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KUKISHIN-RYU BO-JUTSU (SHODEN-CHUDEN-OKUDEN) with MATS HJELM

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Kukishin-ryu Jo-jutsu

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All 29 Kukishin-ryu Bo-jutsu techniques in HD quality, total playing time is 40 minutes. 2.14 Gb (H.264, AAC, 1280x720p)

This was filmed at the Bujinkan Kaigozan Dojo during the summer of 2016 and 2017. The theme was Kukishin-ryu Bo-jutsu.

There is no verbal instructions on this film. Each technique is demonstrated several times from all angles. For more information about this ryu-ha click here! Please notice there is several sub-pages to this page with more information.

六尺棒術 ROKUSHAKU BŌ JUTSU

The bōjutsu of Kukishin Ryū is best described as a method used to defeat/trick wielders of other weapons. It has special striking techniques that allow the Bō to feign quickly and re-direct its aim; a special method of “twirling” (Bofurigata) designed to confuse opponents and keep them at bay; and thrusting techniques that correlate with throwing the staff as a projectile (nagebō). Aspects of the Bōjutsu are gleaned from two other weapons within the school: naginata and the spear (from Wikipedia).

There is five levels in Kukishin-ryu Rokushaku Bōjutsu.
1. Bōjutsu Kihon Kata
2. Bōjutsu Keiko Sabaki Kata
3. Bōjutsu Shoden Kata
4. Bōjutsu Chūden Kata
5. Bōjutsu Ōkuden Kata

We already made a video of the first two levels a long time ago (see here).

Covered in this video is

初傳型 SHODEN KATA

1. 中段杆打 CHŪDAN KANGI
2. 下段杆打 GEDAN KANGI
3. 詒変杆打 IHEN KANGI
4. 上段護技 JŌDAN GŌGI
5. 一文字護技 ICHIMONJI GŌGI
6. 平一文字護技 HIRAICHIMONJI GŌGI
7. 一文字掃く技 ICHIMONJI HAKUGI
8. 青眼掃く技 SEIGAN HAKUGI
9. 天地人こう技 TENCHIJIN HAKUGI

中傳型 CHŪDEN KATA

1. 上段挨技 JŌDAN AIGI
2. 下段挨技 GEDAN AIGI
3. 平一文字挨技 HIRAICHIMONJI AIGI
4. 中段じゅ技 CHŪDAN JŪGI
5. 一文字じゅ技 ICHIMONJI JŪGI
6. 詥変ちゅう技 IHEN JŪGI
7. 青眼摧技 SEIGAN SAIGI
8. 天地人摧技 TENCHIJIN SAIGI
9. 一文字摧技 ICHIMONJI SAIGI

奥傳 OKUDEN KATA

1. 上段搶技 JŌDAN SŌGI
2. 下段搶技 GEDAN SŌGI
3. 平一文字搶技 HIRAICHIMONJI SŌGI
4. 中段格技 CHŪDAN KAKUGI
5. 一文字格技 ICHIMONJI KAKUGI
6. 詥変格技 IHEN KAKUGI
7. 青眼拒技 SEIGAN YAKUGI
8. 天地人拒技 TENCHIJIN YAKUGI
9. 撆倒拒技 HEITO YAKUGI

Title: Kukishin-ryu Bo-jutsu Shoden, Chuden, Okuden kata with Mats Hjelm
Instructors: Mats Hjelm
Theme: Kukishin-ryu Rokushaku Bo-jutsu
Recorded: Recorded in Kaigozan Dojo, Stockholm Summer 2016 & 2017

Kind: Apple MPEG-4 movie
Size: 1 075 472 723 bytes (1,08 GB on disk)
Dimensions: 1280×720
Codecs: H.264, AAC, Photo – JPEG, QuickTime Text
Duration: 40 min…

Keiko#26 KUKAN NO NAWA with LAURI, MARIETTE, & MATS

From Budoshop by BUDOSHOP.SE

keiko26
120 minutes, 778 Mb for $19.99
(H.264, 400p)
Available as download or DVD

Lauri, Mariette and Mats are all known and respected Bujinkan teachers in their own country and also internationally. Here they taught individually and together at the end of they day.

Title: Keiko26 – Kukan no Nawa (Taijutsu / Nawa / Kenjutsu /Bojutsu)
Instructors: Lauri Jokinen, Mariette v.d. Vliet, Mats Hjelm
Theme: Kukan no Nawa (Taijutsu / Nawa / Kenjutsu /Bojutsu)
Recorded: Recorded in Stockholm May 1-3th 2009 The instruction is in English
Approximately 120 Minutes playing time.

Lauri from Finland taught Taijutsu with the feeling of rope, both with and without the actual rope.

Mariette from the Netherlands taught Bojutsu against sword, Taijutsu and Self defence against knife attacks.

Mats from Sweden taught Iainuki (drawing the sword), Kenjutsu, Bofuri (spinning with the long staff) and Taijutsu.

Who is Mats Hjelm

Mats Hjelm started training in Bujinkan for the first time around 1983, but it wasn’t until 1986 he had the opportunity to start training more seriously under a Shidôshi. He met Hatsumi Sôke for the first time in 1988. He attends around 20 seminars, go to Japan 2-3 times every year. Since he started training he never had a training break. He takes his budo training very seriously!

Lauri – http:/www.shinden.fi
Mariette – http://www.bujinkanbudokai.nl
Mats – http://www.kesshi.com

If you want to sponsor a seminar or course, please don’t hesitate to contact him. For more information see his web site http://www.kesshi.com

Bojutsu vs Kenjutsu vs Bojutsu vs Kenjutsu…

From 8þ Kabutoshimen by admin

20130710-170506.jpg
Cutting against his arm

This summer like most summers we train a lot more with long weapons since the dojo is too small to really use long weapons properly. This summer we train Bojutsu against Kenjutsu (long staff against sword). I think I teach and train a little different than most Bujinkan teachers out there, but I can’t really say maybe there is those who approach the training like I do. Let me explain.

Kote haneage followed by Haneage
Kote haneage followed by Haneage

First of all you learn how to use the staff, spinning and striking etc, this is mostly solo-training. Then you learn the Keiko Sabaki Kata (movement practice techniques) in my dojo we only practice one technique for the whole two hour class. Some students really have problems with coordination, others capture it quicker. In this first step I don’t mention distance, timing or anything except which strikes and blocks to make. This can also be solo-training and done alone against an imagined opponent.

Second I take the sword and we focus on how to handle the situation the best way with a sword. If he is attacking me with the staff I immediately counter him by stepping forward. I’m not gonna step backwards defending myself all the time, when he steps in to strike me in his preferred distance out of my reach; I boldly step in at the same time and block the staff and get even closer into my preferred distance so I can cut him with the sword. As I see it this is the only chance I have against a longer weapon, there is no point of running backwards.

Catching the staff and Tsuki
Catching the staff and Tsuki

Thirdly I take the staff again. I attack the kenjutsu-ka fully (not really, but almost) and make sure he does a good block, and as he block I don’t stay frozen or try to push harder on him. As I strike I’m already prepared for the next movement when he comes in and try to cut me, I move out to my distance and do the next strike.

Then I take the sword again and try to avoid being hit from this point in the technique, by blocking and countering again. I’m not really gonna give up or run away. If I can cut I will cut.

Then again I take the staff and try to deal with this really difficult opponent, I avoid his cut and counter him until the end of the technique where I make it impossible for him to do anything. Then the technique is finished without changing the sequences of the strikes, the only thing that is flexible is the distance and the timing. And this is where the true training comes in.

Then at the end of the class we record a short demo to video which will be available for download later. This is how we spend our two hour trainings at Kaigozan Dojo this summer.

No henka, no variations, true to the technique.

Kote haneage as he try to cut my left arm
Kote haneage as he try to cut my left arm

I always thought quality is better than quantity. It is amazing how cleverly these techniques is made up, it is so much more than executing the strikes rapidly against a rather passive opponent. If the opponent (sword-guy) is good and understand how to use the sword there is really not many options to change the technique and do something different, the possibility for henka becomes very narrow, what you can change is very small details. For me this is what henka means, you failed your initial technique and need to adapt because of miscalculation.

I know there are those out there only doing henka-training, but how do you do henka training only, henka of what? If you try to train yourself into intuition without basic foundation you are doing something I don’t understand. You weren’t born out from nowhere, someone did something very basic with someone and you was born. How do you henka anything into existence?

Victory ending of the technique
Victory ending of the technique

If anyone is interesting I’m doing three more one day Bojutsu mini-seminars this summer.

Happy Training!

/Mats

The post Bojutsu vs Kenjutsu vs Bojutsu vs Kenjutsu… appeared first on 8þ Kabutoshimen.…

Shugyou#05 ROKUSHAKU-BO-JUTSU BASICS with MATS HJELM

From Budoshop by BUDOSHOP.SE

105 minutes, (h.264 M4V/MP4 360p)
24p manual, 1.25 Gb for $19.99

Available as download or full DVD & Manual!

Shugyou, in-depth training and study material. Including video and manual

The focus on this video is the basics of Rokushaku Bôjutsu (long staff), included is basic exercises such as Sanshin no Kata with the Bô vs Bô, Taihenjutsu-ukemi, rolling in all directions and using the long staff. The nine basic Kamae (body postures) is covered in detail. Kihon uchi waza, basic striking and thrusting with the staff is explained. Also all the basic Kihon Kata is taught.

This is a good DVD if you want to learn the basics behind the actual Kata techniques.

This download video also comes with a 24 page manual, 55 pictures as a compliment to your training. All the technique names with kanji and romaji, the techniques are briefly described with comments by Mats Hjelm.

We also put in 30 minutes extra “Gyokko-ryu Bojutsu“, filmed in Kaigôzan Dôjô late March 2005, using the Rokushaku-bô in short distance with Taijutsu feeling (Sanshin no kata, and Kihon Happô).

Note: The manual is in English, but the instructions on the DVD are in Swedish! with Swedish & English subtitles. The 24 page manual includes 55 pictures, descriptions and notes of the basics. All techniques with japanese kanji. The DVD is 110 minutes and only available in NTSC.

Recorded in Eskilstuna February 2005

About the instructor

Mats Hjelm started training in Bujinkan for the first time around 1983, but it wasn’t until 1986 he had the opportunity to start training more seriously under a Shidôshi. He attends around 20 seminars, go to Japan 2-3 times every year. Since he started training he never had a training break. He takes his budo training very seriously! If you want to sponsor a seminar or course, please don’t hesitate to contact him. For more information see his web site http://www.kesshi.com

About the download

Click here for more information about our download files and how it works!

Shugyou#06 BOJUTSU KEIKO SABAKI KATA Vol.1 with MATS HJELM

From Budoshop by BUDOSHOP.SE

BOJUTSU KEIKO SABAKI KATA Vol.1 with MATS HJELM


Keiko Sabaki kata + Bonus (h.264 M4V/MP4 480p)
100 minutes, 1.6 Gb for $19.99
Buy the full DVD, click here!

Or buy them separately


Keiko Sabaki Kata 1-10
80 minutes, 1.2 Gb for $15.99

Bonus material, fighting in Yoroi
20 minutes, 423 Mb for $6.99

Kukishin-ryû Rokushaku Bôjutsu – Keiko Sabaki Kata Vol.1.
Recorded in Eskilstuna, Sweden – April 2005

This is the second seminar about the Rokushaku Bôjutsu (six foot staff fighting) and covers the first 10 basic waza from Kukishin-ryû Keiko Sabaki Kata. First the basics is taught, and then the technique is brought alive with realistic examples and responses from the defending opponent. The material from the seminar is 80 minutes and 10 techniques.

Techniques covered in depth on this video is the first ten from the Sabaki Kata

1 GOHOU
2 URA GOHOU
3 SASHI AI
4 FUNABARI
5 CHOU NO ISSOKU
6 URA NO HITO ASHI
7 SUSO OTOSHI
8 URA SUSO OTOSHI
9 IPPON SUGI
10 TAKI OTOSHI

The remaining 15 techniques is scheduled to be recorded this summer 2013…

Note: The instructions is in Swedish with sub titles in English.

Note2: There is no manual with this video like previously in the Shugyou series.

Note3: The DVD also includes a 20 minutes bonus material from a training with Yoroi (samurai armor). It includes ukemi with yoroi, Bojutsu against the Yoroi, and unarmed fighting against the Yoroi. As download you can buy just this one if you want.


Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ZFNmPDL1U

About the instructor

Mats Hjelm started training in Bujinkan for the first time around 1983, but it wasn’t until 1986 he had the opportunity to start training more seriously under a Shidôshi. He attends around 20 seminars, go to Japan 2-3 times every year. Since he started training he never had a training break. He takes his budo training very seriously! If you want to sponsor a seminar or course, please don’t hesitate to contact him. For more information see his web site www.kesshi.com Note!

About the download

Click here for more information about our download files and how it works!

Keiko#10-b Gyokko-ryu BOJUTSU – SHAWN GRAY

From Budoshop by BUDOSHOP.SE

Buy the VideoCD, click here!
56 minutes, 1.12 Gb for $11.99

Buy the full DVD here!

The Tuesday training theme (after Kaigousuru) was Rokushaku Bôjutsu, many variations and ideas on how to defend against someone taking control of your staff and then attacks. Principles and ideas from Gyokko-ryû and this years Bujinkan theme was also covered in detail.

The training was led by Shawn Gray who is a well known and respected instructor in Bujinkan Dojo.

Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden May 2005

Note: The instructions is in English and there is no sub titles on this Video

About the download

Click here for more information about our download files and how it works!

Kokū 心空: Striking the Empty Mind

From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Bujinkan Santa Monica

Empty Mind photo by DerrickT
How do you know where to strike? This is a question I often hear from students. It seems like it should be obvious. And sometimes it is. Strike where you find an opening… or where it will do the most damage. But as simple as that sounds, it is not easy to find those spots.

Many of us have had the experience of watching Hatsumi Sensei strike someone at a particular spot or kyūsho and the strike causes a dramatic effect in his uke's body. It sends the guy flying, or he is writhing in pain. Then we try to hit the same spot on our uke, and nothing happens. Even if Sensei told us what kyūsho he was striking.

This is frustrating indeed. Some people blame their Uke for resisting. Or they think, if I "really" hit him with damaging force he would react. Sometimes people just shrug and say that of course Hatsumi Sensei does it better because he has way more experience. And while that is true, shrugging it off doesn't help us understand what is actually happening.

One way to understand how to strike effectively is to learn that when you strike your opponent's body, to have maximum impact, you should be striking his mind as well. That sounds strange so let me explain a little.

We can find a clue to this in the Bōjutsu Gokui:
"Thrusting into the space with the tip of the bō staff, if you feel a response with your hands, this is the gokui."
There are many subtle lessons in this verse. But let's consider the Japanese word for space or void used here. It can have a double meaning which can help us understand where to strike.

This word is kokū 虚空. We usually think of this as meaning empty space or empty sky. But this word is sometimes used to refer to the mind (which has no form or color) of your opponent. Kokū 虚空 can be read as emptiness or even "false" emptiness. Another way to write kokū is 真空, which is a true emptiness. Or even kokū 心空 emptiness of mind.

So what does this mean for striking? When the mind does not move, it is Emptiness. When Emptiness moves, it becomes mind. For example, When your opponent's fists grasp his sword but do not move, and you quickly strike his fists - this is called striking at emptiness空をうて.

So you strike him where his mind is not moving, or in other words: frozen, stuck, or even trapped. If you hit in this place, the strike pierces into the void and expands outward to have an effect much more profound than the actual physical strike should have on its own.

Sensei seems to have a genius for finding these spots on his uke. And we all witness the profound effects as we watch his uke's go flying or yelp in pain.

How does he do it? Maybe with bōshin 棒心, or I've also heard Sensei refer to Shinbō 辛棒. I don't know because I'm still working on these two ideas myself. But maybe Sensei just has way more experience…

At any rate, I do know that if you strike into the emptiness of your opponent's mind, you will be surprised at the results. This I have experienced and can attest to.


Bojutsu Gokui: How to Get Hit Over the Head by the Void.

From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Bujinkan Santa Monica

by pusgums
We were in the middle of a bojutsu class and I had an epiphany.  I was trying to explain how to hold the staff.  "You must hold it lightly.  Yet firmly connected to your kamae and spirit."  My words failed me.

Yet, I was feeling something with the rokushakubo I wanted to communicate.  I tried demonstrating various aspects of the movement and grip on the bo.  And none of these things held the idea I felt. Luckily, I remembered a quote from Hatsumi Sensei and I dropped it on the students:

In a verse of the gokui: "striking the void, if there is a response in your hands, that is the gokui."  You must have the enlightenment of the Buddha of the void (koku-bosatsu), whose heart was as infinite as the void itself.  Thrusting the bo into the mist is in truth thrusting one's heart and mind, and this is one method of koku - void training.

Yes!  I was feeling it.  You have to hold the bo very lightly to feel the response from the void.  The response I felt was like creation.

Not long after this exciting insight I was hit on the head by my uke's bo.  If you mess about in the void you might get hurt.   That's one thing I love about training- the immediate feedback that keeps me humble.


Kukishin-ryu Bojutsu – Keiko Sabaki kata – 03 – Sashiai

From Kabutoshimen by Toryu

Disclaimer; this is not necessarily the correct way of doing this technique, it is the way I see how it should be done.

差合 SASHI AI

Technique No 3 from Kukishin-ryu Rokushaku Bôjutsu – Keiko sabaki kata

Bojutsu - Keiko Sabaki kata - 03 - Sashi-ai(A)

1. I assume Chûdan no kamae and plan to make the opponent open up his left side…

Bojutsu - Keiko Sabaki kata - 03 - Sashi-ai(B)

2. I move the left foot forward to the left and enter in to the opponent’s right side. I angle the body in a way to draw the attention to my left hand and hide the right hand sliding back to the end of the staff.

Bojutsu - Keiko Sabaki kata - 03 - Sashi-ai(C)

3. I step forward with the left foot and thrust in chudan-tsuki to the opponent and force him to move. Since I enter on his right side I pretty much force him to move to his left.

Note: If he is not moving I strike through his guard and get him. If he put force into the block it is better for me, but I’m not waiting to feel it (physically) then it would be to late for the next step.

Bojutsu - Keiko Sabaki kata - 03 - Sashi-ai(D)

4. I quickly move the right foot forward and strike his left elbow with dô-uchi.

Bojutsu - Keiko Sabaki kata - 03 - Sashi-ai(E)

5. Then another quick kote-haneage strike from under to his right arm to completely disarm him. The kata officially finish here, but it is easy to keep going and take control of the space and the weapon he just lost.

Bojutsu - Keiko Sabaki kata - 03 - Sashi-ai(F)

6. Then I jump back to Seigan no kamae and assume zanshin (because the next kata starts from here which makes it easier to remember the next kata).

After you and your partner have learned the kata, try to work on a better defense with the sword. Try to be more offensive and gradually make it more difficult to attack with the staff, instead of moving backwards move forwards and be more offensive. The swordsman’s distance is shorter and he need to be on a safe distance or closer where he can get the opponent with the staff quickly. The person with the staff need to be outside the swordsman’s reach or be completely covered. You can practice this technique with more freely distance and timing, but keep the same sequence of attacks (keep to the kata). If you do this I suggest you use safe weapons (padded weapons) and maybe protections, or just be very careful.

There is also kuden; things taught personally from teacher to student, so please find a good teacher and study with him/her.

Happy training!

/Mats…