Hôken Is Kenpô

kumafrFebruary 8, 2013

After this first seminar dedicated to the Chinese sword I thought I could share with you some of my findings. I’m just beginning to understand the power of this fantastic weapon and I still have to train a lot to unveil the richness of it. Since the seminar I train every day for half hour on the particular moves of this new blade. I also tried to understand what some of my friends shared with me from what they learned in Japan since the beginning of this year’s theme.

Some keypoints and discoveries to help your practice:

1. Do NOT train with a Japanese sword (wood or metal) it would not allow you to get the correct feeling on how to move with this weapon. The length is also different, and there is no curve (sori).
2. Even though Sensei said there were no kamae nor techniques in Ken, he keeps using a few typical Kamae such as: shizen, hira ichimonji, tôtoku yôshi, ichimonji. Try them they will help your understanding.
3. Body movements similar to the jûji aruki of the Gyokko ryû can be extensively used in order to free the straight blade and create a curved motion.
4. The direction is not important as the blade can hit forward, backward, reverse, even from behind. Stop thinking like a Samurai! this blade was created at least 20 centuries before the katana!
5. The heavy weight of the blade changes totally the way to move the body. It is time to get a flexible body, and to really lower the hips. This is of paramount importance.
6. The blade is “driving” the body, but the body motions free the blade and allows it to “pull” the body. Think of it as a yinyang, magnetic or quantum action: both are nurturing each other.
7. The Ken is the original technique of tachi movements, using these Tachi moves helps you to get close to the proper Ken feeling.
8. Unlike Japanese swords, the Ken is straight and double edged: don’t cut yourself when you put the blade back into the scabbard!
9. The Ken is heavy (more than a regular Japanese sword) so be careful not to hit yourself when doing the furi (it happened to me during training*).
10. The Ken changes easily from one hand to the other like you would a hanbô. Don’t think “sword”, don’t think, move!
11. The Ken like the Tachi is mainly used for stabbing, cutting is not the best choice (straight blade). The stabbing is done with the whole body, often in a kind of Sanshin motion.
12. If you have to cut with the Ken you have to do it with the whole body, like in regular taijutsu. Move your legs!
13. Do NOT think a movement, let the body do it and the blade will get alive.
14. Use the scabbard (it is solid) to dodge the attacks or to help the counter attacks.
15. Train the Sanshin with the Ken. Sensei apparently said that our “Sanshin no Kata” had been designed for this type of Chinese Ken.
16. The Sanshin motion is important when using the Ken. Train the five elements with the Ken. When you do that you will find amazing how those movements get logical with this type of sword. At least I was.
17. Use your forearms to move the heavy blade. Remember this is mainly Katate like the Tachi movements.
18. Use your forearms to support the blade (flat). And keep it close to the body.
19. Keep the sword close to the body whenever possible, for hitting, turning, cutting.
20. Don’t think, just do it! and it will bring victory.**

I have been training nearly 30 years in the Bujinkan and this new unexpected weapon is like a gift from Sensei. My advice to you is: get a Chinese sword and train hard you will discover a new direction, 方(hô); a new world of possibilities.

The Hôken 宝剣 (divine sword) of 2013 IS the real Kenpô 剣法 (fencing), in fact I begin to think that is the true principle of sword fighting, hô no kenpô 法の剣法.

Each year Sensei comes with a new theme and each year I feel like a kid at Christmas, but this year with this new sword it is like having a full christmas store (kurimasu ho) クリスマス舗.

So? Ho Ho Ho or Hô Hô Hô?

*this is a secret if you repeat it I will deny as it is only between you and me. Okay?

**NIKE is the goddess of victory in Greece…

闘多 Touta: Many Fights Lead to Peace

Michael GlennFebruary 8, 2013February 8, 2013

From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael Glenn

観音寺 Kannon-ji Cemetary, photo by Michael Glenn

It makes me laugh when I hear that someone has "modernized" or "updated" our training methods for modern times. When I hear about the latest guru, self-proclaimed master, or "Shihan" that has reinvented what he never understood in the first place, I can only shake my head. Where do these people think our techniques and the foundation of our art came from?

The trials of warfare and turbulent Japanese history have been like a bloody form of natural selection for the techniques that survived into our time. Those that didn't work died on the battlefield. Which of these modernized systems have been tested in life and death combat over hundreds of years?

But beyond actual technique, there is a quality inherited by fighters that may also be in our DNA. Hatsumi Sensei describes it this way:

"In the long history of natural selection (淘汰 touta), or many fights (闘多 touta), we have survived because of our killer instinct."

A killer instinct supersedes technique. It can make even bad technique brutally effective. But modern warfare has proven that this too, must evolve.

The modern expression of killer instinct is death for all. Including the killer. Whether this be from weapons of mass destruction, pathetic suicide bombers and idiots with guns, or apocalyptic shock and awe.

What should a killer instinct evolve into? Hatsumi Sensei has suggested a path forward. He tells us that the process of honing the killer instinct leads to an expanding of perceptions and clarity of mind.

Eventually one reaches what Soke calls 超感覚の世界 choukankaku no sekai, or the world of super consciousness. This is like a sort of ESP or greater awareness that moves us beyond concepts of life and death struggle. How does this apply to your training?

You must train tirelessly and simply. Throw away that which you don't need. You will then find a quintessential goal of training which Hatsumi Sensei says is to:

"purify your heart, and gain the calmness of a fresh spirit- then you will know peace of mind."

When you reach that place in class, or in your life, what is on the other side? Well, 超感覚 choukankaku can be read as transcending emotions to wake up. If you have woken up then you will naturally "strive to change the world from one of war and massacre into a true and great world of peace."

I respectfully thank our teacher, Hatsumi Sensei for this inspiration.… Read More

闘多 Touta: Many Fights Lead to Peace

Michael GlennFebruary 8, 2013February 8, 2013

From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael Glenn

観音寺 Kannon-ji Cemetary, photo by Michael Glenn

"In the long history of natural selection (淘汰 touta), or many fights (闘多 touta), we have survived because of our killer instinct."

"purify your heart, and gain the calmness of a fresh spirit- then you will know peace of mind."

Theme 2013

kumafrFebruary 7, 2013

From Shiro Kuma's Weblog by kumafr

“Kami Ori Tatara no Hôken Tamarite Tôyô Ashi ara Rokuni Arabaru no Takamatsu Sensei Tamawari”

(text updated and corrected)

Even though the theme is Tachi Hôken (Divine treasure sword), Sensei has put this nice calligraphy in the Dôjô.

As it was the case during the last Daikomyôsai, this is linked with the Kojiki, the Japanese mythology. Amateratsu no Kami, the Sun Goddess, was given the sword “Kusanagi no Tsurugi” by her brother Susanô in order to apologize (the cave). Later this sword was given by Amateratsu no Kami to Ninigi no Mikoto (her grandson and the legendary ancestor of the Imperial line) confirming his legitimacy to be the Imperor of Japan. This is the origin of the lineage concept.

If my information are correct the sentence above is quite similar to the one said by Amateratsu no Kami when she gave the sword. But this one sentence was said by Takamatsu Sensei when he handed over the 9 Ryûha of the Bujinkan to Hatsumi sensei. If we make a parallel, this gives Hatsumi sensei the legitimacy over the 9 Ryûha.

The general idea being: “This is the divine treasure/sword, transmitted by Takamatsu Sensei to Hatsumi Sensei, to destroy evil/demons, and to create unity and make peace reign on Earth”.

Huge program isn’t it?

Chikara o Nuku

jorgevaccaroFebruary 7, 2013

From TENRYU by jorgevaccaro

CHIKARA O NUKU

力を抜く

During the classes on friday and sunday (23/25 -11- 2012) Sôke was pointing out the aspect of working with the fingers, reminding us that this part was one of the themes of 2012, In every moment highlighted that techniques must be done without strength. In a form of joking, reminded us that 15 dan are getting old and we’re going to loose physical strength, but that wasn’t his intention to tell us, but that it came by divine inspiration.

Sôke has been taken different Uke ans showing us that force is really unnessesary. Relaxing the muscles (Chikara o Nuku 力を抜く) and executing the techniques withouth forcem is made by a contraction and then relaxation. This is known as Chikara o Ireru & Chikara o nuku 力を入れる, 力を抜く. Chikara o Ireru is contracting, using the muscular force.

Moving the muscle requires strength and intention, and in the case of martial arts tecniques, this can be perceived by the adversary. Managing to relax and not showing intention, is something vital in the path of the martial artist.

The idea of being able to use a sword without force (Katana o Nuku 刀を抜く) since yesteryear was one of the targets that masters wanted to achieve. Kokoro o Nuku 心を抜く, not forcing the mind nor the heart, is a key point to the Mushin 無心. Leaving the mind without intention, without the intelect and racionalization ruling us, can allow receiving the Shinden 心伝 from the master.

The techniques without force, mind without effort, was the escense to achieve the Shinden, highlighted Soke in one of his clases. Showing techniques without strength, Sôke achieves the misterious power of colapsing bodies and minds of his attackers. Without intention, adapting to each person in their different attacksm controls without expectation, even leaving the sword unsheathe and cut without harshness. This is a clear example of Katana o Nuku.

The connection (Tsunageru 繋げる) was highlighted on this past classes, not just from Tori and Uke, but also in “everything”, Soke said “everything is connected”.

Confusedly, we’ve tried to understand the wise words of Sôke, among them that the techniques must not depend from time and velocity. This two aspects don’t pertain to tecniques. Yukkuri…taking your time, going slowly. Sôke always highlights it, “Yukkuri” and gives us examples like music and spaces within each note.

In the interpretation of some of the things that Sôke was saying, I feel that time could be an illusion. That is, past time (Kako 過去), the future ( Mirai 未来), coexist in the very instant of present ( Genzai 現在) of technique. Budo has no time, but happens in several dimensions at the same time.

Nuite Kudasai !! relax please….. let us enjoy life and Budo a little more.

Christian Petroccello