Shihan Duncan Stewart, 15th Dan, is a senior student of Bujinkan Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi. He started training in 1988, and moved to Japan in 2004 to study weekly with Hatsumi Soke, Nagato Shihan, Noguchi Shihan, and Someya Shihan. He is well respected in the Bujinkan and is often called-upon to demonstrate at classes.
Duncan was Nagato Shihan’s sole uke at the Bujinkan Hombu for two years when studying direct from the Gyokko Ryu and Kukishinden Ryu Densho. Duncan has also studied Nihon Buyo (Traditional Japanese Dance) under the direction of Noguichi Sensei.
Duncan conducts seminars worldwide for those wishing to gain more exposure to current training in Japan. And, back in Japan, he runs his own training at the Hombu dojo and Kashiwa.
Duncan successfully co-coordinated the 2007 Australian Bujinkan Taikai and participated in many Japanese Bujinkan Embu for which he has received the Gold Medal and Certification from Hatsumi Soke.
In addition to his exceptional skill and understanding of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, Duncan is an excellent teacher. He is highly sought-after and do seminars all over the world.
Steve has been training in Japan since 2001. He trains with Soke and the Japanese Shihan weekly. He looks forward to sharing his perspective on techniques and themes recently seen and discussed in Japan.
Today they put up a poster in Honbu dojo of what looks like a sword exhibition in Noda City Museum from February 1’st to 15′th.
The website is noda-muse.or.jp. Unfortunately I will miss it.
Today was the first training with soke in honbu dojo. He opened speaking about a new honbu dojo that hopefully can be started on in 3-4 years. The current honbu will stand here for five more years, then the city will build the railway where it stands now.
Soke asked us to spread the word that it is ok to send in donations for the new honbu dojo. I would suggest that each dojo-cho will collect money and donate it in the name of respective dojo.
It is more and more difficult to find hot spots here than ever. So far I have only found one (thanks Bic camera in Kashiwa!) (Edit: this is now closed!). Those around Atago and Minami-senju is now gone.
Today the teacher said we should practice slowly and get rid of our bad habits. Then he said that we should not be so selfish. Do what the situation demands of you, not what you want to do with the situation. There is also the opponents will and doings that you have to think about, not just yourself.
The second training today with Soke… He didn’t speek so much today (I think?). But he did say one thing i remember, that the higher rank you have the more you have to become zero.
Then I think almost everyone attending was called up to demonstrate. I had to go up twice. There was many people doing good, even green belts! Some not so good (also including me). Doing badly in front of everyone can also be good I think. I don’t feel the need to prove anything. The dojo is the place you train on things you don’t know so well. And everyone in the dojo is your friend, always willing to help. Don’t forget that ego has no place in the dojo.
In all these years, I have never taught these techniques before. 'Why?' you may ask. Be cause I had to be able to kill my own students if they turned against me... There have been many examples of people within the same country turning on their teacher and killing them. Any good teacher will not teach everything they know. If you still have some secrets, you can defend yourself. The reason why I've decided to teach you all now is that I feel I have very little life left to live.
Hatsumi quote by Benjamin Cole, originally published in Ura Omote newsletter 1996-1998