Where is the Kihon in your Kihon?

The Kihon of martial arts is not technique and there is a distinct difference between Kihon and Kihon waza.  If you do not have solid Kihon then the Kihon waza will result in nothing.

The Kihon of Martial Arts is: Distance, Angles and Timing (DAT) and proper waza cannot be executed without control of the space with these 3 elements.  These 3 elements must be thought of as essential and primary and therefore must be correct and just before you attempt to execute waza or technique.  Too many rush to the waza and therefore ignore the Kihon, resulting in bad habits and ineffectiveness. 

The difference lies in the mindset of the training. DAT must be honed by drill training and not technique based training.  Soke often says that he has no technique, but he always has the primary control of the space based on the DAT.  This comes from consistent training of Kihon and not from the training of technique.  If you have the control of DAT then you always strive to be in a position of safety where opponent is ill positioned.  The choice to execute technique becomes optional and is purely dictated by the opponents continued need to fight.

It is also important to draw the difference between a technique and a drill.  An easy example is that of training in Judo. If you have ever trained in Judo you know that there are drills that are practiced to catch the DAT of a throw.  The throw is only initiated after several reputations and is only executed after the Judoka has experienced the proper DAT of the throw.  These are drills are not considered nage waza.

In our training if we are not fully present and questioning the reality of the attacks, our response, and the effectiveness of our Kihon, then we are cheating ourselves.

Bufu Ikkan

Image Continuation

An interesting discussion emerged from training last night with Soke.  Soke mentioned that what is important in the experience of his training is for us to grasp the image.  The mind must be able to imagine the desired outcome in a sense of premonition and then attempt through training to bring that image to reality through the body or Taijutsu. This is obviously not limited to just one grand image, but an infinite number of images that are connected in a continuation in the ultimate control of the space. Maybe a reasonable analogy can be a motion picture where a combination of images is run to create an overall story.  This concept is blended with this year’s theme of the rope with the likeness to a strip of film. Strive to connect the images in a continuous string of control.

Not only does the image hold importance, but the moment as well, or the particular instant.  This is not necessarily what we would think of as the common concept of timing. It was further explained by Soke as the moment of kyojutsu or “Kyojitsu no Shunkan”　(虚実の瞬間)

The concept of imagery is present in all that is art, and the ultimate challenge of any artist is the same and that is to bring an image to reality. 

This concept struck a particular chord with my experience with music.  Often there is an image of a song or piece of music that will appear, but the challenge is to bring that image to reality before it is gone.  The image is often lost in that instant and the opportunity is therefore gone to neve be created again.  When speaking of this idea to Soke, he simply said that it is the Master who can take an image from the mind and create an exact actual replica in the material world without disruption.  You can also imagine that the ability to allow spontaneity to flow naturally is a critical point. 

Often, the only obstacle to the creative process is oneself.  

Imagine that!

Bufu Ikkan

Why Bujinkan?

At times, I naturally find myself asking why Bujinkan? This question is especially noticeable to me when I’m attending training at Ayase or the Hombu Dojo and there are so many people present from so many different countries and cultures.

Why are so many people interested in the Bujinkan?
Why do so many people come to Japan for training?
What is so great about our training?

The answer has always been the same.

Bufu Ikkan