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Gassho 2023-10-31 12:33:00

Unryu BlogOctober 31, 2023

INMUTABLE, AUNQUE MUTABLE

El desarrollo de un espíritu inmutable ante cualquier situación o persona tiene que trabajarse observando el ego y la avaricia y ser claro con el auto engaño. Es un trabajo arduo de observación y de mucha auto observación sin castigo, solo observarse para hacer la transformación.

Es poco recomendado el intento de parar el propio espíritu, su fluidez y libertad y al mismo tiempo no confundir con la inmutabilidad del espíritu. Este debe ser inmutable, aunque mutable, debe ser fluidamente inmutable.

Abandonar la fuerza y la coacción y el auto chantaje y los “síndromes de Diógenes” acumulando tanto conocimiento, la mayoría, la gran mayoría de gran inutilidad. Es tiempo de SENTIR con lo que ya se ha aprendido, atreverse a ir más allá.

Inmutable, aunque mutable.

En el último día de octubre de 2023

Aire refrescante

Pedro Fleitas González; unryu

Nota: El síndrome de Diógenes es un abandono extremo del auto-cuidado, acumulación de basuras y objetos inservibles, auto negligencia, marcado aislamiento social y nula conciencia de enfermedad. …

Gassho 2023-10-31 11:51:00

Unryu BlogOctober 31, 2023

From Gassho by Unryu Blog

THE ESSENCE OF SHINOBI

HATSUMI MASAAKI

The Ninjutsu Hiketsubun (Secret Text of Ninjutsu), a personal teaching of the thirty-third Grand Master of Togakure-ryû and the master of my life, the late Master Takamtsu Toshitsugu, makes the following clear statements about the essence of the Shinobi. The essence of the martial path and the path of strategy is in protecting the being.

The heart of this self-protection is Ninjutsu. Ninjutsu

Is to protect the spirit. By practicing the martial path, if the spirit is not correct, far from protecting the being, one will end up killing the being. For example, medicine is supposed to help people, if it is mispracticed instead, it can kill people. Daily food and drink, which have the purpose of nourishing life and maintaining health, if one continues to eat and drink excessively and eat too much food, will end up harming the person. The minister of state who has the responsibility of correctly governing the country and above all protecting people's lives with great care, if he were a person of great greed, with a lack of wisdom and loving only his life, he will be nothing more than a great criminal who throws the country into disorder and torments the people.

The same in the case of religion. If faith is true, it will protect the person, restore the family and be useful and of great benefit to society, but once it loses its path and deviates to the wrong path, it will destroy the person and endanger the nation. The martial path is also the same. Yes, the master of the martial way

Study and acquire the essence of the Shinobi to protect the person, he can capture the secrets of the essential point. So, what is this essential key point (Kanjin Kaname)? The essential point is the heart of God, they are the eyes of God. It is the way of heaven, which is, the law (reason) in the power of heaven. It's the truth of heaven. It's the reason for nature. In the way of heaven, of the law of heaven, of the truth of heaven, of the reason of nature, there is no evil. There is only faith in the great law. For example, neither wood, nor fire, nor metal or water can germinate if there is no earth. Spring, summer, autumn and winter occur due to interstices. If there were no interstices in the four seasons, if there was no earth in the five phases, it would be the same as if there was no truth in heaven. If a person acts correctly and truly, he will be one with this path of heaven. To be one with the way of heaven is to agree with the heavenly will. This is the vital essence of the Shinobi, the mind and eyes of God, the essential key point. In this way, the Shinobi always maintained their daily attitude and intentions as important. They could respond quickly to any stimulus from the outside world, no matter how small. This is because it was necessary to maintain a condition of power without being in the least scared or impressed to respond immediately to changes in the environment.

Notes: Wood, fire, metal, water and earth refer to the Five Phases or the Five Transformations (in Japanese Gogyô), a theoretical representation of the nature of being and a cycle of the existence of every phenomenon. These phases are associated with, among countless other things, the seasons of the year. The earth phase is sometimes seen as the central element keeping the whole system together, and as well as the transition element that allows the phases to flow from one to the next. The interstices (in Japanese Doyô) refer to the transition periods between the seasons and correspond to the earth element. The "heaven" (in Japanese Ten) also has the meaning of "nature"

(Translated by Phil)…

Gassho 2023-10-31 11:40:00

Unryu BlogOctober 31, 2023

From Gassho by Unryu Blog

LA ESENCIA DEL SHINOBI

HATSUMI MASAAKI

El Ninjutsu Hiketsubun (Texto secreto del Ninjutsu), una enseñanza personal del trigésimo tercer Gran Maestro de Togakure-ryû y el maestro de mi vida, el difunto Maestro Takamtsu Toshitsugu, hace las siguientes claras afirmaciones sobre la esencia del Shinobi. La esencia del camino marcial y el camino de la estrategia está en proteger el ser.

El corazón de esta autoprotección es el Ninjutsu. Ninjutsu

es proteger el espíritu. Al practicar el camino marcial, si el espíritu no es correcto, lejos de proteger el ser, uno acabará matando el ser. Por ejemplo, se supone que la medicina ayuda a la gente, si se practica mal en cambio, puede matar a la gente. La comida y bebida diaria, las cuales tienen el propósito de nutrir la vida y mantener la salud, si uno continúa comiendo y bebiendo de forma desmesurada y toma demasiada comida, acabará dañando a la persona. El ministro de estado que tiene la responsabilidad de gobernar correctamente el país y sobre todo proteger con sumo cuidado las vidas de las personas, si fuera una persona de gran avaricia, con falta de sabiduría y amando sólo su vida, no será más que un gran criminal que lanza al país al desorden y atormenta al pueblo.

Lo mismo en el caso de la religión. Si la fe es verdadera, protegerá a la persona, restaurará la familia y será útil y de gran beneficio a la sociedad, pero una vez pierde su camino y se desvía hacia un camino equivocado, destruirá a la persona y pondrá en peligro la nación. El camino marcial es también igual. Si el maestro del camino marcial

estudia y adquiere la esencia del Shinobi para proteger a la persona, puede captar los secretos del punto esencial. Así que, ¿qué es este punto clave esencial (Kanjin Kaname)? El punto esencial es el corazón de dios, son los ojos de dios. Es el camino del cielo, que es, la ley (razón) en poder del cielo. Es la verdad del cielo. Es la razón de la naturaleza. En el camino del cielo, de la ley del cielo, de la verdad del cielo, de la razón de la naturaleza, no hay maldad. Sólo hay fe en la gran ley. Por ejemplo, ni la madera, ni el fuego, ni el metal o el agua no pueden germinar si no hay tierra. La primavera, el verano, el otoño y el invierno se producen debido a los intersticios. Si no hubiera intersticios en las cuatro estaciones, si no hubiese tierra en las cinco fases, sería lo mismo que si no hubiese verdad en el cielo. Si una persona actúa correctamente y de verdad, será uno con este camino del cielo. Ser uno con el camino del cielo es concordar con la voluntad celestial. Esta es la esencia vital del Shinobi, la mente y ojos de dios, el punto clave esencial. De esta forma los Shinobi llegaron a mantener siempre como importante su actitud e intenciones diarias. Podían responder rápidamente a cualquier estímulo del mundo exterior, por pequeño que fuera. Esto es porque era necesario mantener una condición de poder sin llegar a estar en lo más mínimo asustado o impresionado para responder inmediatamente a los cambios del entorno.

Notas: Madera, fuego, metal, agua y tierra se refieren a las Cinco Fases o a las Cinco Transformaciones (en japonés Gogyô), una representación teórica de la naturaleza del ser y un ciclo de la existencia de todo fenómeno. Estas fases están asociadas con, entre otras innumerables cosas, las estaciones del año. La fase tierra es a veces vista como el elemento central manteniendo todo el sistema junto, y así también como el elemento de transición que permite a las fases fluir de una a la siguiente. Los intersticios (en japonés Doyô) se refiere a los periodos de transición entre las estaciones y corresponden al elemento tierra. El «cielo» (en japonés Ten) también tiene el sentido de «naturaleza»…

Andragogue Or Pedagogue? (part 2)

kumablogOctober 23, 2023

From Shiro Kuma by kumablog

Andragogy is a pedagogy adapted to adults. (1)

It primarily deals with education. This article is the follow-up of our previous article on the subject, published two weeks ago. (2)

In this second part, we will cover the last three items of the andragogy system developed by Knowles. (3)

Japan is a hierarchical cultural society, and andragogy is not the best system for their culture. Westerners can benefit from andragogy because we have Descartes’ logical approach to life. We need to understand to accept. The Japanese don’t; they must comply. Japan has been an obedient society since the Kamakura Jidai by Minamoto Yoritomo. (4) (5)

Hatsumi sensei said that “Japanese don’t understand Budō.” It might be because of that. Obeying mindlessly to a system without understanding leads to a loss of creativity. And Budō is all about creativity.

In the first part, we covered the first three items of andragogy: Need to know, Strong foundation and Self-concept. Knowles says adults are interested in “Readiness” or, to put it straight, “How can this benefit me?” Knowles defines Readiness as “adults are most interested in learning subjects directly relevant to their work and personal lives”. As Budō teachers, we do the same. I always ask three questions to any new student coming to the dōjō: “Age or family, past budō experience(s), job.” With a few pieces of information on his age and family situation (spouse, siblings, kids), It gives you some understanding on his mental development. Past Budō experience explains their reactions on the mats, how they walk (i.e. their relation to space) and their vision of the world. Knowing their professional world gives you a glimpse of their mental process and access to their daily dictionary. We use a specific dialect in the workplace when interacting with our peers. But each time we join a new group, we must learn another vocabulary. I discovered that using IT analogies with an IT guy, physiology with a nurse, or car parts with a mechanic shortens the time to acquire new knowledge. (6)

The fifth item is what Knowles calls “Orientation”. I prefer “reason”. What it means is that adult learning is problem-centred rather than content-oriented. Put differently, teachers should do their homework to know why things are done in a specific order or manner. That is why basics are an essential part of our training. I remember teaching once at a prestigious school of Engineering. I explained the power of Boshi ken compared to Fudō ken when my Uke turned to his peers and said, “Yes, power = force/surface.” This happened in the 90s. Since then, I have used it every time I have engineers in front of me. Adults need solutions to their problems. They feel they are losing time when you only teach theoretically.

Last is “Motivation.” This one item is partially linked to the previous one. Adults respond better to internal versus external motivators. They must be motivated and feel the gain that regular training brings. If when they begin, they often dream of becoming a modern ninja (sic.), they want their studying time to benefit them (physically or mentally). I travelled a lot to Japan, and each time, I came back more affluent than before. Now, motivation can be destroyed by personal difficulties (job, studies, family); in that case, don’t overthink and apply the “never give up” attitude. These highs and lows are logical. Keep always the big picture in mind.

In Japan, pedagogy is Kyōjuhō, which is composed of “teach+instruct+rule.” (7) It is not limited to the education of youngsters, but the word “Androgogy” doesn’t exist, no surprise here (cf. what I wrote at the beginning). The word Jōnindenshō made up of Jōnin (adult) and denshō (transmission), seems to be the best to explain how we need to transmit Budō to adults. (8)(9)

As a teacher, if you use these six steps when teaching adult classes, I can guarantee an acceleration in learning.

Teach the NeSSROM to your adults:

Need to know,
Strong foundation,
Self-concept,
Readiness
Orientation,
Motivation

And you will help them reach their potential. They are adults. They have already constructed their life. They are not going to war any time soon. Be authentic and teach them what they need to become better humans. They need Budō to continue their evolution.

If you educate the Jōnin (adults) with andragogy, they turn into Chōnin; they go from adults to “supermen” or “Übermensch”, as Nietzsche defined it. (10)(11)

Andragogy is the best tool to achieve that.

_____________________________________

1 Andragogy refers to methods and principles used in adult education. The word comes from the Greek ἀνδρ- (andr-), meaning “man”, and ἀγωγός (agogos), meaning “leader of”. Therefore, andragogy means “leading men”, whereas “pedagogy” literally means “leading children.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andragogy#:~:text=Andragogy%20refers%20to%20methods%20and,%2C%20meaning%20%22leader%20of%22.
2. https://kumablog.org/2023/10/01/do-you-believe-in-andragogy-or-pedagogy-part-1/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Knowles
4. Minamoto put the Samurai class above all others. He reorganised the empire, and disobeying was punished by death. That was in 1185. Eight centuries later, today’s structured society makes it nearly impossible to apply andragogy.
5. More on Kamakura Jidai (鎌倉時代, Kamakura jidai, 1185–1333): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_period
Sidenote: “jidai” 時代 means period, epoch, era, age. Please do not mistake it for the Starwars Jidai.
6. Takamatsu sensei said we must be curious about everything when studying Budō. That could be one of the reasons.
7. 教授法 kyōjuhō: Pedagogy = teach +instruct + rule(s)
8. 成人, jōnin or seijin: adult
9. 伝承handing down (information); legend; tradition; folklore; transmission
10. 超人, chōnin: superman or Übermensch as defined by Nietzche in Zarathustra.
11. Übermensch: For Nietzsche, the Übermensch is a being who can completely affirm life: someone who says ‘yes’ to everything that comes their way; a being who can be their determiner of value; sculpt their characteristics and circumstances into a beautiful, empowered, ecstatic whole; and fulfil their ultimate potential to become who they truly are.…

Banpenfugyō: Cultivating Adaptability and Cognitive Flexibility

adminOctober 10, 2023

From 武神館兜龍 Bujinkan Toryu by admin

Introduction

The Japanese concept of 万変不驚 Banpenfugyō, often associated with martial arts, encapsulates the essence of adaptability and cognitive flexibility. In the heat of a physical confrontation, it beckons martial artists to relinquish preconceived techniques and allow an intuitive, divine power to guide their actions. This essay delves into the philosophy of Banpenfugyō within the context of Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu, exploring how it trains practitioners to seamlessly adapt and respond to ever-changing situations.

Banpenfugyō: Unpredictability in Action

In the world of Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu, Banpenfugyō stands as a guiding principle, urging martial artists to shed the constraints of predetermined techniques. Instead of meticulously planning one’s moves, practitioners are encouraged to embrace spontaneity and allow techniques to unfold naturally during combat.

The title of this essay, “Banpenfugyō,” perfectly encapsulates this concept, emphasizing the need to remain unfazed by the unpredictability of any situation.

“In the midst of battle, one must become one with the chaos, for only then can true mastery be achieved.”
– Miyamoto Musashi

Training in Henka: The Path to Adaptability

At the heart of Banpenfugyō lies the practice of Henka, where the martial artist evolves and adapts fundamental techniques, transforming them to suit the ever-changing demands of combat.

This process not only hones physical skills but also sharpens cognitive flexibility. By constantly varying their responses to attacks, practitioners become more adaptable, capable of reacting effectively to unforeseen circumstances.

Cognitive Flexibility: The Mind’s Role

While physical prowess is crucial in martial arts, cognitive flexibility plays an equally vital role. Martial artists must cultivate the ability to think and adapt swiftly in high-pressure situations.

The philosophy of Banpenfugyō, as practiced in Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu, instills this mental agility, enabling martial artists to respond intuitively and harmoniously with the flow of combat.

“Adaptability is the essence of victory. The rigid are easily broken.”
– Takeda Shingen

The Divine Power within Banpenfugyō

Banpenfugyō also teaches martial artists to acknowledge a divine, intuitive force at play. When techniques seem to emerge effortlessly, it’s not just luck but an understanding that something greater guides their actions.

Surrendering to this force and allowing it to guide one’s movements can lead to remarkable outcomes.

Application Beyond Combat: Life’s Lessons

The teachings of Banpenfugyō extend far beyond the dojo. Martial artists who embrace this philosophy find themselves better equipped to navigate the challenges of everyday life.

Decision-making becomes more fluid, problem-solving more intuitive, and stress more manageable.

“A warrior’s strength lies not only in technique but in the ability to harmonize with the unexpected.”
– Hattori Hanzo

Banpenfugyō in the Honbu Dojo

During a conversation with Nagato Sōke, the concept of the Mandela Effect (false memory) was raised. In response, he displayed the essence of Banpenfugyō, the martial arts philosophy of adaptability and cognitive flexibility. With a direct and impactful statement, he asserted, “You must know, Banpenfugyō!”

This brief yet profound message emphasized the importance of understanding and adapting to life’s ever-changing and unpredictable nature. The ensuing laughter didn’t diminish the gravity of his message but rather highlighted the deep wisdom within it.

Nagato Sōke’s response encapsulated the core of Banpenfugyō, encouraging martial artists to embrace the unknown, adapt intuitively, and recognize that true mastery involves harmonizing with the unpredictable, both in martial arts and in life.

Banpenfugyō, rooted in the physical realm of combat, transcends into a philosophy for living.

Footnotes

万変不驚 BANPENFUGYŌ (10,000 changes – no surprise): This term embodies the concept of adaptability in the face of myriad changes. It encourages martial artists to remain unfazed and intuitive in combat, allowing techniques to flow naturally. The painting above the mirror in our Dojo was painted by Hatsumi Sōke.
変化 HENKA (Change): Henka refers to the practice of adapting and evolving fundamental techniques to respond effectively to varying combat scenarios.
The Mandela Effect is an observed phenomenon in which a large segment of the population misremembers a significant event or shares a memory of an event that did not actually occur. I’m sure you will find many things you remembered wrong, look it up!

The post Banpenfugyō: Cultivating Adaptability and Cognitive Flexibility appeared first on 武神館兜龍 Bujinkan Toryu.…

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Gassho 2023-10-31 12:33:00

Gassho 2023-10-31 11:51:00

Gassho 2023-10-31 11:40:00

Andragogue Or Pedagogue? (part 2)

Banpenfugyō: Cultivating Adaptability and Cognitive Flexibility

Introduction

Banpenfugyō: Unpredictability in Action

Training in Henka: The Path to Adaptability

Cognitive Flexibility: The Mind’s Role

The Divine Power within Banpenfugyō

Application Beyond Combat: Life’s Lessons

Banpenfugyō in the Honbu Dojo

Footnotes