From blogurl:henka.wordpress.com inpostauthor:ariesbudo - Google Blog Search by ariesbudo
The Ireland seminar has come to a close and I feel that it was a great success. As usual, the atmosphere and people are second to none. I truly feel that what they have created in Ireland is an excellent example to the global Bujinkan ...…From blogurl:henka.wordpress.com inpostauthor:ariesbudo - Google Blog Search by ariesbudo
The “No” theme of this year is developing into a truly binding concept. Soke has made reference on several occasions to the study of the various ryuha with no attachment to form incorporating the idea of the rope/string/thread. ...…From Kabutoshimen by Toryu
This years theme is taijutsu with the feeling of rope, and also a little sword. It is still early to tell how the year will continue, I was there the first two weeks and it will of course change. It is stupid to think you can get the whole thing in just two weeks. As soke so often says, “nothing is decided.” We should go along with what is given by the gods or spirits, not steal techniques or take something that is not given. If you train slowly and correct you should be able to sense what uke is giving you, if you go to fast your ego is directing you and you will not be able to see and use what is given to you.
Enlightenment can be found in three places. Under your feet, up in the space (heaven), and written on your eyelids. It is as simple as that. In our case that study Bujinkan it is as simple as Soke says. Go to japan and train with him, and train with those that do to keep yourself on the right path. So simple!
To become a master you need three things. Ability (what you are born with), soul (how much you put into the training), and openness (being open enough to take in all that is taught). There is also other words that can explain the kanji in other words, maybe even different. Look them up in a dictionary and read what others already explained on blogs and forums.
I wrote this in January already and just discovered it waiting to be posted. Sorry, but better late than never.…
From Kabutoshimen by Toryu
Today they put up a poster in Honbu dojo of what looks like a sword exhibition in Noda City Museum from February 1’st to 15′th.
The website is noda-muse.or.jp. Unfortunately I will miss it.…
From Kabutoshimen by Toryu
Today was the first training with soke in honbu dojo. He opened speaking about a new honbu dojo that hopefully can be started on in 3-4 years. The current honbu will stand here for five more years, then the city will build the railway where it stands now.
Soke asked us to spread the word that it is ok to send in donations for the new honbu dojo. I would suggest that each dojo-cho will collect money and donate it in the name of respective dojo.…
From blogurl:henka.wordpress.com inpostauthor:ariesbudo - Google Blog Search by ariesbudo
The 2008 training year has come to a close and I was fortunate enough to be a part of the last training of the year at Hombu and spend some time with Soke afterwards where several of the up and coming 2009 topics were discussed. ...…From blogurl:tazziedevil.wordpress.com - Google Blog Search by Duncan Stewart
togakushi_embu_016. How to approach training nowadays is plagued with doubt by many throughout the world. Everyone has there own thoughts on budo and personal reasons for becoming involved in the training. However, there are things that ...…From blogurl:henka.wordpress.com inpostauthor:ariesbudo - Google Blog Search by ariesbudo
DKMS 2008-Back to Basics. Posted on December 4, 2008 by ariesbudo. The DKMS this year was a real success on many levels. The highlight of the training being that fact that we training entirely outside for first time in many years. ...…From blogurl:henka.wordpress.com inpostauthor:ariesbudo - Google Blog Search by ariesbudo
Last Tuesday Soke was making reference the musical concept of the octave and how this relates to relationships and Budo. If you are like me and not Adept in music theory, then you might want to read the definition of the octave here ...…From Kabutoshimen by Toryu
As you know this years theme is the Togakure school. And what we is studying is the 面 OMOTE, outside or the visible and the 空間 KUUKAN. Next year we will be studying the 裏 URA, the inside, what is not visible or the secret. Soke said that next year we will go beyond kuukan.
First I’d like to remind you of my previous posts about not going ahead too soon, and instead follow the natural way and do things with good timing. So what he meant by going beyond kuukan we can leave for next year… no need to worry about that now.
空間 KUUKAN means space, room or air space. The first kanji KARA means emptyness, vacuum or blank, also SORA means sky or the heavens. The second kanji MA means space, room, time or pause. It can also mean many other things, for example KEN which is a measurement used between pillars, the same length as a tatami mat, 1,818 meters. In Koto-ryu for example you should be able to jump 2 ken sideways.
Other Japanese budo arts use and emphasize the same kanji for 間合い MAAI (interval), but in Bujinkan we instead speak of kuukan which has a deeper meaning. It is not just the distance, it is more how you use the distance that is important. For example if you have a pistol on your right side of the hip, you should keep this side away from the opponent so that he cannot take your weapon, and also so that you have room to draw your weapon off need be.
So this year we are developing our 空間感覚 Kuukankankaku, our sense of using the space between ourselves and the opponent as well as everything else around us, including possible weapons, doors, trees, stones, cars, other people etc.
In art they also speak of kuukan. For example using a big white paper and not too much black ink. Instead of looking at the black ink you look at the big white spaces. Or a zen garden one stone in the middle of a big field, it is the same thing, kept very simple. Maybe the same thing can be said about budo, keeping the techniques simple and leave plenty of room that can be used if needed, instead of complicated techniques that leaves out the freedom to henka, change. The key is to keep it simple, I think.…