Tuesday's Class

Last night's class was awesome as usual, though I think many people left with sore wrists. We covered Kamae Gata in depth with a lot of focus on correct positioning. We did the same thing with the San Shin, and then focused on correct San Shin principles working with partners. We also discussed the use of San Shin and it's ability to change and to ensure we understand why the change and how to make the changes correctly.

We moved onto Takeori, covering what was learned in past weeks' lessons, ensuring the principles are correctly understood. This was done first against a lapel grab, then a tsuki, then a jab.

Lastly we explored two waza from the Omote Gata of Takagi Yoshin Ryu.

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.

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's class was great. The Japan rank certificates from our last testing came in the mail yesterday so it was great to give everyone their newly-signed-by-Hatsumi certificates. We worked through the Kamae Gata, then on Ukemi. I threw in some new things for the Ukemi training, including control drills. Then we working on Ashi Dori, Keri Kudaki, and Ashi Bari. Te/Ashi Tsuki was emphasized with these movements. We wrapped up by exploring the differences between Jodan Uke, Uke Negashi, and Daken Uke.

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.

Here is a fun video of a young Soke Hatsumi, enjoy! This interview was done a long time ago and included as part of an extra for a movie.

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

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

A Must Read...

I read this blog article and really enjoyed it. It describes the nature of training and learning in the Bujinkan really well. I'd post the whole article here, but that might violate some plagiarism laws and I wouldn't want to be rude to the author, even though it is intended as a sincere compliment because of how good it is. I will just post the link here: http://kumafr.wordpress.com/2014/01/11/not-wanting-in-order-to-get-it/

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

Gift From the Heart to all the Bujinkan

So as you may or may not know, the Hambu Dojo in Japan is being torn down because of railroad expansion. This has been planned for quite some time, and Hatsumi's influence in the country is very likely what has staved it off for so long. However, it is certainly going to happen know very soon. A new Hambu Dojo will be built to replace this one so many in the Bujinkan have called or thought of as their home dojo away from home ; ).

As a gift, a Bujinkan member, William O'neill, spent hours working on a miniature replica of the Hambu Dojo to give as a gift to Hatsumi. The detail is amazing and Hatsumi said he will place it in the new dojo when it is built. This will be a gift for the whole Bujinkan. Read more about it here in a blog written by William's teacher. http://bujinkansantamonica.blogspot.com.es/2014/04/a-gift-from-heart-to-all-of-bujinkan.html

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.

2014 Tai Kai

Boy was Tai Kai fun, and exhausting, but in a good way! The theme was "All Things Bladed," and it lived up to that name. Not only was there training in swords and knives, but we did throwing weapons and archery as well. There were many excellent training weapons to play with like yari (Japanese spear) and naginata (Japanese halbred). We ended the seminar playing with kunai, which requires very good taijutsu as it was part of Soke Hatsumi introducing the advanced principles on Juppo Sesho. What is best about Tai Kai is the unified friendship all us budo (warrior path) brothers and sisters share at this event. The Bujinkan is like one big family. And in Idaho, your place for training in the traditional martial arts of the Bujinkan is with us at the Living-Warrior Dojo, located in Meridian.

Martial arts training for Meridian, Boise, Kuna, Star, Nampa and surrounding communities.