Class Review – 12/12/2008

Imagine everything being the kukan (space)? Well that’s exactly how I interpret my life’s understanding of the present, moment. This past friday offically marked our last class for 2008.

Friday 12/19 – we will be holding a review class from this past year and what everyone has learned. I’ve asked some of our senior practitioners to share with the class their lessons (personal) they’ve learned throughout the year outside the dojo as well. I feel our training doesn’t begin in the dojo nor ends in the dojo. Our art is a life “art” which the physical portion is just an excuse or some would say a medium of development for discipline and maturity. In essence training in budo taijutsu has shown me how things past and present are all connected – like heaven and earth, negative and positive, yin & yang (in-yo) - these paradoxes are necessary for refinement of the self.  Do you have yoyu?  This is not a question, something the lies within. What exactly do I mean by yoyu in the non-tradition Japanese meaning, well its simple – how do you behave and respect other people.  Since my return on the scene a number of years ago, I’ve witness alot of people present themselves as being the real deal to later on showing their innate selfish selves in the most arrogant ways. This in my opinion is certainly no role model I would want to follow. It’s not the technical skills of these individuals that I complain about. They’re inability to have compassion for another human being is what apparent. Perhaps their not at fault, they seem to be born with this self justification of being a nice and sincere person. Why am I ranting about this, well as I’ve come to understand in my life, most artist that demostrates or showcase their work is conveying a message to anyone who has the capacity to see through their own veil what that artist is saying – it’s communication, a language of the heart. 

In closing – we revisited the koshi kihon sanpo gata in a realistic way that perhaps suitable for living in New York.  The main ingredients mentioned was the right (needed) distance to take and angels that would offshoot our opponent couple with timing allowed the recipient  to move as and in the space, yet not control it – it controls itself in a conducive way.

Newton conceived space to be absolute (bold statement), anyway Newton claimed to have proof of its absolute nature. He maintained that absolute space is a great void which objects occupy. It exists independently of objects, and if there were no objects, then space would still exist.  Newton said this space has character independent of objects (tori/uke). An off quoted definition of space is of it’s own nature – without relation to anything external, remains always similiar and immovable.  Let it be known, I do not claim to be a physic’s expert nor scientist in the ordinary sense. I’m a practitioner of many links that  contributes to my understanding and growth.

Budo is like Jazz – man it’s all about improvisations, melodies (constants) in life, harmony with friends, family and foes. I suggest to anyone on this path (budo) to relax and don’t try to define what budo, when you do, you loose a precious moment of its expression in your life.

 

One of my favorite quotes – by a really awesome musician – ” I never thought about whether or not they understand what I’m doing…. the emotional reaction is all that matters as long as there’s some feeling of communication, it isn’t necessary that it be understood”. – John Coltrane

Class Log: Review From Friday Past 12/5/08

Hopefully for the new year I can free up more time to update our blog in a timely manner. The blog is strictly to share our training experiences. All comments are declined.

This past friday we reviewed the kosshi kihon sanpo gata as the bases for what was to follow – kamae, distance, angeling and timing primary was the emphasis of our training throughout the evening. I took the first two kata’s from the sanshin no kata and related it the sanpo gata after we messed around with the kamaes and techniques and the feeling that has been alive since our last trip to Japan. This presented a challenge. I spoke about pushing youself not to just be good but to comprehend the fact we live in NYC and things can turn out differently then what one anticipates. It is important not to assume  studying a budo art will assure you defeat.  It’s not about winning, its about not losing your life.  Perfecting your technique will come over a period of many years of practice. For now pay attention to what is being conveyed, figure out the tempo on this movement by communicating with you’re opponent and being open for feed back. If the two of you are honest with eachother perhaps some really good training can come out this interaction.

Kukishin – Ryu Happo Biken no Jutsu -

We knocked out Iso Arashi and Ara Koma with emphasis on revealing the space and turning it on and off. The function of these experiences were simple. Start from a grab kick and punch or grab punch and kick – absorb your opponents punch (tsuki) with uke nagashi this will take their mental balance, cover yourself with a slight opening (revealling the kukan) to entice uke to attack.

There were a bunch of other stuff covered in class that I will not go into detail here. Some things are better left in person.

Taihen Jutsu – hiding in ukemi became our focal point. Lately class has started out with some of the basic ukemi, not all from the “ten ryaku no maki”.  Mainly to warm up and look at a particular aspect that will become significant during the night from the physical or oral aspect.  We looked at a way of expressing the zenpo kaiten from shizen accessing the space from the womb of nature. It was important for everyone to get low as possible to the earth and roll like a fetus uniting the whole body within the space for countering or coming up on their feet, not the side of the calf that I often see people do. I spoke about yoko, koho, zenpo to mention a few “ukemi” body drops being mindful not to use the arms, hands to absorb a throw therefore disabling uke from trapping a limb in space while airborne. As the defender its important to keep in mind some of these bad habits in uke and use their un-natural reaction against them and capture anyone of their limbs as they try to roll or ukemi out from the space.

So much in so little time is always the factor in our training. One can never get enough in one class. Everyone’s committment and determination is inspiring. This kind of energy is what we’re all about and look for in new students.

Always I wish to encourage everyone to pursue their dreams, desires and fulfill their creativity in whatever direction they so choose. Personally I’ve  been immersed in learning how to play the bass and found Jazz to be more budo inspired.

Hatsumi Sensei in his latest book at the end mentioned about a life pasttime, when he was a child how he pursued many activities from playing soccer, judo to playing a musical instrument, dancing to list a few. He said these recreations have broadened his knowledge and honed his athleticism, vital elements to his budo life. Encouraging people to go beyond their potential is one of my many philosophies. There is ordinary, then there is extrodinary. We have a choice, what is yours?

 It’s time for one of my favorite quotes – “I realized by using the high notes of the chords as a melodic line, and by the right harmonic progression, I could play what I heard inside me. That’s when I was born” – Charlie Parker

Class Log: Conscience and the phyiscal expression of Budo Taijutsu

What does the word “conscience” means?  Perhaps the ability to differentiate right or wrong. An inner sense of knowing whats morally right and wrong. How does this relates to training?  From my experience it’s important to note if my thoughts, emotions and feelings is not present in the moment, then it’s a good chance my actions would followed the thoughts of past or future experiences therefore presenting me a negative impression to go on.

I haven’t posted any training info in awhile do to my tight schedule these days. So much is going on, with little time to work with. Anyhow let me jar my memory from the past few weeks…….

In general we’ve been re-visiting material from the ten, chi and jin ryaku no maki.  I week of the 22nd of our in-house seminar we covered some essential techniques. Friday night was 3 hrs of open training. Primary on kamae, distance, angeling, timing and how to use the space to your advantage. Controlling the space rather then uke were discussed.  Saturday seminar was interesting, for each technique taught we slowed it down and I talked about the process of getting there (desired place), as well as the basic applications in these forms we’ve taken notice.

While training in the dojo its important to be honest with yourself in terms of thoughts, feelings and actions. This will help in slowing down and take the focus (ego) of the phyiscal matter and grant you the ability to see beyond the past or future and take to the present with keen awareness of self. To defeat your opponent you need to know your limits and how far to go in terms of protecting yourself or a loved one. Another aspect of conscience to consider huh?  Don’t use your taijutsu, let it use you. You have to be sincere in your training or else you’ll begin to loose elements of importence that makes up a true bugeisha. The path to justice is through peace and how does one captures the entire essence of such?

In closing I would like to make a point in saying that any culture of human beings is based on respect. If you don’t repect other people (bad mouthing, excluding, intentionally hurting people) to mention a few then it clearly shows lack of self respect (mirror effect) and to this degree no matter what level (dan grade) you are it doesn’t matter because you’ve missed the point.

 

It’s time for a quote of the day – “You get what you concentrate upon….there is no other main rule”.

 

In the spirit of fellowship, I salute you all.