Sho Bu Do is a Japanese style of jujitsu, a form of hand-to-hand combat. Jujitsu has been defined (and spelled) many different ways, and was used as a catch-all in Japan for hand-to-hand combat (sometimes with weapons) for some time. Many jujitsu styles have similarities, and many techniques were shared/ adopted at various times in history, but styles can still vary widely in technique and application.

Sho Bu Do was developed in the 20th Century by Nakasato, Shoshu, a person of Japanese descent currently living in Okinawa. He spent much of his life travelling around Japan, studying martial arts, and Sho Bu Do is an extension of his family's style of bujutsu, with additions from other styles he trained in. Sho Bu Do came to the USA with some U.S. soldiers stationed in Okinawa that trained with him and his students.

Within the art of Sho Bu Do lie many sub-disciplines, as in most martial arts. Of primary initial interest are the physical techniques of an art, although the mental and spiritual disciplines are equally or even more important. We study the application of pain by many different methods. Open hand techniques taught include joint locks, throws, strikes of all sorts, pressure point and nerve techniques, chokes, and weapon defenses. Weapons training includes both one and two person kata and single techniques with katana, tanto, jo, rokushaku bo, yawara bo, hojojutsu, and thrown weapons. Most techniques are done from a standing position, although we do train in seated and ground techniques as well. Movement is an essential part of any martial art, and is especially emphasized in our studies, as it forms the basis of off-balancing and control of any opponent's movements. Mental training in tactics, awareness, conflict resolution and focus is done throughout, although more emphasis is placed on these at higher levels of training.

• 1st Principle - Also called nikyo by aikidoka. A bent-wrist kansetsu-waza.
• 2nd Principle - Kote gaeshi in all of its myriad forms.
• 3rd Principle - Also called sankyo by aikidoka. kansetsu-waza with or without bent-wrist.
• 4th Principle - Also called yonkyo by aikidoka. Nerve holds, especially those affecting the radial nerve in the arm and the corresponding nerve in the ankle.
• 5th Principle - Armbars of all sorts and forms.
• 6th Principle - Chokes of all sorts and defenses.
• 7th Principle - Throws of any sort.
• 8th Principle - Nerves and Pressure points throughout the body.

Atemi are worked into these principles as necessary and training in atemi is done both separately and as an integral part of applying the principles and other techniques to an opponent. A complete technique will involve several atemi and likely use several principles from start to finish.