Author: kumafr

From Shiro Kuma's Weblog by kumafr

Many seminars have been organized in India since my first post in 2008. Things are always improving with the inevitable changes due to life, men, and understandings but the dôjô is doing really great under Shiva (Shidôshi). I am proud to be one of the several Shihan helping them to grow within the Bujinkan system.

Soon they plan to open other dôjô in India and I am sure that they will make a success of this evolution. During my last three seminars, the group has been more and more dedicated and growing. Last December in Japan, India was widely represented with a first group of black belts.

During my last stays over there we have covered all the basics of the Ten Chi Jin Ryaku no Maki (5 days); then the basics of Tantô, Kunai, Shotô, Hanbô, Jo, Biken (sword), Bô, Yari, and Naginata (4 days). I think this is the first time that a new group is following the logical evolution of learning.

The basics have been studied so we can now begin the real study and follow the order imposed by Sôke with the yearly themes. Respectively since 1993 we studied: bô, Yari, Naginata, Biken, Jo, Shinden Fudô Ryû Taihen Jutsu, Kukishin Ryû Daken Taijutsu, Koto Ryû Koppô Jutsu, Gyokko Kosshi Jutsu, Takagi Yôshin Ryû Jû Taijutsu, Sanjigen no Sekai, Yûgen no Sekai, Kasumi no Hô, Roppô Kuji no Biken, Kuki Taisho, Menkyô Kaiden, Saino Konki, Rokkon Shôjô.

Next May we will study the full series of forms of Bô Jutsu from the Kukishin Ryû. I hope that 4 days will be enough…

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From Shiro Kuma's Weblog by kumafr

Dear Buyu from India, I first want to deeply thank you for the profound sense of community I found here in Bangalore sharing my thoughts, interpretations and movements with you. I often give seminars around the world, but the quality of the depth of the commitment I encountered here, was really refreshing to me. And I want to thank you all for this as it is the promise of a successful future for the Bujinkan community of India.A Dojo is complex mix between a teacher and his students. If the teacher is evolving the students are improving, and a group of dedicated students evolving positively pushes the teacher to improve his skills even more. After such a small training time, you have achieved this mix better than in many Dojo I have been teaching to.Reading your comments about the seminar on the Shidoshikai forum, I found that many of you were expecting something different, maybe something including more pain. Pain is important in the learning phase of Budo but it is not the most important thing. Physical pain is an accepted consequence of the training but it is nothing compared to psychological pain. And maybe you have got a glimpse of that during these four days. This is the best lesson you could learn.

Please don’t stop, keep going you are heading towards what real Budo is. Your energy and willingness to improve is an example for all Bujinkan members all over the world, be proud of it. The waythe group  has been structured and taught  explains it but without your willingness to learn, nothing would have been achieved so beautifully.

Someone quoting me wrote: “Noise on the mats is pain outside”. It seems to have been the seminar’s motto. The Dojo is the place where you can make all the mistakes you need to get things correctly. As we explained it several times, you are allowed to make mistakes in the Dojo in order to, hopefully, avoid them in Jissen (true fight) and in Jissen (real life). The Bujinkan is teaching us to become real human beings, living a full and happy life.

After a week in India with you, I came to understand even better the power of what Hatsumi Sensei is teaching us, life. Life is what struck me while I was there. India is a boiling, fast expanding and blooming country that is going to be of major importance for the world in a very near future.

This dynamism is also present in your training and I honestly loved teaching your group. I hope there will be more other seminars like that to follow this first one. I can say that I learnt as much as you did. This is the best lesson of “Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo” I was ever given. Thank you all for this present.

I want to thank you all for your time and hospitality in Bangalore; for the many exchanges we have had during this week; and for making us feel at home. We feel richer after this trip than ever before.

Chukrya,

Arnaud Cousergue
Bujinkan Shihan

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