession of soldiering, it is equally concerned with non-martial behaviour: The sense of Honour, a vivid consciousness of personal dignity and worth. Warriors have only one judge of honour and character, and this is themselves. Decisions they make and how these decisions are carried out reflect who they truly are. You cannot hide from yourself.
7. Loyalty
Warriors are responsible for everything that they have done and everything that they have said and all the consequences that follow. They are immensely loyal to all of those in their care. To everyone that they are responsible for, they remain fiercely true.
Head Instructor
David Mesaros
Soke and Chief Instructor
I have studied Martial arts from the age of 9 in various styles and forms. Over the years I have trained and worked in various industries where my Martial arts has shaped my thinking and problem solving. The skills learnt not only build self- confidence and belief in your own abilities but give you important tools for living life.
With Manakai Martial Arts the focus is on the individual and what works for you, I have found learning through this approach gives you a much deeper understanding of how, what and why.
There is no age limit to learning, from the day we are born to the day that we pass we learn, hence there is no limit to learning with Manakai Martial Arts.
Isamu Ki Zan Kokoro
心と精神の勇気は心とバランスをとる必要があります
"Courage in the mind and spirit needs to be balanced with the heart".
David Mesaros, Soke
About David Mesaros, Soke
I started my martial arts journey at the age of nine. It started like most in that I was introduced to it by a friend. I wasn’t really interested in team sports even though I enjoyed playing them. I liked the idea of all the cool moves you see on TV and thought I’ll give this a go. I started with Zen Do Kai and not knowing any different I though all karate styles were the same. I enjoyed the the training, and even though I didn’t understand the concept of what martial arts has to offer the benefits were starting to make a presence within me.
I found myself being more active, wanting to better myself and even training at home. As time went on, I graded though various belts and my friend that introduced me to it had left, but not me. There were times that I didn’t feel like training, and then there were times that I trained as much as I could. A couple of cousins of mine trained in Taekwondo, I started going training with them on other nights. This was my first introduction to the differences in Martial arts. I found concepts within Taekwondo that I wasn’t seeing in my Karate classes and visa versa. I enjoyed the challenge of the kicking techniques as I was very flexible and quick with my legs. Although after a while the focus on the sports side of training wasn’t for me.
I was now researching into different Karate styles and trained at various dojos with different friends. I found myself coming back to the idea that there needs to be self-expression not just following what your sensei is telling you to do. I understand now that the teacher goes a long way with anything that you are taught. I had many teachers in school and in work life that I didn’t connect with and did not really learn much from them, I learned more on my own. I had a good teacher at my dojo but something was still missing. I wanted to learn various weapons but was told that I wasn’t ready for that. Or we don’t teach that weapon within our style etc. I started becoming hungry to learn and wasn’t going to let this stop me. I made a variety of my own practice weapons and started exploring what I could do with them. I needed more. My parents encouraged me to learn more. My dad had trained in Judo when he was younger and knew how it stays with you. The other styles I had trained with also were limited to what I wanted to learn and I was starting to get disillusioned about it all. We didn’t have YouTube or internet to Google how to videos.
As fate would have it my new music teacher, Jack Harris was also a martial artist. We got talking about what I liked about it and what I had done etc. I told him about my various experiences and aspirations. What I did at home and how I was trying to learn of Bruce Lee movies, because I wasn’t learning things I wanted to learn in one place. One day he said to me, “David lets see what you’ve got”, I said sure, not really know where this was going but I was always up for a challenge. I followed along and basically completed a grading. He then said to me, “I grade you to brown belt. If you want more, I recommend you train with Darko Tuskan at Budokan Bujutsu." I asked my parents if I could try going there as well to see if I liked it. By this time, they were used to me jumping around to different dojos trying new styles.
Once I started training with Budokan Bujutsu I knew what I was looking for. Sensei Darko and Shihan Cullen were amazing teachers. We did everything. It was then when I learned about what Bujutsu is. It was my fit. I trained hard learnt as much as I could as I started with them wearing a brown belt. Sensei Darko worked hard with me and I did many one-on-one sessions with him. I was training 7 days a week between the dojo, one on one and at home. Within six months I graded to my Shodan Ho, black belt.
It was around then Shodai Soke Jack said to me he was going to start teaching martial arts at school. I was up for that and that was my first class with Manakai Martial Arts. I continued to train with Sensei Darko as well and we also had many combined classes as Shodai Soke Jack Harris was also Sensei Darko's and Shihan Cullen’s teacher. Manakai’s approach to learning martial arts was different to the way we learnt in Budokan Bujutsu. It was more open, you were able to express your own interests and guided to learn more and more in what suited you as an individual. Not stuck to a structured syllabus. That suited me to a tea. I was never into the sports side of Martial arts although thoroughly enjoyed training in Kick boxing, points style karate and judo but wasn’t something I aspired to.
The 6th Kubota cup IKA World Titles were being hosted in Brisbane Australia and Shodai Soke Jack asked us if we were interested in competing. I thought why not. Not very often you get the possibility to compete at a world standard. That’s when I had to unlearn and learn anew about tournament kumite. We trained as one, both students from Budokan and Manakai. We trained for 6 months with the last 3 months 5 nights a week in the dojo and every hour we had available. My day started at 5:30am with Breakfast then off to the pools. Swam laps for 45 minutes then a 5km run before my day started. We entered the Victorian Teams championship and one first place. We were then eligible for registration for the World Titles. We flew to Brisbane to compete. We had our qualifying bouts and preliminary rounds on Saturday. I had made it through to the final rounds to be held on the Sunday. In the end I placed fourth in my division. Far exceeding my expectations as I had never competed in a tournament until training for this. I was over the moon just being there. I had beaten contestants from the Australian team, contestants from Canada, France and Germany. These people travelled half way around the world to be there, the feeling was euphoric.
Post the World Cup we resumed our normal training. Now I had to unlearn all that I had learnt for the ring and back to what we did. A few of us students then graduated to Manakai Master class. This class was only for higher ranks and the training was about anything and everything to do with Martial arts. I also trained in various other styles of Martial arts that included; Karate, Judo, Kung Fu, Sanshou, Kick Boxing, Taekwondo, Kendo and Iaido.
However, my main source of training was Manakai Martial Arts. The master classes were very intense and fuelled my thirst for knowledge of the application. I then joined the Australian Army and went through the usual training. It was then I started to realise how much my experience with Manakai Martial Arts was shaping my awareness. Combat training and strategic planning that we were learning in the army went hand in hand with what I had already learnt. Identifying enemy weak points, taking advantage of opportunities etc was all common strategies I had learnt though Bujutsu. As a supplement to my main work in the Automotive Field as an adult educator I started working in the private security sector. I gained qualification to operated as a licenced guard, including endorsements for Crowd Control, Security Guard, Baton and handcuff, CIT operations Armed guard, Bodyguard and Private Security Trainer.
I started working for a small company Security Armed Solutions (SAS) that specialised in boutique work. Specialist assignments, events and armed work. As the company grew and took on more mainstream work including pubs and clubs I ran various security crews, carried out risk assessments and planning. I continued my Martial Arts training in the truest sense of "Martial Arts" in the form of real world application, "anything goes". I expanded my knowledge with Bujutsu from the koryu (old ways) and incorporated Gendai (modern), I specialised in defensive tactics and weaponry (including firearms) from an operational point of view in various private security applications including close personal protection and asset protection local and interstate. Living the way of Manakai Martial Arts has no boundaries and lessons learnt from one application becomes incorporated into another, and another and so on. Later on, I moved into accredited training for licencing courses that I still deliver today.
My journey took me to the one place I had never expected, Shodai Soke Jack Harris naming me his Soke and awarding me the highest level of licence "Menkyo Kaiden" (license of total transmission) for Manakai Martial Arts. It is the biggest honour bestowed on me apart from becoming a father. Now my journey continues with new focus and dedication with an awakening of my desires to delve even deeper within me and my art.
Qualifications and Achievements
Martial Arts Lineage
Manakai Martial Arts - Soke, Menkyo Kaiden
Masters International Martial Arts Federation - Kudan (9th Dan)
Budokan Martial Arts - Nanadan (7th Dan)
Australian Sanshou Combative System (5th Degree), Master
Loong Fu Pai Martial Arts - Nidan (2nd Dan)
4th Place Kumite at 6th Kubota Cup IKA World Titles (Held in Brisbane, Australia)
(Also trained in various other Martial Art forms such as Karate, Judo, Kung Fu, Sanshou, Kick Boxing, Taekwondo, Kendo and Iaido).
Work career - Automotive
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Qualified light vehicle mechanic
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Qualified Auto electrician
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Qualified Heavy Vehicle Mechanic
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Ford Master Technician
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Certificate IV in Automotive Diagnosis
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Diploma of Automotive Technology
Work career - Education and Business
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Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
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Diploma of Training and Assessment Systems
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Diploma of Quality Auditing
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Bachelor of Adult Learning and Development
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Working with Childrens Card
Work career - Security and Defence.
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Australian Army - rank CFN
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Certificate II in Security Operations
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Crowd Control
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Security Guard
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Certificate III in Security Operations includes:
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Baton and handcuff
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CIT operations
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Armed Guard
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Bodyguard
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Private Security Trainer
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Advanced First Aid