The Muga Mushin Judo School was founded on the 5th August 2004 at The Martial Arts Institute by Sensei Reinaldo Novoa Jr 2nd Dan black belt, Dip. Judo (University of Leipzig, Germany).

Mission:

To aid judoka in learning and understanding the principles of Judo through physical, mental and spiritual practise.

Vision:

To become an institution that is respected for its high quality judoka both in traditional and Olympic Sport Judo.

Teaching Method:

Classes may be theory, practical or a mixture of both. Theory sessions consist of the study of the principles of Judo through diagrams, handouts, discussions, exercises and the use of techniques from the Go Kyo No Waza. Practical sessions consist of application of learnt theory through exercises and the practise of techniques. Theory sessions aim to help the student judoka understand:

1. What is done.
2. Why it is done.
3. How it is done.

Students are free to question sensei on any of these points in a theory session with respect to any exercise or technique. Practical sessions aim to help student judoka understand how to use their bodies in the most efficient manner to achieve their motor goal. These sessions may also be used to enhance the students physical performance prerequisites via specifically designed routines or kinetic chains. During these sessions any questions by students , based on the session, are addressed at the end of class. Sensei Reinaldo Novoa Jr. believes in building a large educational foundation from which judoka may develop their Judo to any desirable level. Hence, judoka through their course of study at The Muga Mushin Judo School build their personal Judo manual, with class handouts, worksheets as well as personal notes.

The Muga Mushin Judo School Way

The Muga Mushin Judo School Way is directly in line with the guiding principles of Judo:

• Seiryoku Zen'yo - "whatever the objective, it can best be attained by applying, to maximum effect, one's mental and physical energy for that purpose"
• Jita Kyoei - the promotion of "mutual welfare and benefit for oneself and others".

Judoka of The Muga Mushin Judo School are constantly trained to: 1. Respect and thank their partners for allowing them the opportunity to better themselves 2. Help their partners by cooperating with the specific level of resistance required for each exercise 3. Coordinate their bodies efficiently and to maximum effect in response to their target goal 4. Become an "Empty Gi" using, whenever necessary, their partner's force to accomplish their goals

The Muga Mushin Judo School Style "The Empty Gi"

Student judoka of The Muga Mushin Judo School are directed to constantly strive to be as an empty judo gi (uniform) in the hands of their partner, thereby giving no information away, yet receiving as much information through their hands commonly referred to as tentacles.

The following extract was taken from [http://web.inter.nl.net/users/A.A.G.Schiebroek/budo.htm]

Muga Mushin ( ~ an empty mind)

When someone begins to practice a martial art and learns his first techniques, he will have to think hard to remember what his sensei told him, were to look at, how to move and so on. After learning some (or a lot) of these techniques, some people stop with budo, thinking they know everything there is to learn. But they are only half-way. Someone who is practising martial arts for many years, often does not have to think anymore. He moves and reacts naturally and adjusts his defences according to the attacks. In a fight, fear is a bad advisor. In feudal Japan a samurai was thought that whoever took up his sword, had to be prepared to die. If he wanted to survive then, he could not win without muga mushin.

In our modern society this seems a bit exaggerated, but for making and adjusting defensive moves, human thinking and then reacting is to slow.