Class Log: Taijutsu + Kamae + Kukan + Buki + Ninpo

The weather has been really good here in NYC this past week. New York is the best place in my opinion to be during the spring time. This past friday we actually had a small class of 5 people including myself. However this did’nt deter us from training and discovering what was intended (shikin haramitsu daikomyo). Prior before class I had the pleasure of speaking with a fellow budoka about the nature of budo taijutsu in comparison to budo sports. In my opinion I wish to make a point to whoever is reading my cyber diary one thing, budo taijutsu training is real and if training is not taken seriously one can get hurt, worst die. This point I cannot stress enough. When I bow in and recite the mantra (shikin haramitsu daikomyo) not only am I’m seeking an enlighten series of moments, but that we (dojo) all can train safe while engaging in budo taijutsu.

A visiting buyu who often stops by to share with us was recently in Japan last month who finally got the chance to train with us this past friday. There was no need to compare notes. So I just asked him to share something he learned in Japan with us. Following his demostration with the five of us we each took turns showing something that we picked up in Japan.  After every technique demostrated I basically put emphasis on the importence of kamae, foot placement in the space that is lest used and encouraged everyone to take it slow and check their kamae to see if there distant is preferable. For every henka I showed I had a weapon in my possossion to use when necessary. This didn’t inslave me to the weapon, in fact this awareness allowed me freedom, the moment for the space to open with an opportunity to use my knife which does not stay open at all time by the way. This I found to be possible when my movement became alive and moving through the kukan with a slight opening that perpetuated a dropping of the shield from my opponent. In a instant I was moved further in the kukan and lightly touch with no detection of what is happening from my opponent to hide which is the very essence of this year theme – my opponent was confused in of itself. Sensei talked about moving from point to point never to reveal your intention – this is hiding also. I worked on this friday night with everyone during the whole night – I was amazed how confused and lost my opponents were and how they never knew or suspected what was actually happening to them til the end. 

On another note – Everyone seems to be on the same page at this time in training for which I’m pleased. Going to Japan to train is very important for your evolution in the Bujinkan on every level possible. Forget the politics and train with those people who goes to Japan and get what you can from them and develop your style of moving. This is a very significant part of your budo training.

PS: I do hope everyone enjoyed Ed Martins, aka. Papa-san article. I would like to personally thank Ed for his kind words of wisdom, not only with the article but in all our talks. You know, papa-san!  Thanks!

 

Its that time in closing to share one of my favorite quotes – ” When you dream of others, they know it. When they dream of you, you know it”

 

Farewell for today all,

Anthony Lucas, Dojo Cho

 

Announcement: Seminar with Paul Masse June 28th, NYC

Paul Masse has confirmed – The Koteki Dojo will be hosting Paul Masse (jugodan) long time resident of Japan for a ONE day seminar right here in the heart of NYC.

Paul Masse who has been living and training in Japan for more then a decade (14 years) to be exact.  Paul is one of many translators for Soke – Paul has taken what Soke taught and applied it in real life.

Quote from Doug Wilson’s blog – “Paul, is one of the most capable Budoka in the Bujinkan and I don’t think enough people know about him.  He is the guy that is always training with Yabunaka san. He has taken what Soke has taught and applied it in real life. Trust me. 

Paul knows the concept of Kocho dori and he is like a feather in the wind. 

Where – 440 Studios, 440 Layafette St. NY, NY.

Date – June 28th, 2008

Time – 12pm til 7pm (one hour lunch break)

Cost – TBA

PS: On friday night the 27th were going to have a special class geared towards all the Shidoshi / Shihan that attends with their students.

More info will be posted soon. In the meantime if you have any additonal questions please contact me at : info@kotekidojo.com or call me directly at – 917-224-3630

In a friendly way,

Anthony Lucas

Bujinkan Shidoshi

Class Log: In/Yo + Inryoku / Juryoku + Kyojitsu + Taijutsu

Friday training was a total eye opener. The focus was on exploring the fundamental aspects of structure, balance, feet placement, distance and kamae. I ask our newly godan to show us something from Japan. This is the beginning of what’s going to be our new platform. Two of our other blackbelts whom also had the opportunity to train in Japan this year showed something. From these well demostrated techniques the the feeling of “in/yo” was of importence as I talked about opposites (male/female, light/dark, yin/yang etc). This open our discussion to ”inryoku + juryoku” as I understand. It is the opposite or attraction of the two that allows the unpredictable outcome of any given situation to manifest. This is what I got from Sensei when he talked about the space being everything and how at the very point of manifestation the change will present the moment for which all things are possible. We spent some time after break exploring the physical structural and how to break the balance of uke. We took our discoveries further then normal – each time closing the distance / space mindfully leaving no air pockets for our opponent to adjust from the structural demage. The spine was mostly compromised from this kind of movement / drills.  Sensitivness was what to come of this kind of training for the body to adjust, sort of memorize the subtle shift of energy. I talked alot about this magnetic feeling, the connection of the opposites and how signifigent it is to be aware of the opposites. Touching lightly, moving slowly careful not to reveal your intentions sooner then necessary is of paramount importance for this “in / yo” feeling to exist between you and your opponent as I understand. Once my opponent structure (balance) was broken as a result of right timing for this drill allowed me to leave you air (space) for them to reset themselves at the same time, gentely placing my hand on the base of there spine as I used my legs to go down (squat), thus gravity showed up with no assistence on my part. It’s like falling into a hole, an invisible hole for lack of a better word. This hole is mysterious to many for they have no clue as to what is happening other then this unexplainable feeling of falling. The deceptive part I’m getting at here is when engaged with my opponent its important to realize I’m not the omega the ultimate fighter. Even an expert bushi can be defeated with a sudden move at the wrong time. So with that said its important to be aware that death is parallel to life (yin/yang, in/yo) without this connection or connected feeling, the situation could be fatal. I realize in training that one cannot possibly foresee any outcome of any given situation, to do this is like completely trusting your technique. Such a grave error. Sensei says to throw this notion away. You make sense of it.

The attraction of this unseen force is appealing to me as well as the connection / magnetic feeling I got when I attach myself to my opponent on friday night, it was not struggle, nor any fight. In fact it was like not being there to fight which confused the hell out of my opponent and when the energy shift I shift therefore enabling me to absorbed any free space that naturally clutter my opponent to feeling as if he/she tripped over themselves without me using any force.

 

Hmmmmmmmmmm, its now time for my favorite part in closing -  “You will not understand your part within the framework of nature until you actually see yourselvesin danger of tearing it apart”.  Including in this quote I leave you with this ” If you want to know what you think of yourself, then ask yourself what you think of others, and you will find your answer”.

 

Good afternoon -

Anthony Lucas, Bujinkan Shidoshi

Protected: WORD OF WISDOM – A SHIHAN

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THE SIMPLEST ANSWER – A BUYU PERSPECTIVE

The Simplest Answer

 

            One of the things I’ve noticed in our training since being back from Japan is the importance placed on breaking up the body’s structure.  In the past we’ve talked about taking space, controlling the space, dancing in the space.  But what exactly was happening to the physical body while all of this space-dancing was going on?  The answer; the body’s structure is systematically being taken apart like a game of Jenga, until all the pieces fall to the ground. 

“A house with no foundation cannot stand.” Right?   So if we are attacking the foundation of the body (the skeletal, nervous and muscular structure) then ultimately the body will not be able to support itself.  We are learning and practicing to stretch the body to the point where it can go no further, and then change directions, then stretching the body in that direction, then changing directions again…or, we use the feet to step inside the space at the right angles in order to break the balance, or we use touch to take the body in a certain direction and then change directions to where there is no support for the spine. 

This is of course, easier said than done, especially when you’re learning how to do it.  But I’ve been thinking, maybe this is something I’ve missed in all my years of training and it really pays to take a closer, and I’ll admit, slower look at this aspect of body mechanics.  We are always trying to simplify in the Bujinkan – we strive for our movements to become smaller as we learn, and we try not to complicate our thoughts or actions. 

In relevance to all of this, I ordered Chinese food today and my fortune cookie said this; The Simplest Answer is to Act.  ‘These are words of wisdom’, I thought, because if we act instead of react to a problematic situation, we will not let our thoughts or actions complicate how we solve that problem.  In Japan, there was a lot of talk about not responding to the aggression of your attacker – having ‘no mind’ as they said in The Last Samurai (and many other valid places).  There is something else which comes to mind for me here; the literal meaning of acting – acting for the stage or film etc.  Weren’t the ninjas actors?  They did use Kyojutsu (deception) to trick their opponents, or perhaps even used the non-aggression approach to win the fight by feigning that they were actually in it to begin with.  If you pretend you’re not involved in a fight when you are, or if you pretend you are if you’re not, you’re misleading your adversary, aren’t you?  If you are convincing enough when you act, you will trick your opponent and the outside world – you do have to make sure not to trick yourself too  

And one more thing; if you act, and don’t react to something, you will be able to utilize the space around you without looking for tools, tricks, or answers.  They will simply appear out of the space, because space is everywhere and in everything – it is more expansive than one thought.  This is why having just one thought, ie: focusing on something, or being hypnotized by something is limiting – you won’t be able to use all of the space available to you.  So there you have it – I’m learning to break structure (not just the body’s, but of my thoughts as well) and I’m learning how to act all over again… I had an acting teacher who taught me that ‘acting is living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.’  So maybe what we do in training is living as truthfully as possible under the imaginary circumstance of a real fight…something to think about…

 

 

Written by -

 

Merridith Allen

 

 

 

Class Log: The Essence of Ninjutsu – Finding Balance!

Last night class was interesting as usual. Mostly everyone that journeyed to Japan this past month has overcame their jetlag. Our newly godan was the first to show a technique he learned while in japan. This was the base for a very interesting night of ninjutsu training, learning of new concepts and ideas. One thing I learned while in japan this trip, ninjutsu is not a fixed concept. In other words, if you think of it as being this or that, you’ve lost the very essence of it. What Sensei kept saying was that HE is not teaching us how to be good, everyone is technically good. What I got was the importance of kamae, distance and entering with your guard leaving just a slight opening for your opponent to believe they have a way in to suddenly absorb them in space. Nagato sensei was saying that its good to leave a small opening. After my return back to the states and training with my students I can see how necessary it is to leave an opening. If you present no target then the situation would be more along the lines of fighting. The idea of ninjutsu or ninpo is to learn how to be at peace with myself, my fellowman and nature. Some would clarify this to be in harmony with all things and people. On another note while in japan I observed how sensei would move undetected by uke and do all sorts of stuff in this space.  I was sitting there minding my own business and enjoying the atmosphere of budo and sensei called on me to attack him. My first thought was this is crazy especially after seeing how he physically projected Seno Sensei and all the others. I paused and then launched my attack not even thinking whether my punch would hit or miss. Sensei was there then he was’nt. Simply put. Actually he was close and I felt myself lose my balance one way and turned to see if I see him to notice in that thought it was to late and found myself floored with Soke gently placing his thumb under in my eye pocket touching a nerve where I just frooze, could’nt move. He laughed and let me up to fall into another trap, he was’nt done with me as those of you who been on his recieving end knows. Sensei then ask me to speak before everyone as well as the camera. What can I see, he was there, then gone and appeared over me. Hello!

I learned alot from this experience as well from everyone I had the pleasure of training and learning from. I picked up some really helpful basic tools from Rob Renner. If ever in Japan I highly recommend paying Rob a visit. It is totally worth your time and effort.

Everyone process information in there own individual way. This trip was very interesting for me. The first week or so I did’nt no thinking about what I physically learned but mainly focused on balance in my life. It’s a time for inner reflection of ones innate abilities, gifts. Alot of my sleepless nights was perpepuatied by this uncanny presence of uncomfortability yet intriguing at the same time. When I managed to sleep, alot of information about my trip came from the inner planes. If ever in doubt, give yourself a suggestion relating to whatever your conscious mind is revealing to you before sleep time. This will help you to work through some unbalanced issues.

Anyway its now time for my favorite part in closing all of my blogs – “Humanity dreams the same dream at once, and you have your mass world. The whole construction is like an educational play in which you are the producers as well as the actors. There is a play within a play within a play. There is no end to the “within” of things. The dreamer dreams, and the dreamer within the dream dreams. But the dreams are not meaningless, and the actions within them are significant. The whole self is the observer and the participator in the roles. ”

I bid you all a farewell this evening.

Anthony Lucas, Bujinkan Shidoshi

Attention – Japan Review Class 4/4 – Open to all

                        

Open Call to all Bujinkan practitioners who have been to Japan during Jan 2008 – April 2008. This is an open invite to everyone who has been to Japan this year and would be interested in sharing & showing what they’ve learned. 

Members of the koteki dojo has just returned from Japan less then a week ago and who’ll be present to show & share what they’ve learned from Soke and the shihan. This is a good opportunity or excuse to start this Bujinkan community Sensei often speaks about.  Class is going to be 3 hours long from 7pm til 10pm – cost is $20 do at the beginning of class.

Date – April 4th 2008

Time – 7pm til 10pm

Cost – $20

Location – 440 Studios, 440 Layafette St. Room 4D

This is an open class to anyone of any level to attend and most will benefit.

For more info call – 917-224-3630

Visit our site at www.kotekidojo.com

Thank you.

Class Log: Japan Experience – Kyojitsu & Kieru

               

               (Anthony, Merridith, Brian, Soke, Larry and Ken at Hombu)

My experience with taking photos with or of Sensei in the past has often came out a blur, which is no surprise to me anymore. Yet disappointing at times. I think sensei’s presence is so intense it effects any device that tries to capture it’s essence. So, I decided to post this picture of a blur that goes with the title here of kyojitsu & kieru (disappering) for those of you who might not know what this word means. Although Paul Messe was telling us on our way back to kashiwa one night how sensei at times wound change characters in a word and play with there meanings, etc. Obivously most of us know why sensei does this to often. Soke’s philosophy or words have infinite meanings, as well the direction he takes you in what he calls the kukan - space as in being everything, yet nothing. We took 4 classes with Soke in 12+ days this trip. Not bad considering sensei usually teaches 3 days a week. On the first class with sensei I recalled being ask to show something in a room filled with 60 or more people and demostrate something a long the lines I would say of disappering not doing much or giving indication of what I’m doing but do what is not felt (kyojitsu) more so then just do a technique to show how good I was. In fact sensei said to throw away the idea/belief of being good because he is showing us something more important. Also I would like to add that sensei said most martial artist today aren’t aware that being good can get them killed - I think he meant by relying solely on your technical skills. Forget about your rank and how good you are in the scheme of this post, it’s more important what sensei is trying to convey here. So don’t fall into the temptation of just being good, showing off merely for the sake of being a ninja, train and train. Training will allow you to attain the abilities and strategy that Soke and the shihan demostrates. During this trip I felt my ego come and go. I say this to say while in class at ayase last tuesday, I was ask to train up front where all the shihan and regulars hung out with sensei. Uncomfortability and frustration is a good way to describe what I was feeling during this class. I realized being among my seniors who have trained alot longer in this art was having fun and not worrying to much about getting it, which brought me to a point (zero point to be exact) of awareness, honesty and sensitiviness to accept myself as I am. When the conscious mind is misdirected, the ego feels the need to protect what it believes to be a threat of its condition. Strange insecurities crop up and the panic button is pushed. Budo is about learning how to live (mentally, emotionally and physically) more so then just the practice of self defense. A week later and I can see an important lesson here as well as that night in Ayase, Japan.

               

              (Anthony and his kunoichi Sensei draw for him – Hombu)

It was suggested to just hand Sensei my cardboard paper and he’ll just draw anything, guess what – sensei had kunoichi on his mind for me… HAHA!

In my next post, I’ll add some content about my experience being sensei’s uke and some other interesting stuff he shared with us.  

Now the best part in closing, my favorite quote for the week – “Do not place the words of gurus, ministers, priests, scientist, psycologist, friends – or even my words – higer then the feelings of your own being. You can learn much from others, but the deepest knowledge most come from within yourself. Your own consciousness is embarked upon a reality that basically can be exeprienced by no other, that is unique and untranslatable, with it’s own meaning, following its own paths of becoming. You share your existence with others who are experiencing their own journeys – in their own ways, – and you have journeying in common , then. Be kind to yourself and to your companions”.

Til our next encounter –

Anthony Lucas, Bujinkan Shidoshi