Bujinkan Training Videos

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata 拳流 ken nagare. Then name of this kata means fist flow, or flowing fist. The idea is that you capture the energy of the attacker’s strike (the flow of it) and redirect it to throw him. In order to capture the flow of the attack, you have to do (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata 乱勝 ranshō. One translation for this name is an “upset.” In English an upset means an unexpected victory. It is like when one side of a competition is expected to win, then somehow the underdog steals the victory. When your opponent attacks, how do you steal the victory? the (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring 前方受身 zenpō ukemi. I skipped the warmup because our whole class was about 前方受身 zenpō ukemi. This is a warmup in itself. It is easy to do one or two of these, and in an emergency situation, that is all you’d need. But doing them for an hour and a half (more...)

Hatsumi Sensei has been very reflective. Part of this comes from his birthday. And part of it is due to the end of a 42 year cycle that he says began when Takamatsu Sensei passed away. I share many of these stories Hatsumi Soke shared with us. Some of the details include:

We warmed up with kappi. I showed the basic forms for the tobi. Then I shared how to do a 180 leap to strike from the back. And we finished with a 270 degree leap to attack the opposite side. I began class with 飛打 hida. The basic form appears very simple. Just a shuto (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata 沈雁 chingan. The name of this kata refers to the way a wild goose sinks down low or charges at an opponent. If you’ve ever watched wild geese ward off predators, they have a very interesting stance. Many of the English translations of this kata have a mistake. They (more...)

We warmed up with 居合間合 iai maai using Gogyō no Kata. I began class with 魁足 kaisoku. One way to consider the translation of the name of this kata is that you enter with the lead leg. Leading with this leg allows you to enter the space and advance against a dangerous opponent. The initial (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata 獅猿 shien and 崩落 hōraku. We warmed up with 小太刀 kodachi kihon against a katana. We began class with 獅猿 shien. This kind of muto dori is difficult if you are not in the right frame of mind. That frame of mind should be mushin. Or else you will (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata 拏振 dashin and 小太刀 kodachi kihon. Warmed up with 小太刀 kodachi kihon that I learned from Hatsumi Sensei. The rhythm and kamae here teach you the proper distance for cutting or thrusting with the short sword. This kihon also teaches how to find suki on your opponent. I finished (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata 烏鵲 ujaku. In this level of Gyokko ryu, we begin with 風天護身合掌 Futen Goshin Gasshō. This kamae harnesses the power of the wind for protection. But, more importantly, and connected to this year’s theme, it embodies natural spontaneity in concert with shizenryoku. The kata begins through receiving the attack (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata 逆流 sakanagare. The kanji of the kata can also be read gyaku ryu, reversing the flow or flow reversal. But it’s not easy to reverse something you don’t have! I spent the rest of the class working on creating flow and connecting to it. One of my strategies for (more...)

exploring the kata 搦捕 karame dori. Hatsumi Sensei told us not to be creepy like a stalker. Walk and approach so the opponent doesn’t expect a fight. Match your steps with his steps, and your shoulders with his shoulders. Soke said you walk unseen through 幽玄の世界 yuugen no sekai. I shared the best way to (more...)