2016 - NinZine 3.0

Hold 間 Ma in Your Mind For Heijōshin

Michael GlennJuly 2, 2016July 2, 2016

From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael Glenn

Mural wall art at 明治神宮前駅 Meiji-Jingūmae station, photo by Michael Glenn

I have an important suggestion for you if you plan on training in Japan. When you show up to the dojo, put yourself in the proper mood for training. I suggest a state of 平常心 heijōshin which is a steady and calm presence of mind. Otherwise you can quickly become lost in the depths of what you have just jumped into.

If you’ve ever been to one of Hatsumi Sensei’s classes, you know that a lot depends on the mood. Yes, the Bujinkan Hombu Dojo has a mood. There is a feeling or sensation in the air. Where does this come from and how does it affect our training?

For example, during one recent class I was tired from training 2-3 classes every day for two weeks in Japan. But I showed up to the dojo in an expectant mood. In fact, it seemed there was a mood of anticipation among all of my training friends in the Hombu that Tuesday night. But, when Hatsumi Sensei arrived, his mood prevailed over all of us.

And during this class, he told us,

“I’m not teaching budo, I’m teaching the feeling of contemplation of a divine poem.”

Well, I can only speak for myself… but I don’t think any of of us anticipated that this would be tonight’s lesson.

Before I describe more of what he taught that night, let me lead you back to heijōshin. Because this lesson is beyond what we think about martial arts or combat. It begins from owning the kukan in your own mind.

We often hear about 空間 kukan in Bujinkan training. It means space. Training helps us examine the spatial relationships between fighters, between ourselves and our opponents, and even the physical location of the fight.

But you may not know that 空間 kukan is both internal and external. The fight takes place in the minds of you and your opponent maybe more than in actual physical combat. We must use a fighting strategy that uses both the internal and external space.

That same night at the Hombu dojo, Hatsumi Sensei said,

“You have to be able to take the opponent with the kukan itself.”

This is puzzling if you think only in terms of the physical. Yes, you can corner someone, or strategically position yourself to win through the proper use of space. But the real victory is when you own the internal space. Capture the opponent’s mind while freeing your own.

The word kukan uses the character 間 ma. This is a deep idea in Japanese thought. Where time is not linear, instead it is contained in the circle of nature. Space is not empty, instead it contains everything. Ma can be the space between things, between moments, or even between thoughts.

Ma can refer to the space between the technique you want to do in your mind and what you actually do physically. It can be the space between what the opponent expects you to do and what really happens. But it also can be the ability to see all of this at once as if from outside the fight.

That is another type of kukan. The space to see the whole fight including the internal struggles in the minds of both combatants. You might call that a divine insight. What if you could use that perspective?

Hatsumi Sensei used that perspective as he taught. First he showed us a technique and then watched us fighting to repeat what he demonstrated. But he didn’t let us struggle for very long. He gave us a tip for how to use this space in our minds,

“Don’t think of it as a contest. Don’t think about making it a fight. It’s not a contest. This is heijōshin. Don’t think anything.”

This kind of 間 ma in the mind is necessary for heijōshin. That is one of the great challenges even in just entering the dojo. If we can’t even show up to class with that kind of mindset, what chance do we have in a fight?… Read More

PARIS TAIKAI 2016

kumafrMay 2, 2016

From Shiro Kuma's Blog by kumafr

IMG_20160403_130251 Organising and hosting such a big event as the Paris Taikai is always a challenge. Every year over 120 people from more than 20 countries gathers in the Bujinkan France dōjō for 3 days.

This year, the Yuro Shi Tenno: Sven, Peter, Pedro, Arnaud, promoted to Bujinkan Dai Shihan last year, will share what they learned in Japan in 2016 with Sōke Hatsumi. There are around 15 Dai Shihan amongst the half million Bujinkan members, and four of them will be there for you!

But don’t expect something too formal. The Paris Taikai is more like a family reunion. The four Dai Shihan have been training together for more than 30 years, and the attendees are friends from all over Europe that we meet regularly during our seminars or in Japan. If you didn’t have the chance to go to Japan this year, this is your best opportunity to understand better what Sensei has been unfolding recently.

The theme for 2016 is multiple: Zero, Katana, Mutō Dori, and the New cycle of 42 years. This will be the subject of study for this Taikai.

Sensei began the year in Japan, with a lot of sword training. He spoke about Yamaoka Tesshu, a famous swordsman, Zen master, calligrapher (1)(2).

Then his classes focussed more with Mutō Dori and the concept of “Zero” (3). In taijutsu and with/against the sword. More than a waza, Mutō Dori (4) is more than we think, it is the genuine philosophy of Natural movement.

Sensei spoke a lot about the “new cycle of 42 years” which he sees as a new beginning for the Bujinkan. After reading the “H2G2,” you all know the answer (5). But seriously, “42” has been used by many, over thousands of years and this is where the Bujinkan is heading now (6). To summarize, there will be a lot of sword study, and also a lot of taijutsu.

Sensei was very energetic last April at the Honbu, and he gave us many insights that we will cover during this Taikai.

To me, the best part of this April trip was that the four of us were reunited for Takamatsu Sensei’s memorial. Such a thing didn’t happen since the beginning of the century!

It was nice, and we had superb moments together, even if the Honbu was filled with 300 participants at each of Sensei’s classes! As one of my friend said, “during the memorial, the new honbu passed its sakki test.”

So, I officially invite you all to join the four Dai Shihan: Sven, Peter, Pedro, Arnaud for three days of sharing and studying.

Each one of us has been developing his own understanding of Sensei’s Budō over the last thirty years. And the Paris Taikai is the opportunity to meet these differences. As Sensei said once “ninjutsu is multiplicity within simplicity.” As we are four, then it will be simple.
The Paris Taikai is lasting three days and has become an institution in the Bujinkan community. For 12 years (I don’t remember exactly when we began), we have been conducting these 3-day seminars, the way we organized the Taikai for Hatsumi Sensei.

Another important aspect of this international workshop is that the group of participants is divided by rank into four groups. As we have four training halls, it is convenient. Each participant receives a lesson suiting his or her abilities. Pedagogically this is always a fantastic experience for all. The end of each day concludes with a class gathering everyone and the Shi Tennō.
There are four groups sorted by level: Kyū, Dan, Shidōshi, and Shihan. Each training group has around 30 trainees (6). For me, this is a fantastic chance given to any Bujinkan member, whatever his rank, to exchange privately with the Bujinkan Dai Shihan.

During the memorial, Sensei some strange happened. Sensei was holding the shinken (real sword) he received from Takamatsu sensei with the 9 Ryūha. He was on stage, the sword was naked.
Then he called each Dai Shihan one by one and asked to grab the naked blade. It was highly symbolic, like some kind of transmission, similar to this cold winter day in Kobe, when Takamatsu sensei asked him to grab the same naked blade. (7)

I hope this post will decide those still uncertain to join us. We are happy to welcome you to Paris mid-July. The last count I received from the Bujinkan France, there was already over 90 participants pre-booked. As we can accept 130 students, you still have time, but don’t wait too long…

Check our facebook page and website www.bujinkan-france.com
All you need to know is HERE

Ganbatte!

___________________________________________

Yamaoka: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaoka_Tessh%C5%AB
Biography of Yamaoka: http://www.amazon.com/Sword-No-Sword-Master-Warrior-Tesshu/dp/1570620504
https://kumafr.wordpress.com/2016/04/02/sensei-is-magic/
https://kumafr.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/muto-dori-is-not-muto-dori/
H2G2, read the book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy
https://kumafr.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/42-the-end-of-the-cycle/
I will soon write about it more extensively.

Axis of the Zero

Michael GlennApril 15, 2016April 15, 2016

From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael Glenn

Jizo from inside 伝法院庭園 Denbōin teien. Photo by Michael Glenn

Two weeks ago, Hatsumi Sensei spun around in one of his classes to show us the back of his sweatshirt. We could see an 円相 enso silk screened there along with the English word, “zero.” He showed us this to put emphasis on a comment he had just made,

“We need to learn to move like this. we need to make everything… our entirety into zero.”

You may have heard Hatsumi Sensei speak about zero. He has used this term for many years to describe his martial art. But in recent classes, it has been a focal point to our training.

In fact, when I was in Japan last December, Hatsumi Sensei acknowledged arriving at this zero state. But it was not something he could teach. He said it had taken him 42 years to internalize everything Takamatsu Sensei had taught him. He added that in that 42 years he had given everything and taught everything, so now we are back at zero. He looked out at us during that special Wednesday class and said,

“There's nothing to show, nothing to tell. We're just going to continue with this zero feeling.”

He said this almost as if it would be the theme for the new year, but in the last few years he has been less and less specific about yearly themes. So when I arrived in Japan a few weeks ago, I was interested to find him moving from “zero” in all of his classes.

Hatsumi Sensei uses zero almost like an axis, or a pivot point. But it isn’t just a philosophical idea. It is very physical. When I attacked Soke, he seemed to disappear, but then his finger was crushing my eye socket. Immense pain has a way of drilling everything down to one point.

Hatsumi Sensei was very specific about this,

“When I say make everything zero, that actually is a point. Don't misunderstand and think that zero means nothing. You have to make each point zero.”

He then went on to explain that from zero there is a plus and a minus. That is where 陰 in (yin) and 陽 yo (yang) appear. Most people flip between these from one moment to the next, but residing in the zero that those energies spin around is the foundation of kyojitsu.

There is a famous zen paradox that comes from the Heart Sutra, “form is emptiness; emptiness is form.” And it seems in the martial arts to be an eternal struggle for people caught up in either 陰 in or 陽 yo, form or non form, technique or randori, kihon or not.

People in my classes or on my personal mailing list often ask me what is the “correct” kihon of a particular technique. The question itself reveals their own mind. Because if you are doing Soke’s budo, you are unconcerned with such a question. Consider that “kihon is emptiness; emptiness is kihon,” and reside within zero.

Hatsumi Sensei reminds us of Juppo Sessho when he says to remember that “zero” is a point, like an axis or a hub. From this pivot you can go ten directions. But ten is really an infinity.

This is a very practical matter in a fight. Hatsumi Sensei had people stab at him with a knife. He told us not to evade.

What?! How can you not evade? You will get stabbed… right?

Stabbed or not stabbed. In/yo. But what happens at zero? Soke reminds us that trying to evade takes too long. He suggested another way when he said,

“You can’t measure the time in real combat. The time has become zero. Then it becomes infinite.”

It is like that moment of pain when he clawed down on my eye socket. Everything collapses onto that one point and it feels like an eternity. The point of the knife when it thrusts also collapses down this way. So the answer is to make it zero so that you can find infinity there.

Hatsumi Sensei casually took the knife away from his opponent, then he told us,

“Don't try to force anything. The important point is the zero. The axis point of the zero.”

When you try to forcefully grab the knife, or try to evade or do a technique, you give away too much information. The opponent may be faking his attack or notice what you are trying to do. In fact, he expects you to try something! Of course he expects you to evade or try to take the knife away. He is waiting for that to happen.

So you must not use technique, or try to evade. That is common sense that can be read or understood. And countered. Instead Soke tells us not to give away anything at all.

But zero does not mean doing nothing. In the Honbu dojo that day Soke kept reminding us,

“I’m not teaching whether to receive (ukeru) or not receive (ukenai) I’m teaching zero.”

Last December Hatsumi Sensei told us to connect to something in that axis point of zero. He suggested that within there's existence… there's presence (意識 ishiki) in that zero. A divine existence maybe. We must internalize that and make that transparent. Because the next wonderful thing will be born from that transparency.… Read More

Gunbai

buki stolarApril 10, 2016April 10, 2016

From paart budo buki by buki stolar

This is is first Gunbai Fan from PA-Art Workshop

Sensei Is Magic

kumafrApril 2, 2016

From Shiro Kuma's Blog by kumafr

Yesterday 297 participants tried to fit into the Honbu for Sensei’s class. We broke the Guinness book record by nearly 150!
To say that training was quite impossible would be lying as Sensei took this opportunity to teach Ninjutsu in crowded areas. This didn’t prevent him to do some knife and sword techniques. Sensei was I great mood and moved like a magician.
I had the privilege to open the class, paying attention to do a technique that was fitting the lack of space. Sensei is a “magician” and we had a lot of fun, and we actually trained quite well.

Magic is is the name given to science and knowledge, when we are unable to comprehend what we are witnessing. Yesterday was magic!

Sensei spoke about becoming zero. Due to the lack of space, he taught how to fight in crowded areas. He was really impressive. And his many Uke were all in pain event though there was hardly any movement to see. He reminded us that this year was about ” Me, Yubi, and Kokyû”, eyes, fingers, and rib cage. To be able to defeat the attacker, he said the key was to lift the shoulder to distract Uke’s attention, and to use the elbows as pivoting points.

When I was his Uke, I didn’t see anything. His reactions even though they were soft, we’re impossible to counter as he was always distracting me from knowing from which direction his next move would come. The slight movement of his shoulder was forcing me to focus on his upper body, while the attack was coming from a different angle.

Sensei explained that when our movements are prevented because of too many people, or because of a confined space, then this wave-like motion of shoulders, upper torso, and pivoting from the elbows was the answer.

The elbows were the meeting point from which the hands would grab, hit or twist. Like a magician performing close-up magic, it was impossible to see what was coming next. He said that because we have no intention, it is impossible for Uke to see the attack.

One thing that struck me yesterday is that by telling us “use your shoulder and use your elbows” he is in fact programming us to be distracted from his real movement. And when we try to replicate it, we cannot. We cannot, simply because we try to do it. Trying we are not zero, therefore it is impossible. Speak to uke in order to defeat him. That was brilliant!

This attitude of not doing anything is the essence of being zero and if you think of being zero, you cannot be.

As he said last week, don’t misunderstand this “zero” concept. Being zero is not being empty, on the contrary. The only thing is not to have any preconceived idea. Uke attacks and you move naturally. What he did with Pedro was amazing. Sensei was there but he wasn’t. Magic!

One thing he said, was that you don’t fight the opponent, you refuse the fight and defeat him. Therefore the only one fighting is the attacker. Not having any opposition in front of him, the attacker is not able to react. And when he does, it is too late.

This year is about 42, the beginning of the new cycle in the Bujinkan, and I guess that in a few hours we will know more about it. But it is interesting to see that the 297 participants add up to 9 (2+9+7 = 18 = 9).

This “9” of yesterday finishes the cycle, and prepares for the new beginning that is supposed to be announced today during the Takamatsu Memorial.

Indeed, yesterday was magic and sensei a real magician of Budō.

I’m now on my way to it, stay tune for more.