Happy New Year-2009 Trailer

The 2008 training year has come to a close and I was fortunate enough to be a part of the last training of the year at Hombu and spend some time with Soke afterwards where several of the up and coming 2009 topics were discussed.  As we all know these are just the introduction of the buds that will bloom as the year passes by, but it would be good to start thinking about these as we come into the New Year.

Soke has chosen an aspect of the theme for next year and has already mentioned in several post DKMS training sessions  

才能心器 (sainou shin ki)

• 才能(sainou) ability
• 心(shin/kokoro) Heart
• 器(ki/utsuwa) Capacity

The photo was taken on the last day of training at Hombu and may or may not be the scroll (on the left) for the year. You may notice that there is variation in the kanji and the true meaning of this will unfold as we enter the New Year.  The kanji for 魂(TAMASHII) is used rather than shin.  Looking at this and listening to Soke’s explanation, I have a feeling for the meaning behind this, but as I have learned of so many things Soke, I will not jump to conclusions at this point.  I will do my best to update as the year unfolds.

Soke has made several references to the above on several of the recent trainings and has explained how the above elements are critical to Budoka.  Although there is no perfect translation for these terms, I’m confident that we see the infinite meanings in our training for 2009.

Another important point that Soke has made on several occasions is the importance of Shingitai.  Those that are familiar with Japanese will notice that there is no reference given to the head, or thinking in this aspect.  Therefore, Budo is not something that can be understood by the head or thinking.  It must be an aspect of the feeling and the heart.  Soke warned us that those who follow a logical study of Budo will be mistaken and that it Budo is not something that can be understood by the head.  In this Soke warned again that it is important to study with a good and just teacher so that you will not be lead down the wrong path.  There are too many with questionable motivations who can influence your training in the wrong way and ultimately taint a country with the wrong teachings.

The other important thing to be aware of for 2009 is that Soke has mentioned the intention to create a new Hombu Dojo.  The current Hombu Dojo is positioned where a new road is planned to be constructed in Noda in roughly 2 years time.  Therefore, if we are to avoid interruption in our Hombu training then the time to start construction of a new Hombu is 2009.  The location of this new Hombu is yet to be decided, but when I asked Soke where he was considering, I was given the answer of “Noda”.  Also, the plan is that this new Hombu will be a symbol of the Bujinkan into the future and is intended to be a more permanent landmark of the Bujinkan legacy.  Soke is thinking how to best proceed with this project with longevity for the future Bujinkan generations and how the land and structure is handled in Japan according to Japanese law becomes an issue for the future.  As we all know, Soke has no heirs and therefore assets can be liquidated.  However, temples, training halls etc, have some structure that allow for preservation.  Therefore, Soke is asking for this Hombu to be constructed by the support of the Bujinkan members by donation.  Soke intends to contribute a significant sum which should cover the basics, but how much support the Bujinkan community can give will determine the ultimate value.

Soke has asked me to spread the above news, and I will do my best to update once things unfold.

Until then, thank you all for your support, your training and I wish you all Happy New Year

See you in 2009.

Bufu Ikkan

DKMS 2008-Back to Basics

The DKMS this year was a real success on many levels.  The highlight of the training being that fact that we training entirely outside for first time in many years.

The combination of the years’ theme of Ninpo and the natural environment made things extremely realistic and was a breath of fresh air in our training.

Soke taught us how to use the environment including trees to control the opponents, using obstacles to escape and dry leaves as metsubushi.  Many felt like they had returned to youth and were practicing climbing, running up trees during the breaks.

The weather was perfect and somehow Soke was able to create a miracle as all things seem to come together so smoothly.  Potentially with the small space that we had allocated to us indoors and the chance that it could have rained the entire time, it could have been a disaster.  If I was not a witness of Soke’s miracles so many times before, I would have believed it to be a miracle.  The flower of the Bujinkan bloomed ever so bright on those three days.

We started off the training with the study of the Kihon Happo of Togakure Ryu.  The basis of taijutsu in Ninpo is Gyokko Ryu and Koto Ryu.  We went through the Kihon of Gyokko Ryu, starting off with Ichimonji and working with many variations of controlling the space.

The second day was focused on Taihenjutsu of Ninpo and we went through various waza including those of Tokagure Ryu and Gikan Ryu.

Sincere appreciation goes out to all those that acted as uke for Soke during the training, as the real battleground environment was a challenge in ukemi.  Yabunaka san and Shiraishi Sensei, were driven into the dirt, mud and tress so many times, only their level of ukemi would have endured the 3 days.

In my opinion, the highlight of the seminar was the opportunity to hear the stories of meeting Takamatsu Sensei from Seno Sensei and Kobayashi san.  Many of you may not know Kobayashi san as it has been so many years since he last trained.  He was one of the few students of Soke that had the chance to meet Takamatsu Sensei.  (Kobayashi san is now Assistant Director of Shimizu Koen the park were the event was held.  Thanks to him for the arrangement) they both depicted how they were in fear of Takamatsu Sensei and how he seemed to look right through the both of them.  The detailed descriptions of Takamatsu Sensei’s hands confirmed all the stories that we have heard.

Seno Sensei talked of the time that they were waiting on the second floor of Takamatsu Sensei’s house with Hatsumi Sensei and Kobayashi san and suddenly Hatsumi Sensei said, “He is here” and they looked around the room and saw nothing, then Takamatsu Sensei suddenly appeared.  He had walked up the stairs so quietly and rotated into the door smoothly and quickly making it very difficult to see him.  (There was some confusion in this story on the day of the explanation, but after discussion, this seems to be how things happened.)

Last but not least the party was very enjoyable and Soke invited many guests from his many engagements.  We all enjoyed Soke’s singing, speeches and the chance to see Soke receive so many wonderful presents from the generous Bujinkan members.

There were many excellent speeches given at the party, but the one that stood out for me was the speech given by Jack Hoban.  It seemed to tie together the message that Soke had given us throughout the year and in those three days.  Without going in to too much detail, the main point was that you need to understand good and evil.  If you put 300 participants from all around the world in one room as we did in those three days, and asked them to make peace, they would fight.  But we put 300 participants into a room and told them to fight and they made peace.

Thanks to all for a wonderful and successful DKMS 2008

Bufu Ikkan.