Bujinkan Canberra

Hi all

Notice for the Canberra crew - there will not be any training on this Saturday 6 June ... apart from that, business as usual

Ta

Rick

Hi all

For the Canberra crew, tomorrow is the last Saturday of the month so training will have a shinkengata focus - in particular, managing attacks with weapons.

I hope to see you there

Cheers

Rick

Hi all

We recently dusted off two sojutsu kata as the basis of reviewing our use of longer weapons - not just the spear but also the bo and naginata.

A fundamental principle in using longer - and typically pretty heavy - weapons is having the legs move the body as the basis for manoeuvring the weapon. This is a core tenet of the budo taijutsu taught within the Bujinkan.

This clip is a great example of that principle in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83lTw1BdIQ0

Zoran has footage of him demonstrating similar excellent movement and structure with naginata. We would all do well to work towards this living expression of our historical traditions.

Cheers

Rick

Zoran Radakovic 585 likes, 19 comments. "Bujinkan Sojutsu | Yari (Spear)"

Hi all

It is tempting to take hand structures for granted - this is a reminder that we should take them seriously ... every time we strike

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KfwJ2b7tJ/

“This is how you do Shutô. (Takamatsu to Hatsumi)

Hi all

I have been re-reading the book 'Tantojutsu: The Japanese art of the knife' by Don Roley.

Roley is a Bujinkan shihan in the USA who has spent a fair amount of time living and training in Japan and has also achieved significant skills and accreditation as a translator.

I found his observations and insights in several sections in the book each worth the purchase price. These include his discussions of the sanshin no kata, social vs criminal violence, and how sparring might be useful within a balanced training program.

For me, the most interesting section [apart from the technical and other stuff involving using or dealing with a knife] was the piece on the principle of kyojutsu tenkan ho ... which I had known as 'the interchange of truth and falsehood'. Roley questions that interpretation, and goes on to unpick what he suggests is a more nuanced and accurate interpretation.

In this old clip on youtube, Roley covers much of the same territory on this topic as in the book, and there is a link in the comments to a blog that expands on it even further.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ttYrx239M

I found this material both fascinating and useful

Cheers

Rick

Don Roley 72 likes, 7 comments. "Kyojits TenkanHo"

Hi all

Admin message for the Canberra dojo - there will be no training next Saturday 25 April which is ANZAC day.

Cheers

Rick

Hi all

Here we have a clip of Bujinkan senior teacher Wateru Tezuka demonstrating his technique for iai jutsu - the drawing of the sword.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfkXM16kMDQ

At the moment in the Canberra dojo we are focused on kenjutsu - the combative use of the sword once it is drawn. But the demonstration here is quite impressive - more than a few hours work in getting this all happening I suspect!

I would encourage you to ignore the muppets on youtube who feel constrained to bag out things in the comments they either cannot do or do not understand - and there are plenty with this clip.

There are many iai schools out there. Some of them likely believe they are the keepers of 'the one true way' ... good for them ...

If I was inclined to waste any time on them (which I am not) I would encourage them to read the critique of contemporary iaido practice by Nakamura Taisaburo sensei (who, as I understand it, had no tangible connection to the Bujinkan or its antecedents) in his book The Spirit of the Sword (a good read indeed).

Cheers

Rick

Ninja Iaijutsu - Bujinkan Hombu dojo Wataru Tezuka *MORE VIDEOS ▶▶* https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTJ-TM4q1aav4Mw53IRDfmebkZ4lCtUur*MORE VIDEOS ▶▶* https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTJ-TM4q1aat...

Hi all

Admin notice for the crew who train in Canberra - no training next Saturday 4Apr as it is the Easter long weekend.

Cheers

Rick

Hi all

Below is a post from Duncan Stewart where he explains critical concepts around ukemi.

I tried to share his post but was unable to do so. The content is so valuable I hope you excuse the cut-and-paste.

Please read and digest ....

Rick

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Bushinden Tasmania Toku Bu Ryū Sui Budō Dōjō 武神傳徳武流水武道道場
February 4 at 10:10 AM
·
After class last night, Kai mentioned that he felt he couldn’t take ukemi well. I was happy to hear this. I said to him that in Budô, you actually apply techniques so your opponent cannot take ukemi.
Throws and locks are ultimately done in a way to disable, maim or kill. It is not a safe thing. The better the student gets, the more difficult the ukemi training will be. It’s to teach and learn about taking ukemi when you can’t take ukemi.
In training, people practice ukemi in such a way that when their training partner applies a technique, they flow with it with skillful ease and break their fall with a rehearsed form. We do this at our Dōjō with students working together to learn the fundamentals as safely as possible ( among other things ).
I feel many practitioners fail to remind themselves that this is elementary training, merely teaching ideal applications of falling when allowed. It needs to be addressed that there is a ‘safe training’ way to apply techniques and also an ‘unsafe’ way ( real approach) of technique application. The fundamental forms of rolling etc are also purely for ensuring practice can be performed as safely as possible in a relatively controlled and ‘padded’ environment.
It’s important not to become complacent or mindless when executing Ukemi in the Dōjō. There are no mats outside in the real world. It is concrete, gravel, uneven ground with glass, exposed roots and rocks etc. Ukemi is not necessarily a safe thing, it’s merely a way to more skillfully give you a chance of avoiding injury or death. Taking Ukemi may still hurt or injure you, especially if you are carrying items on you or being thrown into or through structures. This has to be clearly understood and accepted. True Ukemi is with the mindset of living, not just performing a perfect flip.
“Many people have a misconception concerning ukemi. Don’t feel that ukemi is a ‘safe thing.’ Many times, it is a very dangerous thing. You may land on glass or on a twig and really hurt yourself. There have been times when people have done ukemi to save themselves, only to kill themselves in the process. You must be aware of your surroundings at all times, and be able to avoid objects when you do your ukemi.”
宗家Masaaki Hatsumi
In the Ten Ryaku no Maki 天略の巻 at the end of the Ukemi Gata Taihenjutsu 受身体変術 ( body changing skill receiving art ) teaching fundamental skills, it says Shizen Ukemi 自然受身 or ‘natural receiving applications’. This can be interpreted and understood as ‘naturally receiving or changing ones body the best possible way to survive.’
In the Bujinkan, a wonderful teacher ( who will remain nameless in this post ) during a combat scenario, had stepped on a mine while under heavy gun fire. In an instant, he decided to take hicho kaiten ( diving roll ) off the mine. He lost one leg but was left with his life and back training a few months later.
This is a remarkable story and expresses the truth of Shizen Ukemi 自然受身.
“If all you are is Uke for your martial arts life and survive, you’ve succeeded a martial artist.”
先生Nagato

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Hello all

Congratulations to our Dan and his partner Hillary on the arrival last night of their daughter Hazel. Mum and baby are doing well.

All the best with parenthood, Dan - now we'll see what you're made of!

Cheers

Rick and the gang

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