Class Log: Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu – Japan Review

                  

                    (Larry, Anthony, Noguchi Sensei, Brian and Merridith)

It’s been almost a month since my last update. I’ve just returned from a two week stay in Japan. This trip was totally different from my last visit. I would say more relaxing and focused. We set a really nice pace from the beginning that lasted for the duration of our experience. Soke and the Japanese shihan was in good health as well as top form. From the moment the plane landed in Narita my mindset shifted and senses heightened as the practice of discretion was of paramount.  An important attribute of a ninja.

My first class was with Nagato sensei - there were many lessons I learned, not to mention the feeling one gets from being on the receiving end of Nagato’s wrath.  Nagato sensei said we should practice with the idea of wearing shuko to lighten our touch when being attacked (jodan tsuki). Do I need to get into further detail about this? I think not. To many people read more into the training in japan then needed. Everyone’s experience is unique in its own right, enjoy the process and allow yourself to explore the new concepts you’ll be expose to.

Noguchi sensei class followed – basically we went through a few forms from tonso no gata. This I would say launched us into some really cool discoveries for which I saw how everything is connected.  Noguchi sensei has a way of presenting many layers to a simple technique that leads to new highs as well as lows. From this I found no truth – how can anyone limit themselves to the notion of truth. This in my opinion is self-kyojitsu.

I loved being able to train back to back (wed & thur) for Nagato and Noguchi sensei classes which was/is  a priceless gift. This trip I realize how important it is to study with ALL the japanese shihan. In my opinion I believe the main four has the pieces that is  needed to understand what Sensei is teaching. Why would anyone who travels so far limit themselves to training with one of the four? This trip helped alot in terms of progressing to the next level. The first class with Sensei turned out to be one of the best classes this of trip. When class begun and no translator I thought to myself the translation will be from the heart to the heart. Then appeared Paul Messe with a camera in hand. I later found out that Paul wasn’t there to translate but, take pictures. Paul jumped in and delivered. Sensei said we have to throw away what we’ve learned up to this point. How being good could get us killed, etc. I interpret this as being not to rely on how well you know any technique, because there are skilled people out there who is good at countering techniques and can easily defeat or worse kill you. Soke mentioned alot about the kukan – the space being everything (sky, water, heaven, matter, time, space and substance, etc) and how this space will create the moment in time for an instant reaction to the situation. Sensei showed an example with a ninjato. Sensei said to not think of using the ninjato persay in the manner of thinking how your going to use it on your opponent but, allow the ninjato or any weapon for that matter to manifest itself from nothing which is everything within the space. Sensei showed how easy it is to rely on the forces of nature more so  then the tangible methods many of us care to follow.  Sensei said he can’t teach this. Training with others from a community stand point has many benefits and ways to attain this simple yet difficult level.  Sensei mentioned to ”move like the shadow of the kukan”.

Anyway I’ll leave you all with one of my favorite quotes – my japan review will continue as more data filters through.

“What is the reality behind reality? Is physical life a hallucination? Is there some definable concrete reality of which your own is a mere shadow”

                  

                    (Merridith, Larry, Soke, Anthony and Brian – Hombu)

In a friendly way,

Anthony Lucas, Bujinkan Shidoshi

Class Log: Togakure Ryu Ninja Biken + Kukishinden Ryu Bikenjutsu

                     

                                                         (Koteki Dojo)

Muto dori – “Capture the warrior”, we studied this feeling in the most practical way friday night. This lead us to some really interesting sword concepts, principles and movement. There was talk about kamae, moving from and through kamae (jodan no kamae, totoku hyoshi, seigan no kamae, kasumi no kamae, chuden no kamae, ichi no kamae, tonsui no kamae and hasso no kamae).  Mind you these kamaes were shown as excuses for more indepth exploration of body & psychological mechanics that showed me a particular kind of footwork and angling that exposed my opponenet to have an openening. Aspects of the sword was used for metsubishi that lead to a feeling of not having nothing to fight with. My opponent dealt with confusion from the stand point of his own projections.  A very unusual form of ninjutsu. I say that to say we are all aware of the meaning of ninpo and ninjutsu in the general sense and perhaps have a go at both in our training regularly. To dive deeper into this phenonmenon the formless feeling, in my dojo we spend a great deal of time working with footwork drills that I add into technique form with a psychological twist to give my students more substance and work during class rather then just copy a technique. I’ve found this to be unatural.  Maybe this idea works for some but, imagine you (teacher) have an permanent injury, handicap or disfiguration yet still can move with good distance, timing and flow. Your students are 100% healthy and strive to move like you, all of your impediments would inherently become theirs.  Back to our class share – my uke was in jodan no kamae, performed a “tento kiri” and myself was in “tonsui no kamae”.  After my opponent attacked, I move into what appeared to be “totoku hyoshi” intentionly projecting the energy of ten/chi out from the tip of my ninjato to uke’s neck like in tsuki komi from KR bikenjutsu, another aspect of metsubishi. A point I wish to make to all of my students and whoever reads this blog is this. When practicing & learning rather then always try to be the victor, take a moment to step back and observe yourself , your desire, your idea, your thoughts about the situation. Are you paying attention to the feeling? are you quickly moving from A to C?  Isolating oneself to the exterior portions of your fixed ideas the so call truth, limits your ability to explore beyond the restrictions of your beliefs.

My favorite quote for the week –

           ”As in your terms the cavemen ventured out into the daylight of the earth, so there is a time for man to venture out into a greater knowledge of his subjective reality, to explore the dimensions of selfhood and go beyond the small areas of himself in which he has thus far found shelter”

In the scope of time,

Anthony Lucas, Bujinkan Shidoshi

Class log: Budo Taijutsu + Ninjutsu + Kenjutsu + Kuden

This past friday class was similiar to what the training & experience is like in Japan. Class begun alittle after 7pm. I started with some sword play which motivated everyone and set the mood for real bujutsu training. Shortly after examining the right distance within the space and controlling my opponent without cutting taught me a very important lesson in itself. From this discovery, I showed an important principle using strategy that later was to be the very core of what our (friend & student) whom just returned from Japan was going to demostrate. We spent about 1/2 hr on these fundamentals and went into some taijutsu. I showed the base technique as I understand of “koyoku” + “kata maki” of the koto ryu. In general I spoke about not getting caught up in the particular school (this or that kata), whether it be koppo, kosshi, daken or ju-taijutsu but, be open to what is being taught and see beyond what you think you know, this attitude will allow you access to your innate potential. Everyone strives to become better human beings in life. When a person can either demostrate or teach effortlessly without the ego getting involved in corcing others to their beliefs but, encourage them to attain that which is needed, this person will then possess the skills of humility and began to learn.

Our second class was lead by Blaise Barron – Who is Blaise?

Blaise Barron originally from Ireland whom relocated to New York City for her Job. Has been studying Budo Taijutsu for over 5 years – whom studied with Marcus Dwyer of the Bujinkan Dwyer Dojo in Ireland. Blaise brought with her many lessons of humility, patience, helpfulness and most of all simplicity in all that she does. Blaise was just recently in Japan with Marcus and others from Ireland to capture, experience and bring back what she learned. It was a real treat to learn from her what she picked up and so willingly transmit to our dojo friday night. The class was one of the best classes in my opinion I have seen in terms of someone bringing back or capable of transmitting what is being taught in Japan without the ego (what is right or wrong, etc). We see this alot in higher ranking individuals with an agenda.

Anyway, Blaise kept it simple and to the point. While Blaise was teaching what she learned I stood quite and observed the magic. Everyone was full of enthusiasim about training . I knew and had confidence in Blaise showing us what she learned. Blaise talked alittle about distance, space , control and energy. What appealed to me was her ability to not teach but demostrate on everyone the feeling backed with the principle to what she was doing. I ask to be her uke and experience what was happening. On numerous occassions she disappeared, this broke my balance (stability, confidence). It was like attacking a ghost, only to appear in a moment within the space – capturing my physical balance, I felt like there was no more room to manuver the only option for me was to fall over.  Haha - (sitting here thinking about that experience, makes me laugh)

There was countless techniques like this that Blaise showed with such command and control. Blaise showed something from every Shihan class she attended. This was enough to give me a general idea that perpatuated the feeling. In Ireland there is alot of unity among many of the dojo’s there, for which when a group returns from Japan this instructor or instructors either visit  a dojo or hold an open seminar. This is not the case here on the east coast in America.  Such an unfortunate – to much pride, ego and stupidity for anyone of quality instruction to be rid of because of politics.

My favorite quote for the week - 

  “The whole self is aware of all the experiences of all the egos, and since one identity forms them, there are bound to be similarities between them and shared characteristics”

Smile its Monday,

Anthony Lucas, Bujinkan Shidoshi