Just a quick comment on ranks.
I can only agree with the above mentioned 15.Dan. I have always seen my own ranks as backpacks. Once I receive a rank, I am grateful, but at the same time I know, I am responsible for “putting in” stuff, that fulfills the rank.
I, and only I, am responsible for every second of my life, (as are you) and what I allow to be part of it. It IS a neverending journey, and it’s wonderful

Bufu Ikkan
Henrik, Shidoshi

This was a great one about the ranks and I wish more people would read it (and with an open mind).

I have recently attended a foreign seminar where I got to talk to the host (15th dan) about this rank issue. I wholeheartedly agree with what he said. Briefly it was that unfortunately majority of nowadays’ MA people give and take ranks as a sign of something they have already achieved.
This is a wrong approach because it closes the doors to further things that could be learned, as it represents something which is already completed.
Instead of this, ranks should be given and taken as a “hint” for something that you must accomplish, so it should be something to point forward and show you the direction where you have to focus and pursue training.
So it makes it a neverending journey

Eva

He was also Hard as Nails, A great fighter and the best horseman in England,
Personally I will not follow my inferior (and I dont mean just fighting) But I will learn By him. And I know many othesr Who are with me on that.
Trevor Robinson Shidoshi.

Apply this not just to taijutsu but to attitude and spirit.

Thank you~

I recived 5 kyu last week (yep I’m pretty new) and the same thought that have gone through my head every time I move up a grade came again to no surprise; Now I got to earn this, live up to this.

I read this and thought it funny cause I’ve always thought of my grade as a responsebilety, that I have to live up to it, sooner then thinking that I’ve already earned it when I recive it.

This don’t add much I know, but I just felt I should reply.

Thanks for a great site, I don’t have the oppertunity to travel to Japan, at least not for some time. And it means alot to me to still be able to get to know some of the wisdom Soke provides.

A few years ago I traveled to Japan to train with Dr. Hatsumi;
I was given a 3rd dan and a Shidoshi-ho, I went back home and
trained and taught for almost 30 hours a week to deserve this grade.
Possibly the happiest day of my life was my Godan test, Sensei painted
a Fu (wind) character for me during the Tai Kai’s final supper, my Mom
is a graduate from Art History when she saw the painting she said it
is got the best done traces she has ever seen (beleive me - she has seen a lot).

One day training in Japan another member of Bujinkan during the start
of the session went for my elbow with a Musha-Dori and almost broke it.
For many years I had to follow treatment for this injury. This technique was done
in regular training session not during a fight (so he caught me in a trusting mode
and I conciouslly never did nothing to put his person in danger),
I still consider this treason and cowardice but have long forgived him;
a few days later I heard he hated me since we arrived to Japan with the
same grade but Sensei gave me a higher grade than him and he felt he had trained
longer than I. Now I stand in the other side of the barrel: I fell serioulsy ill
and have undergone a long treatment being unable to travel to Japan up until
2 years ago. Some of the people I trained a few years back have now got higher grades
than me. ?? Maybe I should feel jealous or angry ??.

Surprisingly I am a happy man with a positive attitude (not because I’m
a superman but because I have learned from Sensei’s words, making a negative
situation into a positive one, turning a war into positive facts or situations,
etc. Are we Budokas or a bunch of clowns running around in black gees ?.

Name it; I have probalbly gone through it (positive and negative), today’s
use of Budo in the big cities and normal situations is through the inner
part and rarely through physical action, I have sadly been invloved in more
than one life and death violent situation and like in the letter I wrote to Soke
(publshed in Sanmyaku volume 2) I told Sensei I begged God not to have to fight.
I wasn’t aware of my grade at those times, rather I was lucky enough to merge
into KU and respond … (I’m still here). Did grade matter ???

Today when I try to find out why Sensei does or says something I try
to learn why he does it, remember of Kyojutsu, try to use my little
knowlege of Japanese traditions and Ninjutsu and assume that one day I
showed up for training (nobody invited me), and that every time I step
into a Bujinkan Dojo when Sensei or the top Japanese Shihans are
present I always ask for permission to enter.

I sugest to read Sensei’s books, listen to him closely and
as this is Doug’s blog thank him and the other translators (present
and past) who do a wonderfull and very difficult job getting Sensei’s
words to our language - believe me Sensei uses very rare words
and expressions from Old Japan and you must be very close to Sensei
to be able to translate fluently. I remenber before one of the Spanish
Tai Kais I had to be 2 or 3 days reading Sensei’s books and lookig at videos
of other Tai Kais to be prepared for the event, and many times feel
I could have done a better job, but what I am sure of is that I
did my best at the time and am at peace with meeself, I thank Sensei
and Buijiakan for the opportunity to learn and live with this Martial
Art and many of my Buyus throughout the world !

R. Gonzalez.

I live in India and run the only Bujinkan Dôjô in the country. I will not presume to know much, I am still young and have only 9 years of experience in Bujinkan, I have come to Japan 5 times in 3 years and can not be seen as anyone else but someone who believes in the good that training in Bujinkan can lead to.

After this DKMS I had the feeling that it is time to stop my (until now) introspection (i.e. am I good, are they good, I don’t understand, will I ever learn, when will I get promoted etc.) and begin to look at how to use the network, the skills and the knowledge for the good of society.

I believe we have a responsibility as practitioners of Bujinkan to network when meeting for events as DKMS or the various Tai Kai round the world. Through these informal chats we get to know how many people who have dedicated their lives to teaching the skills and knowledge they have outside the Bujinkan. I was amazed this time to learn how many individuals who have made it their lives to help society, whether it be women, marines, FBI, hospitals or other organisations, using the teachings of sôke.

To me, and to the others like me, networking with these individuals is an essential part of the training, so that we can bring them to our countries and implement their programmes for the better of society.

To me this is also what Bujinkan is about.

All the very best,

Nikolaj