kamae82

KamaemailJuly - August 2001 issue 8 volume [email protected]

Please forward this newsletter to all the people you know in the Bujinkan (738 members registered today).Kamaemail is FREE and our objective is to make it a positive link for all the practitioners of Budo Taijutsu inthe world. Kamaemail is sent as often as we can. Did you receive this issue of Kamaemail from a friend?subscribe to Kamaemail at [email protected] ; If you do not wish to receive Kamaemailanymore send an email to [email protected]

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The new approach for Gyokko Ryû follows the Ten Ryaku, Chi Ryaku, Jin Ryaku. " Ryaku " means "transmission ". It gives a deeper understanding of what we have to find into the Gyokko Ryû Kosshijutsu.Hatsumi Sensei does not refer anymore to Jo Ryaku, Chu Ryaku and Ge Ryaku. By using the Ten, Chi, Jinsystem, we enter a new technical dimension where forms are useless. Since the beginning of the year the TenRyaku has been studied extensively (6 weeks for Koku !). At the end of april we began to study the Chi Ryaku.Hereafter you will find some texts written by people who trained in Japan.Arnaud Cousergue - Editor

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In this issue: a.. Kamaemail issue 9 b.. News & Seminars c.. Gyokko Ryu no Sanpo Hiden by Sean Askew 10th dan d.. The NEW Gyokko Ryu Kossshijutsu by Arnaud Cousergue 13th dan e.. The Internet ninja trap by Stephen A. Smith f.. A few thoughts between Kihon Happo and Yin-yang by Kostas Kanakis 9th dan g.. Taikai Norway 2002 h.. Videos and Books NEW TITLES!

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Kamaemail Issue 9

Next issue will be available in september. Send your personal contribution to:[email protected] for articles speaking of anything linked to our art, to martial arts in general and toJapan or Asia: technical tips, history of Japan. At the end put your name, Dan grade, country, email (and websiteif you have)[email protected] if you organize a seminar. At the end put your name, Dan grade, country, email(and website)[email protected] for the news about the Bujinkan in the world (promotions, trips, etc)[email protected] for any ideas to improve your newsletter.

Kamaemail Poll:We are thinking of putting Kamaemail directly online on Budomart.com to avoid sending (and waiting toreceive) a big file each month. Please send an email to [email protected] if you prefer to receive it byemail or [email protected] if you prefer to have it online on the website.

We will not accept any article or information criticizing or attacking any individuals, whether they are membersof the Bujinkan or not. As we don't want to modify your articles, have someone speaking English correctly readit before you send it.

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News & Seminars

Send us information about the seminars you organize and news from what is going on in your area, we will putthe information in this section. Please precise city and country. Try to follow the presentation to save time.

§ For many years I was hoping there would be one day a directory where you would find all the members of theBujinkan. Many times people come to me during Taikai or in Japan or send an email and I must admit that evenif I recognize faces easily, it is hard to remember the names of everyone. I am sure many of you encountered thesame problem many times. >From now on you will be able to fill your name and address, put your picture on anew webfree service offered by Solkan Europe and Budomart.com. The URL of this service will behttp://www.direct-tori.net/ . It is free, protected by a personal password so that no one can change your profile. Ihope this new tool will help people to communicate more easily in the future. Direct-Tori is available. ArnaudCousergue [email protected]

§ Madrid Taikai in October 2001 : Jesus Eguia is still accepting new participants to the Taikai. It is still time tobook your particapation. Do not forget that it will be the only Taikai in Europe for 2001. Book your reservationnow if you do not want to be left at the door! Taikai hosted by Jesús Eguía, Virgen de Navahonda, 8; 29600Marbella Malaga; Spain. Reservation on receipt of 50 % of total. Do not forget to put your name on transfer ordeposit. Last day for registration: NO LIMIT. More info: Tel. (+34)629 284 200 mobil phone (10.00 to 24.00spanish time) - Tel.(+34)952 866 021 (15.00 to 16.30 / 22.00 to 24.00 spanish time) - Fax.(+34)95 277 33 64 - e-mail. [email protected] - http://taikaimadrid.eguiakbk.com/Bienvenido2.htm

§ Arnaud Cousergue directed a Seminar in Lisbon with Goncalo Coelho and Ricardo Costa. It was a fantasticexperience for everyone! You want to train in Lisbon? Then contact Gonçalo Coelho Rosa:[email protected]

§ Seminars en El salvador www.bujinkan-el-salvador.8k.com/seminario.htm

§ We are sorry, the budomart.com website has not been updated since a long time. It will soon be renewed with aforum and more informations. AJC

§ The Seminar was a big success. Sveneric was great and he enjoyed the dojo, the people and New Mexico. Wehave a whole bunch of good stuff topractice for a long time to come. Hopefully he will return soon. In the meantime we will have the tape of theseminar, which will help keep it alive. The people from out of town were very impressed with the dojo, thanksto everyone who helped get us in good shape. Lisa, Farrah, Ken, Cindie, Roger, Janet, Debbie, Robert and Markgot the outside looking good. The inside sparkled thanks to the efforts of Janet, Farrah, Debbie, Daryl, John,Tara, Lenny, Robert, Abi, Karen, and Tami. Everyone pitched in to make our out of town guests feel at homeand make the Seminar run smoothly. A special thanks to Gaby for doing the food and to Tami, Debbie, Karen,Abi, Lisa, Cheryl and Tara for help in a whole variety of tasks that made the seminar such an enjoyable event.Our buyu astronaut Bob Stewart gave everyone a feeling for what it was like to be on the space shuttle----DomoArigato Gozaimashita! LETS DO IT AGAIN SOON! . Robert Mattson: [email protected]

§ Just a short note to let everyone know what they missed out on but that there are still have a couple of chancesleft if your interested.Last Monday Greg Alcorn led a training session at Paul DeSilva's dojo near Hornsby in Sydney. Greg is back inAustralia only briefly as he is gettingmarried to a lovely Japanese lady (we also met her at the dojo) on Saturday 21st July (I'm sure you will all joinme in congratulating him). He tooktime out of his busy schedule (anyone who has ever got married will know just how busy the week before thewedding is even without having tointroduce all the in-laws) and offered to run some classes (and maybe also because Nagato Sensei told him heHAD to teach whilst he was back inAustralia).Anyway, even after only not seeing Greg for 6 months (when I was last in Japan) it was easy to see how muchmore he has to offer and how much time hemust be spending training with Nagato Sensei. Greg was aiming to teach some of the things that they haverecently been doing at Nagato Sensei's dojo.It was easy to feel the style of Nagato Sensei and to feel just as frustrated with trying to replicate the techniquesas it is when attending

Nagato Sensei's dojo. All in all the people who did attend the class got more than their money's worth from thetraining opportunity. It was quitedifferent from some of the other recent seminars and offered something for everyone to think about and work onin their personal training.I was disappointed to hear that some people were saying that Greg was only doing the seminars as a means offunding his honeymoon. Anyone who has ever been married will agree that you cant organise and pay for thehoneymoon the week before you go (or after you come back) and anyone who has run seminars in Australia willtell you that its more for the love of the art than in making any financial gain (you never get the numbers whichis why we don'thave Tai kais in this country). The fact that Hatsumi Sensei specifically painted some calligraphy for Greg togive to people in Australia as presentsas well as Nagato Sensei telling him to go and teach should be indication enough that this is training fortraining's sake if making specificallowance in his wedding and honeymoon schedule to teach 3 times isn't enough on its own.Anyway Greg will be teaching twice more before returning to Japan. The classes are on Wednesday 1st Augustat Andrew Macdonald's dojo, Pyrmont and Thursday 2nd August at Paul DeSilva's dojo, Waitara. If you wantmore information please contact him at [email protected] or on 0414 861 076Hope to see you there. Anthony Brien: [email protected]

§ hey all, if you all have a chance and want to see some of the photos from the exchange so far, the internationaloffice has started posting them up on the internet, there are only a few. here's the directions: #1: go tohttp://www.chukyo-u.ac.jp/ #2: once your here click on the English Version and go to the International StudentExchange highlight. #3: after this, click on the "Academic Calendar for International Students" highlight, andthen just look through the links that are highlighted, so far there aren't that many but more will be posted up lateras time goes by.Hope your all doing well, looking foward to seeing you all again someday. Michael

§ Daikomyosai will be held this year on December 4th, 5th and 6th.

§ For Australians who teach - dont forget to keep your times and locations and contact details up to date. Themain place that seems to be beingmaintained is at: http://bujinkanbrisbane.freeyellow.com/dojolist.html so please check and update it.

§ Doug Wilson - the honarary ozzie married Yuko last month in Japan. Hatsumi sensei, Oguri sensei andNoguchi sensei attended.

§ The Law in Australia. I have been trying to get some information from the MAIA without much success andstill have a list of questions to ask them from people I chatted with at a seminar some time ago. The need to beproperly authroised to teach martial arts is still uncertain in most of Australia but slowly is becoming required.What is true is that many venues will not hire to you unless you are "properly authorised". One method isthrough the MAIA though this does not seem very well run, organised or respected amongst the martial artscommunity. The NSW Department of Sports and Recreation also runs coach accreditation courses whichprovide similar "authority" to the MAIA stuff. In all its about knowing first aid, having public liabilityinsurance, knowing something about teaching (coaching etc), and being properly trained and qualified (shidoshikai) so that a reasonable person would consider you to not be negligent in your actions. Explaing the nature oftraining and having a suitable membership form for signing up with an appropriate disclaimershould also be considered mandatory. Anthony Brien: [email protected]

§ IMPORTANT! I am writing to tell you that, after sacrificing innumerable vacations and weekends (much tomy wife's chagrin), I have just finished work on the first book by Hatsumi-sensei in thirteen years. Entitled"Understand? Good. Play!--Words of Consequence," the book was based on long talks with Soke and mytraining journal ("Quotations from Soke" featured in the since-retired netzine Ura & Omote represent less than athird of the book). The project has taken over two years to complete. As I have explained to a few close friendsaware of the project, I was trying to set a new standard for books in the Bujinkan--something that went WAYbeyond the stuff of the past. As I saw it, there honestly were not any books out there that really representedwhere Soke had brought the art over the last decade and where he was taking it as we move into the newMillennium. As such, I tried to seek a balance of words, photos and layout--a SANSHIN, so to speak. The workwas to represent both the 'martial' and the 'art' of which Soke speaks.... I had the book professionally designed,worked with multiple photographers, and signed up an award winning hard-cover printer. It has become a truetestament to Soke's wisdom, in my opinion. The book has about 14 main chapters divided by theme, entitled thelikes of "On Teaching," "On Kicking" and "On Heart" etc. Interspersed throughout are some Call Outs,

containing related articles. The book also features several Feature articles--longer independent diatribes by Sokeon such things as Takamatsu-sensei and the importance of order in society. My favorite chapter is entitled,"Tasty Budo." :) The book has turned out to be quite a tome: 283pp, 50 photos, and three-cloth hard coverbinding. Soke has offered to help launch the book by doing a book signing at the Washington, D.C. Taikai at theend of this month. Hatsumi-sensei has been extremely supportive in light of all the hassles that a manuscript ofthis size bears. In the Foreword, Soke flatteringly goes so far as to say, "This is the book!! This is surely animportant book that will stand the test of time and remain a valuable part of history." I hope it does make alasting impact on the Bujinkan and remains a source of wisdom for years to come. The first print run is limited toonly 3,000 copies; we will see what happens from there. www.bushinbooks.comI appreciate everyone's support, especially my wife Hiroko's. Without it, this book would never have beenaccomplished.Best regards and please help pass the word.Benjamin Cole - [email protected]

§ ALSO IMPORTANT! Hello Everyone. I wanted to tell you about a new web site that I have created with Jasonand Masayo Jennings, my Buyu now living in Japan. The site is www.buyubooks.com, a martial arts book website and publishing company.As some of you may already know, Hatsumi Sensei has re-released 6 of his previously out-of-print books. Wehave decided to launch our site ahead of schedule to meet the demand for these books.We have many wonderful things in store for the site. Please have a look around and tell us what you think. Wewould also appreciate you spreading the word about our site. Our prices are extremely reasonable and we haveaccess to many products that other company's do not.Thanks, Josh Sager Webmaster - www.buyubooks.com

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Seminars

§ AUGUST 25th & 26th - In Slovenia we'll have first Kokusai Bujinkan Buyu Kai (international meeting of themartial friends) Camp seminar, lead by Davor Gasparovic Yon Dan - Croatia, Andrej Jasenc, Yon Dan -Slovenia, Paolo Rossi, San Dan - Italy, Milan Vasic, San Dan - Yugoslavia and Csaba Danko, San Dan -Hungary. Theme: Gyokko ryu Koshi jutsu & Daisho Sabaki. More info: [email protected],http://www.infonet.si/ostali/Luka/ninpo.htm Wellcome all who lives in this part of Europe!

§ Mark Obrien Seminar September 29th 30th and 1st October Tim Bathurst Seminar Late this year Greg Alcornvisiting Sydney and getting married very shortly Paul Richardson visiting New Zealand for holiday and doing aseminar . More info: Anthony Brien: [email protected]

§ SEPTEMBER 15-16. GERMANY - Zwickau - Seminar with Kostas Kanakis 9. Dan / Bujinkan Greece - BKDBudokai. Info: [email protected]: Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, Hanbo- and Jo Jutsu.

§ SEPTEMBER 22nd - 23rd - ARGENTINA - BUENOS AIRES - International Seminar Bujinkan BudôTaijutsu with Shihan CARLOS MORALES (12 Dan) Sui -Gyo from Lanzarote - España - Theme: Gyokko RyûKosshijutsu, Bôjutsu - Tantô, Daishô Sabaki Gata. Organizer: Shihan Christian Petroccello. More info:[email protected] Booking: [email protected] Web:http://www.geocities.com/chogyudojo/seminario_internacional_bujinkan.htm Bujinkan Chogyu Dôjô - CalleAño 1852 # 395 - El Palomar C.P. (1684) - Buenos Aires - Argentina - Tel: (54-11) 4624-6521 - Fax: (54-11)4665-9197

§ NOVEMBER 10-11. GERMANY - Bochum - Seminar with Sveneric Bogsäter 13. Dan Info: [email protected]: Bujinkan Budô Taijutsu Happo Biken, Koshijutsu, Kenjutsu

§ DECEMBER 15-16. GERMANY- Bochum - Seminar with Kostas Kanakis 9. Dan / Bujinkan Greece - BKDBudokai.Info: [email protected] Theme: Review of the theme of the year 2001

§ Welcome to a seminar weekend in Haninge (Stockholm), Sweden www.trygghetskompaniet.com

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Gyokko Ryu no Sanpo Hiden

by Sean Askew

Training last night was so fantastic I can not sleep so I decided to put some things down on paper. Well actuallyon my computer.

I had a chance to pull Sensei to the side and ask him a few questions about this year's theme, the Gyokko Ryu.Several people have been asking me what it is we have been doing lately in class and "what is it that Senseiwants us to get out of the Gyokko Ryu this year", and so on. So I asked him.

So far Sensei has been covering the first two parts of the Sanpo Hiden or the "three secrets". These are:

Tenryaku Uchu Gassho - Chiryaku Futen Goshin - Jinryaku Chi,Sui,Ka,Fu Henka Ryoku

It is no easy matter to put into words what these are but I will do my best to explain the first two. The third willbe left for another essay as I have yet to finish discussing that one with Sensei. Maybe I will get my chancetomorrow.

Tenryaku Uchu Gassho

>From this posture we are to bring ourselves to a state of calm and prepare for battle with the enemy. The handposition represents the two opposite realms of existence coming together to form the universe. In other words tounite the physical world and the spiritual world, reassuring us that our body is one with the universe and notsomething separate or apart from it.

Our physical body and spiritual mind are both made up of the same elements as the rest of the universe. NamelyChi (earth), Sui (water), Ka (fire), Fu (wind) and Ku (space). Man often tends to think of himself as separatefrom the universe or "God" if you will, and questions his/her/it's existence but this gesture serves to reminds usthat we are the universe or "god" itself, living, breathing and dying. So be confident and courageous in battlebecause the enemy is made up of the same things you are. The enemy is not to be feared. You are equal in everyrespect.

>From this Gassho, Hatsumi Sensei has been moving into TenChi InYo Kamae. The separation of the hands intothis kamae thus brings us back to the realm of duality or InYo. Positive and negative, Physical and Spiritual. Heoften compared this motion of moving from Tenryaku Uchu into TenChi Inyo to a nebula giving birth to thestars, each with its own death in the future.

Thus comes the teaching of Banpen Fukyo, to translate this directly it means 10,000 changes, No surprises. Forthe Ninja there are no surprises. Sensei taught that once you are born from the Ku (space) or nothingness asrepresented by Tenryaku Uchu Gassho you are put into a form made of the five elements, or the human bodywhich is made up from dualities. Mind and body,spiritual and physical, TenChi Inyo. Once this takes place your death is also assured. Once you are born, like allother biological life in this universe, you will eventually die. It is like the two opposite poles of magnets. Theyattract each other until they eventually collide. So when that time comes do not be surprised. This is the ultimatemeaning of Banpen Fukyo. All is change so do not be surprised and do not resist. Accept nature and herprocesses, ride the wind of Mother Nature.which brings us to the next level.

Chiryaku Futen Goshin

This posture represents the wind. This is what Sensei has really been stressing for the last few months. Themovement of the Gyokko Ryu is similar to that of the wind and there is no way I can put this movement of thebody into words so I will not try. What is important is that at the Chiryaku level of training one's focus should beon trying to move like the wind when attacked. The wind has no central point and therefore cannot be controlledor grasped. It always slips around anything that impedes its path.

The hand position also varies, what is important though is the "wind" finger or the "pointer" finger. Whenmaking this gesture we are to try to imagine our bodies actually turning into the wind itself. This mindset when

performed properly will help the ninja to move like the wind. Although we do not see Sensei actually stand withhis hands in front of his chest performing these Kuji-like gestures he does stress the feeling immensely, oftenasking his uke to explain to the class what his techniques "felt" like. The response is generally the same, manyfaces have turned red from embarrassment trying to explain what Sensei's movement felt like.because how doexplain what the wind feels like?, especially when it is sending you a few tatami mats away on to your head.

Well, I feel better now and maybe I can get some sleep. The sun has already come up and my eyelids are heavy.I hope my essay made sense and if you have any questions or comments feel free to email me [email protected]

I will be returning to the United States in the beginning of August and will be continuing my seminar tourcovering the Momochi-Den Taijutsu, this will include a review of the material covered this year in Japan. Theseseminars are open to everyone so I hope to see some new faces and some old ones upon my return.For more information please go to my website at www.bkronline.org

Shikin Haramitsu Daikoumyo

Sean Askew - Seiryu - Bujinkan Kokusai Renkoumyo

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The New Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu

by Arnaud Cousergue

With the new century Hatsumi Sensei entered in a new era in the Bujinkan System. The theme for this year isKosshijutsu, mainly studied through the techniques of the Gyokko Ryu. From the notes I received from friendsin Noda and from my personal experience last April, I will try to expose here what is, for me, the new approachtaught by Sensei. As usual this text will give my point of view but not any official explanation by Sensei. If youdo not agree, maybe it is because I am wrong.

First, we have to understand that the techniques in the Gyokko Ryu are only excuses to demonstrate the spiritand reality of the Kosshijutsu. In this respect, it is not different from our study of Koppojutsu last year where thetechniques of the Koto Ryu where only an excuse to express the knack of Koppo.

Second, we have to find some answers to understand fully the reasons leading Sensei to this new approach.Obviously, all teachers already had the techniques written on paper as we have been studying the techniques ofthe Gyokko Ryu extensively over the years.

But what are the main differences? Kamae are different, physical attitudes are different, inner feelings aredifferent, Kamae are different in both their physical and mental expressions. Sensei referred to some of thesenew Kamae in his writings (cf. his last book published by Joe Maurantonio) but he did not give any explanationto them.

The four Kamae are the following: Ten Ryaku Uchu Gassho, Chi Ryaku Futen Goshin Gassho, Jin Ryaku ChiSui Ka Henka no Kamae, and the most important one Tenchi Inyo no Kamae.

In my understanding of Japanese (which is not famous) I understand that Ten Ryaku Uchu Gassho can betranslated as "prayer for divine transmission coming from space". Chi Ryaku Futen Goshin Gassho means"defense prayer from the either the vault of Heaven or the whole world". Jin Ryaku Chi Sui Ka Henka Ryaku noKamae means "attitude transmitted to mankind from the endless variations of Earth, Water and Fire"; TenchiInyo no Kamae means "attitude of the link between Heaven and Earth and Yin and Yang".

Physical attitudes are different in respect to these Kamae. The Gyokko Ryu is now divided into Ten, Chi, Jin(instead of Jo Ryaku, Chu Ryaku and Ge Ryaku no Maki previously). Ten Ryaku is expressed through Uchu

Gassho; Chi Ryaku is expressed through Futen Goshin Gassho no Kamae and Jin Ryaku is expressed throughChi, Sui Ka Henka Ryaku no Kamae. Each one of these Kamae with their physical expressions lead to a newinner feeling. These Kamae are "waiting stances" i.e. when you wait for the opponent to attack.

The last Kamae, Tenchi Inyo no Kamae is manifested when moving from the waiting stances, you assumeTenchi Inyo no Kamae when moving in the attack, there you link the first stances (Uchu Gassho, Futen Goshin,Chi Sui Ka Henka Ryaku) to the movement. Even if you do not show it (Kokoro Gamae instead of Tai Gamae).

Inner feelings also change, each attitude develop a feeling perceived by Uke that will lead him into his owndestruction, Uchu Gassho gives unity (body and mind) to Tori. Futen Goshin gives power in the movements. ChiSui Ka Henka Ryaku frightens Uke.

Let us now go beyond our regular senses. If you were able to see the energies from the body, you would noticethat each of these Kamae acts as a physical "Mudra". Uchu Gassho builds a beam of white energy coming fromHeaven and surrounding your whole body (like the teletransportation stuff in Star Trek). With Futen GoshinGassho, Tori disappears from Uke's perceptions, Uke can only senses a very thin beam of light coming from theground, Earth (it is like water coming from a tap). Tori when assuming this Kamae moves like the wind. Chi SuiKa Henka Ryaku no Kamae sends a feeling of fear to Uke. Uke's mind (and actions) is trapped by the stance. Itis like a funnel of energy coming from Tori's body.

You can think that I am exaggerating but this is the truth. Now these movements would be meaningless if therewas nothing more. And there is a lot more. Everything you do from now on should imply a new understanding:"Banpen Fugyo". Literally it means "10000 changes, no surprise". This is the key to the understanding ofKosshijutsu. Keeping this principle in mind will allow you to finally get to the "Shizen Gyo Un Ryu Sui" or"ever adapted movement" (this is what we often call the "natural movement").

The Japanese are more concerned about the physical Nature where the Chinese are more concerned about divineNature. For example, "Sui" is the water coming from the sky (Heaven, Ten) where "Mizu" is the water you findon the ground (Earth, Chi). "Hi" is the fire from the sun (Heaven, Ten) where "Ka" is the fire on the ground(Earth, Chi); "Fu" is the wind from the sky (Heaven, Ten) where "Kaze" is the wind on the ground level (Earth,Chi). This "physical" understanding of life gives the Japanese a definitely different system of concepts.

If you go even deeper in the understanding of the new Gyokko Ryu, we gradually make ours these concepts ofgravity (Uchu Gassho) and wind (Futen Goshin Gassho). These feelings do not replace each other; they areadded one to the other. To make me clear, I would say that the three "transmissions" Ten, Chi, Jin is like thethree skins of an onion. Ten is Ten, Chi is Ten plus Chi, Jin is Ten plus Chi plus Jin. This is a new Sanshin noKata. At the Jin level you can expect the movements to be even more natural. As we do not know yet the innerfeeling of the Jin Ryaku this is only a guess. In a previous Kamaemail, Pete Reynolds exposed us the idea of"Fusui" or "Feng Shui". We should not forget this in the study of Kosshijutsu.

I hope this text will help the various practitioners in the world to improve their understanding of the Gyokko RyuKosshijutsu taught by Hatsumi Sensei on the first year of this new Millenium. Personally, I wonder why Senseiis now teaching a quite spiritual way of understanding the Bujinkan System, he must have some hidden purposeand I do not know it so far.

Arnaud Cousergue - Bujinkan 13th dan - [email protected]

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The Internet Ninja TrapBy Steven A. Smith

"I am having an epiphany."

¹Miriam-Webster Online Collegiate Dictionary defines epiphany as (1): a usually sudden manifestation orperception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something(as an event) usually simple and striking (3): a: an illuminating discovery b: a revealing scene or moment

I have been doing some reading and study lately about warriorship. I am exploring the principals of being awarrior -vs.- being a survivor. ²The idealized life of a warrior, as described by Sensei Jack Hoban in one of hismost recent articles, is, "...defending the weak and innocent against the evil forces of darkness..." I alwaysthought that being a warrior meant being highly skilled and prepared in a self-defense situation and being readyto meet the adversary face to face on a battlefield. I never really gave much thought to the idea of defendingothers. Most training today focuses on the aggressor attacking you and then you defending against it. What if theassault is not focused at you but at another person? Should we be training for this type of situation as well? Whatis expected of a Ninja? My instructors' simple answer is "Protect family, loved ones, and lastly myself". Thispiece of writing is not about my in-depth study of warriorship but about a hidden peril of studying and training.

Hosting a Ninjutsu website at http://ninjutsu.faithweb.com gives me the opportunity to meet lots of people andshare ideas with them. These people are mostly beginners in the search for information on Ninjutsu. Every oncein a while a veteran of our art will visit and leave his mark on my guest book or drop an email my way. Almosteveryone is courteous and it is rare that I meet a genuine attitude case. That speaks well of the Bujinkan ingeneral. Why do I get so many visitors to my website? How many websites are out there with information aboutNinjutsu? How much is factual? How much is opinion? How much "opinion" is from truly knowledgeableindividuals? I'm thinking about the name Bujinkan. I'm thinking about the name IBM. I make my living as aProgrammer/Analyst. I write programs for IBM midrange computers. If you get on the Internet and look up IBMinformation from an IBM source, you won't find much inaccurate information published about the hardware,operating systems, software, programming languages and the like. You will even discover that most independentpeople writing IBM related articles wouldn't sign their name to erroneous information because they risk beinghumiliated by a super-nerd.

That is not the case with the Bujinkan. The techniques of the Bujinkan system are open to interpretation and areconstantly changing. They are not set in stone like the operating manuals for an IBM AS/400 Computer. I live agreat distance from my last Shidoshi instructor. I have asked him several times to write down detaileddescriptions of waza so I can refer back to them as I train in my training group in Georgia. He was reluctant todo this for me. Why you may ask? Maybe there is no exact specific way of doing the techniques. Henka(variations) are infinite. Sure in the beginning when learning a technique for the first time, there is a basic way oflearning the technique, but even that will vary between instructors. When I first started in the Bujinkan, I tookwhat my first instructor said as the "Gospel" never questioning him. I never looked to an outside source for extratraining. Maybe this was a result of my prior training in Shotokan Karate. In karate there is a specific way ofdoing every technique. You get better at karate by developing a "muscle memory" of each of a specified numberof forms or Kata that you are learning. I understand why this is a good thing in karate or any other competitionmartial art system. In a structured tournament, you are expected to use specific punches, kicks, blocks and such.Any deviation from the norm will result in a reprimand, loss of points, and sometimes disqualification from atournament. Bujinkan Ninjutsu, on the other end of the martial arts spectrum, is not a competitive art. It wasdeveloped as a system by which warriors (using combat and survival skills) could protect their families, theirway of life, and could perpetually exist in the world. What I mean by perpetual existence is that resources are notused up faster than they are created by nature. Through propagation of the ninja way of life, the ninja couldeffectively persevere in the world without destroying it in the process.

In today's modern culture, we are taught from childhood to look for shortcuts, use technology to speed up thetime it taken to perform a task, and to use this advantage to accumulate as many resources for our personal use aswe can in our time allotted on the earth. Through this process, we tend to use up our natural resources faster thanthe earth can replenish them. This is not perseverance. This way of living when viewed on a physiological levelactually resembles viral activity. Has the Human Species evolved into a virus? We are really the only species onearth that I can think of that collects more than we need to survive and has an unrestrained urge to spread andconquer.

With this idea boiling in your cognizant mind, let's go back to the subject of the Internet. How do we spread ourinfluence in today's society? Our brains direct our bodies to communicate with others. It's that simple. We havedeveloped the need to share our idea with others in order to establish influence and an element of control overour environment. Members of the Bujinkan are no different. We are affected by this human tendency the same aseveryone else. When we learn a new technique or theory there is an overwhelming urge to share that idea withothers. The problem that I see with this is with the onset of Internet technology there is suddenly a vast limitlessplatform from which we all can broadcast and teach. Anyone interested in the subjects of our art can easily findour writings and read them. Whether they immediately accept our ideas or not, their training and thought is still

affected by what they read. I have read so much on the internet that it clouds my mind and gets me wondering ifI am doing this correctly or am I holding my hand in the right place while in Ichimonji or is my footworkacceptable while practicing the Sanshin No Kata. It seems that every person with articles posted on the Internethas a different explanation. I get so confused.

I traveled 500 miles (one way) to train with my instructor, so I could only get out there every month or two. (No,I'm not looking for ovation for my hardship!) I tend to read so much in between training sessions that when I gotback to the dojo I had to spend the first few hours forgetting all the incorrect stuff that I learned while I wasaway. Most of these less than desirable habits have been developed during the month because of what I studiedindependently during the time spent back in Georgia. That recovery time really takes a huge chunk out of myquality training.

There are many instructors teaching in dojos around the world. Some of them are qualified and some of them arenot. (Let me step away from the keyboard for a minute while I put my bulletproof vest on.) My instinct tells methat the most qualified instructors have a direct link to Soke Masaaki Hatsumi in Japan. It is strictly my opinion,but I believe that an instructor not training in the Honbu Dojo on a regular basis or at least training with someonewho is, is not as qualified as an instructor who is. How many people posting their works on the Internet haveactually been to and trained in Japan recently or at least has trained recently with one of the great Non-JapaneseInstructors. Boy! That'll get you thinking, won't it? I'm sorry if I make anybody angry by making that statement,but it's my honest belief and I'll stand by it.

I have the privilege to train with a Shidoshi who has the wherewithal to train in Japan. Before he started trainingin Japan, his instructor, Shidoshi Ed Martin trained in Japan. Their training came straight from the Boss. I'mgoing out on the proverbial limb here and making an assumption. I'm guessing that Ed Martin doesn't get hislatest training ideas from off the Internet. Boy if I'm wrong, I'm going to get my butt kicked for making thatstatement about a 12th Dan. I finally understand why when I forward something, that I found on the internet, tomy instructor he usually writes me back and hints on how dangerous it is to invest too much stock into what Ifound.

Now I'll qualify my sweeping statement about the Internet and clear up any misconceptions. There are somegood guides who publish training information on the Internet. I'll list a few that I'm sure my instructor Tracywould agree with. (I refer to my instructor by his first name at his request. He doesn't like to think of himself as ateacher, but a lifetime student and friend.) Jack Hoban has some very good articles; Ed Martin has some verygood articles. Any articles or interviews by Soke Masaaki Hatsumi are good, and I'll even throw in CharlesDaniel and Glen J. Morris for good measure. Also don't forget that many of the good author's views may changeover time as they train and learn more so you may not have their latest ideas on the subject matter in front of youwhen you find an article. Please forgive me if I don't list every good author. Even though you can read some oftheir writings on the Internet, It is probably best to read their works published in book and periodical form, andeven then try to look for the latest releases.

I hope that I have helped someone with my short commentary. I am fully aware that by publishing this article onthe web, I am actually proliferating the spread of training ideas on the Internet, but perhaps we can overlook thatjust this one time. Be careful of what you read on the Internet, and remember there is no substitute for one-on-one training with a qualified instructor.

Steven A. Smith wrote this article - 04/2001 - [email protected] lives in North Georgia and trains in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu as taught by Masaaki Hatsumi In the HonbuDojo in Japan.Sources¹ Merriam-Webster, Incorporated - http://www.m-w.com/dictionary.htm² Jack Hoban - http://www.livingvalues.com/warriorship_lifestyle.htm (paragraph 3)*This article may be duplicated and circulated without the permission of the author as long as the article isdistributed intact, with this postscript.

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A few thoughts between Kihon Happo and Yin and Yangby Kostas Kanakis

In our daily training the Kihon Happo is an important component for the study of Budo Taijutsu and itsimportance is constantly referred.

How does the Kihon Happo behave, however, if we add other aspects e.g. those of the Yin and Yang?One of the two characters (kanji) of which the Kihon Happo consists is the KI , and one of his meanings in thisconnection is basic".

In addition, KI means also "energy, spirit, soul". The human life energy which is also known as QI.In the universal existence there is the positive QI and naturally that negative QI as well. The Yin Yang QI.

The energy state in the body is called by Japanese physiotherapist as Kyo and Jitsu (what for a coincidence mayyou wonder!) and is to the Yin and Yang very similar, whereby the Kyo - Yin and the Jitsu - Yang is.A balanced energy state meant also a balanced Yin and Yang and this leads to the fact that body and spirit are ina condition of unity. If the energy state is disturbed, then the physician looks for the causes around these, toeliminate them.

In the study of the Budo Taijutsu it behaves similarly.

If one attend the training with joy and with positive attitude, then also the spirit and body will be developcontinuously further and thereby one will be in a balanced stage of the training.If the training is attended, however, without joy and if this is unbalanced, then one must look for the cause at hisroots. Thus one turns back to the basics (Sanshin and Kihon Happo) to strengthen and to "cure" these again, inorder to bring the own Yin and Yang back in the equilibrium.

By the flow of the universal QI through the 12 main Meridians the entire body is filled out with the life energy,which holds the human in an existential balance.Also in the Budo Taijutsu, by the flow of the Sanshin no Kata and Kihon Happo from one into another, will beobtained a unity which represents a evenly balance for our training. The Yin and Yang of Budo Taijutsu.

If we would classify e.g. the forms of the Sanshin no Kata and Kihon Happo as energy centres, then we couldassign a form to each main Meridian.San (3) x Kihon Happo (8) = 24 forms12 for the Yin meridian and 12 for the Yang meridian.

Are all energy centres (Sanshin no Kata and Kihon Happo) in balance, so the development in the Essence of theBudoTaijutsu will be also harmoniously, balanced and flexible.

The Yin Yang QI behaves in the whole like a magnet with its two poles, whereby one cannot be exist without theother one.

If we now transfer this aspect to our training and we take e.g. the Jiryoku (the magnetic repelling and attracting)as starting point in such a way, we can (like a magnet) attract or repel. We must put, however, these twocontrasts in balance, so that the rhythm will remain.In a technique e.g. we can implement the attack and the counter attack in the same rhythm so that both will flowfrom one to into another. Evenly like the Yin and Yang.

By the study of the Yin and Yang we penetrate into ranges, beyond the contrasts. Thank you Hatsumi Sensei, foryour lessons!!

** The wind carries the tenets of the Budo further and lets it flow like the water through the generations **Bu Fu Sui Ikkan!!

Kostas Kanakis - Bujinkan Shidoshi 9. Dan - Bujinkan Dojo Greece / BKD-Budokai Crete [email protected]

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Taikai Norway 2002

We have the great pleasure of inviting you to Norway Taikai 2002. This is Norway's first Taikai, and it is beingheld in Stavanger the 5. - 7. July.

For this honorable occasion we have made a website to help spread this information. Both the invitation and thewebsite have been translated into English, German and Spanish.

-English website: www.BujinkanDojoNorway.com/Taikai2002-English.html-German website: www.BujinkanDojoNorway.com/Taikai2002-German.html-Spanish website: www.BujinkanDojoNorway.com/Taikai2002-Spanish.html-Norwegian website: www.BujinkanDojoNorway.com/Taikai2002.html

To register please e-mail Elias Krzywacki on [email protected] , and then join the listhttp://bujinkan.whispereddreams.com/Taikai/TaikaiPeople.php .We look forward to meet you at Norway Taikai 2002. So start saving money now!

Bujinkan Dojo Norway www.BujinkanDojoNorway.comP.S. Feel free to use Taikai-logo and -links for your own webpage.

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VIDEOS & BOOKS

§ NEW VIDEOS AT SOLKAN: We just received 6 new titles from Japan. Daikomyo sai 2000 (Koppo Jutsu) (3volumes); Naginata, Nagamaki, Bisento (1 vol.); Byakurenkai Karate (2 vol.). Check their availability athttp://www.budomart.com/acatalog/

§ Save at least 20% up to 40% on your Hatsumi Sensei videos made by Quest videos in Japan. Solkan Europe isthe official distributor in Europe for Quest videos in Europe. All our videos available in Pal, Secam and Ntsc andconcern Budo Taijutsu and other martial arts. Visit our Website http://www.budomart.com/acatalog/

§ "Understand? Good. Play!--Words of Consequence" a fantastic book quoting Hatsumi Sensei by BenjaminCole. Get it now! at www.bushinbooks.com

§ the video of the sveneric-seminar in Bayreuth last april is available. Everybody can order it for 50 DM (30DM for those who attended). Orders to be sent to: Bujinkan Dojo Bayreuth - Wolfgang Gröger - Jean PaulStrasse 43 - 95444 Bayreuth - GermanyPhone: 0049 921 64906

§ For many years the old books BY Sensei where not reprinted. You can now buy them online! Get your originalbooks by Hatsumi Sensei at www.buyubooks.com

§ The Bujinkan France Memento leads you from 9th Kyu to Shodan. It is a helpful tool that goes with theProTek. Available in French only. Price 80 FF. More info at: http://www.budomart.com/acatalog/

§ You can buy your belt with Japanese embroideries at: http://www.budomart.com/acatalog/

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