Kamaemail archive, issue three
Kamaemail
March 2000 volume 1
kamaemail@wanadoo.fr
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~~~~~IN THIS ISSUE~~~~
* KAMAEMAIL
* WHAT'S NEW?
* NEXT SEMINARS
* TRAINING WITH DIFFERENT UKE
* KOKORO NO JUTSU
* TRAINING WITH SOKE
* AN IDEA ABOUT NIN
* JISSEN SEMINAR
* ENCOUNTERING BUDO
* HOLLAND MILLENNIUM TAIKAI REMINDER
* Q&A
* FORUM
* TECHNICAL TIPS
* VIDEOS
* BOOKS
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~~~~KAMAEMAIL~~~~
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 article please put your name, dan grade, country, email
and website.
When you send us an article please try to 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.
We will not accept any article or information criticizing or attacking
any individuals, whether they are members of the Bujinkan or not. The
existing "chatlists" on internet do that perfectly already.
For non speaking english people: please make sure your text is understandable.
We don't want to rewrite your articles because we may transform your initial
meaning. Have someone speaking english correctly read it before you send
it. Thank you.
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~~~~WHAT'S NEW?~~~~
Here you will find news concerning the Bujinkan.
§ The theme for the year 2000 is Koppo Jutsu and not Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu
as stated before. For details contact Mariette van der Vliet the Holland
Taikai Organiser at m.vliet@home.nl
§ FORUM is a new section inside Kamaemail. This month: "Kihon happo a
key to better taijutsu".
§ An American Taikai will be organised in Atlanta in august this year
and will be hosted by Bud Malmstrom. More infos at http://www.winjutsu.com/seminars/taikaiatlanta/
§ The Holland Taikai will be the only Taikai this year in europe. contact:
m.vliet@home.nl
§ There will be a Taikai in Paris in march 2001 hosted by Arnaud Cousergue
solkan@wanadoo.fr. Dates are not known yet.
§ As many will know Soke received an award from the Emperor at the end
of last year. This award he sees lifting his level and profile and as
a result he expects a higher standard from the bujinkan. To this ends
a couple of things have happened. Soke has said that he will not tolerate
bad people in the bujinkan and will get rid of them. There has been a
lot of talk about this over the last few weeks. From Anthony Brien in
Tokyo abrien@gol.com
§ Information: Soke has asked that there be no advertising of the 'smaller'
dojo in Japan via the internet. He is happy for his location to be listed
but does not think that the internet should have this information freely
available. Such information should be selectively passed on by instructors
to students and fellow budoka with judgement rather than blindly. From
Anthony Brien in Tokyo abrien@gol.com
§ Because there will be less and less Taikai in the future, people need
to come to Japan to get the teachings direct from Soke. Soke did make
a comment about the people who had obtained their godan at a Taikai and
never been to Japan - he is worried that they are not getting a proper
understading of the art. From Anthony Brien in Tokyo abrien@gol.com
§ Soke said recently that Europe was a good example for the bujinkan and
that America and Australia were slower but he believes they are heading
in the right direction, just a few more years.........From Anthony Brien
in Tokyo abrien@gol.com
§ Travellers: Tim Bathurst will be in Australia for a short time - working
for most of it - but I think he is doing a seminar in Queensland - contact
Jamie MacAnnich - Doug Wilson is planning on being in Australia in May
- mostly to surf - but may do a seminar - contact him. - A young guy who's
been in Japan for about the last year is heading back to Auckland shortly.
From Anthony Brien in Tokyo abrien@gol.com
§ Videos: Last year's Daikomyosai videos have just been completed and
are available from Soke. We do not know if they already have subtitles
in english. From Anthony Brien in Tokyo abrien@gol.com
§ Births and Marriages : Nakadai Sensei has become a father at the end
of february. Congratulations! We do not know if its a boy or a girl -
Andrew Young is back in Japan and getting married soon. From Anthony Brien
in Tokyo abrien@gol.com
§ We are glad to announce the following promotions: Carlos Morales from
Lanzarote (canary island) is promoted to 11th dan. Juan-manuel Serrano
from Alicant (spain) is promoted to 11th dan.
§ If you have a website and want to put Kamaemail on it, you are free
to do it. Give us your url and we will give the info in our next issue.
§ You can already find the past issues of Kamaemail at http://www.multimania.com/budotaijutsu/
Thank you Alain Muller a.muller@hrnet.fr
§ The multimania site (above) is willing to get your pictures. If you
feel like it, send us an id picture to be put with the article on the
website. It will make things more attractive. We still do not want picture
on kamaemail because it would be too "heavy".
§ Found in the forum alt.arts.bujinkan - Two new Shihan - There are two
new shihan in Australia with the promotion last week in Japan of Tim Bathurst
(currently living in Japan for over 3 years) and Darren Horvath (first
my student and then training partner of many years) to 10th dan. These
two new Shihan are well known for their real fighting ability and will
surely be a real force in the Bujinkan of the future. Ed Lomax, Australia,
ed@dove.net.au
§ Sylvain Guintard, who introduced the Bujinkan in France in 1984, directed
a seminar of Saiko Fujita's school of Budo: Satto Ryu Heiho, in Paris
in february. Several members of Bujinkan France have trained in the basic
principles of this very powerful school.
§ Do you know e-budo. com? If you don't, go to http://www.e-budo.com a
very nice website with a very good forum.
§ Send your articles for Kamaemail 4 due to be published in april 2000.
Send your texts directly by email to kamaemail@wanadoo.fr . On top of
it write: "kamaemail 4 article" or "kamaemail 4 seminar info" or "kamaemail
4 information" or "kamaemail 4 Q&A" to ease our work. Have someone read
it before you send it so that the english is correct. We need your articles
for our next issue. Please participate.
§ Abi Shihan from Albuquerque (USA) will be travelling through Europe
and visiting Dojo, after the Taikai in Holland. If you want to share training
with her contact Martin Spring at safs@swissonline.ch
§ After 2 issues of Kamaemail we are only 200 readers. Spread the news!
Send it today to all your friends in the Bujinkan!
§ We are looking for people sending to Kamaemail, informations from their
area on a regular basis. If you wish to become an official source of information
for Kamaemail in your country or in your city, tell us. Please, tell us
who you are: city, country, dan grade, length of training, job etc. Thank
you for your help.
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~~~~NEXT SEMINARS~~~~
Send us informations about the seminars you organise, we will put the
information in this section. Please precise city and country.
§ FRANKFURT - GERMANY - 18th 19th march 2000 - Seminar with Bud Malmstrom
from Atlanta USA - Taikai-Organizer this year - in Dojo Dietzenbach/Frankfurt
Germany sf-panda@t-online.de
§ 25th & 26th march in NEUVILLER LES SAVERNE (Strasbourg -France) - Training
& lodging: about 350F - From saturday 9am (approx) to sunday 12am - Seminar
by DIDIER CHASSEROT- 10th dan. Contact : hermann@ifrance.com
§ April 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2000. PARIS - FRANCE. After his new trip to
Japan, Arnaud Cousergue will give a seminar in Vincennes (Paris - France)
during three days. Cost 400 FF (ab. $60). Contact: Bujinkan France at
solkan@wanadoo.fr
§ April 8 & 9, 2000 USA - Seminar with Ed martin 10th dan back from Japan
at Liberty Hill Elementary Gym
The topic will be a review of Ed's annual trip to Japan ( Ed goes in March).
Cost $50 in advance $65 at the door. Contact: George Russell (512)515-5071
- 3505 CR 200 Liberty Hill, Tx.78642, GeoRussel@aol.com
§ April 15th and 16th in ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico USA. Seminar on Modern
firearms and knife by Willy Iglesia from Argentina (see special note "Jissen
Seminar" below). For more information please contact Bujinkan Albuquerque
Dojo/ 1334 Calle Bona Tierra/ Bernalillo, NM 87004 Tel (505)867-0983 or
email: Robert Mattson rdmatt@juno.com
§ MONTPELLIER, FRANCE - 22nd, 23rd & 24th april 2000 - SHI TENNO SEMINAR
with Pedro, Peter, Sven and Arnaud 11th dan. Theme: Koppo Jutsu. Cost:
550 FF for the three days. More details: François Bideau mt2i@hotmail.com
or phone +33 4 67 52 00 28. Informations in english, spanish and french
at www.mt2i.com/bujinkan/index.html
§ FRANKFURT - GERMANY29th 30th april 2000 - Seminar with Sveneric Bogsäter
- Taikai co-organizer Holland - in Dojo Dietzenbach/ Frankfurt Germany
sf-panda@t-online.de
§ 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 at m.vliet@home.NL
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~~~~ TRAINING WITH DIFFERENT UKE ~~~~
Although I feel it difficult to come up with something original, here
is a little thought which came to me during a training session in Japan.
As usual, this is simple stuff, and most will say : "it's pure logic".
But even so, I think it will not hurt to elaborate a little.
I was attending a class by Shiraishi sensei. My uke was Japanese. Quite
small (under 1m50 - I'm 1m90), quite flexible, of solid built and a very
nice person. I noted his Gi was actually turning green (I later learned
he'd been around for quite a while.).
Anyway, as we were training I realized I was locking/throwing him quite
easily (the opposite was true as well). I did not need to allow my motions
to unfold all the way through. He had more stability (his center of gravity
being naturally lower), which forced me to go quite low. But (and here
is the odd thing) I soon came to realize that since he was so small, the
range of motion of his joints was much smaller than mine. So, applying
a lock would result in me making a smaller motion (than I would usually
do when confronted with larger uke's). Think for example of the bones
in your forearm and how they rotate. It's all about scales. In this case,
he had to cover more ground. We are constantly told to adapt to our attacker's
size and often limit this to his speed (to determine the right timing),
to the length of his arms and legs (to evaluate the proper distance) and
to his height (to determine his center of gravity).
This type of understanding is in my opinion crucial. In training, for
example, it means you will not injure someone. In combat, it allows you
to save time and space. As we all know, there is no point trying to go
through a technique when uke is reacting in such a way that it renders
our motion unnatural ("don't focus on the technique"). We adapt.which
is the only natural thing to do.
Now then, this simple fact led me to the following analysis. To develop
good taijutsu (understand to go beyond basics), the use of long range
weapons (and weapons in general) is a must. The main reasons are, in my
humble opinion :
To use a bo or yari or naginata, requires you to move your body more then
when throwing a punch, a kick. This is mainly due to the fact that you
transfer energy to something that is not part of your body ("use the weapon
as a natural extension"). Think. When you start a new physical activity,
your motions are usually an exaggeration. Why ? Because something in you
feels it needs to be in control. But in fact you are creating resistance.
Once your nerves and muscles have collected enough data, they are confident
and allow you to relax. With time, they learn how to make the most of
the situation by relaxing.
In the study of martial arts, the notions of time and space are studied
thoroughly and played with. This is not easy to understand but is essential.
As your skills improve, your understanding of time and space changes.
It is a process, which takes time (?), but as you build up your skills,
you are able to do more things, in less time and less space than most
people would need to exert energy.
Keep in mind that to protect yourself against a weapon; you need a working
knowledge of that weapon. To be able to face, unarmed, an enemy with a
sword.means you know how a sword is used and how it cuts.among other things.
In conclusion, the study of weapons (tools) helps in developing your taijutsu
BUT only once the basics have been internalized. One could compare the
process (I make reference here to Arnaud's article entitled : Taihen Kuden
Shinden and put on the web by Mats Heljm) to the use of the extra wheels
when learning how to cycle. Since you are supposed to have control of
your body (meaning you know how to stand, to walk, to pivot and so on
- which already implies balance), why would you have need for them ? The
explanation is not to be found solely in the human psyche, I think. I
believe that by taking balance out of the equation, you make it possible
to sequence the problems. And you create new ones doing so as well.nobody's
perfect.
I wonder if this could have anything to do with Soke's education plan.
Meaning could this explain to some extent the order in which he teaches
the various aspects of his art ? the various ryu ?
Marc Dillembourg, Belgium, marchantal@hotmail.com
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~~~~ KOKORO NO JUTSU ~~~~.
Ninjutsu. Everyday many of us talk about it and its possible "deeper"
meaning. But let´s consider this question seriously. Most of us know that,
when talking about Ninjutsu, we are actually talking about Budo Taijutsu,
but despite this the term Ninjutsu is used more often and in many ways.
So let´s take this common term in order to see what we are actually talking
about.
For many people Ninjutsu is an opportunity of learning a way of self-defense.
Many others regard Ninjutsu as a mysterious art with a lot of hidden aspects
which they want to explore. To explore the deeper meaning of Ninjutsu
we have to take the two characters or kanji: Nin and Jutsu.
NIN in the usual translation has the meaning of Endurance. Taking the
two characters which make up the character Nin we get the translation
of Heart and Sword, but what does this translation really mean ?? JUTSU
is usually translated as Art. But what is the deeper meaning ?
At first let´s take the character Nin:
If we train our art just as a kind of self-defense, we will remain at
the surface of our art and won´t be able to discover the true "Kokoro"
(heart). But what we have to learn is to see, to feel, to understand and
to practise with our heart. We have to develop this understanding if we
want to take further steps in our art. If we make progress in the development
of this understanding we are able to develop our personality as well.
Heart and mind have to work together and in harmony. When thinking about
something, we subconsciously affect our heart so that we are able to feel
something. When feeling something with our heart, we affect or mind so
that we are able to think about something or not (has anyone ever forgotten
his first love ??). This kind of inner team-work affects our body as well.
In other words: we are able to move, to think and to feel with a clear
consciousness.
We have to polish our heart that it gets the shine and purity of a sword,
and by this our mind is sharpened as well so that we can think in a clearer
way. This interaction of heart and mind enables the body to move with
a greater efficiency. The other point is that a pure heart can better
face the exterior influences and our mind won´t get affected that easily.
So we can say that the development of our heart develops our mind as well,
and both together develop our spirit. The term NIN can, as we have seen,
also be translated as pure heart or sharp and open mind (to develop an
effective and open spirit as well). By means of the interaction of all
these factors and their influence on the subconsciousness the personaliy
develops on a mental level.
Now let´s turn to the character Jutsu:
Art. But what actually is art?? For a better interpretation we will take
the example of a professional painter. At the beginning he gets familiar
with the variety of colours and learns how they can be combined. Then
he takes the brush and tries to draw his first lines and outlines, and
then he gives colour to his work. This takes years of study and development.
After some years the painter has developed its own form and stile, and
now he can start to create his own paintings. Because of his development
he livens his own paintings up. Due to his personality the process of
painting has gained a new development, a new quality. Now the painter
has become a part of his art.
In a martial art it is quite the same. We get familiar with basic elements
via Kihon Happo, fill this learned Kihon up with Henka in order to liven
up the Kihon-forms and at the same time we add colour with our developed
Taijutsu movements. By the combination of these learning-processes we
develop our Taijutsu and also our personality on a physical level.
By the interaction of heart, mind (NIN - spirit) and Taijutsu (JUTSU -
body) we develop our individual personality and become due to this a part
of our art.
Ninjutsu is not just a way of self-defense. Ninjutsu is an art, which
develops a human being into a human being.
Kostas Kanakis - Germany - 8th dan - kanakis@prima.de - http://www.kanakis.prima.de
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~~~~TRAINING WITH SOKE~~~~
The first time I met Hatsumi Sensei, I was very impressed. Today, after
12 trips to Japan, and more than 35 Taikai all over the world I am still
impressed by him!
The only way to understand Sensei's budo is to train with him. Many people
in the Bujinkan get dan grades but never feel the need to train with soke
(how come?).
Today, going to Japan is easy and quite cheap. If you are teaching budo
taijutsu do not keep the money for yourself, use it to better your taijutsu
during trips in noda or during taikai. So do not hesitate, take the opportunity
to meet Hatsumi sensei in person. It will change forever your vision of
Budo. The more you train, the more you are aware that in reality you know
nothing.
Many people in the Bujinkan seem to be more interested by their appearance,
the politics and the grades than by the technique itself. Sensei always
repeat "keep going!" but where are these other guys going? Not in Japan
anyway.
Some people go to Japan, train one day (i.e. one class) with soke, then
they go around Japan for tourism for a week and come back on the last
day of their trip to train with sensei one last time. They take a few
pictures and never come again to Japan. Others have so much to do when
they are in Japan that they do not have enough time to come to training!
But, with a few pictures of Noda and Sensei they come back to their country
and act as if they trained everyday with him. When you listen to these
guys, you learn that they train 12 hours a day, that Sensei recognized
them as the next grandmaster on earth etc. This attitude is crap! If the
Bujinkan is growing up it has to "grow up". We have to be adults not kids
anymore. A few years ago Sensei said that the Bujinkan of the past was
like kindergarden. then he added that it was time for going to University.
If you are not one of these guys I described then stay and develop the
bujinkan in your country. New times are coming. The objective is not a
dan grade, the objective is to become a real human being. This is what
Sensei is teaching us, nothing more. When you decide to go somewhere the
goal is less important than the path you follow. The obstacles on your
everyday path are the keys to enlightenment. If you do not think that,
then do not walk on the path, take a plane, it will be quicker and safer
for your ego.
During my last trip to Japan in december, I had a very bad time. During
Daikomyosai, on the second day of the Taikai, we had the opportunity to
have an extra class at night with Noguchi Sensei. I thought it was great
until the training began. I was not able to understand any of his movements!
I thought: "Gee, I am supposed to be one of the highest student in the
Bujinkan and I am fucking up as a young beginner!". This is what training
in Japan is all about. If you come to Japan to show off do not come, take
a nice holiday anywhere else and save your ego from being confronted to
a hard reality.
Now, if you go there for training, you will find that your level is bad
(very bad). Your ego will be beaten up and you will find (maybe) a new
motivation for increasing your level. Dan grades are useless, pictures
are useless, politics are useless. The only thing that matters is training,
training and training. This is why I am going again to Noda on the 16th
of march!
Arnaud Cousergue, 11th Dan, France - solkan@wanadoo.fr
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~~~~AN IDEA ABOUT NIN ~~~~
In this article I would like to share some ideas about the meaning of
Nin. Most of you heard that the Nin is put together by the characters
of blade (above) and heart (below). The philosophical interpretation in
most books is in short that the heart should control the blade and the
sword should cut all evil out of the heart. Simply imagine the picture
that the sword is always hanging above the heart like the sword of Damokles.
Or in egyptian mythology when you die the heart is weighed against a feather.
Should it be heavier than a feather you will be send to hell.
Furthermore in interaction of the two the heart should control the sword,
i.e. not to simply cut something but to think first why and how to do
it. To control yourself if it is good for yourself and others in meaning
not to harm anyone and that this action provides a progress for all.
I believe that there is a deeper meaning of this. Namely that the heart
and sword are powerful symbols. The heart is standing for love and compassion
and the sword as a tool and means to progress. The heart is the Being
and the sword is the Doing of humankind. So we see that the heart and
sword have to be one.
You now may ask why they should be one? So what good is an action if there
is no being? And what good is a being without action? What good is love
if it is not manifestetd in the world? For what good is any achievement
if it is not done with heart? Such things would feel very empty. We all
made this experience more than once for ourselves So our main aim as warriors
in this "peaceful" times should be to live a life in love and to protect
and establish this for every living being.
Oliver Muenstedt - Bujinkan Tatsujin Dojo Berlin - oliver.muenstedt@brangs-heinrich.de
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~~~~JISSEN SEMINAR ~~~~
A good friend of mine from the days of living in Japan passed through
here last fall. Perhaps you know Willy Iglesia from Argentina. Anyway
he did some incredible gun and knife work based on his training in Japan
and Argentina. Everyone was thrilled and we decided to bring him back
for an "official seminar". Here's the info: Bujinkan Albuquerque Dojo
is hosting Willy Iglesia from Argentina for a Modern Firearms and Knife
Seminar. It will be held on April 15th and 16th in Albuquerque, New Mexico
USA. Willy Iglesia has studied the
martial arts for over 20 years. He was the first South American to train
in Japan as a student of Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi(1988). Returned to Japan
to live and train for one year (1990-1991). Since then he has returned
to
Japan to train nearly every year, where he has received special firearms
training from the Grandmaster. He holds the highest Firearms Instructor
Certification from the Argentine Ministry of Defense. As an instructor
for the Presidential Body Guard Unit of the Argentine Federal Police he
regularly trains in hostage extraction senarios. He has taught numerous
seminars for modern firearms and knife defense in military as well as
martial arts settings. He is currently 8th Dan in Budo-taijutsu.
For more information please contact Bujinkan Albuquerque Dojo/ 1334 Calle
Bona Tierra/ Bernalillo, NM 87004 Tel (505)867-0983 or email: Robert Mattson
rdmatt@juno.com
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~~~~ ENCOUNTERING BUDO~~~~
I was over forty when I decided to express myself (also) with my body
by taking up ballroom dancing. Before that I was only moving concepts
in my mind. I was also moving my body, of course, but without any method,
as a simple apparatus, a slave of the mind. Indeed, and this may look
even more peculiar, my body was able to have its own existence in a life
totally separated from the mind. It was a second being to whom independence
could be granted when the mind had had enough of its supremacy. This strange
relation between my mind and my body was, of course, not a matter of choice,
but forced upon me at an age where I could not afford to carry on my own
decisions.
It could easily have lasted a lifetime. But some stormy events upset my
relative equilibrium which is why I started ballroom dancing. It would
make a story in itself. But to come back to budo, I would simply point
out that there is many similarities between budo and ballroom dancing.
It can be neatly expressed in Japanese : "budo wa buto desu" (martial
art is dancing). Basically, both are a question of balance, but the aims
differ. In budo, the aim is generally to send his partner to the ground;
in ballroom dancing this is not to be recommended, at least if you want
to last in the business!
But this example is not meant to suggest that social behaviour plays no
part in budo. Far from it ! Contrary to one might think at first sight,
it may be a more demanding element in budo that in anything else. This,
at least, is my experience of it and it comes right back to the relationship
between the body and the mind. There are many ways to approach the problem
of this relationship. Think of "les Bijoux indiscrets" by Diderot, in
the imagined court in Persia, where the body tells the truth when the
speech lies. This is also the principle used in diagnostic medicine. Here,
in France, with Arnaud Cousergue, we have our own approach of this universal
question expressed in our definition of what budo is : "C'est la recherche
de la fusion du corps et de l'esprit pour la construction de l'être et
l'abandon du paraître, dans l'adaptation permanente à l'environnement"
(Budo Taijutsu looks for the melting of body and mind, in order to build
the self and destroy our ego, adaptating ourselves permanently to the
environment). As we know, this also expressed by joining the hands together
like in prayer, in a near universal gesture.
It is also, of course, my problem, i. e. a very deep questioning. The
body, or to put it in a other way, our physical being, most of the time
fails to produce exactly what the mind dreams of achieving. And, paradoxically,
it is often said that the reason for this is precisely that we think about
the movement, or more generaly that we think too much (remember zazen).
But that is only part of the problem. In practicing budo you also have
to produce a movement which can be accepted by your partner. This of course
a very complicated matter, because so many variables have to be taken
into account : size, sex, age, different level of technical ability and
experience, etc. This is a problem I have, of course, experienced many
times. It is not the probleme of understanding why I have been hit, which
soon loses all its interest. Rather it is a question to myself : If my
body performs a movement that seems dangerous to my partner although my
mind does not recognize that it willed it then who did initiated it? Uncontrolled
tensions, is a part of the answer, at least on the purely technical side
of the question. But If we go deeper into psychology and personal history,
we might uncover ancient tensions, possibly very destructive, that are
still alive and active.
The fusion of body and mind is certainly an education. Though we can assume
that it is the natural state, it is one we have to recreate. Because even
if it was granted to us when we came into the world, it was not a fusion
within a social being. Tthat is what we have to be taught. So, to come
to a conclusion in this limitless subject, I should say that if to be
oneself is a lifetime effort, I look forward to budo helping me in this
endless quest.
Sausse Frédéric, Paris, frederic.sausse@worldonline.fr
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~~~~HOLLAND MILLENNIUM TAIKAI REMINDER~~~~
Here is reminder of the program of The First MillenniuM Taikai. Dates
are Thursday 1st, Friday 2d and Saturday 3d of June. The site of Taikai
is the 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: 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.
Mariette van der Vliet, 10th dan, Holland. NOTE: The old mail address
bujin.nl is closed down. Use http://www.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.
We did not receive any questions, sorry.
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~~~~TECHNICAL TIPS~~~~
§ About Uke Nagashi: When you block the attack of your opponent, your
blocking fist should be on a vertical line located between your nose and
your belly. Never overblock the attack you would open an easy counter
attack from uke. Keep your block "inside" your body. That is, your fist
should never be out of the space given by your legs (angle of your feet)
.
§ About Tsuki: When you give a tsuki, your fist for the attack must go
only when your back leg crosses your front leg. By doing that your foot
and fist will arrive at the same time on the target. If you do not do
that, then your fist will arrive too late or your body weigh will be unbalanced.
The reason to do it is that (usually) human being have longer legs than
arms.
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~~~~FORUM~~~~
Why Kihon Happo is a key to a better taijutsu ?
In my feeling (not an opinion I can explain) kihon happo is really the
basic of taijutsu because it is a combination of kamae and (more important)
footwork.
The way of movement learned to me with the kihon happo 'sticks it's head
up' in ALL OTHER movements. Likewise is it with the kamae. Movements are
a chain of kamae after another.
You don't have to look for fancy stuff when all you need for proper taijutsu
is carefully placed in the kihon happo.
Sanne de Jong (shodan), Holland, tatsujin@tatsujin.demon.nl
Because their practice is without limit. They are like DNA. They carry
the seeds (contain the info) for understanding the whole. They can adapt
(mutate) to match (help answer) the questions we have (eg
weapons traning).
Marc Dillembourg, Belgium, marchantal@hotmail.com
The quality of ones taijutsu is defined through the work of the legs.
So 80% of good taijutsu is done through legwork. Kihon happo teaches 100%
legwork because of proper timing, distancing and angling the techniques
are done. So concentrating on this and refining the Kihon happo as often
as possible will always bring an overall improvement.
Oliver Muenstedt, Germany, oliver.muenstedt@brangs-heinrich.de
Dr. Hatsumi has said what we do is "martial art of distance" , maybe he
would accept it is also one of space --- the use of space. Kihon Happo
is a study of the use of space. How we make techniques work from different
distances, or from different positions. How we control the space between
us and our opponent so that we use the space and deny its use to our opponent.
The more complete our understanding of this the better our body movement.
And so the better our "taijutsu". The more often one goes back to study
the Kihon, the more insights you will acquire on this use of space and
so each time we go back to the Kihon our "taijutsu" improves.
Ed Martin (Papa-san), Judan, USA, flyboy@zdial.com
I agree with the statement, it's amazing how much there are different
aspects and points to learn there, if one has enough patience and curiosity.
Sami Vayrynen, Finland, Sami.Vayrynen@capgemini.fi
If we pay attention to the techniques, concepts and strategies of Kihon
Happo, we will realise that they are really the technical basis of any
fighting style: Kamae (position / attitude), tai sabaki (displacements),
uke nagashi (form of repelling attacks), ken tai ichi jo and nage uchi
no kamae (striking methods), torite jutsu (joint locks), nage waza (throws),
ukemi gata (falls / forms of recciving), . Apart from these main concepts
it also gives you an Omote and Ura vision of all the techniques. I think
that it is a summarised form of the Ten Chi Jin basics (It is my point
of the view of Heaven, Earth and Man which is the backbone of life and
martial arts). Of all that we know and said about the study of Kihon Happo,
it takes us to an infinite combination of techniques. It is for this reason
that this is only one of the numerous answers to this question because
each time you asked me, each time I would answer differently.
Alex Esteve Calero - Shidoshi - Spain alex@savir.com
Kihon Happo teaches us the most important aspects of Taijutsu in a natural
way. This naturalness turns Kihon Happo, and by that our taijutsu, into
something lively, something that is flexible, adaptable and constantly
changing. By studying Kihon Happo you learn Taijutsu, and by studying
Taijutsu you learn
Kihon Happo - and both together lead you to Shin - Gi - Tai. Kihon Happo
does not only improve our Taijutsu but by means of its naturalness, flexibility
and adaptability it becomes the essence of our martial art. And this is
to survive.
Kostas Kanakis ~ Bujinkan Shidoshi 8.Dan, Germany, kanakis@prima.de
Taijutsu is a martial art and a system of moving the body efficiently
and correctly.
The Kihon Happo is the basis for all budo including non-Bujinkan martial
arts.
Therefore, by ensuring that one's basic movements, i.e. the Kihon Happo,
are correct and efficient one has a solid foundation to build their house
or Taijutsu upon.
Cilian McHugh, Ireland, kilianmch@esatclear.ie
O'sensei Takamatsu who is said to have mastered 16 Chinese martial art
systems besides the 9 Ninjutsu Systems passed to Soke Hatsumi said that
"the roots and cores of all martial arts is in the Sanshin no kata and
the Kihon Happo". This is good enough for me.
Richard Van Donk, Judan, USA, richard@ninjutsu.com
theme for next month: "What does Ten Chi Jin mean for you in your daily
training? in your life?"
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~~~~VIDEOS~~~~
§ Bujinkan videos with Sveneric Bogsater available: Year of Kukishinden
ryu E 36.30, Kukishin ryu hanbojutsu and jojutsu E 29.50, knife and pistol
fighting E 29.50, Traditional weekend seminar Bochum 1998 E 19.97
more information at www.tatsujin.demon.nl or e-mail to sanne@tatsujin.demon.nl
§ Seminar with Jack Hoban and Mariette v/d Vliet E 29.50
more information at www.tatsujin.demon.nl or e-mail to sanne@tatsujin.demon.nl
§ 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
§ Now available Daikomyosai 1998 Shinden Fudo Ryu by Hatsumi Sensei. Three
tapes: 239 FF/each. solkan@wanadoo.fr
§ Save money, get your Quest videos from Solkan Europe, the official distributor
in Europe for Quest videos. Ask for your free Video catalog 2000 at solkan@wanadoo.fr
which contains more than 50 titles in Pal, Secam and Ntsc on Budo Taijutsu
and other martial arts.
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~~~~BOOKS~~~~
§ If you read french (?) you can get the Bujinkan France Technical Program:
PROTEK for 350 FF at solkan@wanadoo.fr
The PROTEK includes all the techniques of the Ten Chi Jin Ryaku no Maki
plus hundreds of pictures in B/W.
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