Author: kumafr

From Shiro Kuma by kumafr

Sensei introduced the class with a three-legged crow (stuffed). He told us that Yatagarasu (the crow) guided Emperor Jimmu in the Japanese invasion. (1)

Yatagarasu represents the will of heaven, it emanates from the sun goddess, Amateratsu. He added that Yatagarasu is often described also as a Karasu Tengu. (2) It is Ninjutsu related.

This excellent introduction done, he showed us two old ninjatō that he recently acquired. Their huge Tsuba were impressive. Small blades, but not straight; and with long scabbards like regular swords.

This is also 虚実, Kyojitsu, alternating truth, and lies. Deception is the essence of Ninjutsu. He said that we have to trust our feelings and expect the unexpected (like a short blade in a regular scabbard). Everything we train now is about Kankaku: feeling. (3)

A few years ago, Senō sensei told us that Kankaku and Waza were like our legs. We need both legs to walk. It is the same in Budō, we need technique and feeling. One leg is the Waza, and the other is Kankaku. If you develop only one leg, you get tired and don’t reach your destination.

As always with this language, there are many ways to understand “Kankaku” in Japanese. It is “feeling” and “intuition” at the same time. Intuition, from the Latin “intuitus” means to watch thoroughly or to contemplate. So, are our feelings linked to the way we look at things? If so, why is it translated by feeling? To understand this paradox, we must study each kanji.

When you separate the characters composing Kankaku, you get “Kan” and “Kaku.” “Kan” alone means “feeling.” (4) “Kaku” is more interesting, it means “to be able to read the mind.” (5) This ability to read the invisible; to read between the lines, is what we train now at Honbu. We have to hone our skills to feel the situation, space, and attacker altogether. Inside and outside. Twice during class, Sensei told us to be aware of our surrounding. We must “see” (intuitus) what we feel. During training, he asked us to attack our neighbors while doing the techniques.

Also, some Dai Shihan demonstrated the movements with their partners. But Nagase and Nakadai sensei were attacking them from dead angles. Sensei explained that the battlefield is a mess. Attacks often come from unseen directions. If you only focus on your opponent, you might end up dead.

In Kankaku, Kaku, (3) alone, is “Satori,” the same character for “enlightenment” they use in Zen. I guess that when you reach Satori, you can read your own mind. He also referred to Zen Buddhism after painting a circle on a piece of paper. It seems that all is connected, at least it felt like that yesterday night.

Our problem is that it is impossible to do. I guess this is why Sensei told us not to try to do things, but to move freely. One day it will work by itself. Then, this is why memorizing forms is useless.
But is it really unnecessary? (6) Playing with the sounds of “Kankaku,” it is interesting to see that “Kakueru” also means to “memorize.” (7) So could it be that we have to “memorize the feeling” to move without intent?

Also, 看過苦, “Kankaku, written in this way, could mean “turning a blind eye to pain.” (8) (9) Remember that we don’t know which “Kankaku” he is referring to when he says it. Is it 感覚 or 看過苦? We don’t know.

Trusting your feelings is the way to go after you learned the forms. There is no shortcut, It is only when you know something that you can forget it, and be natural. (10)

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1. 八咫烏, “eight-span crow,” Yatagarasu: “Yatagarasu as a crow-god is a symbol specifically of guidance. This great crow was sent from heaven as a guide for Emperor Jimmu on his initial journey from the region which would become Kumano to what would become Yamato, (Yoshino and then Kashihara). It is generally accepted that Yatagarasu is an incarnation of Taketsunimi no Mikoto, but none of the early surviving documentary records are quite so specific”. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-legged_crow
2. 鴉天狗, Karasu Tengu: crow-billed goblin. This is the famous tengu with beak and wings that you see in Jiraya. Check the Wikipedia page HERE
3. 感覚, Kankaku: sense; sensation; feeling; intuition
4. 感, Kan: feeling; sensation; emotion; admiration; impression
5. 覚, Kaku is satori: Satori; folklore monster that can read minds
6. Note: Memorizing the form is useless, once you have learned it. Remember the concept of Shuhari. You need two legs to walk.
7. 覚える, Kakueru: to memorize; to commit to memory; to learn by heart; to bear in mind; to remember / to learn; to pick up; to acquire
8. 看過, Kanka: overlooking; turning a blind eye
9. 苦, Ku: pain; anguish; suffering; distress; anxiety; worry; trouble; difficulty; hardship
10. Too many high ranks listen to sensei at the Omote level. They understand what they want, and do not follow the path of evolution Sensei has gone through. What he teaches today is the result of a whole life of training. Walk his path from the beginning, and don’t skip any lesson.

REGISTER TO THE PARIS TAIKAI JULY 12th-14th and join Peter King, Sveneric Bogsater, Arnaud Cousergue…

From Shiro Kuma by kumafr

Published in 2014, it was well accepted in the Bujinkan community. Here what some readers thought about it:

If you want to have an insight of the path of one of best student of Soke: Kuma クマ, don’t hesitate, go for it ! it is a kind of privilege as well as a real pleasure to read this book and have the opportunity to get a glimpse of a life of a true master!
Dick O.

I wish I had read it a couple of years back. This book gives some interesting edges to learning and commitment. Be budo, climbing, new language, … Whatever- a truthful approach. Add the budo specifics around the genesis and the motivation, and it makes a very compelling read.
Gilles T.

As a long-time practitioner, teacher and Dojo owner, I was impressed by Arnaud’s experience, sense of humour and ability to translate the many insights that Japanese Budo training offers the world. He embodies the Martial Spirit very well through his stories of Japan and the culture. He also gives many valuable technical points to those who have been on the martial path for either three months or three decades. I highly recommend this book to any student or teacher of Martial Arts!
Todd N.

We are fortunate to have someone like Arnaud write this book. There’s a lot of older texts but nothing really recent. Not only is he one of the foremost practitioners in the art, but the dude can write well. I was afraid I would get bored, but that wasn’t the case.
If you’re in the Bujinkan or even just a practitioner of budo, you should read this book.
Clayton

FULL OF USEFUL INFORMATION. A MUST READ.
Roy P.

From Shiro Kuma by kumafr

We did it! A few days ago we began a new year of Bujinkan training.

I wish you all a Happy new year, full of success, good health, and improvement.

To help you all, I give you FREE access to http://www.koimartialart.com.

Click here: https://www.koimartialart.com/p/free-all-access until the 10th of January.

Take this opportunity to review your basics, waza, and weapons. It will not replace actual training, but help you learn faster.

Click today, and get your FREE access:

https://www.koimartialart.com/p/free-all-access

This new year is the chance to make a positive change in your dōjō.

Here are a few “new year resolutions” that you might wish to follow:

1. In 2019, I want to train more regularly, every week.
2. In 2019, I want to study more, to understand the beauty and depth of the Bujinkan martial arts.
3. In 2019, I want to respect my sensei, my many senpai, and be an example to every kohai of my dōjō.
4. In 2019, I want to be a better practitioner in every aspect possible.
5. In 2019, I want to do my best to go to Japan and train under Sōke. And if I cannot go to Japan, I will join seminars with people that are training in Japan.

Happy new year to all. Thank you for your endless support.

Shiro Kuma…

From Shiro Kuma by kumafr

1. https://www.yourchineseastrology.com/zodiac/earth-pig.htm
2. 栗, kuri: Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata)
3. 澄ます, to clear; to make clear, to be unruffled. To look unconcerned; to feign indifference; to look demure; to look prim; to put on air; to strain (one’s ears). To listen carefully
4. 空, kū: shunyata; emptiness. The lack of an immutable intrinsic nature within any phenomenon. (the) Void
5. リス, risu: fracture
6. 増す, masu: to increase; to grow
7. 空気の中に空間, Kūki no Naka ni no Kūkan: find the emptiness in the middle of the empty space.
8. Unarmed fighting techniques of the Samurai, Hatsumi Masaaki, Kodansha edition
9. https://www.amazon.com/Unarmed-Fighting-Techniques-Samurai-Masaaki/dp/1568365322/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1545735722&sr=1-1&refinements=p_27%3AMasaaki+Hatsumi

From Shiro Kuma by kumafr

No more strength, no more technique, only control! That is how I can summarize the many classes I had the chance to do here at the Honbu.
I began to study this “control” in March, then again in July, and then now, I know what Sensei is doing. At the same time, I cannot do it.

To reach this “non-movement” requires many more years of practice. Control as we saw, is something natural that your body does when it is ready. This is not something you decide to do. Each time you want to do it, you are limited by parasitical movements. Small mistakes, impeach you from doing what you should do.

In every class, by Sensei (and some of the Dai Shihan), one concept keeps coming back. This is Amo isshun no tamamushi. (1)
I heard it for many years, but it is only now that Amo isshun no tamamushi begins to make sense. It means “to catch a bee in your hand and not be stung.”

When you enclose the bee in your hands, it stays in darkness but has space to walk. The bee doesn’t understand what is happening. At the same time, it doesn’t feel any threat and thus, does not sting you.

This is control.

Uke is trapped in a somewhat comfortable state. There is no pain, no hit. Sensei controls him with one or two fingers but doesn’t show any intention of finishing him. Uke is stuck in his thinking process and tries to escape to find a better angle of attack. This is pure survival and denotes a drastic change of attitude from the opponent. The initial “attacking mode,” disappear when Sensei wraps Uke’s attacks softly. Then Uke has to reconsider his options.

That is when he moves into survival mode. Now, his first priority is to save his integrity. He has no more willing to destroy Uke.

Survival is “seizon,” (2) and it is about existing, not about fighting. Sensei keeps saying “Tatakai wa Janai”, “there is no fight.” (3) It is what he means when he says that we have to control Uke as a whole, the same way you would, a bee in your hands. We have to wrap Uke so that he is only trying to survive. Then, no fight is happening.

Last March I didn’t get the “Tatakai wa Janai” right. “There is no fight” doesn’t mean, that there is no combat. It means that the attacker is not in a position (body and mind) to attack. Like the bee trapped in the hands.

The willingness to attack is there, but the possibility is not offered to the opponent. We do not stop fighting, we prevent Uke from attacking. If he were not wrapped by Tori’s movement, he would attack. But as there are no more strength and no more technique, there is no fight possible.

This is the exact philosophy of Sensei’s ninpō. The Bujinkan is not about warfare, it is about controlling without violence. Because we are who we are, there is no possibility of a fight.

My friend, Jack Hoban, studied under Dr. Robert Humphrey. Dr. Humphrey wrote the “warrior’s creed,” and you can read it on his t-shirt, each time jack is around.

Here it is:

“Wherever I walk, everyone is a little bit safer because I am there.

Wherever I am, anyone in need has a friend.

Whenever I return home, everyone is happy I am there.” (4)

Jack did many lectures about the creed. Check the link below. It will interest you and help you understand what we study at the Honbu. (5)
Like in “Amo isshun no tamamushi,” Hatsumi sensei teaches to control the world around us with peace. Our goal is to make it impossible for something terrible to happen.

No More!
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1 中一瞬 の 吉丁虫, Amo isshun no tamamushi: 中 amo:center, inside, during. 一瞬 isshun: one moment. 吉丁虫 tamamushi: jewel beetle
2 生存, Seizon: existence; being; survival; to exist; to live; to survive
3 戦いじゃない, Tatakai janai: no battle; no fight; no struggle; no conflict
4 https://www.lifevalues.com/warrior.htm
5 Recommended reading: https://www.alvinsoon.com/what-it-means-to-be-a-warrior/