The Role of Enthusiasm in Training

Enthusiasm is something we all experience when we begin something new. This keeps our interest going while we establish a new routine around that new and exciting experience. With martial arts, it is easy to become so enthused with the training early on that some burnout as a result. Martial arts requires a life-time of study to become truly proficient at the deeper concepts of a system. What is more vital than enthusiasm is temerity. Temerity is having a tenacious, almost audacious, devotion to learning something. Even when we don't understand something or can't do something, we have the temerity to do it anyway so that we will eventually learn it. Some might call it, "being too stupid to quit." There are some fighting systems that are quite easy to learn, and so some would think it strange we study a martial art that requires so much dedication and study. They can't understand why we would choose to study something so difficult. Those people can't see the end result the way we do. We don't just want to learn some fighting techniques, we want to fully embody the ideals of the warriors of old and be more than just competent fighters, we want to be proficient masters of the martial way. Allow enthusiasm to have it's place early on, and guide it into temerity and commitment.

Be a Good Student

No matter what style of martial art you decide to go after, be a good student. Part of being a good student is finding a good teacher. If you can't find a good teacher in the style you want to learn, you need to ask yourself if it is really worth training in that style. There was a great blog post written about this by Michael Glen, of Bujinkan Santa Monica. I suggest reading his blog post:  Click Here

Art Showing

I wanted to let everyone know about a free Japanese art showing I am holding this week at our dojo. I have a collection of art from Japan painted by Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi Soke, the head of our martial art and the last living grandmaster of the Togakure Ryu Ninja. He is also the head of samurai schools including branches of Kukishin Ryu and Takagiyoshin Ryu.

We are hosting the free exhibit at my dojo to display 12 art prints that were originally on display at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo and several original works of art (Shodo and Sumi-e) on Kakajiku and other mediums. The dojo is located in Meridian, Idaho.

I will be showcasing the art prints and some original works of art I own by the same artist, on Saturday July 15, from 6 to 8 pm. Please feel free to emai

Dr. Hatsumi is the head of the Bujinkan organization, through which 9 koyru budo schools are taught. He is the inheritor of these nine koryu traditions from his teacher, Toshitsugu Takamatsu. All are welcome to visit and view the art.

The location of the art show will be at the Living-Warrior Dojo
200 North Baltic Place #104
Meridian, ID 83642

Whoever fights monsters...

There is a famous quote, "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become amonster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you." -Friedrich Nietzsche


One of Hatsumi Soke's well known quotes is: "I'm not teaching you to fight, I'm teaching you to control evil. - Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi

This is one of the many things that sets the Bujinkan apart from many other styles of martial arts. The way we learn this art from Soke is a transmission of lessons and a heritage through history. Instead of merely learning to punch and kick and to cause harm to people, part of our training incorporates understanding the warrior ways of living a peaceful life and only using our warrior art when it is unavoidable. 

This year the theme in Japan is Shin Gin Bu Do, or spiritual culmination. This is a huge, very high level theme. Basically it is the idea of entering a sacred space. Like walking under a Tori Gate or into a sacred area. The idea is to give up our own techniques and let the divine work through us as martial artists. This is very hard to understand conceptually, let alone to make happen in training. This is really an ever present idea in the Bujinkan, but Hatsumi is making this a focus because he said the Bujinkan is ready for this high level of training.

So, how does this relate to our martial arts training here in Meridian, Idaho in the Living-Warrior Dojo? We will continue on as we have been doing. My reason for starting going through the yearly themes of the past in short segments starting last year was because a pattern to the themes began to emerge. Last year the theme was the divine sword. I knew if there was to be a theme for 2014 it would be huge since it is the 42 year since the passing of Takamatsu and the number 42 has a lot of significance to the Japanese.

So, after working through the themes that lead up to this year's theme, we will be better prepared to truly study what has been taught in Japan this year. I will be going to Japan to receive this very high level of instruction. But, like I wrote earlier, the very nature of training in the Bujinkan is already with this theme in mind. It is in the Shinkin Haramitsu Daikomyo, it is in the phrase, Chi Haya Furu Kami Oshiwa Toko Shiaini Tada Shiki Kokoro Mio Ma Mu Ru Ran. It is in the name of the Martial Art itself, Bujikan, which means Society of the Divine Warrior. Training in the Bujinkan is learning to become a living, Divine Warrior.

Living-Warrior Dojo is the only authentic Bujinkan Ninjutsu school in the Treasure Valley. Marital Arts for Meridian, Boise, Kuna, Star, Nampa and surrounding communities with traditional Japanese Martial arts. Bujinkan Meridian, Idaho.

Last night was a great class. We warmed up by going through the Kamae Gata, then practiced doing Tobi and changing directions with Tobi including against someone with a sword. Then we moved on to training various forms of Ura and Omote Takeori. After that we trained Ogyaku against wrist grabs and then punches.

Then we combined what was learned and used these techniques against a jab/cross combo. The main concepts to make this work correctly were proper Taijutsu and sensing the intentions of the opponent, then the Takeori and/or Ogyaku were simple to apply with little to no effort.

After that, we took our martial arts training to studying techniques from the first scroll of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu, a school formed in the 1600s (but its techniques can be traced back to the late 1500s). We played with three of the wazas from this schools Jutaijutsu (Jujutsu as it's commonly known today). The key elements to this school involve not resisting your opponent but rather using the opponent's attacks against him by utilizing his power and momentum in ways he doesn't expect. We had a lot of fun with one particular technique, Ura Ude Ori. The universal experience everyone had with this technique when they were the "gad buy" was that they had no clue what was happening to them or how to respond in any way.

That is the magic of Budo Taijutsu, the techniques from these ancient schools. When we move beyond the waza and look deeper at their principles, the true magic comes to life.

Living-Warrior Dojo is the Treasure Valley's only authentic Bujinkan Ninjutsu school. Serving Meridian, Boise, Kuna, Star, Nampa and surrounding communities with traditional Japanese Martial arts.

This is a great little video from Duncan Stewart Shihan in Australia. These are clips from a longer film that demonstrates the the Ten Chi Jin, the basics of the Bujinkan. It's a demo, so the movements are exaggerated.

Living-Warrior Dojo is the Treasure Valley's only authentic Bujinkan Ninjutsu school. Serving Meridian, Boise, Kuna, Star, Nampa and surrounding communities with traditional Japanese Martial arts.

A Must Read. Bujinkan Meridian, ID Martial Arts

Okay, so you have to read this article written by one of the Japanese Shihan about the early days training with Hatsumi (1960s). Read this description of the dojo back then, awesome! Here is the link to read the full article:  http://www.budomontreal.com/Document/Ishizuka_Shihan_About_Hatsumi.pdf

"Training started by clearing away the items in the dojo and cleaning it -- wooden floor, around 8 mats in size. Of course we practices punches and kicks, and also throwing techniques and aerial somersaults. But as non of us were any good we kept breaking through the floorboards, and then training had to pause for a while as we got out a saw and hammer and all helped to repair the floor. We would pull up the floorboards right to the joists, cut planks to fit then knock them into place. Once the repairs finished the training started again. But as these repairs were done by amateurs, the planks were of different thicknesses and so the floor was quite uneven -- we were lucky never to have any injuries. There were often even nails sticking out..."

This section is from the middle of the article. It is really a great read, enjoy!

Living-Warrior Dojo is the Treasure Valley's only authentic Bujinkan Ninjutsu school. Serving Meridian, Boise, Kuna, Star, Nampa and surrounding communities with traditional Japanese Martial arts.

No Lie Blade Training. Bujinkan, Meridian, Idaho, Martial Arts

This was a fun workshop using the No Lie Blades. The training knives leave behind very distinct red marks where you would get cut. The first portion we just had fun attacking each other and seeing where, as the defender, our defense needed improvement. Then the rest of the workshop was geared towards improving our defender skills and reducing/eliminating the cuts. Lots of fun, really good instruction. Our instructor was a Bujinkan Shidoshi who also teachers military and law enforcement this workshop.

See you in on the mat at Living-Warrior Dojo, your school for traditional Bujinkan Ninjutsu martial arts. Martial arts school and training for Meridian, Boise, Kuna, Star, Nampa and surrounding communities.

Takagi Yoshin Ryu (High Tree Raised Heart School)

Just an update in addition to the newsletter about the school for this year's focus. From this Spring till next Spring, we will be exploring the Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (Jujutsu). This is a very old school from Japan and is often called the body guard school. It is one of the Bujutsu (Samurai fighting arts) schools of the Bujinkan. This school had very close ties to the Kukishinden Ryu, another Bujutsu school, and possibly one of the most prominent Samurai schools/families in Japan. FYI, Kukishinden Ryu is another of the Bujinkan's schools that Hatsumi is the Soke of. We will explore Takagi Yoshin Ryu as only part of our overall training. The largest portion of training will still be the Ninjutsu syllabus of the TenChiJin. The remainder of the training will be in Takagi Yosin Ryu, or studying which ever of the past yearly themes we are currently on as we work through all past themes. See you on the mat!

See you in on the mat at Living-Warrior Dojo, your school for traditional Bujinkan martial arts. Martial arts training for Meridian, Boise, Kuna, Star, Nampa and surrounding communities