Muto

Muto is a term that explains the strategies and tactics necessary for one who is unarmed, empty handed, who has to deal with a sword armed Samurai. It begins by the requirement to acquire a method by which one is prepared to fight empty-handed against an armed opponent.

To fight samurai the Okinawan's had to develop this mind-set, i.e. achieving the ability to gain close proximity, i.e. where the opponents sword is past the body and unable to cut, to the sword wielding samurai and the Okinawan has to develop techniques that put him and his empty hands below the opponents wrist.

In a nutshell, find the void of the swordsman to gain entry into and close so that the sword wrist is high and the Okinawan is below the wrist allowing for wrist locking techniques that will allow removal of the sword from the opponents hands. If the swordsman's resists then the tactic is to control the sword hand to prevent being cut, etc.

The Okinawan must act quickly, smoothly and appropriately. He must have mastered both the physical and mental ability necessary to apply muto. The techniques must be down to the minutest details.