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幸雲　Cloud of Happiness (Good Fortune)

From 術心悟 by goshinarts

While on my travels around the world, I have be privileged to witness the vast arrays of trees and life nourished by the great cloud of the Bujinkan. Grand trees, small flowers, medicinal herbs big and small all gaining the needed nourishment from the Bujinkan cloud as needed according to their individual natures.

To this end, my brush moved by the martial wind scrawls the characters, Happy Cloud. (Kou Un – Good fortune). The Bujinkan cloud is a great cloud of happiness pouring water down equally on all the trees, flowers and forests, onto the big and small and into the crevices and cracks where life springs forth. Each according to their nature (sai no, kon, ki – talent, spirit and utsuwa) receives the water and bears fruit. The same water received by each individual bears it`s own fruit. One taste ,one pure water, gives birth to an infinite variety of life.

One hears often of acid rain which destroys the forests and erodes the world. Our water must be pure to foster infinite life. This year the theme for the Bujinkan is Rokkon Shojo – Laughter Purifying for Divine Happiness and Spirit. The Bujinkan (and it`s members) must strive to put ourselves thru a water purification system to remove our impurities. Only that which is pure and translucent can connect to the eternal.  Only that which is pure can nourish the infinite life.

The thunder and the lightning herald the coming of the Bujinkan cloud. The trees and plants and forests of the world rejoice.

Paul

"The Ocean of Prosperity and Longevity is Infinite" Photo by Yabunaka

"The Ocean of Prosperity and Longevity is Infinite" Photo by Yabunaka


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Duncan Stewart – Tachi Kumiuchi (Part 1 of 2)

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

We had Duncan Stewart here in Stockholm for a seminar in the beginning of April this year. We filmed all the trainings andrelease them on two separate DVDs, each one is 2 hours long, we also released another DVD from the extra training where he taught Kihon Happo.

TACHI KUMIUCHI - PART 1 OF 2

This is part one of two from a seminar with Duncan Stewart Shihan from Japan teaching in Stockholm During April 2010. Duncan taught the theme of this year, Tachi Kumiuchi. Taijutsu and weapons, against one or multiple attackers. He also explained this years philosophical theme Rokkon-shoujou and much much more... Bushinden Kai 武神伝会 is ”A Gathering to honour the teachings of the Warrior Gods.” Respecting Souke, The Shihan, and our Martial Ancestors for their transmission of the Nine Traditions of the Bujinkan. Budo is not about instruction. It is about learning to teach yourself. This is the first thing I want people who attend the Bushinden Kai to understand. We are all on our own Shugyo. We must take responsibility for ourselves, while developing the heart and compassion of the Bujinkan Bugeisha.

About the instructor

Duncan Stewart has been training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu since 1988 and is ranked Judan Kugyo. He has lived in Japan since 2004 and trains consistently with Hatsumi Soke, Nagato Shihan, Noguchi Shihan, Someya Shihan and Someya Shihan. He is often uke and asked to demonstrate at classes. Duncan was Nagato Shihans sole uke at the Bujinkan Honbu for two years when studying direct from the Gyokko Ryu Densho and the Kukishinden Ryu. If you want to sponsor a seminar or course, please don’t hesitate to contact him. For more information see his web site tazziedevil.wordpress.com
Skr239.00
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Duncan Stewart – Tachi Kumiuchi (Part 2 of 2)

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

We had Duncan Stewart here in Stockholm for a seminar in the beginning of April this year. We filmed all the trainings andrelease them on two separate DVDs, each one is 2 hours long, we also released another DVD from the extra training where he taught Kihon Happo.

TACHI KUMIUCHI - PART 1 OF 2

This is part two of two from a seminar with Duncan Stewart Shihan from Japan teaching in Stockholm During April 2010. Duncan taught the theme of this year, Tachi Kumiuchi. Taijutsu and weapons, against one or multiple attackers. He also explained this years philosophical theme Rokkon-shoujou and much much more... Bushinden Kai 武神伝会 is ”A Gathering to honour the teachings of the Warrior Gods.” Respecting Souke, The Shihan, and our Martial Ancestors for their transmission of the Nine Traditions of the Bujinkan. Budo is not about instruction. It is about learning to teach yourself. This is the first thing I want people who attend the Bushinden Kai to understand. We are all on our own Shugyo. We must take responsibility for ourselves, while developing the heart and compassion of the Bujinkan Bugeisha.

About the instructor

Duncan Stewart has been training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu since 1988 and is ranked Judan Kugyo. He has lived in Japan since 2004 and trains consistently with Hatsumi Soke, Nagato Shihan, Noguchi Shihan, Someya Shihan and Someya Shihan. He is often uke and asked to demonstrate at classes. Duncan was Nagato Shihans sole uke at the Bujinkan Honbu for two years when studying direct from the Gyokko Ryu Densho and the Kukishinden Ryu. If you want to sponsor a seminar or course, please don’t hesitate to contact him. For more information see his web site tazziedevil.wordpress.com
Skr239.00
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Photon & Stardust: the Spirit of Movement

From Shiro Kuma's Weblog by kumablog

the essence of movement

Once again I would like to review  a metaphore used by sensei not long ago. He spoke about “photon & stardust” to me, it is the best way to explain how things should happen in the dôjô.

From our perspective, a photon is invisible. Stardust in space is also invisiable to us. A photon is moving at the speed of light in space and stardust is moving also at a permanent speed. Now until they meet there is o way for you to see them. When they collide a spark of light is created. This spark is the movement/technique. Both the photon and the stardust become visible when the spark of light appears. Before the collision they “are non existent” (to our senses), after they are not existent any more. When you fight your opponent what happens is identical.

In  ”l‘esprit du geste“* this is what I tried to explain. There is no thinking process, no intention, only a spark of light. In a fight, there is no technique there is only an opportunity of possibility. It is only a probability of occurrence. Adapt!

Chi does not think

Sui does not think

Ka does not think

Fû does not think

Kû does not think

So why do you think? the sixth element shiki (consciousness) appears, it is not the product of the analytical brain. It is given as everything in Nature, natural movement is only that.

*the book is now translated into English and  soon available.

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Tachi Tips & tricks (6)

From Shiro Kuma's Weblog by kumablog

No harm

Yesterday during my seminar, one student was waving his sword held to his wrist by the rope at the tsuka kashira and the ring at the end broke releasing the sword.

Training weapons are NOT real ones and might break easily. Do not get over excited while training and keep high security levels. There was no harm but an accident could have happened.

We are now training with metallic blades instead of padded ones. Therefore our ways of training should adapt accordingly. Permanent adaptation is not to be applied only during the techniques but should include all the elements of the class in the dôjô. Adaptation is what tachi kumiuchi is teaching us. Stop thinking always in the same ways. Last month sensei said: “don’t hold to what you know or you won’t improve your skills”. The key point is to adapt.

A weapon designed for training purpose is still a weapon. Please be careful. You can influence the actions of a sentient being during the fight but there is no possibility to affect an in-animated object.

Be aware of this.


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Tachi Tips & Trick (5)

From Shiro Kuma's Weblog by kumablog

various types of blades some being both...

When you get older your students get older too and you can learn from them!

Yesterday on tachi kumiuchi seminar at the Bujinkan France in Vincennes I learnt two things. One of my old students followed a few seminars to become a blacksmith.

I was teaching the particular way of waving the blade horizontally and was telling the students that the point of pivot is done around the first third of the blade. He told us that the sôri (curve) of the blade is not the same in a tachi and on a katana. The katana is balanced more or less at the middle of the blade but the tachi is often balanced at a point closer to the tsuba. The apex of the curve being closer to the hands it is logical (ans easier) to turn the blade from this point adding more momentum and speed to the blow. Remember that you do not cut with the blade but only try to get uke‘s balance. Also the burden of the yoroi makes it also easier to move the blade that way.

Rotate your blade  on itself and do not pivot from the kissaki (tip of the blade). A tachi is not a katana therefore your movements have to be different.

Also, you can find the same blade displayed with the katana mouting and the tachi mounting which confirms what I was writing in a previous post.


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Did sensei meet Shakespeare?

From Shiro Kuma's Weblog by kumablog

William Shakespeare

Here is a speech taken from Shakespeare’s play “Henry V”. It carries some values that rings a bell to what Hatsumi sensei explained a few weeks ago (cf. post on chivalry below). Reading this text I wonder if sensei didn’t meet Shakespeare when we did the ’96 Taikai in UK in Stratford Upon Aven, Shakespeare hometown…

This is a text I really like and I thought you might be happy to read it. Enjoy!

If we are mark’d to die, we are enow
    To do our country loss; and if to live,
    The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
    God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
    By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
    Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
    It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
    Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
    But if it be a sin to covet honour,
    I am the most offending soul alive.
    No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
    God’s peace! I would not lose so great an honour
    As one man more methinks would share from me
    For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
    Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
    That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
    Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
    And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
    We would not die in that man’s company
    That fears his fellowship to die with us.
    This day is call’d the feast of Crispian.
    He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
    Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d,
    And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
    He that shall live this day, and see old age,
    Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
    And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian.’
    Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
    And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispian’s day.’
    Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
    But he’ll remember, with advantages,
    What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
    Familiar in his mouth as household words-
    Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
    Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
    Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.
    This story shall the good man teach his son;
    And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
    From this day to the ending of the world,
    But we in it shall be remembered-
    We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
    For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
    Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
    This day shall gentle his condition;
    And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
    Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
    And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
    That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.


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