Kamaemail archive, issue one
Kamaemail
January 2000 volume 1
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~~~~~IN THIS ISSUE~~~~
* WELCOME TO KAMAEMAIL
* WHAT'S NEW?
* NEXT SEMINARS
* KAMAE IS ATTITUDE
* A UNIVERSAL VISION
* GETTING THE GOOD DISTANCE
* HOLLAND MILLENNIUM TAIKAI REMINDER
* Q&A
* TECHNICAL TIPS
* VIDEOS
* BOOKS
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~~~~WELCOME TO KAMAEMAIL: COMMUNICATING IN THE BUJINKAN~~~~
For the year of the Dragon, we decided to create this newsletter. Kamaemail
is a free ezine designed to exchange ideas about the Bujinkan, to keep
you informed of what is going on and to give news about our art from all
over the world at least once a month (maybe more often if you send us
articles). Your personal contribution is most welcome so, feel free to
send to kamaemail@wanadoo.fr any article, information or insight you have
about the Bujinkan. Please do not send any picture or photo.
Articles can speak of anything linked to our art, to martial arts in general
and to Japan or Asia: technical tips, history of Japan. If you organize
a seminar please inform us. At the end of each participation please put
your name, dan grade, email and website.
When you send us an article please follow these rules: Japanese names
are singular, do not put any "s" at the end. These names are sounds not
words: for example "one kamae, two kamae). Write Japanese words in italic,
it will ease our reading. Do not put any accent even if you should because
some countries do not read them and it makes the text hard to understand.
Caution : Kamaemail will not accept any article or information criticizing
or attacking any individuals, whether they are members or not of the Bujinkan.
The existing "chatlists" on internet do that perfectly already.
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~~~~WHAT'S NEW?~~~~
Here you will find anything of interest concerning our art.
§ Hatsumi Sensei received a diploma and medal from the emperor to thank
him for his contribution in spreading japanese culture all over the world.
Check the Win website at http://www.winjutsu.com/emperor-award.htm
§ Pedro Fleitas has just gone to Japan for a few weeks with a large group
of students from many countries. We wish them a good training.
§ The last Shi Tenno seminar was held in Dublin on the third week-end
of january. It was perfectly organised by the Steve Byrne, 10th Dan, skibyrne@indigo.ie
and 80 people gathered at the Trinity College for two days of hard training.
§ The theme for this year is Koppo Jutsu and not Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu
as stated before. Read the reminder by Sveneric Bogsater m.vliet@home.nl
§ Shihan Pedro Fleitas has received the golden medal of Buddhist Sokka
Gakkai in the Canary Islands for the work of Bujinkan in helping other
human being.
§ BUJINKAN PEDRO FLEITAS DOJO Address: Street C/ Eduardo Dato, 9 35200
Telde - Gran Canaria/ Canary Islands-Spain Phone: 928 699924 - Fax 928
699026 - Mobile 696 316264
Classes:/Adults/ Monday & Wednesday evening 19.30 to 21.30 and Tuesday
& Wednesday morning 10.30 to 12.00 - http://usuarios.intercom.es/unryu/index.htm
§ BUJINKAN FRANCE. Arnaud Cousergue. address 108, rue de Fontenay 93100
Vincennes - France. Phone and Fax: +33 (0)1 60 47 20 02 - Mobile +33 (0)6
6041 5881
Classes: Monday 2pm to 4h30pm - Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 8h30pm to
10pm. All year long.
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~~~~NEXT SEMINARS~~~~
Send us informations about the seminars you organise, they will be put
in this section.
§ 5th & 6th of February in BADALONA/BARCELONA - SPAIN: After their trip
to Japan a seminar on Koppojutsu will be directed by Francisco Roldan
and Pedro Fleitas. Info: 93 3994728 (only spanish) - Mobile 696 316264
(english spoken).
§ 4th to 9th of February in PARIS - FRANCE: The IIIrd Winter University
of the Bujinkan France will be held in Paris by Arnaud Cousergue. Dates:
friday evening 4th of february until wednesday 9th of february 2000. Program:
7th Kyu, 6th Kyu andd 5th Kyu. a manual will be given to each participant.
You can sleep for free at the Dojo. More details: solkan@wanadoo.fr or
phone: +33 1 6047 2002.
§ TAIKAI HOLLAND 1st, 2nd & 3rd JUNE 2000: There will be only one Taikai
this year so do not miss this opportunity to train with Soke Hatsumi.
For general information look at http://bujinkan.com or email Mariette
van der Vliet at m.vliet@home.nl
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~~~~KAMAE IS ATTITUDE~~~~
When we begin Budo Taijutsu training we first study the body postures
but after a few years of training in the Bujinkan, it seems we forget
the interest of basics and body postures. This is the worst thing to do.
Without a strong foundation, one cannot get the true essence of body movement.
The Bujinkan teaches 9 schools that we all know (at least by names.).
Each school's manual begins with kurai-dori. We usually translate that
by "kurai + dori" and think that it only concerns the physical aspect
of body postures.
When you look into a good dictionary you find that kurai-dori is one word
meaning "positionnal notation" that wa can translate by "notes for postures".
It is a lot different from kurai dori!
We have a basic set of kamae in the general teaching of the Ten Chi Jin
ryaku no maki but each school (under the same kamae name)has its own differences.
We have to understand the word "kamae" as "mental attitude". This gives
us a hint on how to approach the spirit of each school. This is the reason
why Hatsumi Sensei often refers to "tai gamae", "kokoro". The tai gamae
is the body posture where the kokoro gamae is the mental attitude. Now
if we broaden this understanding and apply it to our taijutsu, kamae,
in general, can be understood as our attitude in life. Therefore we can
say "this guy has a good attitude or a bad attitude". By that we understand
that our human attitude is what makes us different. Many people have good
techniques but bad attitude in life as human beings. Study your kamae
and allow them to change your vision of life. As Hatsumi Sensei says:
"the Bujinkan is to create better human beings". The more you study your
basics the more it changes your vision of life. There is no spiritual
teachings in the Bujinkan. No link with any religion but the Bujinkan
is a strong medium to get better as human beings. Everything is hidden
inside the study of kamae and basics.
Arnaud Cousergue, 11th dan, solkan@wanadoo.fr , http://perso.wanadoo.fr/siteajc/
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~~~~A UNIVERSAL VISION~~~~
HAPPY YEAR 2000, YEAR OF THE DRAGON!
If somebody ask me what is the first quality a member of the Bujinkan
should have ? I would tell: " Opening ". If you stop for a moment and
observe how the Bujinkan has progressed, you will realize the value of
the opening to other human beings and mankind. To belong to a country
or another, in our martial art, is not of vital importance. With the fruit
of practice, the lines that separate the various cultures disappear to
let the divine wind Bujin penetrating secretly in the lagoons of our hearts.
If you have trained for some time in Japan, you have observed that practitioners
of different countries always converge at the same time, and in the moment
when the silence is made, where the languages end in the Taijutsu... there
is no longer any difference! In these moments, communication and understanding
become visible. For that reason in our dojo it is normal that there are
practitioners from other cities, other counties and other countries training,
because the difference unites us, and the union makes us respect the conditions
of coexistence of each one, this is the reason why whether you have opening
or difficultly you will be able to progress, at least in the human sense
of the word. God has given me a work, at least up to now, that has allowed
me to travel, to know different cultures and mainly to find wonderful
people.
As Hatsumi Sensei said during the Taikai of London of last year: "when
training together, the sweat appearing is a fog that separates the feelings
of different people to disappear ..." I feel privileged of participating
in the script of this movie that God has offered us and being able to
develop my work with peace in my heart. For that reason, I stimulate my
students to participate in as many activities possible, travel to Japan,
Taikai, courses, seminars, etc... because I have felt in my own flesh
the benefit of it, the benefit of the continuous sacrifice, many times
very alone but many times accompanied by my friends, my family and my
students.
>From here I want to encourage all practitioners in the Bujinkan to participate,
cooperate and find beautiful and wonderful people all over the world waiting
to know them. Don't lose this opportunity! maybe it will not happen again
in your life. Remember to apply the knowledge the Bujinkan is giving to
you: DISTANCE, FEELING AND TIMING.
Personal enrichment at the human level is much more important that all
the titles, licenses, diplomas you can obtain. The experience of training
with the Soke, especially, and of course with teachers who, continuously
and constantly have trained with him let them reach their own personal
interpretation of Budo Taijutsu and they still continue to train with
an open vision and share their experience.
One of my brothers in Budo/Life, the dragon Arnaud (France) after his
travel to daikomyosai last year in Japan, summarized this event to me
in some words which I think had been Hatsumi Sensei's primordial message.
I now want to share it with you. Sensei said: " Budo Taijutsu is like
zen buddhism. We now have reached a level where there are no more form
nor intention. The movement exists by itself and adapts itself, everyday
more, to the opponent's movement".
May God guides you in the path of the Budo.
Pedro Fleitas González - 11th Dan - unryu@lix.intercom.es - http://usuarios.intercom.es/unryu/index.htm
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~~~~GETTING THE GOOD DISTANCE~~~~
Once you know the basics, you get a chance to understand the art of distancing.
This is not something that can be attained through hard training only.
Without training properly and regularly you are only a technician. You
do not have the "feeling". By that I mean that you only know movements
without having the ability to use them. It is like driving a car. You
have a driving license but you are not able to drive a formula one on
a grand prix! You only know the basics in the art of car driving.
Distance is one of the key to real budo. Another one is to get the rhythm.
To get proper distance, do not try to get it or quickly you will figure
out that it is impossible to attain. You should better try to look for
the opportunities you have at hand. When we train in the dojo, we try
to reproduce what the teacher did and very often we cannot do it. This
is because the distance with our partner is not correct. But we ignore
it and try to "force" the movement. We have the sequence in our mind but
are unable to send it through the body. In fact, in that respect, it is
easier to teach than to follow somebody's teaching.
Distance is natural and to be efficient we have three basic tools at hand
from the basic program we all know under the name Ten Chi Jin ryaku no
maki. The first one is uke nagashi i.e. the ways of blocking or redirect
an attack; the second one is gyaku waza i.e. locking the wrist, the elbow
or the shoulder; the third one is nage waza i.e throwing by the leg, the
hip or the shoulder.
When you fight at long range distance you use the uke nagashi. You do
not want to get involved, you try to avoid contact.
At medium range distance, you can use the gyaku waza. The opponent tries
to get a hold on you and you manage to escape by using the various locks.
At short range distance (i.e. contact) you use nage waza. Here the opponent
is already grabbing you and the only thing remaining is to throw him on
the ground to control him or to jump away from him.
This way of understanding proper distance comes naturally when you react
to what the opponent is "giving" you, it will not be efficient if you
think to one technique you want to do in particular. If you think the
technique then you are trapped by it. Your spirit is locked in one direction
and cannot react instinctively to the situation. You loose because you
did not pay attention to what your opponent's body was sending you.
Hatsumi Sensei is teaching the "way of the natural movement". He is repeating
it constantly and do not listen to him. If you really want to get the
good distance, then next time, listen to him!
Arnaud Cousergue -11th Dan - solkan@wanadoo.fr - http://perso.wanadoo.fr/siteajc/
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~~~~HOLLAND MILLENNIUM TAIKAI REMINDER~~~~
The first Taikai of the new Millennium will take place in the beautiful
small country of Holland (you know the small cheese eating country with
only windmills, canals, cows and wooden shoes quite in the middle of Europe),
in only 4 month time!
And we all know how fast time runs. Therefore is here a reminder of the
days and activities around The First Millennium Taikai. The days are:
Thursday 1st, Friday 2d and Saturday 3d of June.The site of Taikai is
Congress centre Leeuwenhorst in Nordwijkerhout, only 20 minutes from Schipol
International Airport, 25 minutes from Amsterdam centre and only 10 minutes
from the sea! The theme is as said above ; Koppojutsu, Teppan and Ninja-to.
You can choose between two packages:
Package A: 900 guilders. All is included: training, food, tea or coffee,
room, and the final party.
Package B: 650 guilders. Package B includes training, lunch on Friday
and Saturday, coffee or tea in the breaks and the final party. The Congress
centre is big, there is still plenty of rooms left so do not hesitate
to sign up for the First Millennium Taikai.
NOTE: The old mail address bujin.nl is closed down. Use http://bujinkan.com
or email at m.vliet@HOME.NL
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~~~~Q&A~~~~
Send us your questions, we will try to give you our answer and we hope
it will help you.
Q: What is the real theme for this year?
A: Several people wonder over the training theme for this year in Japan
and on the upcoming Taikai. Many quote what the Taikai pages say and this
causing some confusion because Sensei have changed his mind over the theme
since the Taikai booklets was printed. The main theme for this year (2000)
will be KOPPOJUTSU. This includes the KOPPOJUTSU from 3 schools: Koto
Ryu Koppojutsu, Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu, Gyokushin Ryu Koppojutsu (Although
Gyokushin Ryu is a Ninpo school, only the koppojutsu will be practiced).
Also Teppan (a small square steel plate, almost like a Senban Shuriken
before it is shaped, which is held in the hand as well as thrown), will
be taught (Small squares of rubber or thick cardboard work fine for training).
Also the Ninja-to will be taught. So once again to clarify this the theme
for this year at the Taikai and in Japan is: Koto Ryu Koppojutsu, Gikan
Ryu Koppojutsu, Gyokushin Ryu Koppojutsu, Teppan, Ninja-to.
Sveneric Bogsater - 11th Dan - m.vliet@home.nl
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Q: Why is pain necessary to progress in the Bujinkan?
A: Pain is a tool that helps you know whether you are doing well or not.
When you teach you always use the same uke and you notice little by little
that your uke is improving more rapidly than the other students. The reason
is that our body is made of cells. each cell has a kind of memory. This
memory feeds our movements when receiving or emitting. Knowledge is not
only mental, it is also physical. One day I asked Sensei about the necessity
of hiting hard. He said: "Budo Taijutsu is not dancing, it is about fighting,
it is a real martial art!"
Arnaud Cousergue - 11th Dan - solkan@wanadoo.fr
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~~~~TECHNICAL TIPS~~~~
To train properly in Koppo Jutsu you need a bag to work your hits. We
never have enough bags for the students. Here is a good idea from Pedro
Fleitas: "take your jacket off, fold it and put it on the ground in front
of you. then practice your hand postures by hitting this target. Do not
forget to use your body momentum when hitting".
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~~~~VIDEOS~~~~
§ The Kobudo no Kihon video is now available for sale at Solkan Europe.
This is the best video ever realised by Hatsumi Sensei. It shows the Kihon
Happo with a real fighting attitude. Available in Pal, Secam and Ntsc.
Price: 289 FF. to order: solkan@wanadoo.fr
§ Ask for your copy of the Solkan Europe Video catalog 2000 at solkan@wanadoo.fr
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