Class Log – Kukishin Ken + Taijutsu & Juppo Sessho

Today’s class was really interesting to say the lest.  We spent alot of time practicing sword strategy from the sword section of bikenjutsu.  I showed proper distance and how to use the space properly with the sword. This presented many advantages and possibilities. From this we paid close attention to the kukan and how to control uke (i.e. weapons-mind, spirit and taijutsu).  Kinshi kata from bikenjutsu of the sword school we saw, this was born from henka. (note – when I use the term born for this statement, I mean when we slowed down, kinshi kata was there). From the taijutsu stand point, we worked off a grab & punch.  I messed around with ganseki nage, musha and muso dori. This is the year were exploring deeply the principles of kukishin ryu. I went back over some of the techniques from the first level of the shoden gata of kukishin ryu using the grab punch approach. Awe was what I got from the students as now they see the connection. I mentioned how everything is connected.  I believe everything is Juppo Sessho. Look at the tenkan as being a pole the top is ten (heaven) and the botton is chi (earth) - the center is jin (man) and everything around this sphere is kankaku. This is my understanding, not the truth. Concerning JS, Sensei has stated that we have to consider the tenkan as a pole, and that everything that was around it is JS.

In a friendly way,

Anthony Lucas – Bujinkan Shidoshi

Class Log – Karuma + Kimon + Ura Kimon

The second class started with a review of Karuma from last week. I showed a henka from this, with little movement. The feeling I experienced was of shinkan gata.  Last night we studied Kimon and Ura Kimon and their similiarites with lots of henka. Empahsis was placed on uke falling into the kukan – within this confined space, uke’s ability to fight was useless.  I showed many variations of striking, kicking with the spine, hips, legs and proper angles.  Koppo – Kosshi – inyo/yen-yang were born.  Uke’s balance (mental, emotional state and physical body) was effected as a result of my ability to take distance and move accordinly in time within space. This idea brings to mind yugen no sekai (the unmanifested world).  There is more to say on these matters of stretegy and budo taijutsu.  For details about training with me, please visit – www.kotekidojo.com or shoot me an email at – Info@kotekidojo.com

Note: Do not get caught up in judging someones ability (taijutsu) by reading anything on the internet. The internet is so deceiving – all types of conflicting assumptions, questions & answers make no sense and has nothing to do with real budo.  There is an old saying “put up or shut up”.  People who spend alot of time debating, arguing about topics of psuedo interest (ie, budo, martial arts and life) waste precious time on mundane things. Difference of opinions, I believe is healthy and very necessary in life, it is partially what defines the individual.  This attitude is of henka.  To further develop your taijutsu and better understand budo as Hatsumi Sensei is tirelessly teaching.  Live and let live!

In a friendly way,

Anthony Lucas – Bujinkan Shidoshi

Class Review – Ka no kata + Henka & Kukan

What was taught yesterday in class was very basic – but very important in order to express the feeling of real budo.  The feeling I got from studying ka no kata from the sanshin no kata with my pupils was of real fighting.  Class was based on studying and exploring concepts from this kind of movement, using mostly the legs, hips, spine and hands.  This formless attitude presented infinite possibilities and directions. I showed how we can use the base form as an excuse to enter the kukan seamlessly without thought and a world of possibilities open up.  In “ka no kata” there is a jodan uke from ichimonji, followed by a shuto (ie, neck, temple, ribs, etc). I used shuto, fudoken, shikaken, etc.  I spoke about within this kind of unrestricted form/movement, there is koppo, kosshi and daken – taijutsu as well as jujutsu.  Many techniques from the “kihon goho kata” of the kihon happo showed up to add more clarity for everyone.  We took this simple kata practice mostly in Bujinkan dojos as an excerise before class and gave it life. This idea and action brought an influx of confusion, as uke were fully confident in his/her ability to hit tori.  The sacrifice to give of oneself during negotiation with uke brings the situation to a high, yet sublte state of control.  My point to all those who attended was once uke is locked, something happens psychologically to the conscious mind ego/fear of uke and panic sits in and uke struggles for freedom, then falls into a kukan. I”ve always expressed to my students how they must control uke, and not let uke get away. Uke should get the feeling of falling where they stand.  Instinctively, uke wants to ukemi away and out from the situation and reset. This is not to happen, I continueously preach. Back in 2004, Sensei spoke about the 6th ring, rokudai. Its up to eachone of you to discuss this with your instructor and apply this to your understanding and training of the Sanshin.

This is proper use of the kukan!

 In a friendly way,

Anthony Lucas – Bujinkan Shidoshi

Tanuki Dojo Grand Opening- Review

The Bujinkan Tanuki Dojo Grand Opening 9/15/2007

This past saturday was the first offical class for the Tanuki dojo at their new location. The Tanuki dojo was previously at a smaller location. The new dojo is much bigger and carries the feeling and spirit of the Bujinden Hombu.

Many thanks to Chris Carbonaro, Tanuki Dojo Cho and his students for welcoming us for this special occassion.  I’ll like to acknowledge Ben Cole & Oliver Martin both Shidoshi for some really interesting training. Chris, Oliver and myself each taught for little over an hour. Like our Sanshin keiko Kai, the three of us have great chemistry and lots of respect for eachother visions.  The three of us bring a unique twist of input and experience which makes training with us an opportunity to glimpse real budo. This special event brought Benjamin Cole to Long Branch to share some really interesting insights with us all.  I’m sure Chris, Oliver and myself benefit the most from Ben’s presence. Ben is the author of “Understand? Good. Play!”. One of the my favorite quotes ”The arts of the Bujinkan were intended for budoka with the heart to train and the eyes to learn its multitude of teachings”.

 

This is one of my favorite pictures that captured the essence of unity.  All of us have dedicated our lives to the pursuit of real budo. “Understand….that it is the Budo not the belt color that defines ability” - Another Quote from Ben’s book.

The red yoroi on my right is the newest of the two. Towards the end of the seminar I thought how much I really wanted to take a picture in between the two. I was totally charged afterwards. There were three classes with a special demostration by Ben explaining how to create and control kukan (empty space).  I taught the first class which was very different then my usual presentations of budo openly. It was my intention to show the basics of the sanshin no kata with the feeling of Jissen (real fighting). However amazing it was, yet frusturating. Usually when I teach, there are times when my egotistical side shows up. What I mean by that is as a student and instructor, I sometimes think I should have perfect kamae, technique, feeling and the ability to transmit the teachings of budo taijutsu where everyone understands and learn. That’s the arrogant part of my personality.  I’ve learned over the years, that most people appreciates honesty.  It’s having the ability to be an honest student is where I get the inner wisdom, guidence and will to keep going. The pupils will get what they get.

Towards the end of my session I started to speed it up alittle. I showed Kaze Hari from the sabaki gata level.  It was shown exactly the way it was taught to me while in Japan this past April by Noguchi Sensei. I’ve been studying and training hard since my return and have explored many henka from the various 3 levels.  One of the finer points of observation for me is that you have to commit yourself to training in the dojo as well as out of the dojo. The schools within the Bujinkan survived the feudal times of Japan, therefore one can practice the principles of each and find infinite possibilities, directions and lessons. The lessons I’ve found, haved showed up when most needed.

Oct 13th – 2007 is our last Sanshin Keiko Kai for the year. If you’ve enjoyed my testimonies through this personal blog, then I ask of you to please support our Seminar. This is not for any personal gain.  Its an opportunity to train and fellowship with likeminded practitioners who shares our love for budo taijutsu.

Thank you all fo reading my blog!

In a friendly way,

Anthony Lucas – Bujinkan Shidoshi

Class Review – Tribute to 911

      Never ever give up……..

              Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo - 

“In every encounter experience, there is the potential for gaining our enlightenment, the possibility of finding that one missing piece of the puzzle that brings about illumination. It is our own mind that determines the experience to be positive or negative.” -Masaaki Hatsumi.

Before class I asked that the memory of 911 be placed in the heart (kokoro) along with Banpen Fugyo and train with this mind. The idea is to continue to spread Budo Taijutsu throughout the world and perserve our way with peace.  Today class was much on sword play, biken-jutsu (secret/hidden) movement with emphasis on using the legs rather then the upper body to cause disruption for uke’s momentum. Timing was also a factor in order to understand placement in time to disapper.  While moving through time I was able to confuse uke with my sudden appreance out from nowhere (volid), thus control his space and capture his will to fight. The techniques where from kukishinden ryu (bikenjutsu).  Kamae was stressed also, as oppose to statically starting from point A.  I believe the pupil has to learn the kata properly before going off to explore henka. I learned that lesson today as my pupil got so caught up in doing, rather then learning, he was not able to express his independence. Learn the kata, create form, play as children do. What an awesome feeling to be free.

       

  “The walk of Courage”  - Never forgotten. 

I salute the friends and family of those who lost their lives on that aweful day, September 11th, 2001.  Honor and appreciation goes out to the hero’s that sacrifice their lives to save others…  Thats what Budo means to me!

In a friendly way,

Anthony Lucas – Bujinkan Shidoshi

Class Review: Kukishin Ryu – 2 katas from Sabaki Gata + Kenpo + Kihon Sessho + Real Budo

 This past friday Ken, Christina and Santos from Kyo Rei Bujinkan stopped by to train with us. What a priviledged to have them. We had two classes. One was from 7pm – 7:50pm (beginners / basics) and 8pm til 9pm (open budo training). At the beginning of class we practice basic jodan tsuki and combinations with emphasis on using the legs. I feel that beginners get a good workout for one and two, they learn how to punch correctly without being seen.  To keep the pupil’s attention on training, I created a technique that stressed the importance of distance, footwork, balance and kamae. The dan grades were told to work on the above as well as timing and controlling uke. From this approach a few of the goho no kata was born (i.e musha & muso dori, ganseki nage and oni kudaki).  During the second class I showed susu sabaki & iso gaeshi from the sabaki gata of the kukishinden ryu.  Back in April, Noguchi Sensei taught our group and others the first 3 levels (36 techniques) in two days. So I dont preach what I show as the truth for I learned while in Japan how different the Shihans teach the waza’s. One thing for sure is the principles that are within the waza are the same. Each Shihan possessed a Densho (direct transmission) book if you will from Sensei to teach from. So I’ve notice how each Shihan read from the densho and taught exactly the way they interpret what they were reading. From Nagato to Noguchi Sensei, I seen two different approaches for ura nami from the chuden level.  Back to friday night I showed what I learned and had the pupils do exactly that for a few minutes. Much of what we did in the second class was given life.  As for the sword session, we messed around with the henka of kiri age to express the feeling that of a child playing hide and go seek. The mindset and principle of Sutemi was my message to the pupils that night with the sword. Sacrificing parts of the body getting cut is not the end all but a way to survive the onslaught of real budo.  “Let them cut your skin but cut their flesh; let them cut your flesh but cut through their bones; let them cut your bones but cut off their life”.  To get my point across effectively in training, I let my pupils cut my body and soul. Sensei once said that this was the relationship between master and student for the Bushi of old, and how he taught them this equation.  He also wondered how many of them really grasp this way of real budo.  I was having dinner the other night and the owner notice my tattoos and ask if they were Chinese and I told him no. He then asked if I studied martial arts and what style I practice. I told him yes, and that I really dont know how to explain what I practice nor teach other then that as real budo. He then ask if its jujutsu and do I compete. (((((((( haha))))))))))) Most practitioners from other styles that were born after the Meiji period usually can’t identify with the essence of real budo.

 In a very special way,

Anthony Lucas – Bujinkan Shidoshi

Post Summit Review

 Since the summit and back to training. I’m aware of the changes & progress in terms of growing. This is what budo means to me. Growing, changing and becoming better subjectively looking at oneself during (three dimensional) interaction with others and the world about. I imagine most people view the world from an omote or two dimensional way. Sometimes I see people while on the busy streets of NY and they often seem to be under some hypnosis or trace like state. Thats fine if one so chooses to live that way. Budo has awakened my inner self within the self that is writing these words. When out and about, I usually try to get in touch with my sensory perceptions and allow these senses to teach me what is necessary . As you all know from learning Sensei’s art, we all have the potential to go beyond our ordinary senses. This is the beginning or portal to the world of kankaku (fifth dan). Anyway enough of the philosophical aspects of budo. Presently at the koteki dojo were covering  susu sabaki, iso gaeshi, kaze, karuma dori and kimon. These all of have many similiarities or common aspects – from my exploration, they require little movement on tori’s part and present to uke falsehood for which uke feels totally confident with his will to attack. Practice these katas and henkas with kyojitsu in mind. The picture with the kanji means as I was told (kukishin ryu, kuki taisho, oni gokko and kimon).

In a friendly way,                

Anthony Lucas - Bujinkan Shidoshi

Training review –

I started the 3rd class off with some pretty basic sword drills. I usually start my classes with drills using either unarmed taijutsu or with a weapon. This way the pupil can see the relation between the weapon and taijutsu. You want to see your weakness in taijutsu, put a weapon in your hand. I prefer the tachi. Everyone seemed to get the hang of this drill. A couple of years ago we spent sometime with the tachi applying the first 9 teachniques from the kukishin ryu of bikenjutsu to better understand the relationship between the sword and taijutsu. After this we went into some practical taijutsu from shizen moving off jodan uke. This was fun, although everyone seemed a bit tired from the previous classes. For the first time in the entire history of  my training I worked off a schdeule for myself. This was a test run for me. It proved to be a valuble assest. For the next seminar in Oct 13th (sanshin keiko kai).  I’m going to prepare the same way.

Update:  Koteki Dojo training 8/31

last night we resumed class, each student spent 25mins apiece practicing jodan tsuki against the pad. This way everyone developed the appropiate skill and movement that was needed. In every class this is our way of warming up, at the same time if gives the pupil a glimpse of where were going for the evening. Following this, I showed a technqiue using the kasari fundo. The applications of the kasari fundo was not important as was using the legs were my point. I mentioned at the beginning of the class that we were going to explore “yugen no sekai” or the feeling of this profound and subtle movement through space. From the padded drills earlier, I mentioned how uke needs to jodan tuski through the padded mit into the void.  This idea is like piercing through the yoroi (armor).

After this intro I showed the koppo aspect of this demon kamae (attitude) as uke were preparing to take action with jodan uke. I struck/striked uke’s forarm before uke was able to launch a  jodan tsuki. This not only perpetuated a painful reaction from uke, but most importantly confused uke greatly. My student replied after getting hit like that in the forearm, he did”nt want to continue to attack.  Yugen no sekai happens before the attack.  After uke takes the decision and before uke attacks is when tori appears and moves with proper distance, timing and flow.  Sessho of juppo sessho is where negotiation happens, to much time should not be spent in this state I stressed last night.

There were alot more discoveries last night from our basic/kihon waza. To much to list here. The purpose of this blog is to share with others my experience.

In a friendly way,

Anthony Lucas – Bujinkan Shidoshi

Ninja Summit 2007

The Ninja Summit 2007 took place in Richmond Virgina. This seminar was a huge success with 5 instructors whom all have visit & trained in Japan this year. The purpose of this seminar is to raise funds for cancer research. There was something like 40+ participants who journeyed to Richmond for this 2 day summit. Many thanks to Doug and Michelle Tweedy as well as the Bujinkan Shima Dojo for hosting such a great seminar.

What I learned from the seminar instructors:

Ed Martin “Papa San” – Ed taught budo taijutsu as practice in Japan with the feeling Hatsumi Sensei has been emphasing for the past 2 decades. Ed was showing how unnecessary it was to use more effort then needed. There were alot of concepts in his taijutsu that was familiar from what is coming from Japan.  I notice Ed did’nt get into explaining what this or that means. Ed demostrated the feeling as a demon smiling big, as he tossed uke around helplessly.

Chris Carbonaro – Chris explained the meaning of the four drawings that was hanging under the kamidana written in kanji. They were (kukishinden ryu, kuki taisho, oni gokko, kimon). Following the explination of these drawings, Chris taught a few katas from the shoden, chuden and sabaki gata from the Kukishin Ryu Dakentaijutsu with emphasis  from the four drawings. Chris mentioned how the demon plays and controls uke in the kukan.

Anthony Lucas - I basically showed 6 henka techniques from the first three levels of the kukishin ryu. Originally I was going to show the three techniques, one from each of the first three levels as kihon to get things started. Fortunately Chris taught the same techniques previously, therefore I taught right from henka to express the feeling as I experienced in Japan. The second set of waza’s was strictly from the sabaki gata.  I picked up where Chris left off from his explaination of the 4 drawings and applied those concepts to what I was showing. Sensei said while in Japan “to master the demons of the 9 schools, we have to become the 10th demon”. This was the integral part of my teaching.

Joe Rae – Joe taught Biken Jutsu was strong command of the sword and movement. I learned from Joe which part of the blade your suppose to cut with from the school of the Kukishin. It was a very interesting class.  Joe is very good at taking you on a journey or exploration of the samurai and how they used there sword from a few ryu-ha in the Bujinkan.

Sean Kennedy – Sean’s class was pretty much about multiple attackers. One thing for sure I enjoyed about Seans class was the one on one taijutsu prior before the multiples. Sean related “oni gokko” to energy.  Not giving uke energy to defeat you. Chris and I was playing with this feeling and motioned Sean over and told him this was in fact “tag” or “hide and go seek”. I learned something about effortless moving, and no thought to what I’m going to do except freely exchange “your it”.

 In a friendly way

Anthony Lucas – Bujinkan Shidoshi