Update: Training in Japan – 2011

                         Bujinkan Hombu Dojo – Hatsumi Soke and Myself, 2011

Happy New Year to everyone. Wishing all of you a very happy beginning. It’s been a week now since my return from Japan. Presently I’m in Budapest, Hungary. It’s been surreal, training and being away from home. I wouldn’t trade my experience.

The east coast in America has been unforunate in terms of the weather conditions. Many snow storms. I would imagine floodings to go with the circumstances of nature. It’s been remarkable here in Budapest weather wise. One couldn’t ask for any better weather.

My journey started in the early part of Jan. I flew from Newark to Budapest, with a few delays and one stop in Munich which I didn’t mind. Eventually got to Budapest after 14 hours of flying. Do to the bad weather in Munich, we had to fly to frankfurt. We stood parked on the plane for well over an hour. Which seemed like a couple of hours. Then they said we have to fly back to Munich, the conditions got better. So , off we flew back to Germany. The transfer wasn’t a nightmare considering my connecting flight was canceled. Neverthelest, I got a flight out and made it to Budapest. I was a bit tired, yet excited to be back in a country that has awesome potential. After some needed rest (couple of days) I manage to get myself together to head to one of my closest friends dojo whom I admire. The buyu here have an amazing spirit and willingness to learn and train. After a few classes and maintenance training. Readiness and eager I would call it – in restrospect. Japan was near as we set off to the far east. Lufthansa was our alternative airline – do to bad weather in Vienna, our flight with Austrian air was canceled. Can’t say I was disappointed. We ended up flying to Munich to catch a connecting flight to Japan, via Lufthansa – 10hrs later. Due to a strike in Paris, many people missed their connecting flight in Munich. So you can imagine the seat availability.. One had to marvel at such luck on this one way trip. We arrive in Japan 20mins earlier then scheduled. Made through customs and secruity. The trains from Narita was on -time. Anyone has taken the train from Narita into Kashiwa knows. We got to the annex earlier then expected and had to leave our bags until check in time. Soon after check – in, we were off to our first class with Soke. Mind you, this was my first time going to Japan in Jan. Don’t remember much of that night, other then Soke was his usual self – unpredictable. His taijutsu and command of the space is impeccable. I had a good experience, neverthelest.

From that point the pace of training had its own flow. We trained and basically kept ourselves occupied. There was alot of information as you all know the drill.. Huh, hm, oh, wow.

Usually when I go to Japan, other then Sensei classes, I make it an effort to take all of Noguchi sensei classes. This trip, nature had a different agenda for me. The promptings of the spirit lead me to Nagato sensei classes for most of my stay in Japan.

                 Dave Moorefield, Nagato Sensei and Anthony Lucas, 2011

Dave was a gem. Had a really good time training and catching up with him this trip. Congratulations Dave Moorefield on your advancement.  Mainly my interest was to train as much as I can with Nagato sensei, although I was fortunate to train with the Shitenno and Soke. Duncan Stewart was kind enough to give me the details to his training. I’m so sorry I didn’t get the chance to catch up with him at his dojo. Asakusa shopping delayed us from getting back in time for Duncans class. We did make it out to Rob Renner’s dojo the night Seno sensei taught. Worked out perfectly. Seno sensei taught some basic material that was not easy to grasp. He was patient with the majority of us foreigners. This trip I made a conscious decision to try my best to pay attention and stick with the base technique. Often times in the past I would go off the base technique and explore variations with my partner. This trip was about learning from the Masters of budo taijutsu. Oguri sensei made his first training session since returning from sick leave. I felt so fortunate to present for this class. In fact, it was a special class. He spent a great deal showing us some of his basic points. During tea break, he spoke to a few of us on the side for 20 mins or so. Rob Renner translate and did an amazing job at translating. After this conversation, I had what we call back home ” a new pair of glasses”. Oguri sensei class afterwards we interesting.. He shared concepts and knowledge with us, that was privy for those of us present. Noguchi sensei classes was amazing to say the lest.  Always uplifting, interesting and watching him do what he does best, was a priviledge. He reviewed some material from the ten & chi ryaku no maki. It was fun and good to return again to his teaching of this material. The last time I was in Japan, I had to opportunity to take many classes with him and study hard his experience of the basics. Nagato sensei classes was the epiphany of my trip. I spent some time being his uke and viewing his amazing hand & footwork from a perspective that is difficult to learn if your privy to the omote and ura of his teachings. Also, its relative to having a good uke, because if your uke for Nagato sensei and missed the technique because you were occupied with being thrown and control. It’s up to your uke to carry the message ( i like to call it) of what happened to you from a third person view. Must admit, it was difficult for my partners as well. Nevertheless I learned some amazing points. Nagato sensei would come up to me on the side with my partner and make it a point to demo and show me the proper way he entered while guarding himself. Usually I’m oppose to when taking Nagato sensei class he walks up to me and ask to show something. This class (trip) I felt it necessary, because I figured what better way to get his one on one so to speak teaching. I took the opportunity to learn. We did lots of knife, shuko and hanbo stuff. Nagato sensei transceneded through kamae, movement, technique at will. His control and command of taijutsu is amazing. I learned alot from him this short trip. Nagato sensei gave all of us a gift during one of his classes (which I’m not going to talk about here). Still don’t understand much about what he gave us. Guess it will come over time. My mind went blank till I arrive in Budapest and held our first training. I taught and shared hardly anything in comparison to what I experience in japan. I felt it would come gradually as time permits. Kostas Kanakis and myself is holding a seminar this weekend – Feb 11th – 13th. The other night was my last training here till the seminar then its preparation for my return back to the states. Hard to believe, its been almost 2 months since I’ve been studying abroad.

So much to catch up on back in the states. We’re going to eventually start a monday evening class (late training). I have arranged to teach a wednesday class in NJ – not to far from Manhattan. And on thursday I usually class. Three classes per week. Looking to train and do some more seminars with buyu who’s interested in my vision. Have a new website for my practice of hypnotism that will be launched very soon.

There’s more about my trip, however I think its safe to say, if anything I’ve shared so far sparks an interest in you. Then my effort to share on this blog, training and my respect for Soke, Nagato sensei and the rest of the shihan, for that, my gratitude and passion is given back to my teachers.

If your in NY/NJ and interested in training with me, please email me at Anthony@kotekidojo.com or call me at 917-224-3630 for addresses to where I’m teaching.

Kind regards to you all,

Anthony Lucas

Bujinkan Koteki Dojo

Shidoshi, Judan