Why?

Well, why not? 

IT WAS TRAINING and nothing else.  I grappled him because I wanted to know what he is capable of, and I saw opportunity to learn from it in a training environment. Now I know what a MAA can do, and I take responsibility for MY own training.  I think walking away without a scrape; injury or need for ice, is winning.

Didn’t Soke say “Play with the opponent”?

Didn’t Takamatsu sensei said “What really matters is guts”?

I’ll let you on to a 2000 year old secret-YOU are responsible for your own training. -Not Soke, not me, not Bruce or your Shidoshi. 

Human Weapon Aftermath

      Well, I finally got to see the Human Weapon show.  Many friends and family in the US got to see it before me and many had nice things to say, so thanks for your comments.

Of course, I had to withhold any comments on the show that revealed too much detail until it aired, so, I will take a few moments to comment now on the experience after viewing it. 

The show seemed to turn out similar to what I can remember, and the challenge was interesting to watch.  I do recall there were a few more things that happened that must have been cut for entertainments sake, but hey, that’s Hollywood, right.  I do remember that putting the challenge together in the last minute was a bit on the fly, but we needed to come up with something that would work to meet the director and producers need for a challenge.  With our art being being “non-competitive” it was a bit of a challenge in itself and I think the end product worked for the show and was resonably well done for the short time that we had to produce it.  We also knew the risk that there will be people out there who will jump to the conclusion that it was ” representative” of what we do here in the BK.  I do feel sorry that they did not have their chance to see what they imagine should have happened.

Unfortunately, what was requested as the challenge was denied, and therefore something had to be done to control the space.  Not all Ninjas show their tricks.  Silly Rabbit…

Turning BK into a sport, is tough and to adhere to rules is tougher and there were plenty of talks and conversation prior to avoid injury. And yes, even reality shows do have some level of control.  The plastic goggles might have been safe, but they just did not look that cool on camera, so we chose to go without them.

All in all, Bill and Jason are great guys and they do have knowledge and abilities.  Jason maybe more so, being a professional mixed martial artist, so it was a truly a training opportunity and learning experience for me, and that’s all I ever expected it to be.  It took some time for me too, but I finally learned that Ninja can’t really walk on water.

After seeing the show, I finally got to learn where Jason and Bill were spending their all their time that week, and there were some “interesting” additions to the Ninja tradition (I did not know that Koppojutsu was Ninja Knife Fighting).  Well done on the obstacle course. If anything is a motivation, it is doing everything you can to avoid falling in that water. From what I remember from 18 years ago, when I tried to be a Ninja too, I fell in, and nobody who sit next next to me on the train back to Noda.  And I don’t think anybody as been back to the course since.

To the local BK guys who participated, a job well done and thanks for having the guts to do the job when requested to do so.  Thanks to Yost for his support and great hosting skills.

By the way, we have a new idea for the next challenge, it will be combat with keyboards so all you masters out there, now is your chance to save the world!

Luckily I don’t have to miss a day at work again this time.

Buffu Ikkan

Rank-What is that?

     The ranking system in the Bujinkan often receives criticism and it has been an area of discussion and controversy.

Regardless of the thinking or the reality, many put value and emphasis on rank.  However, when it comes down to it what does it really mean or matter to us or to Soke?

Soke said a recent training session that you should know your own rank as well as know your own limitations and expertise as well.

You should know what your rank is and therefore what your responsibilities are and ultimately what you represent.  You should train at a pace that is suitable for you.

So, I’m going to make a risky assumption here and say that rank in the BK has nothing to do with skill.  Skill based rank is limited and may well be the point of confusion.

Other martial arts that I have trained in, assign rank according to skill, how many techniques you know, how solid your form is etc.

Most of the leaders outside of Budo that I have had the honor to be around, have risen up the “ranks” of leadership on the basis of responsibility, ethical prowess, and pure ability to inspire and motivate people.  Honestly, these people are not always the most skillful people in the group, but have the innate ability to lead and get the job done.

Imagine the warrior on the battlefield who does not have the best skills or marksmanship, but has the guts to advance, lead people and obtain targets.  What takes this warrior places is not the skills, but the guts and the confidence to get the job done.

I truly believe that the above example is the closer to Soke’s intention when he gives rank.  It is not skill based. However, having rank is a responsibility that drives us to train harder to live up to our level.  Similar to the story that Soke told me about what he did when he was given the Sokeship from Takamatsu sensei. The only way to be worthy of his title was to train, train, train.

Soke also said at the recent DKMS that people are not perfect, and that it is immature to look through eyes that expect perfection.  What you see, most of the time, is not the truth.  So, if ones jumps to conclusions and takes action based on what is seen, it will most likely be the wrong action.  You need to use all your senses to perceive and therefore avoid taking action that can lead you astray.

It is my humble opinion, but I truly believe that when we obtain rank in the Bujinkan that it is not based on skill, but ability to be an ethical, just, diplomatic, and a leader who can do good for the world.

Skills can be developed through training, if you keep going.

 There is nothing more valuable than experience, and the only way to gain that is by living.

Gojo

      One the 2^nd day of the DKMS Soke mentioned the term 五定“Gojo”.  This was a term that I had not been very familiar with at the time and therefore the translation was not accurate.  Many people have requested a clarification, so I would like to take a few minutes here and do my best to clarify what Soke was talking about.  The details of this are mentioned in the soon to be released Budo Taijutsu Book in the chapter for Togakure Ryu, so I will avoid spoiling it too much.  Please also remember that the theme for next year is Togakure Ryu, so there is plenty of opportunity for the meaning to develop.

I have a given a rough translation for each.

The Gojo (五定)are:

• 不滅の布施    (Fumetsu no fuse) Immortal offerings
• 真道の持戒    (Mamichi no Jikai) Pure path of Buddhism
• 自然の忍辱　(Shizen no ninniku) Forbearance of nature
• 自然の超越　(Shizen no choetsu) Trancendence of nature
• 光明の悟り     (Komyo no satori) Enlightenment of hope-same Komyo as Shiken harimitsu Dai KOMYO

Post DKMS Stress Disorder

     The DKMS was great, the feeling was good and the idea of warrior harmony seems to be prevalent for those that attended.  Soke was in good spirits and put emphasis on playing with the opponent and importance of disattachment from form or waza.  The waza is always there and always will be.  It is up to the individual how much you train to allow yourself the freedom.  Clearly, lack of training away from the Hombu will most likely leave you stranded and forced to justify your own interpretation. 

The party was a close and personal, Soke enjoyed it very much and stayed a little longer than usual.  He brought along a face from long ago, the young actor from the Jiraya series.  Soke titled him his long lost “son” and they enjoyed the party together.

Soke was presented with many gifts, very nice gifts and he truly appreciated them all.  Thanks to all of you of you for your generosity to Soke, he does appreciate all he receives, although we can never repay him for what he has given us.

Many people approached me and thanked me for the blog and for the translation at the training.  It is what I do and do not expect gratitude, but I do appreciate the comments from so many.

I also had the chance to meet and spend time talking with many old buyu.  I truly realized that Bujinkan is made up of many interesting people.  Each person has strengths to bring to the table.  We will all have our strengths and will all have our weakness, this is natural.  However, we must be aware that things become out of control when strengths are exploited and weakness are ignored. Think about this.

This art is living and genuine and the connection is through Soke.  This is historically proven. So don’t doubt and just train.  The time is not right for alternative interpretation.

Also don’t forget that we are surrounded by kyojutsu and that fixation on something or pushing too much in any direction will return most likely to work against you.  Soke mentions this many times.

Soke also teaches “don’t believe what you see”.  If you take things for face value you are violating the basics of Budo.  Seeing and judging or jumping to conclusions is immature. 

Remaining ZERO is exactly this.  Too many seem to forget this and do not utilize the training we have invested so much time into.  At the end of the day, those warriors who utilize Soke’s teaching for good and justice will prevail.

Take a moment to think about the purpose.