Book to be Released in June

I received a proof of the new book from the editor of Kodansha late last week. Unarmed Fighting Techniques of the Samurai is to be released sometime in June. I have to say from a presentation point of view, this is the most well laid out book to date and will include several color photos. There is tremendous information and wisdom in this new book regarding the Bujinkan Mindset as well martial arts in general. Soke has also opened up his collection of budo history and allowed for the photography of several scrolls, writings and weapons.

As always, experience in Hatsumi Sensei Budo is required to be able to “connect the dots”. Kyojitsu Tenkan Ho

A true master does not teach, but simply inspires.

I hope you like the book.

Bushinwa

 

Seminar Announcement

May 24^th and 25^th  Dublin Ireland

I’m invited back to Ireland!  I’m really looking forward to it as my first trip there was spectacular.  The people, country and training are great

I hope to be able to give some insight regarding Soke’s focus this year as well as get a new Ireland t-shirt, since Soke ripped the neck out of the last one.

For details please visit my good friend Alex Meehan’s site:

http://bujinblog.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/seminar-with-doug-wilson-shihan/

Is Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu a Combat Art?

Somehow there exists the misconception that Bujinkan is a combat martial art.

Bujinkan Budo taijutsu is about NOT fighting.  Combat is always last resort.

Takamatsu Sensei spent a great deal of his life fighting, but then spent the rest of it as a monk to distance himself from it.  Thanks to his sacrifice, he has given us a taste of this reality through Hatsumi Sensei.

According to the Webster’s Dictionary online, the definition for combat is “a fight or contest between individuals or groups”.   We are not a competitive art, so we must be referring to a fight then.

The mindset that is taught is NOT to fight, and furthermore avoid conflict all together.  Ninpo teaches to dissipate the fight and to not even be there.

This mindset is developed through combat training nevertheless, but the training although physical, is focused at a mental and spiritual development.  The result is an internalized ability to react in an uncommon sense way. The element of surprise!

The ultimate martial artist is the one who never has to fight.  But in the time of a fight, does not hesitate to take action.  The type of action is infinite and the state of the times plays a role.

This is a life martial art that allows for personal development and achievement of personal potential.  Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu can be practiced and perfected over one’s entire lifetime.  There are no restrictions due to the human limit of the peak of physical prowess or athletic ability.  In a sense, there are no restrictions.  “Made in Human”, as Soke often says recently.

Again, fighting is the last resort.  In a fight, luck plays a large part as does the ability to read the air. 

Through consistent training the ability to cultivate good luck attracts.

As stated in so many previous posts-What I’m not saying is that physical contact training is unnecessary.  It is should be done at early stages of training when the body best accepts it.  A formula for this is already provided by the Bujinkan. 

There are no shortcuts-training is a personal responsibility.

Buffu Ikkan

Read the Air（雰囲気を読みましょう）

 

Ninpo is highly about awareness and situational natural reaction.  Correct physical training indirectly develops our innate abilities that will allow us to avoid confrontation, disruption of the harmony or the atmosphere.

We must learn to read the atmosphere of the situation, adjust without detection and exercise impeccable self control.  We must also be able to quickly determine if our own actions or presence attracts attention.

I will give you a simple example.  There are things that we might do in our own home dojo that are not done in Japan.  Your teacher may insist on the developed of a specific habit for various reasons.  However, this may not be acceptable in Japan or any other dojo.  Therefore, to quickly control your own developed habits or actions are essential.

This is not only an exercise in etiquette, but also a lesson in the mindset of Ninpo.

What Soke is teaching us is not physical-skill is already achieved to a sufficient level in the Bujinkan, according to Soke -What he is teaching is the connection OF and IN the space.  As he Soke said last night…”Kukan no Tate (shield) and Kukan no Suki” (opening). 

Allow your shield to protect your openings and your openings to lower the shield of the opponent. 

Ninpo Ikkan –武心和

Seminar Announcement

Rob Renner

Togakure ryu no kieru no kankaku
“Creating the feeling of disappearing”

March 29, 30 - Ocala, Florida
April 5, 6 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
April 12, 13 - Washington DC
April 19, 20 - Chicago, Illinois
April 26, 27 Sacramento, California

Whose Bujinkan is this?

Soke said to me last night, in order to study Budo you must have a pure feeling or intention, if not it will go another direction….Most likely the wrong direction.

Thinking about this has made me reflect again on my own training, the purpose of it and motivation for why I train. I think that every Bujinkan member (or Budoka) should do so on a regular basis.

What is your intention, what is your purpose and why do you train?

Naturally, there will be many reason and motivations, but the real question is, is your reason pure?

Maybe traditionally, the original intention for training in Budo was to survive. But do we really need Budo to survive today? Maybe not. So what is the intention?

Whose Bujinkan is this? -I think that we can start to call it ours IF our intention is pure. But if not, then don’t call it your Bujinkan.

Ultimately, the Bujinkan belongs to Soke, so why are so many people contorting it or exploiting it? Yeah, we have rights, but the right is only to train-if you are decent person without a criminal record etc-. but there is no right to change or manipulate things. This is up to Soke. There is a time for change, but is it really now?

We can pose so many questions and fabricate so many examples…but I will be direct and say that if the purpose sides on any monetary basis, then there is NO purity and it is NOT Budo.

Soke always says that if you train then things will come naturally. And they will. But Budo and business do not mix.

Unfortunately, too many have taken the Bujinkan and Soke’s name for granted and used it to boost their own business, advertising or con job. Too many who never even really train, come to Japan, or even have any concept of Soke’s Budo, build a Dojo, use the name, hang pictures of Soke on the wall, and distort money from people. Shidoshi, Shihan are titles reserved for pure intention Budoka, not for boosting sales.

I wonder why the Bujinkan is under criticism? The worst of it is that the majority of the criticism comes from actual so called Bujinkan members. The hypocrisy is amazing.

I will repeat what Soke said again last night and an infinite amount of times before. If you just train, and keep going, then Budo will work for you. There is nothing to change and nothing more to do. Leave it be and just train.

Ninpo Ikkan