Mats Hjelm posted an entry over at taikai.se in Swedish which I thought would be beneficial for non-Swedish speakers to also read (or rather “absorb”). So, I translated it, trying to keep as much of the meanings behind what was stated as possible. The below is this translation.

I would like to note as well that during the weekend, these words proved its worth to me. I went to a seminar teaching Brazilian Ju Jutsu. As someone from a different discipline, it was quite interesting to see that not just those from other arts were doing their best to absorb everything shown, but also those already training in BJJ were absorbing as much as they could. Again, what each one of us brought home with us will be different, we all learned new things. No matter our grade, nor what art we normally train in, we all found new things.

The seminar Mats mentions at the end of his post is the Bujinkan Taikai taking place in Stockholm next weekend. More about that on http://taikai.se

//anders

Sometimes I am asked by beginners wondering if it is worth it going to a seminar, if they will be able to keep up? Will they understand anything? I can understand that it may seem a little frightening or daunting to go to a seminar for the first time when there are so many high ranking buyu there, also training.

But I have to point out that even those that are higher ranking are “beginners” when you go to a seminar! There are perhaps those that take on a “helping instructor” role, warranted or not. But most goes to a seminar to develop, train, have fun and find inspiration.

What you can absorb is of course different depending on earlier experiences. If you have trained for a shorter period you will carry home a lot that can give you many years inspiration for your own training.

I know that there are instructors that rarely or almost never attend seminars, for which there may exist several reasons (I do not wish to judge them). If instructors do not encourage their students to go to a seminar, that may also have its reasons. Maybe they don’t know about the seminar, maybe can’t attend themselves and are worrying about the balance in the dojo will be disrupted if the students learn something new.

What I want to say is that it is you, the beginner, that is the future! It is you that has to look towards your own good. Do not worry about non-training friends wanting to get you out partying this one weekend. If you have good friends they will understand that you will be training this particular weekend. You have to decide on your own over what is important. Neither your controlling instructor or nagging friends can stop you from training if that is what you really want to do.

The instructors you look up to have gotten to their level and proficiency by themselves deciding that their own training comes before controlling instructors, girl friends, boy friends and friends. They too once were beginners and learned to set priorities. Ask them and I can almost promise you that they still see themselves as curious beginners. Which is why they are good practitioners and nothing else.

I remember a discussion about ten years ago with Soke in the Honbu Dojo. Soke was talking about different levels, dimensions etc. in Mikkyo. Someone asked what the highest level was and I remember Soke’s reaction.

He said that he didn’t know, but he was pretty sure that there is always a higher level (than where one is) and that this is why we must keep practising.

It is this which makes me think that the Bujinkan is so wonderful compared to other arts of Budo. Just diving head first into the training, trying to have as much fun as possible, without caring if it is hard or simple.

I hope this has encouraged some beginners to take the step and participate at this fantastic seminar next weekend.

Ganbatte kudasai!

/Mats (translated by Anders Holm)

I know there are video’s uploaded to YT I wish never was uploaded, computer animated cartoon bears uploaded by an anonymous angry person with an agenda. Mr historian guy who demands answers from Hatsumi Soke who doesn’t even use computers, and when he don’t get an answer within a few hours he calls Bujinkan an fake art based on something he found on the internet. And then there are the persons who doesn’t even train in Bujinkan, but still tag their videos with “Bujinkan” in desperate need to get a bigger audience. So filtering out all this would be impossible unless doing it manually, which I don’t have time to do daily or even feel like. With all this in mind, don’t take the videos posted too seriously.

Happy training!

/Mats

Bujinkan Croatia TV segment

Bujinkan Hombu NHK Segment

棒手裏剣 Bo-Shurikenjutsu. 武神館道場 Bujinkan Dojo, Japan.
Bo-Shurikenjutsu 棒手裏剣 renshu using Bujinkan Budo Taihenjutsu 武神館武道体変術 Hichojutsu 飛蔦術 and Ninja-to 忍者刀.
By Duncan Stewart
武神館道場国際士道師会

Foreign members of the Bujinkan Hombu Dojo in Japan demonstrate Ninjutsu for a Variety Show on Asahi Television.

Note: The first group is not from Bujinkan Honbu Dojo, skip to 2:05 to see the Bujinkan group.

Thank you for sponsoring us .

Dear fellow Buyu,

Here is the Kunoichi Taikai update for August.

There are over 225 attendees for the Kunoichi Taikai. The accommodations are now filled. The Training  package is the only registration possibility left. We now have a listing of some inexpensive hotels that might be of help in your planning process. Included is a link to finding others hotels should those not be to your liking. You can download this listing here.

There are a few women who have filled out a registration form, but we have not received payment from you. There are also a handful of women who have registered, paid a deposit and have not paid the balance. Everyone has been notified, and reminders sent out. The rooms that have been reserved are held until August 10th only. At that time, they will be released for those waiting. Only those who have paid in full have received a confirmation email. This contains details of their registration package and roommates (if you have one).  If you have not received this, (please check your emails) then you are not registered.

The Taikai schedule is complete. You can download it here. We will have 4 classes taking place simultaneously. We have a total of 10 breakout sessions (40 classes) and the opening and closing session as a group, with all instructors teaching briefly. We have for each session, training geared for basics, intermediate and advanced level. For those traveling by car, you may consider bringing weapons, and if you have extras, and would like to share, this would be great. Those traveling by air and train may have difficulty bringing weapons with them, and this will ensure the possibility of weapons training. There is something for everyone!!

The offerings for the Friday evening workshops are varied and sure to interest many of you! Feldenkreis, Reiki, Yoga, Meditation, Pilates and Training children, are just a few of the workshops being offered. Saturday evenings Marketplace will exhibit a variety of products and works of art and crafts. The Demonstration portion of the evening will show the skills of many talented women in a variety of areas. Those who have registered, will be receiving detailed information later this month. Overall, the Taikai, with its many classes, top notch female instructors and showcasing talents of all kinds is sure to be one you don’t want to miss. The only experience of its kind!!

The T-shirt/ sweatshirt design and order form can be downloaded here, or you can find it on the website here. If you are attending the Taikai, as a participant, you will receive your own, unique shirt as part of the package. The shirts on the order are for everyone, black with silver print. If you are interested in having one of these, and are attending, you can purchase it at the Taikai. If you are not attending and would like one, then fill out the order form and email it to the address listed.

We look forward to welcoming many Bujinkan Kunoichi in September. Check the News section of the website for continuing updates. Or better yet, subscribe for updates, that will continue after the event is over!

If you have questions regarding any aspect of the event, we encourage you to check the website for information and also to read the FAQ’s page, as most questions are answered there. We keep all information up to date.

This is an event you don’t want to miss!! Remember, this is only held this one time!!

Important Website Pages:

Home
Registration
Fees and Costs
Schedule
Instructors Bios
FAQs
Sightseeing in Hannover
Support the Event

Ways you can help……

We have posters you can print and share with others and banners for posting on your website. You can access the posters in 2 sizes, A4 and Letter. The banners can be accessed here and for an animated banner, here.  Please also pass it on to other dojos – we are trying to e-mail as many as we can but there must be many, many more of us.

If you know companies or businesses who might like to sponsor or donate please contact us. We have a letter that can be sent to them with specific information.

Have you considered a fund raiser in your dojo to support female students attending? We have heard of some dojos holding a special event or seminar to help with the travel costs. What a great idea!

You might consider a personal or dojo donation to help defray some of the costs, as we are trying to keep this very reasonable. Any small amount is helpful.

Spread the word!!

For more information please visit www.bujinkankunoichi.com or with any questions you can email: info@bujinkankunoichi.com

In the spirit of Budo, thank you!

Sheila Haddad
Katrin Jansen
Taikai Organizers

Dean Rostohar Shihan receiving the Golden Medal of Bujinkan from Hatsumi Soke at the Tai Kai Valencia 1995.

Dean Rostohar from Croatia just returned from another trip to Japan. Hatsumi Soke asked him many times to teach a new technique for Soke to expand on. Soke almost always ask one of the most senior Shihan’s attending to teach the beginning technique. Soke asked Dean to do this many times this trip, he also did this many times in the past. What do you think this means? Why do Soke pick someone to demonstrate a technique that he can work on? I think he does this once or twice with most of the Shihan coming for a short training trip out of courtecy, he is a gentleman after all. But when he asks a particular Shihan more than a couple of times it must mean something else to, right?

So I think that when Hatsumi Soke asks Dean to teach a technique in practically all trainings that he attends, that Soke thinks that Dean have something important to teach and share.

I write this message because it is only one month left to our seminar with Dean Shihan, and we have so few people signed up, that I’m thinking about cancelling!!!

Maybe Soke didn’t say explicitly that you should go to his seminars. Many times people seem to be very bad understanding signs. Many people need things in writing, or a word to understand. It is actually what someone do that is important and have a true meaning. I think this is especially true for the Japanese culture and that we all should come to understand better.

…And now you have the chance to train with Dean for a whole weekend, don’t pass that by!

http://kaigozan.se/seminars/2010-06-12/

Happy training!

/Mats

I have also noted that the SuperfeedEN had a lot of double (tripple even) postings, this should be fixed now. If you subscribe to both http://bujinkan.me/feed/ and http://feeds.feedburner.com/SuperfeedEN rss feeds you will get double postings. First one is less, the SuperfeedEN also includes Kutaki, Bujinkan Youtube videos (be warned) and more…

When you have typed three characters it will start searching on the fly, you can keep typing or click on one of the items showing up on the search.

Please let me know if you have problems!

Also if you want your stuff until Christmas, please make the order soon. We will ship within 1-2 days as usual, but the post office might be more busy than usual.

https://www.budoshop.se/store/