the group posing with sensei in front of takamatsu memorial

Today a group of buyu from all over the world where lucky to visit once again Sensei’s second house.

Today around 11:30, we met with Akira, Noguchi, Darren, Collado, Miller, Eguia and a few others at the hombu where Senô sensei was teaching a group of students sweating in the terrible heat of the day.

you can see here how bad I felt in the AC

The heat and humidity were at their peak today and I felt bad to be in the car with Noguchi sensei (and the AC). When the group was complete with Darren and his car we drove to the Tsukuba mountain where sensei has located his second house.

This is there that he spends a lot of time painting, writing, and taking care of his many animals.

A real gentleman farmer!

When we arrived we were welcome by sensei dressed like a real gentleman farmer in his country outfit.

Many practitioners see him as “non human” and not only because he always repeats that he is a UFO.

The bujinkan is a system to live a happy life and he was shining happiness and expressing it like he does with his budô.

I love to see him so happy in his daily life.

the group preparing for the incense

In the garden each one us lit some incense stick to the 9 statues of the nine schools and we all prayed to the memory of Takamatsu sensei in front of the memorial of 6 tons built in the garden.

Do you know that in his office in Noda sensei prays everyday for the memory of his parents, of Takamatsu sensei but also for the sake of the shidôshi of the bujinkan?

Sensei is very religious person and only a few of the bujinkan students know that. Over the years when I was helping him for some work, I saw him a few times praying while we were working.

sensei and one of the poneys

In the garden there is a green house that we use in winter, a small arena where sensei “walks” the poneys, a small stable for the poneys and many staues and carved stones carved with the name of the nine schools.

The garden is filled with statues of divinities, symbolic rocks and carved texts.

After padding Kuki and Tobi, the two poneys of sensei and taking care of the dogs (asuka, mae and a third one), the water turtles in their basin, it was time to  ”pay our respect” to the statue of Marylin Monroe (sensei likes her very much).

Noguchi sensei and Marylin (a classic)

I have been visiting this house many times since sensei has decided to plit his time between Noda and Tsukuba.

And the “Marylin game” has become some sort of ritual over the years.

I think I have pictures of all the high ranks of the bujinkan (including me) having fun with the american star. as he puts it, life is too short to take it too seriously.

Put laughter in your life – rokkon shôjô

Then it was time to eat and the whole group climbe d into the cars and we all went to have lunch with sensei in a restaurant nearby.

ten chi jin?

The house is surrounded by rice fields on the plains down the Tsukuba mountain.

It is strange to be there after the being in the citadin life of kashiwa city or Atago.

With the heat hammering everything, it felt like being in another country. No noise, no wind only the sound of the cicadas in the trees.

A special thank you to Darren for keeping cool bottles of water in the car after the heat of the garden.

It was a real enjoyment.

In the restaurant

The poor restaurant keeper had a hard time coping with a sudden arrival of so many gaijin.

I have seen that many times over the years and I believe that sensei loves to do that.

As always this is a very special moment and I am sure that many bujinkan practitioners wojuld have liked to be there with us. We felt privileged and honored to spend these special moments with him.

the group with the translator

Since my last visit many new stones and stones have been added. The one on the left is to remember all our bujinkan buyu who dies since the beginning.

Death is what makes Life worth it explained sensei to the group in the restaurant. Because we train techniques to bring death to our opponent we develop by contrast a strong feeling of life.

Many times during lunch sensei spoke of our future Hombu dôjô that will be built soon to become some kind of cultural centre for the world.

Sensei asked us also to share these moments of true kumite with the buyu from all over the world this is why this long article is written for.

the last drink before closing this fantastic day

It was time to go back to our lives in the city and after a last teas in one of the room of the house with the walls covered by the many presents sensei has received during all these years, we departed.

We left sensei benefiting from the rest of this day and of the happiness it has given us all.

Funnily during lunch he thanked us twice to have been able to come!

Hatsumi & Noguchi sensei enjoying the instant

Be happy and do not take your life too seriously simply enjoy beautiful moments like this one.

Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyô

Invisibility is hensô jutsu

Yesterday Hatsumi sensei referred to hensô jutsu indirectly when he spoke about the seven ways (of disguise) or shichi hô de.

Those seven disguises allowed the spies to blend in the daily lives of ordinary people and to gather information or pass undetected.

Here is one of the list of these 7 disguises:

1. 出家 shukke – buddhist monk
2. 虚無僧 komuso – itinerant priest
3. 浪士  ronin (or tsunegata) - wandering samurai
4. 商人 akindo – merchant, tradesman
5. 楽士 gakushi – musician
6. 山伏 yamabushi – mountain warrior
7. 旅芸人 sarugaku (or tabigeinin) – performer, entertainer

Those disguises might have been very helpful in feudal Japan, but I honestly doubt they would be of any use today in modern Japan. What is interesting is that sensei referred to that in a “gyaku way” during the class. We are used to see those lists of “ninja fields of expertise”. But to me this is the omote of our art.

The ura side is more interesting. What sensei wanted us to understand yesterday was not to disguise ourselves for some james bond kind of mission but to be aware of the type of clothes the attacker is wearing and to adapt our techniques accordingly.

Today this list would be more like: businessman, delivery guy, mailman, police officer, young gothic or rasta, electricity company employee, thug, etc. And this list is not limited to seven. Each one of these persons is wearing different clothes and accessories making the fighting more difficult (or easier) depending on those “uniforms”. One of my student who is now jûgodan once fought a rasta guy with dreadlocks, the rasta guy was nearly bald at he end of the fight.

The same would happen if you had to fight someone wearing a heavy leather jacket, a backpack, or a bathing suit. How do you find a kyûsho 急所 on a leather jacket? how would you deal with close distance against someone with a backpack or even a bike? how would you grab naked skin? Obviously the written technique of yore would not be sufficient.

Sensei’s budô is about adaptation and a tie, a pen, a phone, a backpack or a coffee mug can become tools to deflect or launch an attack. When we train in the dôjô the possibilities are limited as we are all dressed in the same way. This is why the introduction of the yoroi kumiuchi in 2003 was such an important evolution in the bujinkan system because once you understand the multiple possibilities of fighting the yoroi (with or against it) you develop new skills not relying on a specific technique but based upon your level of consciousness.

Techniques are useless if you are not able to adapt your movements to the opponent’s actions. And this is why sensei keeps reminding us to use  hanpa (半端) or unfinished techniques to be in tune with the flow of things.

You begin a movement and let uke’s reactions and intention dictate the emergence of your next move.

Ayase Budokan

I am just coming back from the Ayase class (exceptionally on Friday). The first class with sensei after four months of  diet is always a good experience. Before the class I gave him his “official” Yûro Shi Tennô t-shirt made specially for him and he wore it right away. This is our little “post Paris Taikai ritual” that has been going on for a few years now.

As usual he asked me to open the class and we did a nice “flowing” movement receiving an attack in a very soft uke nagashi, moving uke off balance with the footwork, changing hand an ending in a sort of omote gyaku. No grab, no violence, only a nice nagare keeping uke in motion preventing him from attacking twice and taking his balance. On top of that sensei did it better with less movements and a better efficiency. I guess this is why he is the teacher and me the student. Every time I have the chance to demonstrate a technique I am always amazed at his ability to simplify my movements and to make it so good that I cannot reproduce it, even though it was my movement in the first place.  I did three other techniques during the class and  each time sensei was developing more flow by moving less. when you watch him moving you easily forget that he is over 80 years old. He looks like a young man!

His natural movement is really like “magic” as he is able to grab a form and to add life into it. When you are his uke you feel no danger at all and when he controls you on the ground he is hardly touching you, but you still cannot move. In fact this is not that you cannot move, you could but you do not want to move as if his presence manifested by a very slight physical contact was draining any intention of retaliation from your brain. All those who have had the chance to be his uke can tell you that. Power is expressed in such a subtle way that your decision process is blocked. In a way you feel so safe that you are not willing to move anymore.

Today during the class sensei covered many aspects of budô. He  insisted on the importance of understanding the juppô sesshô to be able to fight without fighting and to be in control of the utsuwa (器 - ki) with our tamashii (魂 - kon). He didn’t use these terms from last year but this is the easiest way to express it. In one technique that  I did that was ending with yoko nagare, he insisted that we move in a direction opposed to the other possible opponents. That is what I prefer in the bujinkan training. It is not only two fighters but always more than two fighting and our actions should unfold in a natural manner in order to stay protected in any directions potentially dangerous. The movement is limited and by using uke as a shield we are able to protect ourselves using our first opponent against his partner(s). This is to me the real difference between sport martial arts and true budô. In the bujinkan strength is not the point and violence is useless, the whole thing is to develop the correct attitude to help us flowing without thinking in  the action.

The true movement is not a technique it is a response to a situation where no preconceived answer can be applied. Sensei insisted once again in not grabbing the opponent. When you grab uke you are actually showing your intention, grabbing yourself, and freezing your flow. This is why he insisted again in the juppô sesshô concept in the sense of “negotiating” (折衝 - sesshô) in all directions (juppô = 10 directions). On controlling uke he said that we have to control uke not with our strength but with our legs activating the kûkan (空間). The known concept of yubi ippon jubun (one finger is enough) to control uke was used extensively to create the sanken (a series of three hits) followed rapidly in different part of the body and to prevent uke from thinking properly or understanding what is happening. We did also techniques against kicks and used the kake taoshi hitting uke to sai with sokki ken. Once again sensei insisted that we hit with the body not the knee. He used the same explanation when controlling uke on the ground “choke him with kûkan” by using your legs.

Finally he referred to henso jutsu explaining that historically there were 7 ways to disguise yourself (cf. sarugaku, kumuso, yamabushi, hokashi, sukke, tsunegata, akindo). But this was for us to understand that we must adapt the techniques to the type of clothes worn by the opponent. Part of our study of budô should be dedicated to learn how to adapt a given technique to the type of cloth the opponent is wearing.

In conclusion quite a nice class full of tips and tricks to work on in the future weeks.

Tomorrow at lunch I am invited with a few other jûgodan in his second house. I will take a few pictures of Takamatsu sensei’s memorial and of the lunch and share them with you on this blog (hopefully tomorrow). Stay tuned!

Be happy!

crossing the "flow" of a river in India

I arrived this morning in Narita and now after a well deserved shower and a little nap I feel ready for this new trip.

It was strange to arrive in Narita before the shops and restaurants were opened. In 20 years it was the first time I saw those shops closed. Naively I thought that in Japan people were working 24h a day.

I spoke today with Volker Paternoga who is going back home tomorrow. He got promoted to 15th dan and told me how strange it was to give the Sakki test. The sakki test is nothing “magic” it is a natural human survival reaction put to light by years of training. Actually I see the sakki test as double: the day you take it; and the day you give it. This is to me the exact same experience and feeling. When you lower the sword it is not from your own decision, you lower the blade because it is time to do it.

Everytime the thinking process is involved in our actions we lose the nagare of life and we “force” our nature in an unnatural manner. To the same extent on the mats, the best natural movements appear when there is no preconceived idea on what we are going to do.

Hatsumi sensei’s budô is the school to be moving into the flow of things and take the best out of it whatever is happening. I am really happy to have the opportunity to meet him again and to learn more.

Eugenio from Italy is there and I have to meet him in the lobby. I will keep you informed as much as I can on this blog during my trip.

Be happy!

Friday classes will be held at the Mabashi Shrine…

where we have fully air-conditioned facilities!

The time will be 4pm as usual.

Shiva, Arnaud & the dôjô Koi

Hi all,

I am on my way to Japan again this year. It will be hot and humid (today 33° Celsius and 70% humidity) but apart from the “ten” conditions it will be good to walk on the Japanese “chi” again and to meet my “jin” buyu.

As I did last time when I created this blog I will do my best as to explain the various concepts exposed by Sôke in his classes. Even though I do not speak Japanese, my 20 years of travelling there help me to understand, if not the words, at least the concepts of sensei’s budô.

I will be back right before the Jupi Summer Camp where I will give the “latest news” and feelings from Japan to those of you attending.

If you are still wondering if you should go or not to Japan I would say that if you really want to grasp the gokui (essence) of budô*you have to go there once a year (minimum). I am lucky to have organized my life to be able to go there three times a year because I decided long ago that it was my priority to learn directly from Sôke and the other shihan. Japan is a different culture, the level of budô displayed in the classes is amazing, and sensei’s philosophy of life is worth listening to and sticking to.

My new entry in this blog will be from Tokyo.

Sayonara,

*this is the title of the next book by Hatsumi sensei (published by Kodansha  for dkms hopefully).

Bushinden Kai 武神伝会 is ”A Gathering to honour the teachings of the Warrior Gods.” Respecting Souke, The Shihan, and our Martial Ancestors for their transmission of the Nine Traditions of the Bujinkan.

Budo is not about instruction. It is about learning to teach yourself. This is the first thing I want people who attend the Bushinden Kai to understand. We are all on our own Shugyo. We must take responsibility for ourselves, while developing the heart and compassion of the Bujinkan Bugeisha.

	Duncan Stewart – Tachi Kumiuchi (Part 1 of 2) This is part one of two from a seminar with Duncan Stewart Shihan from Japan teaching in Stockholm During April 2010. Duncan taught the theme of this year, Tachi Kumiuchi. Taijutsu and weapons, against one or multiple attackers. He also explained this years philosophical theme Rokkon-shoujou and much much more… 120 Minutes in NTSC / Region free for 239.00 SEK
	Duncan Stewart – Tachi Kumiuchi (Part 2 of 2) This is part two of two from a seminar with Duncan Stewart Shihan from Japan teaching in Stockholm During April 2010. Duncan taught the theme of this year, Tachi Kumiuchi. Taijutsu and weapons, against one or multiple attackers. He also explained this years philosophical theme Rokkon-shoujou and much much more… 120 Minutes in NTSC / Region free for 239.00 SEK
	Duncan Stewart – Kihon Happo (Tachi Kumiuchi) This is from the extra training at Kaigozan Dojo. On this DVD Duncan show the basic techniques, henka and more advanced. Without weapons and with weapons, also the connection to this years theme Rokkon-shoujou. 120 Minutes in NTSC / Region free for 239.00 SEK

Click on each DVD cover for more information how to order from the Budo Shop Store

TACHI KUMIUCHI – SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION for only 549.00 SEK
3-Set DVD + Bonus CD only valid until the end of April!

We had Duncan Stewart here in Stockholm for a seminar in the beginning of April this year. We filmed all the trainings and will release them on three separate DVDs, each one is 2 hours long, total of 6 hours of very good stuff. They will be available for order separately at BUDOSHOP.SE from May 1’st. But we are offering a special offer for a limited edition only available for a very short time, please read below!

The price is 549.00 SEK (it is around 56.00 EUR or 75.00 USD), this will save you 168.00 SEK. We will even throw in 30 min extra material that we couldn’t squeeze in. This bonus CD will not be available again, only the DVD’s will be sold separately for 239.00 SEK each from May 1’st.

You can order this now, but it will be shipped in the end of April, if you order more from the shop we might wait and ship everything at once. All our videos is NTSC and region free! We have a flat shipping rate to the whole world for only 49.00 SEK (free shipping with in Sweden). For those of you who pre-ordered and already paid this at the seminar will get the limited edition set.

Click here to buy it from BUDOSHOP.SE (Note we only accept SEK via PayPal!)

Here is some information about each DVD…

the first DVD theme is Kihon Happo. This DVD is from the extra training on Friday. Duncan taught Kihon Happo and basics, but also more advanced, unarmed or weapons, and Tachi Kumiuchi.

the second and third DVDs theme is Tachi Kumiuchi and the concept of Rokkon Shoujou, the theme of this year. Taijutsu, unarmed fighting against one or multiple attackers, with or without weapons, mainly the Tachi sword.

the bonus cd is from the end of Sunday training. We couldn’t omit anything from what we filmed in the editing process, and still wanted to give you everything we captured. It will be in the format of H264 movie you can play on your computer or phone.

If you don’t know who Duncan is I advise you to ask anyone who has been to Japan the past several years. He is often used as uke by Hatsumi Soke and the Shihan. There is videos on YouTube you can watch, also read his own blog which is very good and insightful.

Now it is not many days left until this great seminar weekend in STHLM. This is our last reminder!

We have plenty of places left if you haven’t signed up yet. Please sign up on our web site if you want to join us, but please pay the fee when you arrive! We only accept Swedish money, not euro. The cost is 600 SEK for one day, or 1000 SEK for both days, including the extra trainings.

You can read the following info on the web site to, but I’ll copy and paste the most important information here…

Wednesday, Duncan arrives from a successful seminar in Copenhagen, before that he was in Hellsinki. We haven’t planned any training on this evening, I was thinking of taking him out in STHLM city in the evening. If you want to join us, please contact me.

Thursday, I have my regular class at 19:30-21:00 in Kaigozan dojo, if Duncan is up for training he will join me and help, if he decides to rest you can train with me if you’re in town early. Sometimes we go to Bishops Arms after training for a few beers, maybe it happens this time to?

Friday extra class 13:00-18:00
This will be in our dojo, Albygatan 117 in Sundbyberg. This extra training will be taught by all the Judan that is present including me and Duncan. I don’t know exactly who is coming but I hope all the local ones will come at least? Anyway, we will share the teaching these five hours with a few shorter tea breaks. For a theme this day we said we will do Kihon Happo. It will probably be both basic and advanced, a perfect opportunity to see each instructors take on the basics. It is free for everyone attending the seminar (and Judan’s), all others have to pay 200 SEK.

Saturday Seminar 11:00-18:00
The seminar is not in our dojo, it is in a Solna Judo dojo about 10 minutes walking distance from our own dojo. The address is Ankdammsgatan 23 in Solna. Note, it is kinda between the houses, you see the sign from the street.
We will open up the dojo for registration and warm up around 10:15, the training will start at 11:00 and finish at 18:00. There will be one 60 min lunch break in the middle somewhere. There is not so many restaurants close by, I advice that you bring something with you. I was planning on ordering pizza delivered to the dojo (keep your ears open in the morning).

Saturday Dinner 19:30
There is a nice Thai restaurant close to the dojo, maybe it is open (keep your ears open saturday morning).

Sunday Seminar 11:00-15:00
We will open up around 10:15, and the training starts at 11:00 and finishes 15:00 same place. Note that we will not have a longer lunch break, only shorter breaks, so bring a sandwich or something to fill up with energy. I plan to take Duncan out for early Dinner before he board the boat to Hellsinki, if you want to join you are welcome.

Accomodation
If you come earlier than Saturday morning and want to sleep in the dojo (which is free), then it is  in our dojo you can sleep thursday and/or friday night. Saturday night you can sleep in the seminar dojo if you want. If you are coming late thu or fri and can’t make it to the training in time before we finish, please contact me early (I don’t want to wake up and walk 15 minutes in the middle of the night if I’m not prepared).

Hotel
There are many hotels (more) around Stockholm you can stay at, some may be fully booked this late. If you want to stay close we recommend Solna Park Inn (ask for discount, say that you are with Kaigozan Kampsportcenter), it is 10 minutes walk through the park to the seminar, or 20 minutes walk to the dojo. There is also busses, 119, 509. 515 click here! Click on the following link to the official Stockholm tourist guide… http://beta.stockholmtown.com/en/

If you are not familiar with the territory, please print out maps or addresses etc.
More info on our web site… http://www.kaigozan.se/seminars/2010-04-03/

See you soon!

Mats Hjelm – Kaigôzan dôjô

_____,_               In body there exists no soul
    (o/            The mind  is not real  at all
     V           Now try on me thy flashing  steel
    / >      As if it cuts the wind of Spring, I feel

DVD in NTSC format available from BUDOSHOP.SE
for 269 SEK (Approximately 26 EUR / 38 USD

The theme of the seminar was traditional Japanese long Ninja weapons, Yari (spear) and Naginata (halberd). Kunren Shugyo in Japanese terminology represents the studying of training. Therefore the seminar participants have studied for two days, the ways, the principles, techniques and philosophy of combat with those traditional weapons we use in Bujinkan Ninjutsu.

The ways and techniques of fighting with long weapons are very important for understanding Taijutsu (unarmed combat), because this way we get to know our body and the possibilities of its use through combat techniques.

The techniques with Naginata were done on the first day of the seminar, while techniques with the Yari were done the second day. Also defence against several opponents, combinations with Naginata and sword, and unarmed defence against the Yari was taught.

Click here for more info

This seminar was organized in Zagreb, Croatia, on 23th and 24th of September 2006.

About the Instructor

Dean Shihan has a lot of experience from real fighting in the independence war of Croatia, and also from his time in the police force. He was born 1965 and started training Martial Arts at the age of 10. He have experience from many martial arts styles but he was not completely satisfied with them until he found the warrior art – Bujinkan Ninjutsu/Ninpo Taijutsu.

For his full resume, check out his websites.

http://www.bujinkan.hr

http://www.specwog.bujinkan.hr

Here is a trailer from the coming Daikomyousai 2009 DVD from Quest, yes that’s me in the picture behind the guy in glasses, and Duncan Stewart as the Uke for Soke.

最後の実戦忍者高松寿嗣より古武道9流派を受け継ぎ、古の技を今に伝える現代の武神・ 初見良昭。その初見宗家の誕生日にちなくで開催される年に一度のセミナーが、大光明祭 である。その教えを求めて世界中から集まった高弟たちに、初見自ら武神館武術の奥義を 伝授するセミナーが大光明祭である。3日間にわたり行われるその模様を完全収録。20 09年11月30日-12月2日・東京。

Here is a rough translation of the above. Three day Kobudo seminar held by Masaaki Hatsumi Soke, the successor of the last Ninja, Takamatsu Sensei. People from the whole world attended. Complete recording of all three days. November 30, 2009 Dec 2, Tokyo.

神傳不動流 Shindenfudō-ryū (the immovable transmissions by the gods) was founded by 源八郎為義 Minamoto Hachirō Tameyoshi in the Hogen Era (1156). The system has its origin from Kosshijutsu that came to Japan with Ikai and later transmitted to 出雲冠者義照 Izumo Kanja Yoshiteru in the Yeikyu Era (1113).

For the whole article click here…

http://bit.ly/shindenfudo

KIHON HAPPO – KOSSHI KIHON SANPOU

Kihon happo is the most fundamental and basic techniques in the Bujinkan system. It is divided into KOSSHI KIHON SANPO and TORIDE KIHON GOHOU. On this video the following techniques from KOSSHI KIHON SANPOU is performed…

1. ICHIMONJI
- HENKA
- URA WAZA 1
- URA WAZA 2

2. HICHOU
- HENKA
- URA WAZA 1
- URA WAZA 2

3. JUUMONJI
- HENKA
- URA WAZA 1
- URA WAZA 2

Click here for more information about downloading.

NOTE! This video together with the forth coming TORIDE KIHON GOHOU mini seminar in January 30′th will be put together as a two hour DVD (approximately) and released in February 2010. The Toride Kihon Gohou part will also be released as a separate file for download like this one.

Click on the button on the right side to pay and download this movie. Payment of $6.99 is through PayPal and download is done from Payloadz. You will get instructions after you pay how to download this movie.

Buy this DVD at Budoshop.se

Theme: Reflections of this years Bujinkan theme, Sainou konki taijutsu

Many instructors from Sweden went to Japan to train with Hatsumi Soke and the Shihan. Many of these instructors came to share their knowledge and feelings from their training trips.

This movie was filmed December 18-19′th in 2009 at Kaigozan Dojo. This training was taught by Mats Hjelm, Fredrik Markgren, Daniel Åberg, Kristoffer Nowén, Jan Granroth.

NOTE! The instructions is parts in English and in Swedish, but there is not so much talk but more action.

This is a movie file optimized for iPod and iPhone and any other device that can handle standard H.264 videos. Import the file to iTunes and sync it to your iPod or iPhone.

On a Windows PC you can watch it in iTunes or Quicktime player (these programs is available for free on apple.com. VLC is another good program that can play these files.

480 x 272 pixels
H.264, AAC
Bitrate 942
70 minutes
450 Megabytes
Chapter markers

Click on the button on the right side to pay and download this movie. Payment of $6.99 is through PayPal and download is done from Payloadz. You will get instructions after you pay how to download this movie.

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/

First I would like to say thanks to Dean Rostohar for coming to us once again, this was the 4′th time we had him over here. Also special thanks to Davor, Hana and Ivica who travelled by car all the way from Croatia just to come here to train and assist their own teacher! Also big thanks to René coming from the Netherlands and Jukka coming from Finland. Also thanks to Tony for helping with transportation and stuff, and Johan for taking pictures and filming the seminar. Finally also thanks to the participants from Kaigozan Dojo, To Nan dojo, Solstaden Karlstad, Eskilstuna Bujinkan, Örebro Kampsportsförening and Berserk MMA.

This was a very good seminar where Dean taught and showed us many, many good and useful techniques and examples from his personal experience. First I felt quite ashamed that I couldn’t get more people interested enough to show up on the seminar. Then I felt pity for the fools that missed the chance to get really good training, what did you do this weekend that was so important? Seriously, I don’t want to hear all bad excuses, let’s leave it at that I’m sure you can convince me you had good reasons .

As always Dean teach from his big heart, you who have been to his trainings know what I mean. The first day he did techniques based on the first technique Ichimonji from Kihon happo kata. But it was different than what he showed before, more realistic and useful. Although he never said that the basics is bad to know or practice, but the basics is basics to teach students a foundation to build up on. When you know the basics well you combine each basic movement to the situation, and it comes alive. You do what you have to do to benefit from the situation. He showed many different taijutsu techniques this weekend.

In the afternoon training Dean and his students from Croatia showed many interesting techniques and team tactics how to work in a group, everything from quickly climbing up over a wall, or in to a window. How to take out a guard and many other examples how to work as a team.

The second day Davor started by showing and teaching his excellent taihenjutsu skills, he did some of the best taihenjutsu moves I have ever seen. He was rolling smoothly and silently like a cat moves, very nice! Then Dean taught more taijutsu techniques from Kihon-happo. Then later on he showed us how to train up the sensitivity, and then he moved on to some sword techniques. Finally he showed and explained to us how to train while blindfolded.

The KGZ BUDO SHOP have many DVD’s with Dean Rostohar. This seminar DVD will be available for order in October 2009, shortly after there will be three more DVD’s with Dean released at KGZ BUDO SHOP. Here is a direct link to the Shinken Kata videos… https://www.budoshop.se/store/videos/dvd-bujinkan-budo-taijutsu/shinken-kata

Happy training!
Mats Hjelm (seminar organizer, dojo-cho at Kaigozan Dojo)

- Mats seminar pictures

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Now it is less than a week until the Ninpo/Ninjutsu Seminar with Dean Rostohar. Here is some updates and news…

Dean is coming on Friday already, but we have no extra training planned. Dean is also bringing some of his top students with him this time, so I’m sure they will also help him with the teaching. This will be an exciting seminar, he will teach lot’s of stuff we usually don’t see in the trainings in a regular Bujinkan Dojo.

• Place: We booked the dojo. We will be in Kaigozan Dojo on Sveavägen 130 in Stockholm city (here is the map).
• Saturday training: We open the dojo after 10:00, the training start at 11:00 and finish at 18:00 with a longer lunch break.
• Saturday evening: As usual we want everyone to join us for dinner at a local restaurant, if you don’t hear about this by e-mail we will inform you about it Saturday morning.
• Sunday training: we start at 11:00 and finish around 15:00. We do not have a longer lunchbreak, so prepare yourself with something to eat during the short breaks.
• Late people: if you haven’t signed up for the seminar do so immediately, or look at the web site first to see if there is places left before you come.
• Seminar fee: One day training is 500 SEK, for both days 850 SEK. We suggest that you sign up and pay early next time to get the discount!
• Seminar DVD: We will film this seminar and you can pre order the DVD for 200 SEK ( we will send it to your address when it is done) at the seminar, or you can buy it at the KGZ Budo Shop later… https://www.budoshop.se/store/

For more information about this seminar see this web site… http://kaigozan.se/seminars/2009-09-26/

Bring it around the body, and make sure it is not crossed on the back (not shown).

On the video below, he tuck in the other end first, it doesn’t matter which one goes first.

In Kihon-happo we attack straight to the face with a jodan-tsuki (in basic it should be a shikan-ken), so I will explain from this point of view. If he has a good ichimonji no kamae, he point his arm straight to my center which makes it more difficult. If his front arm is pointing to the side (like Gyokko-ryu), I would try to step on his foot while entering. But he is too clever for that, so he force me to move around his left arm. Going to the inside is not good so I will attack him from his outside.

I keep both knees bent, with the weight a little more on the rear right leg. I keep the spine straight and relaxed. I should be able to jump or push the body in any direction with the left or right foot. When I move in to strike, I want to be as quick as possible without making any signs before I explode forward in to the opponent.

The distance to the opponent decides how big the first step with the left foot should be.

I lift the left foot and quickly push the body forward with the rear right leg. I turn my left knee to the left in the same direction as the left foot is pointing (see the picture). There is no strange angles in the knee, I put the left side of the left foot on the floor first, and when my weight is over the leg, the whole foot will be rooted firmly to the ground.

Then I quickly put the right foot forward. As soon as my body weight passes the left foot I start pushing the body forward with the left foot, as I do this it is important that the left foot is rooted to the ground.

Soon after my right foot is placed on the ground my right fist makes contact. Then the spine twists, and my right foot and leg is starting to stop the body’s forward motion (if that is what I want*) as I strike through the target. The right knee should stop just above the toes, and you should have good balance and both knees bent. More weight on the right foot than the left foot.

*If the opponent jumps backwards or move quickly backwards, I can move the left foot forward very quickly with three more strikes in that left step (I will explain this in another tutorial if I there is interest). I can run after him much faster than he can run backwards, don’t think something else!

Also if the opponent doesn’t move properly here (like I explained in the previous tutorial) it will be very easy for me to kick him in the groin with the left foot (if he move the right foot too much to the side), or placing the left foot behind him for osoto-nage (if he moves his left leg off line).

* Ground the feet’s properly!

It is very, very important that the left foot (picture 2 & 3) does not turn on the ground as you are pushing forwards, then you will loose friction to the ground and you will slip very easily if you push forward strongly. Also Miyamoto Musashi spoke about the importance of rooting the feet to the ground and push the body forwards or backwards with the whole foot rooted, and not on the toes or balls of the feet.

But first let’s make some reference points. To get the distance right we need to understand that the opponent will hit you in the head with his right fist. And that you want to end up at a safe distance where you can block the opponent’s right arm from the inside without being to close or too far away. So you need to move your whole body as one unit about one arms length. So measure how far that is. I will use the tatami mat as a reference point so that you can easily understand. I recommend that you also use the tatami mat as I do here so that you can do the step without looking. And then look down and check if you are on the correct spot, angles and length wise.

Remember that you move the body one arm’s length, it doesn’t matter how long the opponent’s arms is. If he knows how deep he should punch (just through the target and not an inch more!) it will be perfect distance for you.

When you move from point A to point B in the first step you should have the exact same angles but one arms length further back to the side. You should have rotated the whole body about 30° to the left, but the angles and alignment should be the same.

So when you start in the basic Ichimonji no kamae both heel’s should be on the same line and pointing directly against the opponent’s center. I won’t go into detail about anything else than the footwork here. I might do a part two of this tutorial later?

The right foot and toes should be pointing exactly 45° back to the right against the other corner of the tatami mat. Keep a rather low position with both knees bent (in basic training, be extra low), more weight on the right leg.

Lift the right foot and push the body strongly and quickly back to the right with the left foot. You should explode from the position, so make sure the front leg is not too straight. Do not move the left foot first (I say that this is a bad habit). If you keep your right arm straight against the opponent, he will not step on the left foot, as he have to move around your arm.

The right foot should go exactly 45° towards the corner of the tatami. Note how the right foot have turned a little, but the heel should be on the line. At the same time the left foot should follow the right foot in a straight line.

As you can see this angle is about 30° from the starting point. Also worth mentioning is that the feet’s is never this wide apart as it is rather a jump than step, step. It is important that the upper body should not go anywhere else but straight backwards to the side as if you where on wheels.

See how the left foot ends up on the same line. Now you have moved the body 30° back to the right. You should end up in the exact same position as when you started. Your kamae is “closed” and good, aimed directly to the opponents inside.

From here you block and take his balance… as you can see you have also opened up the opponent’s lower region. You have the opening where you will place the right foot as you step in and counter with your own attack.

Training drill

A very good training drill is to stand in Ichimonji no kamae and move from point A to point B as explained above. Repeat this several times, you should move in a big circle keeping a perfect Ichimonji no kamae the whole time. Then change side and do it to the left. This is a good exercise that strenghten your legs and gives you a good foundation.

Happy training!

/Mats

For more information, please contact emilia.viljanen (a) helsinki.fi

From http://bujinkan.me/seminars/