Skip to content

Recent Posts

  • Complete SHINDENFUDO-RYU DAKENTAIJUTSU
  • Master One To Master All
  • Encounter With A Polisher
  • Kannin: Keep Going!
  • Change Is A Chance

Most Used Categories

  • Contributors (1,860)
    • SuperfeedEN (1)
  • budoshop (149)
  • YouTube (57)
  • Seminars (49)
  • Kesshi (43)
  • Podcast (15)
  • kaigozan (15)
  • Uncategorized (14)
  • web site update (4)
Skip to content
  • Affiliated to NinZine →
  • Mats Hjelm
  • Kaigozan Dojo
  • Budoshop
  • Seminars
  • Bujinkan TV
Subscribe

NinZine 3.0

Unofficial Bujinkan Dojo Budo Taijutsu E-Zine / Blog

Subscribe
  • NinZine
    • About
    • Articles
      • Archive from 2005
      • Archive from 2006
      • Archive from 2007
      • Archive from 2008
      • Archive from 2009
      • Archive from 2010
      • Archive from 2011
      • Archive from 2012
      • Archive from 2013
      • Archive from 2014
      • Archive from 2015
      • Archive from 2016
      • Archive from 2017
      • Archive from 2018
      • Archive from 2019
    • Main Authors
      • Arnaud Cousergue
      • Budoshop Store
      • Don Roley
      • Doug Wilson
      • Duncan Stewart
      • Mats Hjelm
      • Michael Glenn
      • Paul Masse
      • Sean Askew
      • Shawn Gray
      • Sheila Haddad
  •   ★  
  • Dojo Locator
  • Honbu Dojo
  • Seminars
  • Twitter
  • Budo Shop
    • Budoshop.SE
    • Paart Budo Buki
    • Soft Hanbo
    • T’s – Shut Up and Train
    • Yudansha Book
  • Home
  • muto dori

Tag: muto dori

Takamatsu Sensei taught Hatsumi Sōke with 42 hands

adminMarch 7, 2018March 7, 2018

From 8þ Kabutoshimen by admin

At the training yesterday Sōke said that he had been taught by the 42 hands of Takamatsu Sensei. He was referring to 千手千眼観自在菩薩 Senju-sengen Kanjizai Bosatsu that had 1000 hands and 1000 eyes. The deity emphasizes the compassion that sees suffering (with 1000 eyes) and acts to relieve it (with 1000 hands).

千手観音Senju Kannon appears in the 虚空蔵院 Kokūzōin of the 胎蔵界曼荼羅 Taizōkai Mandara, with 27 faces and 42 main arms, while innumerable small arms fan out behind. Since it is difficult to portray one thousand arms, images usually show Senju with two principle arms in 合掌印 Gasshō-in (Sk: anjali mudra) in front of his chest and 40 arms, holding attributes and forming mudra, on the sides (altogether 42 arms, or shijūnihi 四十二臂). This number can be justified because each hand saves the beings of 25 worlds, and 40 times the 25 equals 1000.

Takamatsu Sensei died when Hatsumi Sōke was 42 years old. 42 years later we had a big Taikai in Japan to celebrate Takamatsu Sensei and starting a new cycle. In Japanese culture, the number 42 is considered unlucky because the numerals when pronounced separately—shi ni (four two)—sound like the word “death”.

Many cultures around the world recognise the number 42 in interesting ways.

There are 42 questions asked of persons making their journey through Death in the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead.

42 is the number with which God creates the Universe in Kabbalistic tradition.

42 is also the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything according Douglas Adams in his science fiction book Hitchhikers Guide to the galaxy.

Funny fact; in 1996 Cambridge astronomers said that Adams was right. Dr Richard Saunders, who led the research, sounded a trifle abashed by the result. “We have taken two measurements for the constant, and the average of them is, well, it’s 42.”

Sōke showed us antique small miniature weapons. He said it is important to appreciate the quality and details, and we should study them.

The post Takamatsu Sensei taught Hatsumi Sōke with 42 hands appeared first on 8þ Kabutoshimen.…

Read More

Keiko#33 DOWN UNDER 2017 with MATS HJELM

BUDOSHOP.SENovember 10, 2017

From Budoshop by BUDOSHOP.SE

  $19.99

Down Under 2017

  $19.99

Three video files, total playing time is 106 minutes. 5.7 Gb (H.264, AAC, 1280x720p)

This was filmed in Australia in the middle of Mats Hjelm’s #JapanTrip38.

The instructions on this film is in English. Each technique is demonstrated several times from all angles. The techniques are a mix of basics and new techniques from Japan trainings this year.

14-15 OCT – Port Macquarie Seminar

On Saturday the training started with all three forms in Sanshin no kata, then moved on to Muto-dori. Muto-dori and especially Shinken-shiraha-dome is this years theme in Japan, it is unarmed defence against knife and sword where you grab the blade.

Sanshin Gokei no kata (5 techniques)
Sanshin Gogyo no kata (5 techniques)
Sanshin Goshin no kata (5 techniques)
Sanshin with Kunai (5 techniques)
Muto-dori and Taijutsu (many techniques)

On Sunday the training started with Ashirau with is techniques trapping his legs and take him down. Then Taijutsu and Muto-dori against sword and knife was taught. Finally the five Jutte techniques from Kukishin-ryu was taught.

Ashirau (4 techniques and henka)
Muto-dori and Taijutsu (many techniques)
Jutte-jutsu (5 techniques)

 

The video is edited down to 62 minutes

17 OCT – Newcastle extra training

Some of the people was at the seminar and requested more Ashirau techniques and Jutte techniques. A little Kunai was taught and also Muto-dori and Taijutsu.

The video is edited down to 17 minutes.

18 OCT – Sydney extra training

Taijutsu and Muto-dori was taught at this extra training.

The video is edited down to 27 minutes.

 

Title: Down under in Australia with Mats Hjelm
Instructors: Mats Hjelm
Theme: Sanshin no kata, Kunai, Jutte, Muto-dori
Recorded: Recorded in Port Macquarie, Newcastle and Sydney, Australian October 2017

Kind: Apple MPEG-4 movie
Size: 5 703 149 641 bytes (5,7 GB on disk)
Dimensions: 1280×720
Codecs: H.264, AAC, Photo – JPEG, QuickTime Text
Duration: 106 min…

Read More

Tsunagaru: Stay Connected!

kumafrMay 12, 2017

From Shiro Kuma by kumafr

img_20170507_122506.jpgA week ago, my last class with Sensei for this trip was another great one, with many insights to bring and to train at home.

Before we began, Hatsumi Sensei spoke about the new statue of Kannon that he acquired recently. More than a statue, it is a symbol. When Takamatsu Sensei stayed one year on the mountain, he trained under the guidance of a hermit. During this time he developed a strong connection with the goddess Kannon. He saw Kannon as the end of his mountain shugyō and a witness of the Musha Shugyō accomplished in the wilderness.

img_20170507_113629.jpgWhen Hatsumi Sensei saw this statue at his regular antique shop, he took it as a reminder of Takamatsu sensei’s story. For him, this statue placed at the centre of the Shinden symbolises the fact that we (he) have reached the level of Takamatsu sensei’s understanding.
The Goddess Kannon connects us (him) to the late Takamatsu Sensei.

received_10211601687830068Before we did the salute, Sensei facing the Shinden called me to give me a Ōmamori from the Amatsu Tatara. It reads “Amatsu Tatara no Hōken”. Hōken is the treasure sword that protects from sickness and evil. That was a kind attention.

Kannon, the Amatsu Tatara no Hōken, these are connecting us to our Life. And this is the same type of connection that we’re looking for in the encounter.

During class, Sensei spoke many times about the importance of Tsunagaru. (1) We have to connect to the moment, to the opponent, and to the fight. Mutō Dori deals with this quality of the connection.

At any given moment we have to be protected, in “security”. Sensei repeated that in the exchange we had to safe and secure: “Anzen”. (2) We can be Anzen because we do not fight, we play (Asobi – 3) with Uke, using our fingers, our understanding of distance, and our unwillingness to do anything to defeat him. “Master the Kokû” he added, “and never give the opponent anything he is expecting. We have to keep changing (moving) because life is about changing permanently. If you stop moving your body and your mind, you cannot change. If you don’t change, you become visible, when you are visible, you are “pre-visible”, and Uke can read your actions.

We have to learn hos to change. Then, I began to get very lost when Sensei added that “(he) cannot teach change.”
How then can we possibly learn to change when he cannot teach it?

He explained that it was impossible to teach because change is a natural human reaction that develops by itself. When we watch him doing things that we can hardly copy, there’s no learning process or structure to follow. The ability to change is what blooms from your training.

We see the permanent change when he does it, and maybe, one day, we will be able to do it. It cannot be learned; it comes from years of practice.

That understanding about change, connection, security being the result of years of practice, tied us (Tsunagaru) with his introductory speech about the new Kannon statue.
I have the feeling that Hatsumi Sensei has reached another plateau in the evolution of his understanding of Budō. At this level of Mutō Dori, we are only witnessing his level of expertise.

I wrote in a recent post that we shouldn’t copy his movements. I guess I was wrong because copying him is not possible anymore.

_____________________
1. Tsunagaru: 繋がる, to be tied together; to be connected to; to be linked
Tsunagu: 繋ぐ/tsunagu/to tie; to fasten; to connect
2. Anzen: 安全, safety|security
3. Asobi: 遊び, 1) play, 2) play (margin between on and off, gap before pressing button or lever has an effect)


… Read More

Tsunagaru: Stay Connected!

kumafrMay 12, 2017

From Shiro Kuma by kumafr

img_20170507_122506.jpgA week ago, my last class with Sensei for this trip was another great one, with many insights to bring and to train at home.

Before we began, Hatsumi Sensei spoke about the new statue of Kannon that he acquired recently. More than a statue, it is a symbol. When Takamatsu Sensei stayed one year on the mountain, he trained under the guidance of a hermit. During this time he developed a strong connection with the goddess Kannon. He saw Kannon as the end of his mountain shugyō and a witness of the Musha Shugyō accomplished in the wilderness.

img_20170507_113629.jpgWhen Hatsumi Sensei saw this statue at his regular antique shop, he took it as a reminder of Takamatsu sensei’s story. For him, this statue placed at the centre of the Shinden symbolises the fact that we (he) have reached the level of Takamatsu sensei’s understanding.
The Goddess Kannon connects us (him) to the late Takamatsu Sensei.

received_10211601687830068Before we did the salute, Sensei facing the Shinden called me to give me a Ōmamori from the Amatsu Tatara. It reads “Amatsu Tatara no Hōken”. Hōken is the treasure sword that protects from sickness and evil. That was a kind attention.

Kannon, the Amatsu Tatara no Hōken, these are connecting us to our Life. And this is the same type of connection that we’re looking for in the encounter.

During class, Sensei spoke many times about the importance of Tsunagaru. (1) We have to connect to the moment, to the opponent, and to the fight. Mutō Dori deals with this quality of the connection.

At any given moment we have to be protected, in “security”. Sensei repeated that in the exchange we had to safe and secure: “Anzen”. (2) We can be Anzen because we do not fight, we play (Asobi – 3) with Uke, using our fingers, our understanding of distance, and our unwillingness to do anything to defeat him. “Master the Kokû” he added, “and never give the opponent anything he is expecting. We have to keep changing (moving) because life is about changing permanently. If you stop moving your body and your mind, you cannot change. If you don’t change, you become visible, when you are visible, you are “pre-visible”, and Uke can read your actions.

We have to learn hos to change. Then, I began to get very lost when Sensei added that “(he) cannot teach change.”
How then can we possibly learn to change when he cannot teach it?

He explained that it was impossible to teach because change is a natural human reaction that develops by itself. When we watch him doing things that we can hardly copy, there’s no learning process or structure to follow. The ability to change is what blooms from your training.

We see the permanent change when he does it, and maybe, one day, we will be able to do it. It cannot be learned; it comes from years of practice.

That understanding about change, connection, security being the result of years of practice, tied us (Tsunagaru) with his introductory speech about the new Kannon statue.
I have the feeling that Hatsumi Sensei has reached another plateau in the evolution of his understanding of Budō. At this level of Mutō Dori, we are only witnessing his level of expertise.

I wrote in a recent post that we shouldn’t copy his movements. I guess I was wrong because copying him is not possible anymore.

_____________________
1. Tsunagaru: 繋がる, to be tied together; to be connected to; to be linked
Tsunagu: 繋ぐ/tsunagu/to tie; to fasten; to connect
2. Anzen: 安全, safety|security
3. Asobi: 遊び, 1) play, 2) play (margin between on and off, gap before pressing button or lever has an effect)


… Read More

Mumei And Yokenai

kumafrMay 1, 2017

From Shiro Kuma by kumafr

IMG_20161127_130637
Mumei, no name, no fear

Hatsumi sensei is getting deeper, every class, into the world of Mutō Dori.
The majority of you is now familiar with the vast complexity os this concept that we have been training on and on for nearly a year and a half now.
As he explained here, Mutō Dori is not only the “unarmed defence against a weapon. It is much more. In “Japanese sword fighting”, sensei writes that “(…) Even if you have a sword, Mutō Dori starts with the development of the courage to face an opponent with the preparedness of not having a sword.” (2)
My dragon name being Yūryū, it resonates with me. (3)
Courage is to face the enemy even if you risk to lose your life.

The Mutō Dori of 2017, the way I understand it now, goes beyond this bravery. And he explained it during class when he said “Yokenai”, don’t protect yourself! (4)

Not concerned by the outcome you go straight to the opponent with no intention and ride the wave of his intention. Fear is not at play, you do your best and watch the result. As you have no plan of action, it is Uke that defines your reactions. Not frozen in the “I want to”, your body adapts to the situation.

But this detachment finds its origin in another concept that Sensei mentioned the other night. This concept is Mumei. (5)

At dome point during the class, Sensei did a particular grip on the sword, and I went to ask for its name. “There is no name for it” he answered. Maybe I looked puzzled, so he added “at Mutō Dori level many techniques have no names. You do them naturally.”

Kacem late told me that these techniques have no name (even if they have) because a name would limit them. I thought of Plato saying that “knowing the words led to the understanding of the world.”
It means that when you name something, you define it. You set limits to what it is, and what it is not.

Therefore, you are trapped by its definition. And this is where the Oriental philosophy have invented Mumei, the “no-name” concept, so familiar to Zen practitioners. Mumei doesn’t limit things to a single reality. Things are not “de-fined”, they have no boundaries, no finitude.

In Mutō Dori, as you don’t name the technique you stay away from the limits of the definition.

This is why Sensei moves naturally. On a few occasions, he dodged easily the sword and knife attacks of Shiraishi sensei, he kept walking towards him as if nothing would touch him. Strangely, nothing cut or stabbed him, his distance was always perfect. Because in the “un-limited ” world of Mumei and Mutō Dori, there is nothing to fear.

“Courage knows what not to fear,” said Plato. When you face your opponent with no fear, you cannot be defeated. So, you don’t need to protect yourself, Yokenai!
_________________________
1. 無刀捕, Mutō Dori
2. “Japanese sword fighting”, by Hatsumi sensei, pages 64 and 65 (published 2005 by Kodansha). Read here. More on Mutō Dori here
3. Yūryū: 勇竜, Dragon of bravery; courage; heroism. At the beginning of the 90s, Hatsumi Sensei gave us, Yūro Shi Tennō, “dragon names.” Today people don’t bother receiving them; they only add a dragon name to look cool. (sic)
4. Yokenai: 除け無い, yoke/protection + non-existent, not being there
5. Mumei: 無名, nameless, anonymous

Paris Taikai 14th to 16th of July. 3-day seminar with Sven Bogsater, Peter King and Arnaud Cousergue. Registration opened here


… Read More

Posts navigation

1 2 Next

Shut-up and Train T-Shirts

武神館無段者の案内所
MUDANSHA - BEGINNERS GUIDE TO BUJINKAN

Price: $14.99
Prints in 3-5 business days

English, Perfect-bound Paperback, 96 pages richly illustrated with pictures and illustrations.

武神館有段者の案内所
YUDANSHA - BUJINKAN BLACK BELT GUIDE

Price: $27.77
Prints in 3-5 business days

English, Perfect-bound Paperback, richly illustrated with pictures and illustrations. Available in two sizes
- 184 pages (8.26" x 11.69") Paperback
- 184 pages (8.26" x 11.69") Coilbound
- 244 pages (6.14" x 9.21") Paperback

Budoshop Downloads Budoshop Downloads

Recent Posts

 

    • ()

 

Archives

RSS Bujinkan Seminars

  • 2023-08-18 NOGUCHI TAIKAI (Stockholm, SWE)
  • 2023-03-11 KUSARIFUNDŌ & IKEN-HASSŌ with MATS HJELM
  • 2022-12-17 KGZ TomteLäger

Our Recent Tweets

  • Budoshop.SEBShuriken at Kaigozan Dojo. Here is a link to the blog about this video.https://t.co/ejcsaLJ8Qd @ Bujinkan Kaig https://t.co/GxmW9Sp5Hc

    Reply Retweet Favorite 12:22am - 2 May '20 - 1058 days ago

  • Budoshop.SEThis is the Te-no-uchi for my first B-shuriken Kata. I will explain this with text, pictures and video on my blog https://t.co/3fIozFuikf

    Reply Retweet Favorite 8:35pm - 29 Apr '20 - 1061 days ago

  • Budoshop.SEFick en frga angende svrd som kanske andra ocks undrar ver. Hej Mats!Vet du har man kan hitta en iaito som https://t.co/Oep9K2sCqr

    Reply Retweet Favorite 8:35pm - 29 Apr '20 - 1061 days ago

Follow @budoshop
  • Bujinkan KGZ DojoI improved the Kusarifund! Check out my new page on my web site. https://t.co/7Sesef4zXP @ Bujinkan Kaigzan dj https://t.co/Papt0H2Z3f

    Reply Retweet Favorite 12:38am - 3 Feb '23 - 51 days ago

  • Bujinkan KGZ DojoNew Shimenawa is up, so we are protected another year. First training of the year was done. #Kami #Dojo #Bujinkan https://t.co/GIkhgjAu3W

    Reply Retweet Favorite 12:14am - 4 Jan '23 - 81 days ago

  • Bujinkan KGZ DojoGott Nytt Vatten Harens rNy bloggpost https://t.co/xtBG6iM09Y @ Bujinkan Kaigzan dj https://t.co/ENYdjZ6Nyv

    Reply Retweet Favorite 11:18pm - 31 Dec '22 - 84 days ago

Follow @kaigozan
  • Mats 兜鉄Impressive! https://t.co/Fp2KhCJWel

    Reply Retweet Favorite 5:26pm - 9 Mar '23 - 17 days ago

  • Mats 兜鉄@BrianRoemmele The clip below is around 20 years ago. But my point is that we have come a long way, it has been in https://t.co/WWzKTRvxyL

    Reply Retweet Favorite 5:31pm - 10 Feb '23 - 44 days ago

  • Mats 兜鉄Police and ambulance was called but both idiots had left before they arrived. This was self defence, no charges. https://t.co/xGCVsHYu4X

    Reply Retweet Favorite 2:42am - 30 Jan '23 - 55 days ago

Follow @kesshi
Budoshop Downloads Budoshop Downloads

Recent Posts

  • Complete SHINDENFUDO-RYU DAKENTAIJUTSU (March 20th, 2023)
  • Master One To Master All (February 28th, 2023)
  • Encounter With A Polisher (February 27th, 2023)
  • Kannin: Keep Going! (February 26th, 2023)
  • Change Is A Chance (February 25th, 2023)

Archives

RSS Bujinkan Seminars

  • 2023-08-18 NOGUCHI TAIKAI (Stockholm, SWE) February 27, 2023
  • 2023-03-11 KUSARIFUNDŌ & IKEN-HASSŌ with MATS HJELM February 25, 2023
  • 2022-12-17 KGZ TomteLäger November 7, 2022

Tags

Basics budoshop Budoshop.se bujinkan bujinkan.me Doug Wilson Download Download movie Duncan Stewart essay General thoughts Henka History iPad iphone ipod Japan training Japan Trip kaigozan keiko Kesshi Kihon Kihon Happo Kukishin-ryu Mats Hjelm News ninjutsu Rob Renner Ryuha Seminar shugyo Sveneric Bogsäter Sweden tabi Taijutsu Taikai Thoughts on Budo togakure-ryu training Uncategorized update videos weapons YouTube Zeropoint

Our Recent Tweets

  • Bujinkan KGZ DojoI improved the Kusarifund! Check out my new page on my web site. https://t.co/7Sesef4zXP @ Bujinkan Kaigzan dj https://t.co/Papt0H2Z3f

    Reply Retweet Favorite 12:38am - 3 Feb '23 - 51 days ago

  • Bujinkan KGZ DojoNew Shimenawa is up, so we are protected another year. First training of the year was done. #Kami #Dojo #Bujinkan https://t.co/GIkhgjAu3W

    Reply Retweet Favorite 12:14am - 4 Jan '23 - 81 days ago

  • Bujinkan KGZ DojoGott Nytt Vatten Harens rNy bloggpost https://t.co/xtBG6iM09Y @ Bujinkan Kaigzan dj https://t.co/ENYdjZ6Nyv

    Reply Retweet Favorite 11:18pm - 31 Dec '22 - 84 days ago

Follow @kaigozan
  • Budoshop.SEBShuriken at Kaigozan Dojo. Here is a link to the blog about this video.https://t.co/ejcsaLJ8Qd @ Bujinkan Kaig https://t.co/GxmW9Sp5Hc

    Reply Retweet Favorite 12:22am - 2 May '20 - 1058 days ago

  • Budoshop.SEThis is the Te-no-uchi for my first B-shuriken Kata. I will explain this with text, pictures and video on my blog https://t.co/3fIozFuikf

    Reply Retweet Favorite 8:35pm - 29 Apr '20 - 1061 days ago

  • Budoshop.SEFick en frga angende svrd som kanske andra ocks undrar ver. Hej Mats!Vet du har man kan hitta en iaito som https://t.co/Oep9K2sCqr

    Reply Retweet Favorite 8:35pm - 29 Apr '20 - 1061 days ago

Follow @budoshop
  • Mats 兜鉄Impressive! https://t.co/Fp2KhCJWel

    Reply Retweet Favorite 5:26pm - 9 Mar '23 - 17 days ago

  • Mats 兜鉄@BrianRoemmele The clip below is around 20 years ago. But my point is that we have come a long way, it has been in https://t.co/WWzKTRvxyL

    Reply Retweet Favorite 5:31pm - 10 Feb '23 - 44 days ago

  • Mats 兜鉄Police and ambulance was called but both idiots had left before they arrived. This was self defence, no charges. https://t.co/xGCVsHYu4X

    Reply Retweet Favorite 2:42am - 30 Jan '23 - 55 days ago

Follow @kesshi

Categories

  • budoshop
  • Contributors
  • kaigozan
  • Kesshi
  • Podcast
  • Seminars
  • SuperfeedEN
  • Uncategorized
  • web site update
  • YouTube

Blogroll

  • Budo Shop Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu Web Store
  • Bujinkan Kaigōzan Dōjō training in Stockholm area, please come and visit us!
  • Kabutoshimen Mats Hjelm’s Bujinkan web site

Contributors

  • Comments for Classical Martial Arts Research Academy Promoting Martial Exellence
  • Budoshop The Bujinkan KGZ Video Downloads Store
  • Budoshop on Youtube
  • Bujinkan Santa Monica Train smart. Live better.
  • Bujinkan Zeropoint Dojo Rob Renner’s bLog
  • Classical Martial Arts Research Academy Promoting Martial Exellence
  • Kaigousuru Taikai 2025 Bujinkan Kaigōzan Dōjō
  • Kasumi An Study Center – 霞庵スタディセンター Junan taiso, martial arts, ink painting and other Japanese arts
  • Ninjutsu in the World We delve into the treasures of martial arts and the mysteries of Ninjustsu. <a href="https://kasumian.com/" >Kasumi An Study Center – 霞庵スタディセンター</a>
  • paart budo buki My contribution to perfecting your Budo
  • Schlog Shawn Gray’s Schlog
  • Shiro Kuma Arnaud Cousergue Bujinkan Kuma Dojo
  • Shugyo – Budo for Life Duncan Stewart’s bLog
  • TENRYU English Blog from Christian Petroccello
  • Wanderings in Budo musings on a journey along the warrior path
  • YŪDANSHA NO AN'NAISHO Bujinkan Black Belt Guide Book
  • 武神館兜龍 Bujinkan Toryu Mats Hjelm’s Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu Web Site
  • 術心悟 The Art of Enlightening the Heart
Copyright All Rights Reserved Kaigozan Dojo | Theme: BlockWP by Candid Themes.