From Sweden Taikai 2013? - Sweden Taikai 2013? by alexander
The photos from Tai Kai Sweden 2012 are up, take a look here.
Rules for their use can be found on the image page.
… Read MoreYear: 2012
How to Read the 徴 Shirushi Taught in 口伝 Kuden
From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael Glenn
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| Hachiōji, Tokyo photo by LaPrimaDonna |
"There's a reason for this movement of the feet. You're leaving footprints. And it's actually an indication (徴 shirushi sign; indication; omen) You're leaving a warning or an indication."Sensei wasn't just telling us about footwork. He was talking about a larger idea. And this idea is that there are subtle signs and hints everywhere for those who are awake, aware, or sensitive to them.
You could take this at the surface meaning. For example, a hunter can see signs of his prey as he tracks it. So he follows the tracks to catch dinner. Yet someone who is not a hunter would never notice these hints. Or if you were thirsty, the signs would mean something different. You might follow the animal trails that lead to a stream.
But the meaning Sensei was leading us to, was that there are signs left for us by those who have gone before. These are everywhere in the Bujinkan. You find them in what is taught and not taught. They are in the kata. In the kuden. In the densho.
Here is an interesting example: In 九鬼神流打拳体術 Kukishin Ryū Dakentaijutsu there is a kuden:
切紙 急所説明 48穴当込みの場所 , 口伝Basically it explains the 48 openings for kyusho when striking. But the hint that it leaves us is obscure. It calls this 切り紙 kirigami which is the art of paper cutting.
If you aren't familiar with this art, it is a very advanced craft similar to origami where paper is cut to create artistic expression of nature and life. But the method and rhythm of it is uniquely Japanese. This is a hint.
Another hint or meaning for kirigami is the esoteric notes and oral teachings transmitted from teacher to student. Here the text itself is being cut so that its meaning shifts and is shaped by the teacher. Anyone who has trained with Hatsumi Sensei can attest to this feeling.
Sensei will never just give you the surface meaning of a text. The meaning becomes fluid and dynamic in the moment much like the changing image of paper as it is transformed by kirigami. As Hatsumi Sensei teaches, the 要 kaname of his teaching transforms to suit the moment.
That morning, as we shuffled around trying to emulate Sensei's footwork, we were following in the footsteps of Bujin and the warrior spirit of our ancestors.
It’s over!
From Sweden Taikai 2013 - Sweden Taikai 2013 by alexander
Tai Kai Sweden 2012 is over, and I’ve had a few days to cool my brain down. It was quite a lot of work, and between Anne’s cold and my busted knee, we couldn’t participate in training all that much. It did give us time to circle around and get a feel for the whole event, and it would seem that the consensus is that Tai Kai Sweden 2012 was a smashing success!
We are working on the DVD as fast as we can, and I’m just about ready with the pictures I took. I shot 750 frames during the two days so it has taken some time to go through them and decide which to keep and which not to. They will be up in a day or three!
Once again a huge thank you to the instructors and all our participants, and I hope we will meet again at a future Tai Kai!
… Read MoreSo it begins!
From Sweden Taikai 2013? - Sweden Taikai 2013? by alexander
Tonight it begins! Pre-training between 7-9 PM (19.00 – 21.00) at the venue at Brigadgatan. We’re busy with the final details, but all in all things are looking great. See you tonight or tomorrow or Tai Kai Sweden 2012!
… Read MoreHidden Teppo
From Paart Budo Buki by buki stolar
The other night when I brought this new " toy" to training, everyone was surprised,
which is my main goal, a comment was again "you're crazy", perhaps the best compliment you can get,
only Sensei said, "I thought that was a real gun, but by the smell of lacquer I known that is not"
only Sensei said, "I thought that was a real gun, but by the smell of lacquer I known that is not"
What to say, for now, this is about the highlight of my armorer skill,
So you are looking at Hidden Teppo wooden wersion made for practice.
after all, during my military service I was trained as a mechanic of infantry weapons, gunsmith.
So you are looking at Hidden Teppo wooden wersion made for practice.
Profession says that it's actually Tanju Aikuchi, or Tanto (depends on the length),
although you would think that it is really a ninja weapon, but it seems that's not the case.
It was known that Samurai's have rejected the idea to replace their swords with firearms, so it seems that "some" were later accepted the firearm but packed in a familiar look.
It was known that Samurai's have rejected the idea to replace their swords with firearms, so it seems that "some" were later accepted the firearm but packed in a familiar look.
By the number of this firearms that can be found in antique shops, it seem to be exactly what was happened, normally they never mass manufactured, but still ...
Ninja like that idea too, for his undercover mission, and probably the only one who has used this tool fully, why?
Because after you use this single shot, you could use it like Jutte too, there were also cases that Jutte was conceal to look like Tanto (I make one too, pic. will be in new topic)
Ninja like that idea too, for his undercover mission, and probably the only one who has used this tool fully, why?
Because after you use this single shot, you could use it like Jutte too, there were also cases that Jutte was conceal to look like Tanto (I make one too, pic. will be in new topic)
But what is really this?,
it is Japanese made single shot percussion pistol, disguised in Tanto koshiare,
usually it was Caliber 31,
history of this weapon goes in the middle of 19th Century, after Japan has been open to foreigners, the common types of European pistols types of Curiosa percussion pistols.(according to "The Gun Report")
Some other say that this is rare tanto pistol was used during the political turmoil in Japan, following the arrival of Commodore Perry's black ships in 1854, political assasinations were so frequent that Daiymo began carrying concealed pistols, giving them some protection
against visiting opposing Daiymo.
Most of these special order pistols are unsigned (but find some which is signed)
Some other say that this is rare tanto pistol was used during the political turmoil in Japan, following the arrival of Commodore Perry's black ships in 1854, political assasinations were so frequent that Daiymo began carrying concealed pistols, giving them some protection
against visiting opposing Daiymo.
Most of these special order pistols are unsigned (but find some which is signed)
Whatever that was the reason for the development of this weapon, for those of us who practice ninjutsu, is essential idea of hidden, unexpected and element of surprise, which gives us the advantage, in the battle for survival.
So if you ask me why this? here is my answer:
As you all know, Ninjutsu legacy is huge, because it grows in parallel with another great power, Samurai,means that ninja need same knowledge with additions and special equipment to survive in combat against the Samurai, real number of that equipment we will newer know :-(
There is many Dojo's around the world, but they equipment for training is poor, mostly, you will know better.
So my mission is to create authentic equipment for training, yes today is time of new and modern weapons, but "root" is the same.
I that time it was Tanto pistol, today is cell phone pistol, again idea is same.
Soke used to say, "explain the feeling", so yes it is all about "the feel",
but how can you explain the feeling when you do not have the real thing in your hand?
it's true you could try to imagine it, but is it same feel?
I had luck (or bad luck) to spend my best years of life around war and in war (Croatian independent war 1990. -1995.) so I see many things.
Today's young people who come to train at our Dojo do not know almost nothing about the weapons of that time, twenty years after war,
we, the older ones that train ninjutsu not know much about weapons from the Samurai time,
we, the older ones that train ninjutsu not know much about weapons from the Samurai time,
all that because we not have the opportunity to see real one and take in hand "to feel".
So now I ask you, how you will learn from history, how you will explain to other that history?
Miyamoto Musashi in "Go rin no sho" book in one chapter say; "it cannot be clearly explained in writing, You must practise diligently in order to understand"
and yes, it will be some more for sale, for lucky on's : )
… Read More