Bujinkan Training Videos

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata 向捕 Mukō Dori. We warmed up with 両手解 ryoutehodoki to escape a 中引き nakahiki style attack. I showed the importance of moving the hips below the point of the attacker’s power. Then as you rise with your body, you break his thumbs. In the advanced variations you maintain a (more...)

we finish up a class on 槍術 sojutsu and I have a conversation with my students about the progression of 守破離 Shu-ha-ri in the Bujinkan. In this video I answer: Why do I have an unusual opinion about shu-ha-ri in the Bujinkan? What is my own history with shu-ha-ri starting more than 30 years ago? (more...)

I visit Iceland to share some of my Bujinkan lessons from Japan. As you will see, I have made my own Icelandic saga!

my Bujinkan video exploring 五行の型 gogyō no kata and 短刀術 tantojutsu. First up was 地の型 chi no kata. The rising sanshin strike of chi no kata lends itself to a stab with the knife. But with a reverse grip you strike with the butt of the knife before plunging the blade into his body. It (more...)

n my latest training update from Japan I cover what I've been studying with Hatsumi Sensei: How Sensei countered my counter; Using one finger to unbalance; 虚実皮膜 Kyojitsu himaku; 無刀捕 muto dori; 指差喚呼 shisa kanko (pointing and calling); 指刀 shitō with 刀匿 tōtoku; 三角 sankaku footwork; and 活殺自在 kassatsu jizai (power over life and death); PLUS a very surprising use of the 小柄 kodzuka!

Here is my latest Bujinkan training update from Japan

I began class with 不抜 fubatsu. This means invincible, or being firm in your position by not slipping out. This is a firm and indomitable spirit in the fight, rather than a physical strategy. As soon as your opponent gets ahold, you check his shoulder. This is used as a pivot point to control and (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata 跨飛 kahi. The name of this kata suggests a method of leaping. Most people teach this like 飛倒 hitō and it does have some similarity. I began the class this way, but later I focused on the quality of leap this kata requires. The evasion in this kata is (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata 朴返 bokuhen. We warmed up with a type of 体変術無刀捕 taihenjutsu mutōdori. Not the official forms, but we used ukemi connected to the opening of the kata we are studying in this class. We did sokuho kaiten, koho kaeru kaiten, and yoko nagare. The reason I did the warmup (more...)

Hatsumi Sensei has been teaching strategies of control. He taught us to use the "middle space" for control. He told us to control their 中心 chuushin, the center of the person or their inner self.

An update from Japan where Hatsumi Sensei has been teaching strategies of control. He taught us pivot around small points of connection for control. We should be able to do this by having fine motor control over your own body.

An update from Japan where Hatsumi Sensei has been teaching strategies of control. He taught us to control using the kukan by not letting the opponent feel your power or technique. Manifest technique without doing it. Become the kukan yourself.