Class Log: Past Weekend Seminar Review

                                       

        (Bujinkan Keiko Kai, Cliffside NJ – 2008)

The Paul Masse seminar held in NYC prior before the keiko kai in NJ set the volume for some really good training. The NYC seminar was an important link that tied in with the NJ seminar. Most of the instructors from the NY seminar attended the NJ keiko kai for some Japan like training.

                                       

      (this is what part of the atmosphere looked like)

 

On saturday morning when I arrived Chris gave me a purple shirt which later I found out all the instructors were given a purple shirt – this was a reminder of the last Taikai. Back in 2004 in honor of Takamatsu Soke’s 33rd anniversary of his death the Japanese shihan (Noguchi, Nagato, Oguri and Seno sensei) wore Gold. 

The seven instructors including myself got along very well and worked together to transmit the feeling each one of us picked up in Japan. This is the year of Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu. Last year while in Japan I remember Hatsumi sensei saying in Ayase next year 08) were going to disappear. End quote!

I was soooo excited to see and learned what he meant by disappearing – While in japan this past spring I discovered what sensei spoke about a year prior was a metaphor of his undescribable budo. I say this to say you can’t understand nor get it from a detailed description, you have to experience it.  Hatsumi sensei showed many ways of disappearing within his movement. I trained sincerely and hard while in Japan, upon my return home all I did was practice what I learned to the best of my ability with the help of others who also had been exposed to this feeling in Japan.  This experience with a couple of seminars with some really talented people brought me to an amazing seminar held in New Jersey the weekend of July 4th. Keiru no Kankaku (the feeling of disappearing) was the theme or concept in question throughout the weekend. 50 or so practitioners showed up and trained hard during the most critical heat wave of the year to hopefully captured this feeling. The energy on saturday was so freakin high, everyones enthusiasm was the symbol of determination, courage, nobility and humility like I’ve never experience before outside of Japan. I’m not only saying this because I took part in the training – the atmosphere was warm, friendly and most importantly helpful.  We started promptly and each instructor showed a technique with the feeling of ninpo. Chris added some flavor to each instructors technique from his perspective of a thrid persons view. This approach provided a link for us to work from. They’re was a serious vibe in the dojo and everyone did’nt seem to be confused from the varity of instrutors and there individual styles of moving. In fact it was like a jamming session where all those playing would just perform and have fun, no ego to deter the flow. After the bow in Chris shared the meaning of all the hanging scrolls in the dojo that I would say we’re the keys to unlocking the barriers of east and west.  Men kyo Kai Den + Ko waza + Yoyu + Fudoshin – to learn the meanings of these words If I’m not mistaken Chris posted them on his blog at www.tanukidojo.wordpress.com

On sunday for me, the energy was’nt the same as I had felt and experience on saturday. Neverthelest I observed something that I did’nt on saturday and that was all the participants who trained hard to capture the feeling being transmitted via seven instuctors, not to mention all the other Shidoshi who showed something. I made it a point to get out there and interact with most of the people. This was very humbling and useful to my training. I learned alot and had the opportunity to work one on one with students I would’nt usually get the chance to train with. I do hope I was of help to anyone.

Seminars is good arena to set aside what you think you know (menkyo kaiden) as it means with the play on words and how Hatsumi sensei wrote the characters. The bottom line is for you to learn and work on your taijutsu. I often do this and take with me some very helpful information to add to my repertoire. The highlight for me aside from training this past weekend was when I worked with a few people on the side and saw how they improved there taijutsu and understanding simply from a one on one experience with someone who has been training longer.

Chris and his students did a really good job this weekend hosting such a big event in the tri-state area. It’s an unfortunate that there is so many teachers who don’t share the same vision. The problem with westernes is the ego and politics – bad combination. Hopefully more people would see the need to communion with eachother in the future. 

 

Here is the end of my blogs favorite quote -  “…….for you have no idea of the difficulties involved in explaining time to someone who must take time to understand the explanation”.

 

In the spacious present

Anthony Lucas, Dojo Cho

Class log: Japan review + Jutaijutsu + Kukan + Happo Biken

Class friday evening we reviewed some basic footwork and concepts mixed with alot of interesting henka. People I’ve trained with often have tendacies to hurry through kamae and movement thus disabeling there ability to see beyond technique. Why? Could be alot of reasons, maybe being afraid of the unseen possibilities or just thinking about the technique more so then the feeling (i.e. concepts, principles). It’s important to study the basics throughly as possible. This will give way to glimpses of the unseen providing  you remember to move slowly with opponent. We did some footwork drills applying a light touches to the arms / hands uke carefully not to give away any information as to whats happening. The idea of this drill was to just practice disappearing in the space using the legs/feet to do so with emphasis on resisting the temptation to do technique. I found the blackbelts have a harder time doing this then kyu grades because the beginners are trying to duplicate what they see from the instructor as oppose to blkbelts who seems to think they know what the teacher did, so they don’t realize the possibility of overlooking the essentials. I practice my taijutsu using the space and controlling my opponent. Often during these techniques my opponent never realized what was actually happening, mainly because I’m learning how to accept that its not all about the technique or how good I am or will become. Sensei spoke about being good is not enough, we have to become zero, allow the space in the moment to gave way to the instant which is like a flash or spark and don’t be fixed on thed instant but, understand that the space, moment and instant is everything. This awareness has the potential to sustain your deepest desire of wanting to do more and present an opportunity in that instant for you to act (this I suspect is when uke’s shield drops). Everyone seemed really patient with themselves to learn. I mentioned a principle way back from Juppo sessho (if you seek it, you will not find it) in relation to one of my students had a sword and he kept thinking about using his weapon more so then moving in the space and patiently observing the many possibilities. Some of the weapons we used in question was – kyosetu shogu, kunai, ninjato, tachi, hanbo, jo and bo, shuriken, shuko, tanto.

Note: Please read the last three post please, they were all posted today 5/11

 

In closing, here is one of my favorite quotes – “Juppo Sessho is not a concept, it is reading between the lines”

 

In a friendly way –

Anthony Lucas, Dojo Cho

 

It

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

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