Since its founding in Sep-tember 1993, our group has gone by many names; Bu-jinkan Brian Dojo Malta, Bujinkan International, Bujinkan Ninja Training,

and the one we are cur-rently using, Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu Malta.

Originally I had been li-censed to run the group by my teacher at that time Mr. Brian Whitaker, and we had been training under the BBD back then. No matter what name we choose to bear, we have always been known as ‘the Maltese ninja group,’ and we have always dedicated ourselves to train-ing first and foremost.

At first we used to train in many different places since we had no premises of our own. We used to rent whichever hall was avail-able, dreaming that one day

our group would have its own Dojo.

That dream started to be-come reality when in 1998 we moved to a well-sized garage in Naxxar. The place had been offered to us by an old friend of mine Lawrence Sultana, and it only took a few days and plenty of hard work for me and my students to trans-form it into a Dojo.

After three successful years in Naxxar, our group was

outgrowing the Dojo. Thus we felt the need to find a larger place, and very soon after we started looking at what was available, we found our current premises in Mosta.

With the new dojo came also new opportunities, and we thus equipped the prem-ises in such a way as to be able to use them for various

activities, like for example, indoor climbing, weapons training and seminars.

Other opportunities pre-sented themselves when I joined the Signal 8 Security Malta Services. We could now utilize the Dojo as an academy for body guard training and for other secu-rity services.

Today the Bujinkan Malta Dojo is also the Maltese Headquarters for Ryoi-Shinto Ryu Ju Jutsu. This was made possible when I started training with Baron Jim Shortt, who awarded me the grade of Shodan-Ho

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SMITHERS BACK IN MALTA For these last fifteen years I have known a man who has helped me make most of the difficult decisions in my martial arts career. He showed me the difference between learning from sec-ond grade teachers and learning from real Masters. I am talking about my

teacher, Shihan Norman Smithers 15th Dan in the Bujinkan, who runs his own Kouryuu Dojo in the UK. Despite his title of Master Teacher, he is still willing to learn, and regularly visits Japan to study with Soke Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi and his Japanese Shihans.

Norman arrived in Malta on Friday 12th October, and just a few hours after his arrival he began teaching at the Bujikan Malta Dojo in Mosta. The seminar he held there lasted between 19:30 to about 21:30 on Friday evening and contin-

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Bujinkan Malta Dojo 1,2 Smithers back in Malta 1,2 First grading in Ryoi Shinto Ryu 2 Abseiling 3 Unconvential Martial Arts grading 3

Inside this issue: Pages

HOG

O TEG

AM

I

Bu

jin

kan

Mal

ta D

ojo

NOVEMBER 2007

Ryoi Shinto Ryu Malta was founded on last January 2007 by Afred Galea, when he was authorized to do so by Jim Short 9th Dan and Head of the School.

T h e f i r s t classes took place on the third weekend of January 2007 and the first attendants were Glen Galea and Duncan Pace.

The class increased up to five students in two months following a D.A.R.T seminar held at the Bujinkan Dojo in Mosta. The new students were Stephen Tarpey, followed by Philip Chircop, Charlie Dimech, then Jennifer ———-, Nadia and Joseph Sare’.

FIRST GRADING IN RYOI SHINTO RYU

every week; from Monday to Friday in the evening, and Saturdays from 10:00 till 18:00. A complete training schedule can be found on the last page of this publication.

Today, our group boasts one of the larg-est Martial Art Dojos on the island, and offers excellent learning facilities for our members. This means that one of our biggest aspirations has not only been realized, but has exceeded all our expectations.

Alfred Galea

in this art. Bujinkan Malta Dojo has something to offer even for those who like to practice a more peaceful and harmonious art. Thanks to Glenn Bu-hagiar, who is also a 2nd Dan in the Bujinkan, they can practice the old Chi-nese art of Tai Chi under a good and respectful guidance. Glenn has also been practicing this art for several years, and he is now running a class at our Dojo in Mosta once a week.

Nowadays the dojo is open six days

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After 6 months of training, the students were asked to sit for their first examina-tion after they had been also assessed during sessions. All those who were examined passed their test, and were awarded the Grade of 9th Kyu which is represented by a white belt and 1 black tab. In fact the grades in the Ryoi Shinto Ryu are classified as follows: -

10th Kyu—White belt 9th Kyu—White belt, 1 black tab 8th Kyu—White belt, 2 black tabs 7th Kyu—White belt, 3 black tabs 6th Kyu—Green belt, 1 white tab 5th Kyu—Green belt, 2 white tabs 4th Kyu—Green belt, 3 white tabs 3th Kyu—Brown belt, 1 black tab 2nd Kyu—Brown belt, 2 black tabs 1st Kyu—Brown belt, 3 black tabs Shodan—Black belt

The students holding the new grades are:-

Steve Tarpey, Philip Chircop, Charlie Dimech, Nadia Sare’. Glen Galea and Duncan Pace have also passed their test since then on another occasion.

I would like to congratulate all the stu-dents and wish them all the best during their martial arts career.

various adaptations of traditional tech-niques to more modern styles.

This helped the students understand how the Bujinkan system is a living martial art, that evolves and adapts with time.

Most of the time Norman empha-sized on the movement rather than on the technique itself. He said that “once you move correctly the tech-nique will come to you naturally; it all depends on the movement.”

He also stressed on the impor-

ued on Saturday between 9:30 and 16:30.

During the seminar Norman worked on different formats of Kihon Happo no Kata; first going through the traditional versions, then showing us several inter-pretations he has learned from the Shi-hans during his visits to Japan.

On Saturday Norman focused on more combat techniques, illustrating how to train using Sutemi (using dedication and intention, realistically). He also showed

(Continued from page 1) tance of a good UKE and he made every one remember that from time to time every one takes the role of an UKE.

Norman wrapped the seminar up by saying that he noticed a great improvement in the Mal-tese Group. He promised that he will keep guiding us as long as we are willing to learn, and he will keep providing us more material to further our

training.

THANKS NORMAN!!

Page 2

BUJINKAN MALTA DOJO

HOGO TEGAMI

The logo of Norman’s Dojo, the Kouryuu Dojo

SMITHERS BACK AGAIN

Sensei Jim Shortt

NOVEMBER

crease through sequential Dan grades, in some of these arts up to the 9th Dan.

During the development of the martial sports, especially after the Second World War, the number of coloured belts increased, mostly due to the popu-larity of these arts.

The most famous colour system was the belt sequence of white, yel-low, orange, red, green, blue, brown and black. Then as ‘martial art’ practice became more widespread even more new colours were introduced.

There are many arguments and disputes about how and when grades should be given. As it has already been said, in the past one used to get his grade trough his fighting prowess. Real warriors ob-tained their grades defeating enemies and by how many conflicts they sur-vived. Nowadays martial artists are awarded a new grade mostly through examinations in which they have to perform the syllabus for their particular grade. Some other schools use the as-sessment method to grade their students, which may be controversial. This sys-

tem is mostly subjective, and often stu-dents in such a system may easily have misgivings about shortcomings in their progress. In such a system it is easy to blame the teacher or the art itself, or think that their teacher is more partial to

some students than oth-ers. It is easy to forget that although the teacher may make mistakes, he or she is the only one who knows enough about pro-gression in the art to be able to judge and measure the pace at which learning

should continue.

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Grading!? This is the subject of one of the most frequent questions that people ask when they join a martial arts group or club. Partly, it is in our western nature that to prove ourselves, we need a certification or recognition to differentiate us from others, and to feel better.

It may come as a surprise to know that when martial arts began, there used to be no grades at all. The practitioner’s ability and skill were measured in combat and when facing opponents. It was simply a matter of survival.

By the advent of martial arts as sports, many martial sports were developed, such as judo, kendo, jodo, karate do, etc. These systems needed a structure with which to categorize competitors and students. This gave birth to the traditional Japanese Kyu, or levels, which later became the colour ed belts we are familiar with today.

Throughout all this, the traditional martial arts which remained mainly combat arts, such as traditional ju jutsu, ninjutsu, batto-jutsu and others, kept a different grading system trough Kyu grades.

Most of these arts have ten Kyu grades descending from 10th Kyu to 1st Kyu and then Shodan grades, which then may in-

Summer is over, and after the craze for Scuba diving which some of us had, it is now time for some abseiling.

Alex and Miriam formed a group of about fifteen people and asked me to take them for an abseiling session, so I called in Marvic for his help, as usual.

It was a perfect Sunday as it was neither hot nor cold; a bit cloudy but not rainy. We all met at the Dojo in Mosta and then left for Ghar Lapsi which is one of the favorite places for abseiling in Malta.

As soon as we arrived, Marvic, Alex and Alan started to prepare the equip-ment and the rigging. In the mean time I started to debrief the group, taking note of those who were new to this sort of activity, and carried out the routine checks, like enquiring whether anybody

suffered from any known ailment.

After the debriefing every one was ready to start. We all went down two at a time, with one of the instructors in every group of two, for more safety.

When everybody had had his turn, Alan, Alex, Marvic and I gave them a demon-

stration of more advanced abseiling techniques.

It was another satisfaction for us, since everybody had a great time. All the group said that they were looking for-ward for another great session soon!

Page 3

UNCONVENTIONAL MARTIAL ARTS GRADING

ABSEILING

If you wish to be a real martial artist just keep going with your

training (GAMBATTE), and follow the instructions of your teacher

There was a time when grades were given according to what kicking

The group Abseiling head-first

There are other schools that use both systems to promote their students. This is partially done by the teacher making assessment on the student all the year round. When the teacher sees fit, the student will be asked to sit for a test of his abili-ties.

Whatever the grading system, and in whichever martial, there will always be controversial argu-ments and disputes. Most of these disputes result from the egocentricity of some martial artists.

Some people feel they deserve more than others, even though in reality they may actually be at the same level or perhaps worse. They forget that true martial artists should never think about what colour should their belt be, but to better them-selves and their technique.

If you wish to be a true martial artist, keep going with your training (GAMBATTE), and follow the instructions of your teacher.

———— o ————

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