Skip to content

The Bujinkan theme for 2012 is SWORD…

From Budoshop by BUDOSHOP.SE

The Bujinkan Theme for 2012 training is “futsu” and there will be a lot of trainings with the sword. When I’m writing this the trainings haven’t started yet, and no one really knows what the trainings will be like. I’ve already seen some good articles explaining some concepts, but I’m not sure if they will help you or plant something different in your mind that will distract you from what Hatsumi Soke will teach us this year.

At Budoshop.se we got many Bujinkan sword DVD’s from the past years that might be good for studying the base sword work that is taught in the Bujinkan. We also have Swedish Tai Kai DVD’s with Hatsumi Soke, he always taught a lot of sword techniques in the past to. If you haven’t been around that long or just want to recap from the old days we got some good DVD’s for you. Check them out!…

Kukishin-ryu Bikenjutsu Kata w Holger Kunzmann

From New Products from Budo Shop Store by New Products from Budo Shop Store

Title: Kukishin-ryu Bikenjutsu Kata Instructors: Holger Kunzmann Theme: Kukishin-ryu Bikenjutsu Kata (Sword Fighting) Recorded: Recorded in Stockholm March 13-25th 2009 The instruction is in English Format: NTSC, AAC Stereo, DVD/R- (it might not work on older DVD players! check your manual first!) approximately 80 Minutes playing time. Shortly after returning from training in Japan again with Soke and the Shihan, Holger held this seminar in Kaigozan Dojo, Stockholm, Sweden. This DVD contains all the nine basic sword techniques from Kukishin-ryu Bikenjutsu Kata plus the Sayugyaku techniques. They are taught and explained thoroughly as a basic foundation, and then with many applications and variations. The techniques covered on this DVD is the following. 附込 TSUKI KOMI 突掛 TSUKI KAKE 斬上 KIRI AGE 斬下 KIRI SAGE 銯止 KASUGAI DOME 小蝶返 KOCHOU GAESHI 四方斬 SHIHOU GIRI 八方斬 HAPPOU GIRI 月之輪 TSUKI NO WA All these techniques are explained and taught in detail. The DVD has menus where you can chose technique to see, completely with chapters. Watch the Trailer at the Budo Shop Community

About the instructor

Who is Holger Kunzmann Holger's main interest in Bujinkan is the basics. And he has become quite famous for his excellent taijutsu and very good knowledge and skill of the basics in Bujinkan. If you want to sponsor a seminar or course, please don’t hesitate to contact him. For more information see his web site Holger's web site... www.bkd-reutlingen.de Note! The instructions is in English and there is no sub titles on this DVD
Skr239.00

経津 Futsu: Reflections on a Theme for 2012

From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael

Katori-jingu, Katori-shi, Chiba-ken, Japan photo by TANAKA Juuyoh
Training sometimes seems mysterious. Even more so when Hatsumi Sensei gives us Japanese philosophical ideas to consider.  Sometimes these mysteries come in the form of a stated yearly theme.

The idea or feeling behind the yearly theme continuously changes as our lives and training evolve through the year. So whatever we think the theme is, it's important not to get attached to any set concept and to allow the natural evolution of training to occur.

These yearly themes and ideas Soke gives us are like gifts that resonate throughout the year as reflected in our training, in our taijutsu, and our lives.

As we enter 2012 what sort of starting point might we have for the yearly theme?

I was at a class earlier this month where Hatsumi Sensei gave us some hints. We spent a considerable portion of this class exploring concepts with a sword sometimes against long weapons like a bo or yari.

At the end of class, after bowing out, Sensei wanted to share some ideas with us, so we sat on the dojo floor as he began sharing with us some ideas about a theme for 2012. Connected to the sword training we did that night, he made reference to 沸 Futsu which he used as an onomatopoeia (giongo 擬音語) for different sound effects.  He started out describing its relationship to the sound a katana makes when cutting. But then Hatsumi Sensei was using a lot of wordplay that night.

He continued to explore these meanings by using the ぶすぶす Futsu sound of simmering or boiling. He compared this to 煮沸消毒 shafutsu shoudoku which is sterilization by boiling. He told us this was like a burning away of bad parts of the self.

When I began to look into Futsu with more depth I found a wealth of meaning. One idea in particular seems well suited to the possibility of sword for the coming year.

Please remember that none of us knows where the training or Hatsumi Sensei will take us in the coming year so these connections and ideas are my own.

In his talk, Hatsumi Sensei made reference to the Katori Jingu (photo above), where Futsu Nushi no Mikoto 経津主之命 Guardian deity of martial valour is celebrated.

Even more intriguing is Futsu no mitama 布都御魂 the Divine sword of Japanese mythology, possessed by gods Takemikazuchi no mikoto and Futsunushi no mikoto,
The personification of a divine sword. At the time of Emperor Jinmu’s 神武天皇 (Jinmu-tennō) campaign to the east, Amaterasu 天照 ordered Takemikazuchi to assist the beleaguered Jinmu, whereupon Takemikazuchi miraculously sent his divine sword Futsu no mitama to appear in the warehouse of Takakuraji in Kumano熊野 . Takakuraji found the sword and presented it to Jinmu, whereupon Jinmu was enabled to complete his campaign. In Sendai kuji hongi, Futsu no mitama is called “Futsunushi no kami’s sword of spirit,” presented by Jinmu to Umashimaji as a prize for killing Nagasunehiko and submitting to the imperial forces. It is believed to represent a divine sword worshiped by the martial clan Mononobe, who were instrumental in the early pacification of Japan, and is enshrined as the central deity (saijin) of Isonokami Jingū and other shrines.
--Kadoya Atsushi, Waseda University, Tokyo
Another connection for Futsu is the mirror as in the 真経津の鏡  Mafutsu no Kagami (alternate name for Yata no Kagami, the mirror of the Imperial regalia). When you look for your reflection hidden there it is like a search for the Buddha hidden from view or 秘仏 Hifutsu.

I hope my exploration of Futsu gives you some hints to reflect on for 2012. Happy New Year!


Brazilian Ju Jutsu – Marcus Widengren

From New Products from Budo Shop Store by New Products from Budo Shop Store

Title: Brazilian Ju Jutsu

Instructors: Marcus Widengren

Theme: Brazilian Ju Jutsu

Recorded: Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden 2004

Format: DVD/R in PAL only! 90 minutes. Moviebox

Sorry, but the instructions on this DVD is in Swedish, no subtitles!

Den 7:e Augusti 2004 gästade Marcus Widengren Kaigôzan Dôjô i Stockholm, och höll ett endags läger i Brasiliansk Ju Jutsu. Han gick igenom grundpositioner, hur man tar sig loss från fasthållningar, hur man låser fast någon på marken, armlås, strypningar m.m. Sista timmen svarade han på deltagarnas frågor om BJJ historia, han förklarade och visade också försvar mot slag/spark, fula knep, benlås.

Vi bjöd in Marcus för att lära oss mer om BJJ som blivit alltmer populär pga deras effektiva markkamp tekniker. Eftersom Marcus också mycket seriöst tränat Bujinkan i 10 år inkluderat ett flertal Japanresor och träning med Hatsumi Sensei på 90 -talet, så var lägret också lite anpassat för oss i Bujinkan. Det var ett väldigt lyckat och lärorikt läger.

Denna video visar många bra och effektiva tekniker där man hamnat på marken. I många situationer hamnar man på marken och det är inte alltid man kan rulla och ställa sig upp igen. Är man familjär med dessa tekniker har man mycket större chans att klara av en situation där man hamnar på marken och måste agera snabbt och instinktivt.

Marcus Widengren

Tidigare Budo-erfarenhet:
10 år i Bujinkan, graderad till 5 Dan. Också tränat Kung Fu, Wing Tsun och Tai Chi

Tävlingsresultat Brazilian Ju Jutsu:
BadBoy Cup 2000 1st.
BadBoy Cup Open class 2000 1st.
S.O.S.W. 2000 1st.
European cup 3 2000 1st.
Frank Shamrock Invitational 2001 1st.
Gameness 2002 1st.
Fighter Extreme 1 2002 1st.
Campos SWT 2002 1st.
Copa LTD Jiu-Jitsu, Rio 2003 1st.
Rio State Championships Estadual 2003 1st.
Mundial (CBJJ) 2003 3rd.
Brasileiro 2004 purplebelt 3rd.
Rip Dorey submission Cup 2004 1st.
3rd Copa SARA/Yamarashi Jiujitsu 2004 1st.
Brasileiro-CBJJO 2005 2nd.
Brasileiro-CBJJ, Master Pesado 2005 1st.
Brasileiro-CBJJ, Master Absolute 2005 1st.

Listan kommer garanterat fortsätta, se här! PS! Det finns också en intervju på samma hemsida!

Skr239.00

Fushaku Shinmyō 不惜身命: Mind and Body Like Diamond

From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael

Diamond Corridor photo by dickuhne
Hatsumi Sensei's classes are often too crowded to do "large" techniques. Or, to train with weapons that need "large" distances. Recently I was lucky enough to be in a class that was small enough for Sensei to have us using Bo, Yari, and Naginata. Along with the big weapons came some big ideas for training.

He was attaching these weapons to his uke's body or clothing, then moving in a way where the weapon seems to develop a life of its own. He explained he was using a reflection of the attacker. That was a big idea that reminded me of another time when he described 辛抱 Shinbo to us.

 One other large idea he put out there for us came at a moment of evading a yari thrust. He used the phrase 不惜身命 Fushaku Shinmyō. Roughly translated in this context it means sacrificing one's life to accomplish its resolution. It can be related to concepts of Sutemi and throwing away the self.

The roots of this idea come from Buddhism and the Nyorai Juryo Hon chapter of the Lotus Sutra: teaching of devotion that spares neither body nor life.

Some other translations for this phrase read: not sparing one's life for a worthy cause; courageous and selfless dedication; Self-sacrificing Dedication; or to place the cause above one's life.

How do you get to that selfless state? The state where the tip of the spear is no longer a threat and you can move undeterred against the slash of a sword?

One clue I found may come from the study of Goshin no kata. This is when you do a continuous, non-stop repetition of one of the (Sanshin, Gogyo) five forms endlessly without an attacker until one of two things occurs.  The form naturally and spontaneously shifts or changes to one of the other forms, OR you reach satori (a flash of enlightenment).

I found an interesting reflection on this in an essay from Chōjun Miyagi (founder of Goju-ryu) published in 1942. In his style they have a "Sanchin no kata." He writes,
"Kongoshin Fushaku Shinmyō no Kyochi

If you could attain Enlightenment or Satori through practicing
Sanchin, you were beyond life and death, and your mind and body
would become strong enough like Diamond."
Well I think a yari tip would break against diamond armor such as that.


Sweden Tai Kai 2011 – Sveneric Bogsäter & Rob Renner

From New Products from Budo Shop Store by New Products from Budo Shop Store

You can order this video now, but it will be shipped in mid October after all the pre orders (from the seminar) is done

Sveneric Bogsäter from Holland together with Rob Renner, Duncan Stewart and Steve Olsen from Japan was invited to teach at this Swedish Tai Kai organized by Mats Hjelm and Svenska Bujinkanförbundet. There was two DVD's and two download videos released from this seminar. This Video is one part of this set.

At the Taikai all instructors had three classes each, one class with the whole big group, one class with all Shidoshi (5'th dan and above), and one class with Mudansha & Yudansha (beginners up to fifth dan).

On this DVD - Sveneric Bogsäter & Rob Renner

This two hour DVD is packed with good demonstrations and instructions from Sveneric Bogsäter and Rob Renner. Sveneric had recently been in Japan, and Rob Renner has lived in Japan for many years, so what they taught was very much the feeling from Japan trainings with Hatsumi Soke and the Japanese Shihan.

Sveneric taught Kihon-happo variations against one or two opponents to the whole group. At the Shidoshi-class he taught Taijutsu and Hanbojutsu. At the Mudansha & Yudansha class he taught Taijutsu

Rob taught how to understand the distance and footwork with unarmed and with a Hanbo to the whole group. At the Shidoshi class he taught how to do the Kihon-happo techniques against someone who is resisting, directions, balance breaking and distance. Against one and several opponents. Rob's Mudansha and Yudansha class is available on download file only (click here!).

The instructions is all in ENGLISH. The DVD is Region Free and NTSC (US/Japan format, works on modern DVD players)

Skr239.00

Sweden Tai Kai 2011 – Duncan Stewart & Steve Olsen

From New Products from Budo Shop Store by New Products from Budo Shop Store

You can order this video now, but it will be shipped in mid October after all the pre orders (from the seminar) is done

Sveneric Bogsäter from Holland together with Rob Renner, Duncan Stewart and Steve Olsen from Japan was invited to teach at this Swedish Tai Kai organized by Mats Hjelm and Svenska Bujinkanförbundet. There was two DVD's and two download videos released from this seminar. This Video is one part of this set.

At the Taikai all instructors had three classes each, one class with the whole big group, one class with all Shidoshi (5'th dan and above), and one class with Mudansha & Yudansha (beginners up to fifth dan).

On this DVD - Duncan Stewart & Steve Olsen

This two hour DVD is packed with good demonstrations and instructions from Duncan Stewart and Steve Olsen. Both Duncan and Steve has lived in Japan for many years, so what they taught was very much the feeling from Japan trainings with Hatsumi Soke and the Japanese Shihan.

Steve taught Taijutsu to the Shidoshi class and to the class with the whole big group. The Mudansha and Yudansha class is available only as download video (click here!).

Duncan taught drills how to learn the correct distance to the opponent, and Taijutsu techniques with or without small concealed weapons. To the whole big group he taught and demonstrated Taijutsu with devastating efficiency. Unfortunately there was no footage of his Mudansha and Yudansha class.

The instructions is all in ENGLISH. The DVD is Region Free and NTSC (US/Japan format, works on modern DVD players)

Skr239.00

How to Grow Your Own 器 Utsuwa

From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael

敲玻璃器 Break on through, photo by .HEI
Did I learn anything? Sometimes I wonder. I watch Hatsumi Sensei teach and then he does something or says something that I find fascinating. So I look around the Hombu to see how other people are reacting. Did they see what he just did? Did they understand what he just said? Did I?

That's the real question. What is my own capacity to understand?

Is everyone at the hombu dojo having the same training experience and are they getting as much from it as I am? Will I understand or experience the training as deeply as someone like Oguri Sensei who has been training more than 40 years and actually trained with Takamatsu Sensei?

The answer is no. We are not having the same experience or learning the same thing. No one there is. We all have different levels of understanding. As for myself, I can only experience training to the fullness of my capacity.

In Chinese they say, 大器晚成 it takes a long time to make a big pot. This suggests that great talents mature late or the idea of being a late bloomer.

The character for pot may look familiar to you 器. A few years ago, Hatsumi Sensei made it one part of the yearly theme with the idea of 才能魂器: ability/talent (Saino, 才能), spirit (tamashi/kon, 魂), and capacity/vessel/container (utsuwa/ki, 器)

That is an interesting idea: capacity.  It may seem like the capacity of a container, pot, or student is set at a certain level. But this capacity may expand or shrink depending on what it is being filled with.

Imagine Bujinkan or teaching like a flowing river. You may have a big glass or a small glass. Both will be full after being dipped in the river.

But you get to decide from what source you fill your container. This is a simple secret.

It is like an ura side to the concept of utsuwa/ki, 器. When we study budo, our capacity to understand, grow, or fill up is set by the size of the glass we drink from.
Did you get that? That is simple but powerful. Drink from a larger source and your own capacity will grow.
From my own training I have discovered just how powerful this is. For example, we might rate the size of various learning opportunities: On a scale from no training; to reading books; watching videos; attending a seminar; attending regular classes; teaching (yes this is part of learning too); visiting Japan to train with the Shihan and Hatsumi Sensei; Living in Japan and training regularly; Learning from Bujin or divine insight…

Or, finally, off the scale and beyond all is learning from or opening to the source that Soke often speaks about. Just recently I heard him say to invite nature into your training. He said if you are having trouble, let nature into your technique and let it take over.

You can discard your container's limitations and toss it away (捨身 sutemi) by connecting to the deepest source of knowledge. Opening yourself up to nature itself instantly makes your capacity limitless. Any training or experience then becomes rich with joy and insight.

I personally have had surprising results from this process in my training. But it is easy to feel overwhelmed and some days I crawl back inside my old jar. When I return to my old home it isn't as comfortable or as big as I remember.

You may be familiar with this concept if you've ever returned to your childhood home. It seems smaller and less vibrant somehow. Your experience and capacity has grown to encompass so much more of life.That is the same wistful yet amused feeling many people experience after going to Soke's classes.

Hatsumi Sensei tells us not to get caught up in thinking. Throw that away. Release yourself from it. Have this 生命反射 seimei hansha, or  reflection of life in your training.