Comments on: Keeping it Real http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/ Bujinkan Hombu Dojo Kuden Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:52:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Jasper Juhl Holm, Judan Chigyo, Denmark. http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-404 Jasper Juhl Holm, Judan Chigyo, Denmark. Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:45:38 +0000 http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-404 Hi John Clinton I understand your concern from a theoretical point of wiew, but to get "real" experience like some members of Bujinkan allready have, it would mean everybody in Bujinkan had to go to war and kill people, and that is NOT the purpose of our training. We cannot do sparring or compete either, since any rules at all, like not poking in the eyes, would turn our awareness and "habits" unrealistic. Thats why we don´t have competitions in Bujinkan. It is adnittedly not an easy task to keep it real, but it is indeed possible. Just like doctors can fight cancer without having fallen ill themselves, it is possible to keeping it real through correct training and correct mindset. Empathy is one of several keys, but the mindset must be transmitted live from person to person, you can not read it from a blog, og see it on video. So if you have more than theoretical interest, you have to go and train for quite some time with good teachers. I hope that clarify your doubts. Best Budo Wishes Hi John Clinton
I understand your concern from a theoretical point of wiew, but to get “real” experience like some members of Bujinkan allready have, it would mean everybody in Bujinkan had to go to war and kill people, and that is NOT the purpose of our training. We cannot do sparring or compete either, since any rules at all, like not poking in the eyes, would turn our awareness and “habits” unrealistic. Thats why we don´t have competitions in Bujinkan. It is adnittedly not an easy task to keep it real, but it is indeed possible.
Just like doctors can fight cancer without having fallen ill themselves, it is possible to keeping it real through correct training and correct mindset. Empathy is one of several keys, but the mindset must be transmitted live from person to person, you can not read it from a blog, og see it on video. So if you have more than theoretical interest, you have to go and train for quite some time with good teachers. I hope that clarify your doubts.
Best Budo Wishes

]]> By: Chris Pearce http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-398 Chris Pearce Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:56:13 +0000 http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-398 Thank you for taking the time to write these informative articles, for those of us who are unable to travel to japan these comments are a a link to soke Hatsumi`s training. I find that reading these comments helps to focus my training. Whenever i find myself losing my way i remember the words Hatsumi Soke has spoken at Taikai and during training in japan, to me these verbal transmissions are very important as Soke speaks from the heart. Thanks for sharing them with us. Thank you for taking the time to write these informative articles, for those of us who are unable to travel to japan these comments are a a link to soke Hatsumi`s training. I find that reading these comments helps to focus my training. Whenever i find myself losing my way i remember the words Hatsumi Soke has spoken at Taikai and during training in japan, to me these verbal transmissions are very important as Soke speaks from the heart.
Thanks for sharing them with us.

]]> By: John Clinton http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-396 John Clinton Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:32:49 +0000 http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-396 Keeping it real? I am interested in martial art in general but unfortunately I have not experienced Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. Surfing on the web I just found your great blog by a coincidence. It is an interesting post and I have few remarks. Keeping it real is an issue that relates to a mayor question which is also implicit mentioned in your post: If Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is (mainly) a way of fighting (and of course much more than that, but let us focus on that specific issue) how can we know if this way of fighting is valuable/effective? Reading the comments on this post the basic argument I read is this: believe and train, then you will succeed. This argument is based on believe and not (fortunately) a rational explanation. What concerns me is that the arguments not at all is based on practical (read real-life or similar) experiences except experiences of “others” in the Bujinkan community. How can we then distinguish between a circular argument that is fostered in the Bujinkan believe-system and training which prepares you for an encounter? How should one without fighting experience be able to relate to the experiences of one with fighting experience? Why believe in a system and not do experience your own experiences? I believe that dr. Masaaki Hatsumi is a great martial artist and the movie-clips I have seen of him are remarkable. But one thing is mr. Hatsumi, what about the rest of the Bujinkan community? Is ‘Jikiden’ what Bujinkan artist should rely on? My concern is the lack of focus on personal practical experiences. I believe that in order to implement the mindset of shinken you need that experience in “real-time” so it can be manifested in the body. I might not be a Bujinkan-practioner but I believe that my remarks are to be held in mind in training. With admiration Keeping it real?

I am interested in martial art in general but unfortunately I have not experienced Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. Surfing on the web I just found your great blog by a coincidence. It is an interesting post and I have few remarks.

Keeping it real is an issue that relates to a mayor question which is also implicit mentioned in your post: If Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is (mainly) a way of fighting (and of course much more than that, but let us focus on that specific issue) how can we know if this way of fighting is valuable/effective?

Reading the comments on this post the basic argument I read is this: believe and train, then you will succeed. This argument is based on believe and not (fortunately) a rational explanation. What concerns me is that the arguments not at all is based on practical (read real-life or similar) experiences except experiences of “others” in the Bujinkan community. How can we then distinguish between a circular argument that is fostered in the Bujinkan believe-system and training which prepares you for an encounter? How should one without fighting experience be able to relate to the experiences of one with fighting experience? Why believe in a system and not do experience your own experiences?

I believe that dr. Masaaki Hatsumi is a great martial artist and the movie-clips I have seen of him are remarkable. But one thing is mr. Hatsumi, what about the rest of the Bujinkan community? Is ‘Jikiden’ what Bujinkan artist should rely on?

My concern is the lack of focus on personal practical experiences. I believe that in order to implement the mindset of shinken you need that experience in “real-time” so it can be manifested in the body.

I might not be a Bujinkan-practioner but I believe that my remarks are to be held in mind in training.

With admiration

]]> By: Stefan Filus http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-394 Stefan Filus Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:48:13 +0000 http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-394 I can only underline what has been said before and thank Doug again for having the courage to express what many of us feel but have no chance or guts to say! Thank you Doug... Stefan Filus Bujinkan Sakura Dojo Munich Germany I can only underline what has been said before and thank Doug again for having the courage to express what many of us feel but have no chance or guts to say! Thank you Doug…

Stefan Filus
Bujinkan Sakura Dojo Munich
Germany

]]> By: Jasper Juhl Holm, judan chigyo http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-386 Jasper Juhl Holm, judan chigyo Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:56:32 +0000 http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-386 Dear Buyu It is true that many in Bujinkan don´t have real combat experience, and therefore is tempted by the mind to wonder to much about if our skills "works". While looking for your own weaknesses is a part of training, general doubt is quite destruktive for your ability to train and fight. Read "Do you doubt?• June 25, 2007 " on this blog, and think again. In this case the real problem is your mind attacking your spirit. If this happens too often, you should practice some mental dicipline, (meditation, onepointed directedness, visualisation) for a period, to fight your own uncertanity. Than drop it, and go back to training even harder. Training is a form of meditation too, with a lot of instant feedback! If you still feel uncertain, go and train with one of the many members of Bujinkan who have shinken experience, and ask them why. Personally i have recently had the luck to exchange ideas/concepts with several people with Shinken experience, and that futher confirmed me in what we do is real. Dear Buyu
It is true that many in Bujinkan don´t have real combat experience, and therefore is tempted by the mind to wonder to much about if our skills “works”. While looking for your own weaknesses is a part of training, general doubt is quite destruktive for your ability to train and fight. Read “Do you doubt?• June 25, 2007 ” on this blog, and think again. In this case the real problem is your mind attacking your spirit. If this happens too often, you should practice some mental dicipline, (meditation, onepointed directedness, visualisation) for a period, to fight your own uncertanity. Than drop it, and go back to training even harder. Training is a form of meditation too, with a lot of instant feedback!

If you still feel uncertain, go and train with one of the many members of Bujinkan who have shinken experience, and ask them why. Personally i have recently had the luck to exchange ideas/concepts with several people with Shinken experience, and that futher confirmed me in what we do is real.

]]> By: Kostas Kanakis http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-370 Kostas Kanakis Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:08:46 +0000 http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-370 Thank you Doug, I think that your post is/was the best way to explain what we are training! Jikiden...That's the key for understanding the "deeper" teachings from Soke! We will see what will happen in the future, but for me, it is 100% valuable to continue with the Bujinkan Tradition and with Hatsumi Sensei's teachings and visions. We have still so much to learn! Ganbatte! Kostas Kanakis - Judan Kugyo Bujinkan Greece Budokai Honbu Crete / Greece Thank you Doug,

I think that your post is/was the best way to explain what we are training! Jikiden…That’s the key for understanding the “deeper” teachings from Soke!
We will see what will happen in the future, but for me, it is 100% valuable to continue with the Bujinkan Tradition and with Hatsumi Sensei’s teachings and visions. We have still so much to learn! Ganbatte!

Kostas Kanakis - Judan Kugyo
Bujinkan Greece Budokai Honbu
Crete / Greece

]]> By: Dani ESteban http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-369 Dani ESteban Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:00:53 +0000 http://henka.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/keeping-it-real/#comment-369 ***Let’s face it; what we are learning here is Hatsumi Ryu. -There I finally said it- But it is true, and its great-don’t you think?**** 100% agree. Bujinkan Martial Arts = Hatsumi Ryu. And this is GREAT ! No ofense to our traditional ryu-has. Is our Sôke's vision throught Takamatsu SEnsei teachings plus 60 years of experience. Do you need more? Me not, for me it's enough until I'll die. Thanks Doug. I will translate to spanish and post it in my blog if don't have any inconvenience. Dani ESteban -Kôryu- Bujinkan Bushi Dojo Barcelona - Spain http://bushidojo.blogia.com ***Let’s face it; what we are learning here is Hatsumi Ryu. -There I finally said it- But it is true, and its great-don’t you think?****

100% agree. Bujinkan Martial Arts = Hatsumi Ryu. And this is GREAT ! No ofense to our traditional ryu-has. Is our Sôke’s vision throught Takamatsu SEnsei teachings plus 60 years of experience. Do you need more? Me not, for me it’s enough until I’ll die.

Thanks Doug.
I will translate to spanish and post it in my blog if don’t have any inconvenience.

Dani ESteban -Kôryu-
Bujinkan Bushi Dojo
Barcelona - Spain
http://bushidojo.blogia.com

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