Kamaemail archive, issue seven
Kamaemail
May - June 2001 issue 7 volume 2
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I am sorry, I was in Japan for a while, training with Hatsumi Sensei this
is why Kamaemail is late. I have been very busy with my company when coming
back. This is a double issue for may and june 2001.
Arnaud Cousergue - Bujinkan 13th dan
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In this issue:
a.. Kamaemail issue 8
b.. News & Seminars
c.. Jibun de narai, a message from Soke HATSUMI
d.. Kosshi Jutsu by Andrew Young 11th dan
e.. Inyo by Pete Reynolds 6th dan
f.. Stop fighting against yourself by Arnaud Cousergue 13th dan
g.. Bujinkan Report - April and May 2001 by Pete Reynolds 6th dan
h.. Babies as teachers by Oliver Muenstedt Shidoshi-ho
i.. What purpose serves the training in Martial Arts, or What is Budo?
by Kostas Kanakis 9th Dan
j.. Let your brain outside by Udo Meyer
k.. Taikai Norway 2002
l.. Videos and Books
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Kamaemail Issue 8
Next issue will be available beginning of July. If you experienced training
with Sensei since the beginning of the year, please send an article on
your understanding of Kosshi Jutsu. We would like to make a special issue
on Kosshi Jutsu in July.
Send your personal contribution to:
articlekamae8@budomart.com for articles speaking of anything linked to
our art, to martial arts in general and to Japan or Asia: technical tips,
history of Japan. At the end put your name, Dan grade, country, email
(and website if you have).
seminarkamae8@budomart.com if you organize a seminar. At the end put your
name, Dan grade, country, email (and website).
newskamae8@budomart.com for the news about the Bujinkan in the world (promotions,
trips, etc).
ideaskamae8@budomart.com for any ideas to improve your newsletter.
Kamaemail Poll:
We are thinking of putting Kamaemail directly online on Budomart.com to
avoid sending (and waiting to receive) a big file each month. Please send
an email to emailK@budomart.com if you prefer to receive it by email or
onlineK@budomart.com if you prefer to have it online on the website.
We will not accept any article or information criticizing or attacking
any individuals, whether they are members of the Bujinkan or not. As we
don't want to modify your articles, have someone speaking English correctly
read it before you send it.
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News & Seminars
Send us information about the seminars you organize and news from what
is going on in your area, we will put the information in this section.
Please precise city and country. Try to follow the presentation to save
time.
§ For many years I was hoping there would be one day a directory where
you would find all the members of the Bujinkan. Many times people come
to me during Taikai or in Japan or send an email and I must admit that
even if I recognize faces easily, it is hard to remember the names of
everyone. I am sure many of you encountered the same problem many times.
>
From now on you will be able to fill your name and address, put your picture
on a new webfree service offered by Solkan Europe and Budomart.com. The
URL of this service will be http://www.direct-tori.net/ . It is free,
protected by a personal password so that no one can change your profile.
I hope this new tool will help people to communicate more easily in the
future.
Direct-Tori will be available very soon. Arnaud Cousergue arnaud@budomart.com
§ The Madrid Taikai in October 2001 will be the only Taikai in Europe
for 2001. Book your reservation now if you do not want to be left at the
door! On October the 12th of 1492 mankind discovered that the world was
round... 500 years later Hatsumi Sensei will show you that there are so
many things still to discover... Year 2001. The 21st century begins by
sharing with Soke Hatsumi, the experience of a more than 1200 year old
tradition: THE ART OF KOSSHI JUTSU.
Don't miss the opportunity to witness the blending of two traditions:
the "Old Europe" one and that one of the land of the "Raising Sun".
Two civilizations linked by a common bond: BUJINKAN DOJO MARTIAL ARTS.
Taikai hosted by Jesús Eguía, Virgen de Navahonda, 8; 29600 Marbella Malaga;
Spain.
Reservation on receipt of 50 % of total.
Do not forget to put your name on transfer or deposit. Last day for registration:
july 25, 2001.
More info: Tel. (+34)629 284 200 mobil phone (10.00 to 24.00 spanish time)
- Tel.(+34)952 866 021 (15.00 to 16.30 / 22.00 to 24.00 spanish time)
- Fax.(+34)95 277 33 64 - e-mail. Eguiakbk@teleline.es - http://taikaimadrid.eguiakbk.com/Bienvenido2.htm
§ Sensei received an official recognition form the Pope John-paul II.
He is the first martial artist ever to receive such an honor.
More: external link
§ Sensei said that next year theme will be "Jujutsu from Takagi Yoshin
Ryu, Yoshin Muso Ryu and Bokuden Ryu" (date of info. may 2001). AJC arnaud@budomart.com
§ On sunday the 15th of april the Easterbunny brought us a healthy boy
called "Onni". Onni is Finnish for Happiness (and yes we have been made
aware that it is close to the japanese Oni meaning little devil. Let's
hope he'll tend more to the Finnish meaning :-) He weighted 3.9kg and
was 53cm tall. Now the real work starts for us... :-) Jan Ramboer Bujinkan
Dojo Bruxelles.
§ Michael Schjerling from the Bujinkan Østerbro Dojo informs that they
have a new webpage at http://bujin.dk
§ Raising Standards: Last year the message from Japan was raise the standards.Does
this mean one adopts a better jumonji no kamae,can I improve stance kamae
waza angle weapon or style.I was told to raise my level of training I
misunderstood the training .Members of the bujinkan should come prepared
to train at a higher level. So I took up yoga corrected my diet, cut down
on beer, detoxed my body, studied anthropology. After a while I figured
out maybe I should find balance. Earlier this year I asked a shihan how
I raise the standard I was granted this: maybe drink less find balance
in life work pastimes training day to day but whatever keep training (I
may improve). cheers. Ian
§ Why do people drive on the right side of the road? It is linked with
warfare so have a look at:
www.newscientist.com/lastword/answers/lwa1013mysteries.html .
Transmitted by Michael FLUSHOH Bujinkan Ireland
§ Visit Portugal and train hard during your holidays. 4 day seminar on
Kosshi Jutsu with Arnaud Cousergue in August in Lisbon. More info: http://Planeta.clix.pt/BujinkanTsuruDojo/
§ Seminars en El salvador www.bujinkan-el-salvador.8k.com/seminario.htm
§ You want to build your own Yoroi (armour)? go to:
external link
§ New instructors in Chili: Nibaldo Reyes (Santiago), Mario Ariavena (La
Serena), Sandro Barros (Vina Delmar), Maximo Arias (Santiago). Information
transmitted by Efrain Frias efrain@vtr.net website www.vtr.net./~tora
§ The Bujinkan Lincoln Dojo UK produces a monthly newsletter/magazine.
It contains large amounts of history for the Bujinkan schools and Japanese
history in general. Many other articles on various Japanese subjects are
also discussed.
This is an email only newsletter and contains several full colour pictures
each issue. If you wish to be placed on the mail list please send an email
containing the following information to NRI@itss.nerc.ac.uk
1. Full name (forename & surname)
2. Preferred e-mail address for receiving large documents (up to 1mb)
3. Specify if you want it in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) or Microsoft Word (DOC)
Paul Richardson Shidoshi
§ LIC. ARNOBY SINAM ALBA ALVERNIA - SHIDÔSHI HO - 4to DAN - BUJINKAN COLOMBIA
DÔJÔ ARNOBY SINAM - Avenida 2 #16-62 Barrio La Playa. Cúcuta N.S. Teléfono:
(7) 5712719 CEL: 033-3832768 - WEB BUJINKAN ARNOBY SINAM DÔJÔ
www.bujinkancolombia.zzn.com
§ We are sorry, the budomart.com website has not been updated since a
long time. It will soon be renewed with a forum and more informations.
AJC
Seminars
§ JUNE 01 - 04. GERMANY - Falkenhain /Chemnitz- KOSTAS KANAKIS, 4 day
camp. Info: kanakis@bkd-budokai.org
Theme: Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu Happo Biken, Ryu-ha Waza, Ninja Buki, and
many more.
§ JUNE 16th - 17th - NEDERLAND - Weekend seminar 'Friends in Bujinkan'
with: Patricia Witteman (6 Dan), Michel de Winter (8 Dan), Marco Borst
(8 Dan), Mariette van der Vliet (12 Dan). Place: De Princenhof - Mr. Van
Hasseltlaan 57 - Apeldoorn - Netherlands - Times: Saturday 11.00-17.00
& Sunday 11.00-16.00.
Costs: Two days: 100 guilders; One day: 60 guilders. Theme: Bujinkan Ninpo
Taijutsu with - and without weapons and Gyokko Ryu.
More info: m.vliet@home.nl - Phone: *31-(0)570-634932 - http://www.bujinkan.ws
§ JUNE 22-24 - FRANCE - ARNAUD COUSERGUE - PARIS - Takagi Yôshin Ryû (next
year theme). More info: TYR@budomart.com
§ JUNE 23rd & 24th - FRANCE - BRIN & NATASCHA MORGAN - The seminar is
at Les Houches, Chamonix Mont Blanc, FRANCE. Theme Gyokku Ryu with all
weapons. Organiser: Francesco FERRARO, 17 rue de Bellevue, Les Trabets,
74310 Les Houches. FRANCE.
Tel & fax +33 (0)4 50 54 51 90 - E-mail f_ferraro@hotmail.com
§ JUNE - JULY - USA - SAN FRANCISCO - The Buyu Camp Dates for next year
(2001) will be 6/29, 6/30, 7/1, 2001 at the Marin Headlands Institute
under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Please keep the date open and check http://www.winjutsu.com/seminars/buyucamp/
for info.
There are a number of details left to finalize, but we think it is going
to be a significant event. Due to the fact that Hatsumi Sensei has recieved
two important awards, his time is at a premium; there are no TaiKais in
2001 until September. This is the first international event of the year.
Please plan to attend and contact Mark hodel (mark@winjutsu.com) for more
details.
§ JULY 7th 8th - seminar with Natascha Tomarkin Morgan, in Erlangen, Germany.
The Theme will be Kusarifundo, Jutte and Shinobinawa (Kaginawa and more).
She is one of the women who got the rank of 12.Dan Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.
More information at www.ninjutsu.de or more exactly at
external link
§ JULY 11th to 16th - FRANCE - PARIS - Arnaud COUSERGUE & Peter KING -
7th BUJINKAN UNIVERSITY (summer session). We will study the new approach
on the Gyokko Ryu as taught these days in Japan by Hatsumi Sensei.
Program: Ten Ryaku Uchu Gassho, Futen Gosshin Gassho, Tenchi Inyo no Kamae,
Banpen Fugyo; the techniques of the Ten Ryaku no Maki and the Chi Ryaku
no Maki; Daisho Gatana.
More info: SBU2001@budomart.com
§ JULY, 14.-15. GERMANY - GOETTINGEN - NATASCHA T. MORGAN - Women and
martial arts, Instructing Woman Selfdefense Seminar.
More info: http://www.arashi-dojo.de/ - arashi_dojo@yahoo.de
§ JULY 21st 22nd - ENGLAND - LONDON - Peter King & Arnaud Cousergue -
More info: Peter King peterking@bujinkan35.freeserve.co.uk
§ JULY 28th 29th - USA - Bujinkan Albuquerque Dojo is proud to announce
a seminar by Sveneric Bogsater on the weekend of July 28th & 29th, 2001.
This will be Sveneric's first seminar in the Southwest of the United States,
and one of the few outside of Europe this year. Don't miss this rare opportunity
to train with one of the Bujinkan's best! Cost for the seminar is $125
US or $100 US if received by June 15th. Hotel Dojo is available for $5
per night and transportation to and from Alburquerque Airport is available.
For more details: e-mail: bujinadojo@earthlink.net or
http://home.earthlink.net/~bujinadojo/
. Send check or money order to Bujinkan Albuquerque Dojo * 1334 Calle
Bona Tierra * Bernalillo, NM 87004 tel. (505) 867-0983
§ JULY, 21.-22. GERMANY - MUNICH - Pedro FLEITAS.
More info: http://www.bujinkan-dojo.de/html/seminare.html - roberterhardt@bujinkan-dojo.de
§ AUGUST 2nd - 5th - LISBON - PORTUGAL - ARNAUD COUSERGUE - Basics and
Gyokko Ryu Kosshi Jutsu.
More info: http://Planeta.clix.pt/BujinkanTsuruDojo/
§ SEPTEMBER 22nd - 23rd - ARGENTINA - BUENOS AIRES - International Seminar
Bujinkan Budô Taijutsu with Shihan CARLOS MORALES (12 Dan) Sui -Gyo from
Lanzarote - España - Theme: Gyokko Ryû Kosshijutsu, Bôjutsu - Tantô, Daishô
Sabaki Gata. Organizer: Shihan Christian Petroccello.
More info: Goushi@sion.com
Booking: Seminario@Bujinkandojo.cjb.net
Web: external link
Bujinkan Chogyu Dôjô - Calle Año 1852 # 395 - El Palomar C.P. (1684) -
Buenos Aires - Argentina - Tel: (54-11) 4624-6521 - Fax: (54-11) 4665-9197
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The following is part of an interview I conducted with Hatsumi Sensei
for the BKR's upcoming book. He asked that I get this message out to as
many people as possible and I feel the internet is the best way I can
do this outside from my own dojo. I translated this very literally so
please excuse the flow of the English. I tried to keep the manner in which
Sensei speaks as best as I could. Sean Askew 04-27-2001 09:09 PM
Jibun de narai, a message from Soke HATSUMI
Life and death are connected. Like In-Yo ( Yin & Yang ). This is my teaching
theme for the year. Like a magnet and metal, life and death are attracted to each other, always getting closer.
If you are born and given a life, death is inevitable. When death comes
do not be surprised or shaken. Get on the rhythm of life. Get in balance
with it. This is the theme of the year.
That is why I tell my students it does not matter how skilled one becomes
in martial arts or even Ninjutsu for that matter, If one can not attain
this balance or rhythm.
This is the basis for the Kihon Happo! Not the forms. If you keep practicing
the form it does not produce any real results. Always doing the
forms is a childish way to practice. There are even times when the form
can be what gets you killed.
Often I hear my students argue over topics like "the correctness of this
form" or "this posture should be this way" and such. True battle or real
fights are never correct. In form or spirit. It is not about that.
If you think the opponent is strong you will naturally go and get something
such as a rifle and "boom"!!! Right? Very simple isn't it?
This type of common sense or "obvious ways" are important. This is why
I teach my students;
Jiyu-ni, atarimae-ni
Jibun de narai, jibun de ikiro!
Freely, common sensically,
Learn on your own, live on your own!
Even though I have many students, I do not need them. But they still come
to see me right? Because I teach them how to teach themselves. This is
why they come to me. But this is very different from just making up Ryu-Ha
and such. This is the real path I teach.
All around me I have many strong friends from many countries. Most of
them are people who had to survive wars in their own homelands. They are
all the real thing. Real warriors. We understand each other on a certain
level. My training with Takamatsu Sensei has made me aware of these types
of people. It is like we are our own species. Even you Sean, you had to
fight for your own survival on several occasions, right? Even stabbed
from behind. You had courage and a keen mind to help you survive. But
your poor opponent! Ha ha ha!!!!
Bad guys are always planning something devious. They are "big-idea" people.
Always coming up with some kind of con. But it is important to develop
the mind to withstand these types of people, learn to perceive them. My
way is to never think about anything at all. You know me, I am usually
not really thinking about any one thing in particular. It is just a matter
of "keep going". This is the best way to guide your students. This is
the way it is when you train with me.
When my senior Japanese students make mistakes and go astray I get on
them and scold them. It is the same with all my students all over the
world. I have no borders. I do not hold anything back from the non-Japanese.
I do everything on a man to man basis. This is the way it has always been.
If I do not teach this way my students may be killed when the time comes.
It would be very sad for me. This is why I do not teach in a strange and
unnatural manner. I teach people to teach themselves. Freely.
Masaaki Hatsumi
Bujinkan Dojo Soke
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Kosshi Jutsu by Andrew Young (11th dan)
The two characters which comprise the word kosshi go more than skin deep.
In fact they go right to the bone. So what is kosshi? In a recent private
talk with Soke Hatsumi a fresh feeling to the meaning of this year's theme
(Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu) was given.
The basic definition of the characters are BONE & FINGER. So let's look
at each character more closely.
Bone In earlier times Japan respected the bones of the dead. These were
collected from the ash of the dead after a funeral.
Traditionally strong bones were also seen as the capacity for one to be
able to work in the fields or fight in battle. As Soke pointed out, what
makes us human as much as anything is our skeletal structure; without
which we would be nothing more than a jellyfish. Our skeleton gives us
the advantage of walking bipedally and gripping a weapon for self protection.
Fundamental to the make up of Kosshijutsu is the Sanshin No Kata. Explained
here as skeleton, soft tissue and skin. Even bone could be expressed in
terms of the sanshin as teeth, bone and cartilage.
Finger The five digits of the hand represent the five elements. "Chi"
is represented as the little finger through to "fu" as the thumb.
The techniques in the Ten Ryaku No Maki or first section of Gyokko Ryu
are practiced with the feeling of gravity in mind. The natural force of
gravity continually pressing down on us is countered by the skeletal structure
whose bones grow naturally to form a strong shape and natural position.
This could be expressed as the only true "FORM" of any kamae or technique.
Ever wondered why the kihon happo is derived from the Gyokko Ryu? Well,
as I said the bone represents the three centres (sanshin) of the
whole being and the fingers represents the five elements giving us eight.
In other words the person within the environment. If one wants to master
the kosshijutsu and kihon happo then the only way is
to "work(practice) one's fingers to the bone!" .
Mr Tommy Lawlor of Ireland is credited with supplying the necessary questions
to this article over a discussion taken place at Hatsumi Sensei's
home in February 2001.
"BUFUSUI IKKAN"
(Any feed back will be most appreciated)
ANDREW YOUNG ayoung@gol.com
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Inyo by Pete Reynolds
Inyo, or as its known in the west by its Chinese name of ying yang, is
commonly understood as being about opposites, for example light/dark,
hot/cold, heaven/hell, love/hate, old/young, male/female, etc. While this
viewpoint shows one level of understanding, as Hatsumi sensei pointed
out, there is a bit more to it.
Frequently people focus on these opposites, but what they fail to see
is the relationship between them. They fail to see the natural flow and
exchange that joins them. For example, the connection and exchange between
day and night. What should be looked at is the process of how day becomes
night and night becomes day. It's really just one process. Or, let's take
being born and dieing, they seem extremely different, but what's really
important is to understand that they are just part of the life process
and it's important to see the life which exists between them. Restated,
it's understanding the connection of opposites and seeing that opposites
aren't really opposites. It's realizing that in a sense they're really
the same thing.
This concept relates to budo in many ways. Take kamae for instance, what
may be most important and what is often overlooked is what's between the
kamae. Yes, a good strong kamae is difficult to perfect, but what is even
more difficult is the movement between them. And to take it a step further,
what's between the kamae is also kamae. When you're doing this art properly
you're never really out of kamae.
Another more specific example relates to Tenryaku Uchu Gassho no kamae
and Tenchi Inyo no kamae. The ten of Tenchi is heaven and the chi is earth.
In Tenryaku Uchu Gassho no kamae the hands are clasped together in a "praying"
type of position. Hatsumi-sensei explained from one perspective people
often pray when confronted with a life threatening situation and that
in another when we lay our deceased to rest that they are usually placed
with their hands clasped across their chest. In one case you may be praying
for life and in the other your already dead.
In Tenchi Inyo no kamae, the front hand is extended forward, but the key
point is having the rear hand extended upward towards heaven. When assuming
this kamae you may be in a situation where you have to decide whether
to send your opponent to heaven or to let him continue his life on earth.
You and your kamae become the bridge/connection between heaven and earth.
As you can see, inyo is more than just opposites. Soke has said that he
can only give us hints about these type of things because they can't be
taught. It's up to each of us to fully study, explore and learn these
types of things for ourselves.
Gambatte kudasai!!!
Pete Reynolds pete@sta.att.ne.jp
This article written April 30, 2001
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Stop fighting against yourself by Arnaud Cousergue 13th Dan
It is often said in the martial arts that the more important thing is
not your ability to fight in a real situation but to fight your Self.
It may be true at the philosophical level.
But there may be another reality. I am often surprised to see my own students
being unable to do the "right thing". Their move is not correct, timing
is wrong, distance is wrong.
One reason for that is that they are following a sequence that has just
been taught: 1, 2, 3, and 4. They do not do the movement they repeat a
sequence of movements. Students always copy their teacher. Copying is
not moving, monkeys copy, carbon paper copy but they are not like the
originals. To be successful one has to be moving with his own movements.
This is why we have to repeat constantly basics such as Kamae, Ukemi,
Kihon Happo and Sanshin no Kata.
But even if you repeat these basics at each class something is missing.
Above the movements lies The Correct Movement. And this Correct Movement
is beyond your grasp. Rene Descartes, a French philosopher in the 17th
century wrote a book called "A Discourse on Method" in which he gives
a methodology to understand things that are not understandable.
It comes in four parts:
First. Never believe something is true before you have acquired an inner
knowledge of it, avoid haste and preconceived ideas, give everything a
thorough analysis so that this truth becomes true reality in your mind.
Second. For each problem to solve cut it into as many elementary bits
as necessary so that the problem becomes easier to solve.
Third. Put your thoughts into a logical order, beginning with the simplest
elements that are easy to grasp and ending with the hardest, so that your
thinking process is able to build himself step by step gradually to allow
you to understand properly the whole problem.
Fourth. Have a global vision and understanding of the problem to be sure
not to forget any other possibility of setting it correctly.
If you follow these four rules in your training (they can also be applied
in your life) your basics will evolve and your Taijutsu will improve dramatically.
But you will still be missing the spirit, the breathing (spiritus in Latin
means to breathe). You will end up with a sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, better
than the previous one but a sequence.
This "spirit" is the thing that is above your grasp. This is what makes
Sensei's movements look perfect. This "spirit" is what you are missing.
Descartes' methodology can help you find a technical solution but it will
not give you the "spirit" for it.
Following the Rationalism of Descartes you will be able to deal with things
and objects but not with life itself. To illustrate this, let us take
an example.
You have a bag full of marbles and want to know how many marbles of each
color you have in your bag. The concept of "bag of marbles" is easy to
get. But this concept does not give you the knowledge of what is exactly
inside the bag. So you empty the bag on the table and you see three blue
marbles, two yellow marbles and three green marbles. Having done that
you know what you have 1 bag + 3 blue marbles + 2 yellow marbles + 3 green
marbles. When you put them back into the bag you have the knowledge of
what is inside the bag (8 marbles of three colors).
So far this is how you deal with Bujinkan techniques. At the Taihen level
(physical training) you copy a bag of marbles. At the Kuden level (experience)
you know the parts making the movement possible. But where is the spirit?
If you do not go beyond this point you will not get the "spirit", in other
terms you will still miss the essence of the movement (no breathing, no
movement). Your movement will be better but it will be again a sequence
1, 2, 3, 4.
The spirit is in life, the method is good for things that are inanimate
not for human being. Take a human being, alive. Cut the head, the arms,
the legs, take out all the organs and ask the best surgeon on earth to
put everything back in place, you end up with a dead human being. You
don't have what made him alive at the beginning. So how can you put this
"life" or this "breathing" into your movements and forget forever those
sequences?
The answer is to stop fighting yourself!
You are often fighting someone like you. When you are training, what you
see is yourself. You imagine that your opponent is a carbon copy of yourself.
You do not listen to his requirements. You try to fight someone just like
you, not understanding that your Uke can be younger or older; that Uke
can be taller or smaller; that Uke can have larger or smaller body movements.
In other words when you train you do not fight Uke, you fight another
yourself.
You do the same with Hatsumi Sensei. When you watch him in a technique
you see yourself do the movement. You think that by copying his movement
it can be yours. This is not true!
"Stop fighting yourself" can be understood as "stop thinking yourself
as the reference point for everything". Accept Uke in your movements.
If you train seriously with the basics and if you see Uke as being him
and not you, you will get the proper distance and the proper timing. Your
Taijutsu will adjust itself naturally to Uke's movements and "life" will
appear naturally in your movements.
After the Taihen level (mechanics), the Kuden level (experience) you will
reach the Shinden level (inner understanding). A new Sanshin no Kata for
your evolution!
By the way, the Japanese word for this concept of "spiritus" could be
"Shin" or "Kokoro". Keep training hard.
Arnaud Cousergue - Bujinkan 13th Dan - arnaud@budomart.com
Even if Descartes does not give you the final solution for your Taijutsu
you may be interested in his "Discourse on Method". You can find it in
English for $6.25 at
external link
----------------------------------------------------------
Bujinkan Report - April and May 2001 by Pete Reynolds
These reports are sent by Pete Reynolds living in Noda, >
each month he gives us the last news on what is happening in Noda.
April 2001
Hatsumi sensei has been talking about some very interesting things including
further insights into inyo(see article Inyo for additional details) and
the connection between Tenryaku Uchu Gassho no kamae, Tenchi Inyo no kamae,
finger positioning and religion and spirituality
Soke showed many variations and applications of Gyaku nagare, the 4th
Gyokko Ryu technique of the year. As the month continued he began to introduce
new techniques at a more rapid rate. I won't be trying to note them all
from here on out, but will of course continue to share special points
of interest.
While demonstrating techniques against being restrained by multiple attackers,
Soke gave an interesting hint. He said create the feeling of a sink full
of water when the drain plug is pulled. It's an interesting reference
given the idea of fuusui that Soke introduced at the beginning of the
year, because there is a natural vortex created around the drain's low
pressure center. Fuusui, you remember, is about using the natural forces
of nature.
Seno-sensei began teaching at 8:30pm at the Hombu dojo every first and
third Saturday of the month.
Chris Davy, Jeff Mueller and a small group from the Washinton D.C. area
were here training during the beginning of the month as was Richard Van
Donk of California, Henry Schild of Germany, Berto De Carlo of Argentina,
Penny Telfer of D.C. and Sandy Marwick of England.
Doug Wilson, frequent Ayase translator and Tokyo resident, celebrated
his birthday in Roppongi on the second Saturday of the month. In addition
to many friends and co-workers, he was joined by Bujinkan residents, Bruce
Appleby, Andrew Young, Kenji Kaneyasu and myself. We enjoyed a terrific
Mexican dinner followed by a trip to Agave, where we imbibed some quality
tequila and the gang enjoyed some fine Cuban cigars. Happy Birthday Doug!
The latter part of the month saw a visit from Stefan Marcec of Switzerland,
Jeff Prather of Arizona and Phil Legare from Washinton D.C.
Joining Phil Legare was a small crew shooting a documentary that will
feature Hatsumi-sensei and Bujinkan practioners. It may air on PBS or
the Discovery Channel. Stay tuned for additional information.
May 2001
Recently Hatsumi-sensei received a commendation from the Pope. This commendation,
I'm told, is the first ever given to a budoka.
Soke has been primarily working from the mid-level set of Gyokko Ryu techniques,
and has continued to focus heavily on inyo.
Next years theme was announced as Juujutsu and Bugei Juuhappan. The date
for the Daikomyosai has yet to be officially set, but plans should be
finalized in the first week of June.
May saw practioners from far and wide training in Japan including: Arnaud
Cousergue of France, Pedro Fleitas of Gran Canaria accompanied by Carlos
Morales, Marten Lindemalm, Roger Mattsson and Ola Gronlund of Sweden,
Mark Davis of Boston, Enzo Rossi of Italy, Pedro Martin of Spain.
When enough people are visiting, Nagato-sensei has been holding class
at the Hombu on Thursdays from 2-4pm.
Ben Cole, former Japan resident, is currently working on a new hardcover
book featuring interviews, stories and quotations from Soke. The book
will be approximately 300 pages and is due out in August. Additional information
will be provided as it becomes available.
Gambatte kudasai!!!
Pete Reynolds
This article written May 31, 2001
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Babies as teachers by Oliver Muenstedt
We all have a great learning tool for our art and great teachers. Little
kids! That does not mean that you have to get one to excel in the Bujinkan
but just use every moment to watch and observe them how they move and
act in their life.
This is great since they move very natural in everything they do. Yet
they know no limitations and so they use their bodies effective and in
flow with everything.
Did you ever got punched by a little baby in the stomach? It hurts, yes?
They develop power without using brute force, just through moving with
the whole body. Try to incorporate these feelings in your taijutsu:
1. As Babys fall, so should you do your ukemi. They lower their centre
of gravity, sit down and take the force out through a little rocking motion
to take out all the energy of the fall.
2. Create force without using your muscles, just through speed and exact
timing. They move almost as having no intention, so they create no boundaries
that might stop them. Just give something to them and they should be able
to destroy it....
3. Create strength through looseness of every muscle. Ever tried to change
diapers on a baby? Enough work for 4 big men if the baby does not want
to. It moves in flow and happens to be faster and smarter than you. No
chance to grab and get a hold on.
Try this feeling in you kaeshi (counters) and hajutsu (freeing methods)
training. Get your uke to throw you and just move as a baby - he will
have no chance. He should even throw himself with your movement! This
works for all kinds of grabs standing or on ground.
This works also on gyaku waza (joint locking) techniques. Get your uke
to do on you an omote gyaku (outwards wrist reversal) and be loose in
the WHOLE body. You should feel no pain since the force will move through
your body down in the ground and your uke should get now possibility to
get you on the ground.
If you will experience pain, there is just one single muscle contracted
(to my experience mostly the knees are tight), find it and loose it up.
Works like magic and will all your uke getting frustrated in training
(please be a good uke and to this only for your training).
4. They have fun in everything they do and laugh a lot! As Soke Hatsumi
says get the heart of a three year old child (sanshin). A heart pure,
exploring, full of joy and laughing and everything in life becomes easy.
Just my thoughts. I am sure you will explore many more things and catch
some more secrets from these little teachers and I would be glad if you
would share these insights. Thanks for listening.
Oliver Muenstedt, Sandan/ Shidoshi-ho
Tatsujin Dojo Berlin http://www.jump-sportstudio.de
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What purpose serves the training in Martial Arts,
or What is Budo? by Kostas Kanakis 9th Dan
Most of us have asked that question, either in an open discussion or just
inside their mind. Everyone who takes part in the training of a martial
art will ask himself from a certain point of time, why he is studying
just this martial art. The beginner will ask this question more often
than the advanced student, but in time even the advanced one will make
his life hard with his doubts.
In the early years of martial arts people hardly ever thought about such
things. It was simply not necessary to do so, because those people had
to fight simply in order to survive. It was the law of war. They learned
certain techniques which had been selected and were sent to the battlefield
in order to serve their master, as a matter of life and death. Not just
the techniques were decisive but the mental state of the warrior played
an important role as well.
The mental aspects always played an essential role in the martial arts.
Since the ancient martial arts were influenced by esoteric teachings like
Buddhism and Shintoism, it was inevitable that you had to have a look
at these mental teachings. They were embedded in the subconsciousness
and became later on the essential heart of the teachings of all martial
arts.
One wants to know: WHY DO WE HAVE TO FIGHT OR EVEN TO KILL ANYWAY ???
This became the essential question of all martial arts.
In order to give an answer to such a question one has to occupy oneself
with other teachings so that we can better understand some things of importance.
For example it is said that "The secret of martial art is the secret of
Zen".
The secret is to guide his mind in an essential way. But how can you do
this? In one chapter of a text of the Kyushin-Ryu the following is said:
"The true technique of the body has to be the substance of the mind himself.
The substance is the mind. One may not look at the body of his opponent,
but rather has to direct one/s own mind. There is no opponent. The mind
is formless, but he can take shape sometimes - this is like Zazen."
The training of martial arts shall not only be regarded as a physical
development, even though nowadays most people only concentrate on competitions
or the pure learning of techniques. In the early years it was different
because it was simply a matter of survival, and in the end it depended
on bare intuition. Thus the physical, technical and mental strength was
and is closely connected, but the ability of concentration (the mental
strength) has to come first.
The tension of the body, the technical ability and the mental intuition
have to be brought together and have to become one. Action and consciousness
have to form an integrated whole. Than you are in KU or in the emptiness.
This is the true WAY OF BUDO.
You have to learn to ACCEPT your life and death completely. Even if the
body dies, the mind has to remain upright. In the face of life AND of
death the mind has to remain calm. Due to this having control of the unity
of body and mind means controlling life and death.
The great sword-master Miyamoto Musashi gave up his life of fighting as
well in order to find an answer to the essential question: "How could
one die...???"
The martial arts are neither sports nor a game nor a simple way of passing
the time. There is a deeper meaning in them, the MEANING OF LIFE in general
and thus the meaning of death, because both are inextricably linked with
each other. This is BUDO.
The TRUE WAY OF BUDO is neither competition nor dispute - he is beyond
life and death and beyond victory and defeat.
And what does this mean for our daily training ?? Well, at the beginning
one practises again and again techniques (waza) and forms (kata) in order
to lay the foundations. In time you "become aware" of these techniques
and forms, you "get used" to them. During this period you are always thinking
and considering; due to this you always are in contact with your "awareness
of the self".
When we use our mind in this way, our behaviour and our actions will be
slow and hesitating. Questions will rise, the mind will become tired and
our consciousness will be like a flame in the wind.
You can compare this beginning with the learning of a musical instrument.
Later on you are able to play without any consideration, which means that
after years of training you do no longer stick to your awareness of the
self but you play in a natural way. With this "non - awareness" you are
now able to create something new. The same goes for our everyday life
and for our training as well.
But you may never forget the beginning; otherwise our mind will become
exhausted and because of this we will loose our concentration. The reasons
are a much too strong egoism and a lack of effort. By this way we run
the risk of leaving our course.
An essential aspect of BUDO is to find the immediate unity with the authentic
truth of the universe. It is important for your personal way of thinking
to transcend the "awareness of the self", and not only with your mind.
You have to "think" with your entire body.
In general we regard the life of the body and the life of the universe
as two separate unities. But actually our life is not limited to our "physical"
life but it is in a constant exchange with the life of the universe. To
understand this mutual dependence or relation means to understand KU.
Practising KU at the same time means to look for the greatest truth, for
universal love.
This emptiness, KU, has infinite energy which we are able to receive only
if OUR LIFE IS IN HARMONY WITH THE LIFE OF THE UNIVERSE.
The greatest teaching of martial arts. The greatest teaching of NINPO.
THIS PURPOSE SERVES THE TRAINING IN MARTIAL ARTS
Kostas Kanakis
Bujinkan Shidoshi - 9.Dan Bujinkan Dojo Greece/BKD Budokai kanakis@bkd-budokai.org
http://www.bkd-budokai.org
----------------------------------------------------------
Let your brain outside by Udo Meyer
the elements of the universe are as they are
they do not know any thinking -:
earth does not think about how or what it is
water does not think about how it flows or streams
fire does not think about how it glows or burns
wind does not think about how it blows or storms
void does not think about how or what it is
they are as they are -: and not forseeable.
and you just think about how you are?
be as your are, without any thoughts
while fighting there ain't time for those
don't think, just listen and react
be solid as earth
stream as water
burn as fire
storm as the wind
and be the void for your opponent.
Udo Meyer Mosmannmeyer@aol.com
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Taikai Norway 2002
We have the great pleasure of inviting you to Norway Taikai 2002. This
is Norway's first Taikai, and it is being held in Stavanger the 5. - 7.
July.
For this honorable occasion we have made a website to help spread this
information. Both the invitation and the website have been translated
into English, German and Spanish.
-English website: www.BujinkanDojoNorway.com/Taikai2002-English.html
-German website: www.BujinkanDojoNorway.com/Taikai2002-German.html
-Spanish website: www.BujinkanDojoNorway.com/Taikai2002-Spanish.html
-Norwegian website: www.BujinkanDojoNorway.com/Taikai2002.html
To register please e-mail Elias Krzywacki on Bujinkan@online.no , and
then join the list http://bujinkan.whispereddreams.com/Taikai/TaikaiPeople.php
.
We look forward to meet you at Norway Taikai 2002. So start saving money
now!
Bujinkan Dojo Norway www.BujinkanDojoNorway.com
P.S. Feel free to use Taikai-logo and -links for your own webpage.
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VIDEOS & BOOKS
§ NEW VIDEOS AT SOLKAN: We just received 6 new titles from Japan. Daikomyo
sai 2000 (Koppo Jutsu) (3 volumes); Naginata, Nagamaki, Bisento (1 vol.);
Byakurenkai Karate (2 vol.). Check their availability at
http://www.budomart.com/acatalog/
(these titles should be available around mid july).
§ Save at least 20% up to 40% on your Hatsumi Sensei videos made by Quest
videos in Japan. Solkan Europe is the official distributor in Europe for
Quest videos in Europe. All our videos available in Pal, Secam and Ntsc
and concern Budo Taijutsu and other martial arts.
Visit our Website http://www.budomart.com/acatalog/
§ the video of the sveneric-seminar in Bayreuth last april is available.
Everybody can order it for 50 DM (30 DM for those who attended). Orders
to be sent to: Bujinkan Dojo Bayreuth - Wolfgang Gröger - Jean Paul Strasse
43 - 95444 Bayreuth - Germany
Phone: 0049 921 64906
§ The Bujinkan France Memento leads you from 9th Kyu to Shodan. It is
a helpful tool that goes with the ProTek. Available in French only. Price
80 FF. More info at: http://www.budomart.com/acatalog/
§ You can buy your belt with Japanese embroideries at:
http://www.budomart.com/acatalog/
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