Bujinkan Training Videos

In depth focus on the 六尺棒術 Rokushakubō Jutsu kata 向詰 Mukōzume. This kata starts from ihen no kamae. It also embodies 詒変 ihen throughout. So getting a fix on the "form" of the kata is counterproductive, but I used a progression that will help.

I began class with the kata 水鳥 Mizu Tori. This is essentially a muto dori kata even though you may have a jutte, tessen, kunai, or kodachi. It also can be dangerous if you don't understand its application.

I'm in Japan for Bujinkan training with Hatsumi Sensei and the Shihan. After training with Soke, I spent some quiet time wandering around Tokyo, reflecting on the qualities of 無 mu that he demonstrated.

五境五界詒変捌型 Gokyō Gokai Ihen Sabaki Gata. I began class with 小手附 kote tsuki. Like any kata, you can take an aggressive approach, defensive, or a mix. I started with aggressive. The bo has a natural distance advantage over the sword. But the sword is more dangerous. It is a classic match up. After everyone tried (more...)

五境五界詒変捌型 Gokyō Gokai Ihen Sabaki Gata. Warmed up with 足払 ashi barai drills. I kept it simple with only two variations this time. One with honte grip and the other gyakute. Now I began class with the kata 払 harai. This is another deceptively simple looking kata. But the flow and rhythm of it hide (more...)

五境五界詒変捌型 Gokyō Gokai Ihen Sabaki Gata. Warmed up with basic 六尺棒術 Rokushakubō Jutsu 受身 Ukemi. Tonight we were studying 太刀落 tachi otoshi. This kata seems so simple. But often these simple kata hide deep lessons. First, get the kamae right. Then, like we did in the last class connect to the rhythm of your partner’s (more...)

We continued with the kata 笠之内 Kasa no Uchi. First the densho version, then a henka from Hatsumi Sensei. Then adding a henka that I like because it is very quick and direct.

五境五界詒変捌型 Gokyō Gokai Ihen Sabaki Gata. In depth focus on the 六尺棒術 Rokushakubō Jutsu kata 虚空 koku. I think there is some confusion with this kata. The Japanese text has a description of the attacker’s role at the beginning. Somehow, some people in the Bujinkan have transposed this to the defender’s action, and changed the (more...)

五境五界詒変捌型 Gokyō Gokai Ihen Sabaki Gata. In depth focus on the 六尺棒術 Rokushakubō Jutsu kata 瀧落 Taki Otoshi. As a reminder, I chose to embark on this course of study after studying ihen sabaki with Hatsumi Sensei. We have been focused on this for some months and I see how deep this study is. It (more...)

五境五界詒変捌型 Gokyō Gokai Ihen Sabaki Gata. In depth focus on the 六尺棒術 Rokushakubō Jutsu kata 一本杉 ippon sugi. First I showed the basic kata. These kata have a number of steps, so I show it, then let the students try it, then show it again. Sometimes it takes a few looks before everyone gets the (more...)

3 Bujinkan Themes from My July Trip to Japan: First, I show the difference between 避 yokeru and 避 sakeru for 無刀捕 muto dori. Second, using the tactics of

Bujinkan training notes from the first half of my July 2013 trip. Training with Hatsumi Sensei has been wonderful. I am lucky to get to check in again this year to see how the themes of Tsurugi, muto dori, and fujin no goshinjutsu have been evolving here in Japan.