Extracts from 'Kyu Book' (unpublished)by Sensei Ray Wood, edited by Gary Robinson

The attainment made possible by the true study of Budo is the real and natural heritage of all human beings. No person is to be barred from such studies, unless acting to the detriment of Budo. Kyushindo Budo therefore recognises no distinction of age, sex, colour, creed, or previous affiliation within the ranks of its adherents.

By aiming at education and development of the individual to the highest level of human attainment, Budo under the Kyushindo principle shares many aspects with religion, although having no principle of worship, or dogmatist belief, its ideas need not conflict with any faith held by the student.

As the object of Kyushindo Budo is to attain to the highest spheres of human existence, a student’s sense of respect, modesty and affection must always overcome the instinct to fight.

The highest purpose of Budo is to awaken your spirit to the direct realisation of true nature. This "true nature" cannot be claimed as the special privilege of any one system or belief. This realisation/method is not something special that a teacher may give or guarantee to induce. Neither is it possible for it to be bought and sold. Every sentient person encloses this true nature within and each must 'discover' enlighten for themselves. A teacher or a system can only serve to help.

Everyone has a fundamental right to this self-knowledge, in the way that each individual has the right to free speech and freedom of action. Knowledge of others comes from the knowledge of the self, and it is the self that is the object of the training. The idea of overcoming others is a wrong motive for the undertaking of such studies. The truly skilled student of Budo overcomes others merely as an incidental result of performing correct techniques, the real achievements lying far beyond such trivialities. The true student of Budo never has a need to fight others, except within the disciplined formal process of training. The most unpleasant fact to have to face is that your apparent progress in Budo is only as real as the effect it has upon your everyday life.

From the circulation of blood in the human body to the burrowing of a mole into the earth, the shape of the spiral is obvious in the movement patterns and structural patterns of the natural world that surrounds us. A chilling gust of wind lifts powdery snow from a mountain peak in soft swirling clouds. Falling in slow spinning arcs a withered leaf ripples the surface of a quite pond. The seas are lifted and the boundary between land and water disappear as the tension of the atmosphere is released in the awesome power of a hurricane.

As you recognise the harmony and power of this movement you can understand the creative process from which all things evolved. Budo is creation, the creation of harmony and justice from violence. A positive energy creating light from the darkness.

The physical movement must embody the principles of the spirit. Negative power is to be met, not with conflict, but joined, interpreted and redirected through the power and balance of spiral movement. When the partner attacks meet them with the confidence of insight. Draw them into your centre and recreate the dynamics and power of the galaxy movement. Through the dictates of the spirit, the body can create the force of gravity. It can create a vacuum, surround itself with a magnetic field of energy. This can only be accomplished through intimate and functioning knowledge of the principles of balance, the reactions and relationships of energy, i.e. the Universal law.

Kyushindo Budo promotes flowing and fluid movement and emphasises deflection and avoidance as the concept when force meets force. Kyushindo takes a long time for a student to realise its fundamentals and concepts, so it is not for the student seeking instant results.

Learning Kyushindo Martial Arts is a matter of self-discipline and hard work. There is no easy way of learning; you only get out what you put into it. Black Belt standard is regarded as a good beginner.