Doug Wilson will be in the USA leading a martial arts seminar focusing on effective kihon of budo taijutsu and the aspects of distance angles and timing.  Doug will be joined by other instructors throughout the day.  Living and working inJapan gives Doug a unique training perspective, both as a student and translator for Hatsumi Sensei.  The seminar is open to all participants, beginner to advanced.

 Date:  Saturday, February 11, 2012

Time: 12:30-5:30pm (registration, 11:45am)

Cost: $75 (cash at the door)

Location:  Kaizen Martial Arts,

1101 Plumber Way, Suite 106

Roseville,CA 95678

(Near I-80 andTaylor Rd.)

Bring:  Water, snacks, gi or easy to move-in workout clothes, bokken and other training tools – NO REAL WEAPONS.

 About the instructor:

Doug Wilson has been involved in martial arts for more than 30 years, with over 25 years in the Bujinkan.  Originally fromCalifornia’s Bay Area, he is one of the few residents ofJapanthat has been training consistently at the Hombu Dojo for more than 15 years.  

 Doug began his Bujinkan training under the direction of the Stockton Bujinkan Dojo in the early 1980′s.  He moved toJapanafter graduating fromSan DiegoStateUniversitywith a degree in International Business focusing onJapan.  Doug’s first experience living in the country was tenure as an exchange student, during which he spent the majority of his training time with Oguri Shihan and also attending Hombu Dojo training. 

 Doug often acts as the translator for Hatsumi Soke at training events and has co-translated several of the books published by Soke in the last decade; he can be seen translating in various Bujinkan training and Daikomyosai videos over the years.  His proximity to Soke provides him with a unique perspective on training, and Doug prefers to act as a conduit to Soke’s teaching rather than teach himself.  While he is rarely available for seminars, those Doug have taught have been very well attended and received.

Doug’s unique take on Bujinkan Budo taijutsu stems from his “keep it real” mentality — focusing on keeping the training and aspects thereof as realistic as possible.  This training session will focus on effective kihon of budo taijutsu and the aspects of distance angles and timing.

 Please email any event questions:   ken”at”warriorfriend.com

 Please pass it on and see you there!

Note from Doug:  We will be going over the Shoden Gata of Takagi Yoshin Ryu in Honor of Oguri Sensei.

Bufu Ikkan

We will study taijutsu and the ken in the new year of the divine dragon.

Kihon happo is finding the balance point of the kaname. 

Bufu Ikkan

It is true that hidden and abstract messages are where the true beauty exists in art. This is often the case with Hatsumi Sensei’s martial arts and teachings. I have somewhat come to understand this, only after almost two decades of translating and training by the side of Soke. In reality, how these messages are interpreted can play an integral and important part of the understanding of the Martial Arts in general.

In my last post on the Recent DKMS, I used several of these messages, some of my own and some of our Soke. For some reason, I feel compelled to explain these messages in further detail in hopes that it could spark a brighter light and further reveal the vast infiniteness of these Budo concepts. These messages are achieved due to the natural and convenience of the expression ability within the Japanese language. Japanese can truly be an abstract an ideal language for communicating feeling and potential, rather than directness.

空間の九勝/急所＝万変不驚

Let me start by speaking about the term “Kukan no Kyusho”. Soke, spoke of this concept several times at the DKMS. The correct characters for this would be空間の急所. However in the below title, I have suggested that the idea of Kyusho can also be expressed as “Nine Victories”, hinting to the concept of Win and Lose that Soke also spoke of on that first day under the autumn leaves. This also demonstrates the feeling of the concept of the Kukan being spherical or circler in nature, with the idea of infinite control. Nine being the number of ryuha in our lineage, as well as the magical number of the Ninja or that of Happo Biken. Either way, this must result in that of Fudoshin for the 15 Dan=The Rank of Banpenfugyo-No suprises!

Maki Mono=負物-負者

Before the DKMS, I had several conversations with Soke regarding the concept of scrolls and how there is no seeable possibility that they could house any real secrets, and that the relentless pursuit of such fictional secrets could eventually drive a man insane-my precious-Resulting in being lead down a losing path. I thought it was timely that Soke presented a few examples of the Maki Mono at the DKMS, revealing that there actually does exists some hidden bits of knowledge, but nothing that will immediately transform one into the ultimate warrior or rule out common uncommon sense. Therefore, playing with the sounds of Maki Mono, I have suggested the characters Make Mono負物-losing thing or Make Mono負者-losing person. The sounds are not exact, but close enough to not lose the image.

The balance of Kachi 勝and Make負

The two characters of of Kachi 勝and Make負combine to form the term “Shobu” or fight to the death. Soke also made reference to this concept on the first day, describing that in the early days of training, one will strive for the Kachi or the win and not even consider the idea of losing. The explanation was that once one reaches the age of 40 , they will need to seek balance and accept the idea of defeat. This is a basics example of all things in life where we strive to achieve something, then eventually allow ourselves to find a more simple or tranquil solution. This is an example of maturity, internalization of ability and ego control, in the sense that losing can actually be victory. One must seek balance in the concept of Shobu and those that only see it as a battle to the death still side on the need of sure victory to feel victorious. The wise warrior knows that a Win/Win is far better as losing can be winning.

This is also brings me to an opportunity to further explain this concept of the “melancholic warrior”. Yes, this concept was mentioned and the warrior path can be lonely in the sense that it is more often than not, misunderstood. However, it should not be forgotten that it is not a jidai drama and it carries great responsibility to walk this lonely path. Lonely, because not many will have the courage to walk it. It is a choice to accept the responsibility of protecting self and others. It is a choice to take action to improve humanity and strive to make the world a better place. Soke often states that you should not study martial arts if you are afraid of injury or dying. We must learn to make the world a better place through the study of Budo, without injuring, but empowering others. Therefore, as lonely this path may be, it is a dignified and worthy path if you chose to walk it justly and empower others to follow.

Lastly, as we view the world in the prismatic way of the Dragonfly, the kachimushi or victorious bug, we kachimushi- 勝ち無視=Ignore the need for personal victory.

Bufu Ikkan

I must say that the overall feeling this year was light and warm despite the cold, as Soke shared many things with the participants that are not often made public.  Soke shared is collection of Budo History and artifacts that has the potential to even make the most renowned martial scholar jealous.  According to Soke, the point of  this sharing event was to show what a maki mono 負物・負者  is and to demonstrate that even if you can read them, the secrets are unclear or nonexistent without a lifetime of practice.  The wisdom does exist from another time, but the Budo path is not a sure road to victory.  One lesson is that one must learn the balance of Kachi 勝and Make負.  These are the elements that make up the term Shobu, but as in the cliché-to win can be to lose and vice versa.  The martial path is not a true path of victory, and remains the lonely path of that of the melancholic warrior.

It is clear to me that there is no ultimate martial art and there is no special technique or secret.  It is the mindset that is the treasure of the Bujinkan, and this combined with proper and free taijutsu that is the winning combination.  Our tradition is our value, and not the tradition that is written on scroll, but the rich experiences of our Soke and the fact that he does not teach, but simply inspires in us to seek our own truth.  This is true humanity, I feel.   As humans, we are weaker than our animal brother and sisters and we must strive to maintain our connection with nature to keep our training without flaw.

Those that focus or compare based on strength or power are incarcerated by their limited mindset.  The teachings of Hatsumi Soke free the mind to view the kukan in a prismatic way, through the eyes of the dragonfly, the kachimushi 勝ち無視.

Bufu Ikkan

I was recently asked by Soke to clarify the details of this year’s annual training event.

Unfortunately, all the maps and websites are in Japanese, so please follow your senses.

Theme: Kihon Happo　-指ー胸ー目

Day 1: Wednesday November 30th, 2011

• ·                  AM Session 10:00-12:00
• ·                  PM Session 14:00-16:00

Location: Zaoso- Shimizu Park-Noda City Japan

http://www.shimizu-kouen.com/parkmap/parkmap.html

(Building just below Parking lot 3 on the map)

Day 2: Thursday December 1st, 2011

Location: Zaoso- Shimizu Park-Noda City Japan (see above)

• ·                  AM Session 10:00-12:00
• ·                  PM Session 14:00-16:00

Day 3: Friday December 2nd, 2011

Location: Gym (Taiikukan)- Shimizu Park-Noda City Japan

http://www.city.noda.chiba.jp/shisetsu/0064.html#1

http://www.city.noda.chiba.jp/shisetsu/map/0064m.html

• ·                  AM Session 10:00-12:00
• ·                  PM Session 14:00-16:00

Party- Tobu Noda Hotel 18:00-20:00

http://nodatobuhotel.jp/

Ultimately, one would like to find themselves on the road to nowhere which leads to everywhere and I will humbly offer the description of this as Mu Michi 無道 -The juppo sessho of life.

Each path is different and unique and although the destination may be common, the path remains individual.

One must strive to find one’s own way and remain creative and unique.  Naturally, you will follow directly behind someone of inspiration, prodding in their foots steps until you gain the confidence and courage to venture alongside or in a completely different direction.  This is the path of master and student. This is another way to look at the concept of Shu Ha Ri 守・破・離

As in a recent discussion with Soke, one might for example, follow the path of knowledge or intelligence. The subject of knowledge versus intelligence was discussed at length in combination with our physical training.  Soke painted several examples in this concept in his modern impressionist way with the brush of taijutsu, brushing how critical this is for growth or advancement in the medium of the martial arts.

Although this is a very simple and typical subject, and maybe even considered single dimensional, I thought quite provocative based on its capacity on the canvas of the Lonely Budo Path and how it can confuse, inspire and regress like Picasso.

For years, one can strive to seek knowledge or desire to gather information plodding relentlessly down to only become the no path leading to nothing.  This is not the no path that leads to everything.  The difference between actually putting that knowledge to work is a transition that not all can achieve as it requires straddling both roads.  This may require intelligence and can be in the absence of knowledge.

One might also fall slave to the path of Intelligence, a prisoner of their own talent.  Only to develop on a road of possible erosion, leading to the no path of nothing and not everything. 

I cannot help to wonder what happens when this road comes to an end?  Is the freedom there to create a new path or would I sit waiting for eternity for someone inspirational to come by? Therefore, it is critical for one to remain creative in the path of intelligence practicing detachment from talent, as it could eventually result in ignorance. 

The words come to mind: “Find and make your own way, that is the kihon of life.”

Although we walk alone, we all walk.
Bufu Ikkan.

Date: Saturday, September 10, 2011

Time: 12:30-5:30pm (registration, 11:45am)

Cost: $75 (cash at the door)

Location: Kaizen Martial Arts,

1101 Plumber Way, Suite 106

Roseville, CA 95678

(Near I-80 and Taylor Rd.)

Bring: Water, snacks, gi or easy to move-in workout clothes, bokken and other training tools – NO REAL WEAPONS.

About the instructor:

Doug Wilson has been involved in martial arts for more than 30 years, with over 25 years in the Bujinkan. Originally from California’s Bay Area, he is one of the few residents of Japan that has been training consistently at the Hombu Dojo for more than 15 years.

Doug began his Bujinkan training under the direction of the Stockton Bujinkan Dojo in the early 1980′s. He moved to Japan after graduating from San Diego State University with a degree in International Business focusing on Japan. Doug’s first experience living in the country was tenure as an exchange student, during which he spent the majority of his training time with Oguri Shihan and also attending Hombu Dojo training.

Doug often acts as the translator for Hatsumi Soke at training events and has co-translated several of the books published by Soke in the last decade; he can be seen translating in various Bujinkan training and Daikomyosai videos over the years. His proximity to Soke provides him with a unique perspective on training, and Doug prefers to act as a conduit to Soke’s teaching rather than teach himself. While he is rarely available for seminars, those Doug have taught have been very well attended and received.

Doug’s unique take on Bujinkan Budo taijutsu stems from his “keep it real” mentality — focusing on keeping the training and aspects thereof as realistic as possible. This training session will focus on effective kihon of budo taijutsu and the aspects of distance angles and timing.

See you September 10th…Please pass it on.

If you need a place to stay, we have negotiated a “BUYU” rate at the Hampton Inn Roseville at I-80

(See attachment).

Please email any event questions: ken@warriorfriend.com

I have intentionally taken distance this year and done so with the purpose to review the foundation of my own motivation and reasoning for dedicating 27 years of my life to study of the Budo of Hatsumi Sensei.   In doing so, I have specifically chosen to distance myself from the organization of the Bujinkan and focus only on the teachings and philosophy of Hatsumi Sensei.  In this period of silence and reflection, I have learned some very valuable lessons and although these are personal to me, they may also have positive inspiration and impact on others.  I feel that the timing is right to emerge and share some of these ideas as they may be the catalyst to some paradigm shift for some.

Hatsumi Sensei always possesses a high level of intuition and it has truly become an aspect of banpenfugyo when I experience his multifaceted intuition.  In a recent conversation, he told me exactly what I have been feeling internally  and that is to not be a follower of the Bujinkan, but be your own martial artist.  In these few months of silence, I have truly come to understand that a true martial artist  is not of something, but is oneself.  Furthermore, one must not simply judge their value by what they can do in a dojo.  The true judge of life achievement and success is based on consistent achievement of success resulting in happiness, and achieved through constant experience and wisdom.  It seems that at times one must experience varying levels of hardship in order to come full circle in realizing that the simplest things are the most valuable in the wild pursuit of alchemy.  Unfortunately, human’s unnatural nature make this difficult to grasp, as we tend to be driven by ego, desire and materialism.

Hatsumi Sensei mentioned to me in a recent example that a true Martial Artist must obtain the Sanshin of wealth.  That of the heart, wallet and mind.  True wealth goes deeper than ability or technique.  What is this true wealth? Maybe a simple message, but often forgotten.  Furthermore, he mentioned it is ironically those that can do who cannot truly achieve. I laughed to myself inside, as I agree that sometimes the perception of success or happiness is based too much on the material.  The confusion of this statement can only be understood using the mind’s eye or the feeling of the aspect of seeing.  That which you cannot see you must feel and even though you can see, the feeling becomes ever so critical to judge the truth. Kan-Kan-Kan (間感観）三心館

There can be no substitute for presence in the study of martial arts or any apprenticed art or skill.  To achieve something in this pursuit is not something that will be easy worn on your sleeve or mounted on the wall.  The true value and achievement will remain still and deep within, maybe not something even worth sharing with others.  This can be seen as selfishness, but also a form of self protection as in with ninjutsu sometimes things must be hidden.  Neko No Myojutsu.

Looking at this, I believe that it can be said the Bujinkan has come far, but how far have we of the Bujinkan really come?  That is the real question.  In the end, there will be no ultimate recognition and possibly no clear leadership.  The platform is too vast and if Pareto where here, he might apply his law to the 15th Dan title. Furthermore, the sense that too many take Hatsumi Sensei for granted still somehow remains.  Although a rich man in the sense of the Sanshin of wealth, he is also truly generous at the same time.  Yet, a few are here to still take for their own gain.  This is not a martial art of information (although information gathering is a form of intelligence) but you must also have a kihon happo foundation to process this information, otherwise it remains only information.  In a simpler sense of the term, makimono mean nothing in the absence of kuden.  Why take when you can give?  Is this not the ura and omote of the martial arts?

The path is lonely and passing is not possible with CliffsNotes.

Bufu Ikkan

Proximity to Soke-Years of training-Time spent in Japan-The only one who knows how to read the scrolls. None of this makes or defines a warrior.  What makes a warrior is the heart.  The heart of the matter is that nothing matters when your kihon is not kihon.  You must have a just foundation of ethics and stand for that of warrior.  This is what will determine the degree of your heart.  15 Dans are wall paper unless they are indicative of your heart fused to your actual ability on a foundation of proper kihon.

Training is what will polish your heart and training is what will make you effective.  However, it must be training in kihon that is kihon and effective dynamics that are tried and tested.  Technique is not the answer and will not answer your questions.   

A compliant uke-A fancy Dojo-A lack of actual ability does not make the heart of a warrior.

I’m grateful for the Bujinkan as I have met many fellow Buyu with great hearts,  warrior hearts.

 Are we seeking to develop a real life ability?

 Or are we just seeking to accessorize with a 10th dan?

Soke is an amazing example of a man with a gracious heart and truly amazing taijutsu ability.  I can never be him, I can only model him in my own training.  I will and should have aspiration to achieve something different, as each and everyone walks their own path.

As this year’s theme is Kihon, are you practicing kihon happo or are you questioning your foundation?

It seems that it is your very foundation that will be constantly tested, not your technique.

Bufu Ikkan