From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael

Asakusa photo by kalcul

I try to keep it real. But there is real and there is REALITY. It is important to remember that training is not reality. Sometimes reality gets in the way of training.

When I was in my twenties, I used to spar with some very large guys. I often lost because of their size and strength advantage. When they locked in on me with their strongholds I would feel desperate and trapped. Then I would instinctively claw and struggle to no avail.

Now I don't have that problem even though I am older and not as strong. In my training I developed another type of strength that Hatsumi Sensei described in one class as 臨機応変 rinkiōhen. This is adapting oneself to the requirements of the moment. Musicians know this feeling as improvisation or playing it by ear.

In this class Hatsumi Sensei was working on Suwari gata. He did one henka on Nagato Sensei where he kicked him in the neck three times before taking his arm.

The same kata demonstrated on Senno Sensei was very different. Soke was able to trap both arms instantly to the point of breaking. He even remarked at how fragile the human body is.

Soke said that if he tried to do to Nagato the same technique he just did on Senno, it would not work because Nagato's arms are as big as Senno's legs.

臨機応変 rinkiōhen is a manner that shows flexibility in response to what the situation demands. In this case, to be able to take one of Nagato's arms required three kicks to the throat to soften him up.

In western culture we have the concept of Ad hoc. It is Latin that reads "for this." As in "for this" moment or situation. It may be a response for a problem or endeavor that only applies to this specific situation and probably will not work in another moment.

Sensei described 臨機応変 rinkiōhen as an aspect of kyojitsu tenkan. If you are resourceful in this moment of truth and falsehood you will find the answer you seek.

Hatsumi Sensei says you must adjust your technique so that you are using the strong points against the weaknesses of your opponent. This could be your own strong points, or the strong points of the technique, or, as I learned recently, the extremely powerful and strong points that are kyusho present in the moment of the kukan. The results I've gotten from this have felt almost supernatural.

So 臨機応変 rinkiōhen may be an old expression but one that we can understand through kyojitsu when we constantly change and adapt to whatever comes up in our moments of reality.

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From Paart Budo Buki by buki stolar

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From New Products from Budo Shop Store by New Products from Budo Shop Store

Title: Kukishin-ryu Bikenjutsu Kata Instructors: Holger Kunzmann Theme: Kukishin-ryu Bikenjutsu Kata (Sword Fighting) Recorded: Recorded in Stockholm March 13-25th 2009 The instruction is in English Format: NTSC, AAC Stereo, DVD/R- (it might not work on older DVD players! check your manual first!) approximately 80 Minutes playing time. Shortly after returning from training in Japan again with Soke and the Shihan, Holger held this seminar in Kaigozan Dojo, Stockholm, Sweden. This DVD contains all the nine basic sword techniques from Kukishin-ryu Bikenjutsu Kata plus the Sayugyaku techniques. They are taught and explained thoroughly as a basic foundation, and then with many applications and variations. The techniques covered on this DVD is the following. 附込 TSUKI KOMI 突掛 TSUKI KAKE 斬上 KIRI AGE 斬下 KIRI SAGE 銯止 KASUGAI DOME 小蝶返 KOCHOU GAESHI 四方斬 SHIHOU GIRI 八方斬 HAPPOU GIRI 月之輪 TSUKI NO WA All these techniques are explained and taught in detail. The DVD has menus where you can chose technique to see, completely with chapters. Watch the Trailer at the Budo Shop Community About the instructor Who is Holger Kunzmann Holger's main interest in Bujinkan is the basics. And he has become quite famous for his excellent taijutsu and very good knowledge and skill of the basics in Bujinkan. If you want to sponsor a seminar or course, please don’t hesitate to contact him. For more information see his web site Holger's web site... www.bkd-reutlingen.de Note! The instructions is in English and there is no sub titles on this DVD Skr239.00

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From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael

Katori-jingu, Katori-shi, Chiba-ken, Japan photo by TANAKA Juuyoh

Training sometimes seems mysterious. Even more so when Hatsumi Sensei gives us Japanese philosophical ideas to consider.  Sometimes these mysteries come in the form of a stated yearly theme.

The idea or feeling behind the yearly theme continuously changes as our lives and training evolve through the year. So whatever we think the theme is, it's important not to get attached to any set concept and to allow the natural evolution of training to occur.

These yearly themes and ideas Soke gives us are like gifts that resonate throughout the year as reflected in our training, in our taijutsu, and our lives.

As we enter 2012 what sort of starting point might we have for the yearly theme?

I was at a class earlier this month where Hatsumi Sensei gave us some hints. We spent a considerable portion of this class exploring concepts with a sword sometimes against long weapons like a bo or yari.

At the end of class, after bowing out, Sensei wanted to share some ideas with us, so we sat on the dojo floor as he began sharing with us some ideas about a theme for 2012. Connected to the sword training we did that night, he made reference to 沸 Futsu which he used as an onomatopoeia (giongo 擬音語) for different sound effects.  He started out describing its relationship to the sound a katana makes when cutting. But then Hatsumi Sensei was using a lot of wordplay that night.

He continued to explore these meanings by using the ぶすぶす Futsu sound of simmering or boiling. He compared this to 煮沸消毒 shafutsu shoudoku which is sterilization by boiling. He told us this was like a burning away of bad parts of the self.

When I began to look into Futsu with more depth I found a wealth of meaning. One idea in particular seems well suited to the possibility of sword for the coming year.

Please remember that none of us knows where the training or Hatsumi Sensei will take us in the coming year so these connections and ideas are my own.

In his talk, Hatsumi Sensei made reference to the Katori Jingu (photo above), where Futsu Nushi no Mikoto 経津主之命 Guardian deity of martial valour is celebrated.

Even more intriguing is Futsu no mitama 布都御魂 the Divine sword of Japanese mythology, possessed by gods Takemikazuchi no mikoto and Futsunushi no mikoto,

The personification of a divine sword. At the time of Emperor Jinmu’s 神武天皇 (Jinmu-tennō) campaign to the east, Amaterasu 天照 ordered Takemikazuchi to assist the beleaguered Jinmu, whereupon Takemikazuchi miraculously sent his divine sword Futsu no mitama to appear in the warehouse of Takakuraji in Kumano熊野 . Takakuraji found the sword and presented it to Jinmu, whereupon Jinmu was enabled to complete his campaign. In Sendai kuji hongi, Futsu no mitama is called “Futsunushi no kami’s sword of spirit,” presented by Jinmu to Umashimaji as a prize for killing Nagasunehiko and submitting to the imperial forces. It is believed to represent a divine sword worshiped by the martial clan Mononobe, who were instrumental in the early pacification of Japan, and is enshrined as the central deity (saijin) of Isonokami Jingū and other shrines.
--Kadoya Atsushi, Waseda University, Tokyo

Another connection for Futsu is the mirror as in the 真経津の鏡  Mafutsu no Kagami (alternate name for Yata no Kagami, the mirror of the Imperial regalia). When you look for your reflection hidden there it is like a search for the Buddha hidden from view or 秘仏 Hifutsu.

I hope my exploration of Futsu gives you some hints to reflect on for 2012. Happy New Year!

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From New Products from Budo Shop Store by New Products from Budo Shop Store

Title: Brazilian Ju Jutsu Instructors: Marcus Widengren Theme: Brazilian Ju Jutsu Recorded: Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden 2004 Format: DVD/R in PAL only! 90 minutes. Moviebox Sorry, but the instructions on this DVD is in Swedish, no subtitles! Den 7:e Augusti 2004 gästade Marcus Widengren Kaigôzan Dôjô i Stockholm, och höll ett endags läger i Brasiliansk Ju Jutsu. Han gick igenom grundpositioner, hur man tar sig loss från fasthållningar, hur man låser fast någon på marken, armlås, strypningar m.m. Sista timmen svarade han på deltagarnas frågor om BJJ historia, han förklarade och visade också försvar mot slag/spark, fula knep, benlås. Vi bjöd in Marcus för att lära oss mer om BJJ som blivit alltmer populär pga deras effektiva markkamp tekniker. Eftersom Marcus också mycket seriöst tränat Bujinkan i 10 år inkluderat ett flertal Japanresor och träning med Hatsumi Sensei på 90 -talet, så var lägret också lite anpassat för oss i Bujinkan. Det var ett väldigt lyckat och lärorikt läger. Denna video visar många bra och effektiva tekniker där man hamnat på marken. I många situationer hamnar man på marken och det är inte alltid man kan rulla och ställa sig upp igen. Är man familjär med dessa tekniker har man mycket större chans att klara av en situation där man hamnar på marken och måste agera snabbt och instinktivt. Marcus Widengren Tidigare Budo-erfarenhet: 10 år i Bujinkan, graderad till 5 Dan. Också tränat Kung Fu, Wing Tsun och Tai Chi Tävlingsresultat Brazilian Ju Jutsu: BadBoy Cup 2000 1st. BadBoy Cup Open class 2000 1st. S.O.S.W. 2000 1st. European cup 3 2000 1st. Frank Shamrock Invitational 2001 1st. Gameness 2002 1st. Fighter Extreme 1 2002 1st. Campos SWT 2002 1st. Copa LTD Jiu-Jitsu, Rio 2003 1st. Rio State Championships Estadual 2003 1st. Mundial (CBJJ) 2003 3rd. Brasileiro 2004 purplebelt 3rd. Rip Dorey submission Cup 2004 1st. 3rd Copa SARA/Yamarashi Jiujitsu 2004 1st. Brasileiro-CBJJO 2005 2nd. Brasileiro-CBJJ, Master Pesado 2005 1st. Brasileiro-CBJJ, Master Absolute 2005 1st. Listan kommer garanterat fortsätta, se här! PS! Det finns också en intervju på samma hemsida! Skr239.00

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From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael

Diamond Corridor photo by dickuhne

Hatsumi Sensei's classes are often too crowded to do "large" techniques. Or, to train with weapons that need "large" distances. Recently I was lucky enough to be in a class that was small enough for Sensei to have us using Bo, Yari, and Naginata. Along with the big weapons came some big ideas for training.

He was attaching these weapons to his uke's body or clothing, then moving in a way where the weapon seems to develop a life of its own. He explained he was using a reflection of the attacker. That was a big idea that reminded me of another time when he described 辛抱 Shinbo to us.

 One other large idea he put out there for us came at a moment of evading a yari thrust. He used the phrase 不惜身命 Fushaku Shinmyō. Roughly translated in this context it means sacrificing one's life to accomplish its resolution. It can be related to concepts of Sutemi and throwing away the self.

The roots of this idea come from Buddhism and the Nyorai Juryo Hon chapter of the Lotus Sutra: teaching of devotion that spares neither body nor life.

Some other translations for this phrase read: not sparing one's life for a worthy cause; courageous and selfless dedication; Self-sacrificing Dedication; or to place the cause above one's life.

How do you get to that selfless state? The state where the tip of the spear is no longer a threat and you can move undeterred against the slash of a sword?

One clue I found may come from the study of Goshin no kata. This is when you do a continuous, non-stop repetition of one of the (Sanshin, Gogyo) five forms endlessly without an attacker until one of two things occurs.  The form naturally and spontaneously shifts or changes to one of the other forms, OR you reach satori (a flash of enlightenment).

I found an interesting reflection on this in an essay from Chōjun Miyagi (founder of Goju-ryu) published in 1942. In his style they have a "Sanchin no kata." He writes,

"Kongoshin Fushaku Shinmyō no Kyochi

If you could attain Enlightenment or Satori through practicing
Sanchin, you were beyond life and death, and your mind and body
would become strong enough like Diamond."

Well I think a yari tip would break against diamond armor such as that.

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