July, 2013 - NinZine 3.0

Teppan

buki stolarJuly 14, 2013July 14, 2013

One of the rare and simple tools from the Ninja's arsenal is Teppan,
which translated means square plate.
I have not in detail investigating information about this tool, but when I learned more, I'll put all info about them here.

For now, I know it can be used as Shaken (Shuriken), means to throw, used for hitting and blocking blades.
Could be used while climbing (inserting into small cracks or gaps on stone or wood), if you know the proper way, it can be tied to end of the rope, or a belt, and so you get a tool similar Kusarifundo, but I did not say that to you, right : )

but generally, only your imagination limits the use of this tool, ANY TOOL,

if you are real Budoka remember that.

Below is few picture of Teppan made of black rubber, for training, normally.

I recently found them in a box in my workshop,
so if someone like to have it, could contact me by e-mail, like all other equipment which I usually do, here is also the option of customize, by your needs and dimensions,
Dimensions vary, because of this I make them in two sizes and two thicknesses, you'll be able to see that on pictures.

In this way, everyone can adapt to his needs during training.

Don’t Know What to Expect in Bujinkan Training? Me Neither.

Michael GlennJuly 14, 2013July 15, 2013

From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael Glenn

Somedays I don't feel like going to class. But I go anyway. Why?

Well, one spectacular reason just happened to me (again) yesterday. I showed up and saw this:

斧 ono

This is an 斧 ono, and it's not often one sees it in action at the Hombu. Yes that is rust, and that is solid metal, and one heavy muther&^%.

So I can't believe my luck when another surprise appears:

鎖鎌 kusarigama

Another hefty piece of equipment by the name of 鎖鎌 kusarigama. Or you may just call it, the reaper.

Go to class or Michael will hit you with 大槌 o-tsuchi

So anyway, go to class. Like I've said before you might find a surprise there, and not going just feels empty.

… Read More

弁財天 Benzaiten, the Prayers of Prostitutes, and Snakes in a Shrine

Michael GlennJuly 12, 2013July 12, 2013

From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael Glenn

Hidden Underground Snake, 池田弁財天 Ikeda Benzaiten

Today I went on a search for the underworld that is (not so) hidden in Japan. This search involves prostitutes and their secret shrines. And the furtive 遊女の祈願 prayers harlots say on the day of the snake to stay free of disease and wash their money.

All I had were some clues from a mysterious local who we can call deepthroat. My man on the inside said that there was a place hidden nearby where two snakes would turn piles of shit into gold. What sort of miracle is this, I wondered. Then he went on to explain the miracle of the Hindu deity Saraswati and her Japanese Shinto/Buddhist mutant cousin known as Benzaiten.

Benzaiten symbol in Bujinkan Hombu Dojo

I didn't know it when i started my search, but Hatsumi Sensei had just added the same symbol to the Hombu dojo a few days ago. And I couldn't turn down a search for evidence of the 平潟遊郭 Hiragata red light district. Even if people say it no longer existed. Something was leading me to explore.

The train ride was easy, one stop on the 常磐 Jōban rapid. Then I exited the station into the neighborhood. The heat and humidity have been overwhelming. So i wanted to orient myself quickly so as not to add to my trek. Of course I couldn't go around shouting, "Hey, does anyone know where the prostitutes hang out?"

I found the closest landmark on the map my source had given me. The Keiyo gas building. A nice woman told me I was on the wrong side of the tracks. On the other side, a friendly policeman looked at a map with me, but he couldn't help me. I knew I was in trouble when he tried to stop random people walking by to ask them for directions. Doesn't anybody know where the whores are?

You see, the feminine creative energy represented by Saraswati, 弁財天 Benzaiten or her Shinto sister Ichikishimahime, is often an undercurrent in people's lives. And even though this energizes our training, Japanese culture and humanity, it is dangerous to those in power. So it remains in dark, quiet places. Or sometimes in hidden plain sight.

The heat was getting to me. I became distracted with other sightseeing. I let go of trying to find any working girl holy sites today. Then, like a mirage seen through the hot and steamy city, I found myself passing through a crack in the city. Through a love tunnel of 鳥居 torii. To be reborn.

Here I was at 池田弁財天 Ikeda Benzaiten. Surrounded by snakes.

池田弁財天 Ikeda Benzaiten

The tunnel passes tightly between two buildings. The torii are very short so that you must bow as you shuffle along in their shadows. On the other side I could hear flowing water.

Torii tunnel of love

When I could finally stand upright, I found myself in a sacred space hidden in the city. This hidden garden was surrounded by flowing water and a koi pond. Benzaiten is the only female of the 7 lucky gods of Japan, and she is associated with flowing qualities in water, the flow of music, wealth, or flowing and eloquent speech. Anything nagare.

Inner Shrine and Garden

I found an old man named Enemoto tending the fish. He took little notice of me at first. But this place felt like some body's private garden so I asked him if it was OK to enter. He nodded with a smile.

Enemoto san

There isn't much obvious evidence of the red light district remaining. Even though this space could still be in action to help bless prostitutes, keep them safe and free of disease, today it was quiet. I felt at home and I sat on one of the benches.

Another Past Hidden Underneath?

Saraswati symbolizes the essential feminine creative act of giving birth to new life and knowledge. She, or the snake symbol associated with her consort are shown with a white color to evoke a pure heart, mind, and character.

Snakes!

Enemoto san finished his prayers and left me alone. I felt very relaxed like I could sit here all day in this garden of feminine energy and burning incense. The koi splashed in the pond.

Saying Prayers

A very old woman arrived. She sat on the bench across from me with a big smile and she immediately started talking to me in Japanese. I didn't understand anything she said. I told her that I didn't, but that didn't stop her flow.

She looked hot, so I offered her my fan. She said, no, thank you. This stopped her speech.

She got up and lit prayer candles and incense. I decided to leave the private garden to her and I walked back out of the love tunnel of torii. She looked at me with sparkling eyes as I left, and I bumped my head on one of the low gates.

Benzaiten is a complex symbol in Japan. A mix of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shintoism all in one. Benzaiten is the elder sister of Enma-ten 閻魔天 lord of the underworld. Like everything I discover here in this culture, there are many layers hidden beneath if you are prepared to look underground.… Read More

Bojutsu vs Kenjutsu vs Bojutsu vs Kenjutsu…

adminJuly 10, 2013July 10, 2013

From 8þ Kabutoshimen by admin

This summer like most summers we train a lot more with long weapons since the dojo is too small to really use long weapons properly. This summer we train Bojutsu against Kenjutsu (long staff against sword). I think I teach and train a little different than most Bujinkan teachers out there, but I can’t really say maybe there is those who approach the training like I do. Let me explain.

First of all you learn how to use the staff, spinning and striking etc, this is mostly solo-training. Then you learn the Keiko Sabaki Kata (movement practice techniques) in my dojo we only practice one technique for the whole two hour class. Some students really have problems with coordination, others capture it quicker. In this first step I don’t mention distance, timing or anything except which strikes and blocks to make. This can also be solo-training and done alone against an imagined opponent.

Second I take the sword and we focus on how to handle the situation the best way with a sword. If he is attacking me with the staff I immediately counter him by stepping forward. I’m not gonna step backwards defending myself all the time, when he steps in to strike me in his preferred distance out of my reach; I boldly step in at the same time and block the staff and get even closer into my preferred distance so I can cut him with the sword. As I see it this is the only chance I have against a longer weapon, there is no point of running backwards.

Thirdly I take the staff again. I attack the kenjutsu-ka fully (not really, but almost) and make sure he does a good block, and as he block I don’t stay frozen or try to push harder on him. As I strike I’m already prepared for the next movement when he comes in and try to cut me, I move out to my distance and do the next strike.

Then I take the sword again and try to avoid being hit from this point in the technique, by blocking and countering again. I’m not really gonna give up or run away. If I can cut I will cut.

Then again I take the staff and try to deal with this really difficult opponent, I avoid his cut and counter him until the end of the technique where I make it impossible for him to do anything. Then the technique is finished without changing the sequences of the strikes, the only thing that is flexible is the distance and the timing. And this is where the true training comes in.

Then at the end of the class we record a short demo to video which will be available for download later. This is how we spend our two hour trainings at Kaigozan Dojo this summer.

No henka, no variations, true to the technique.

Kote haneage as he try to cut my left arm

I always thought quality is better than quantity. It is amazing how cleverly these techniques is made up, it is so much more than executing the strikes rapidly against a rather passive opponent. If the opponent (sword-guy) is good and understand how to use the sword there is really not many options to change the technique and do something different, the possibility for henka becomes very narrow, what you can change is very small details. For me this is what henka means, you failed your initial technique and need to adapt because of miscalculation.

I know there are those out there only doing henka-training, but how do you do henka training only, henka of what? If you try to train yourself into intuition without basic foundation you are doing something I don’t understand. You weren’t born out from nowhere, someone did something very basic with someone and you was born. How do you henka anything into existence?