My Bujinkan video covering the idea of 武器を友達成る Buki Wo Tomodachi Naru. Hatsumi Sensei told us in one class to make weapons your friends. The idea was that you get so familiar with your weapons they become like close friends. When you know them so well you use them fluidly or in unconventional ways.
my Bujinkan Kuden describing How I Prepare for Class with the 十手 Jutte. I probably prepare more than most Bujinkan teachers. In fact I spend 1-2 hours before every training session following 6 steps.
my Bujinkan Kuden covering directions for 十方折衝 juppō sesshō and the path to 初段 shodan. The importance of directions came up during a jutte class. It can be a physical tactic in the fight, but it becomes metaphysical in theory.
my Bujinkan video exploring 手解 Tehodoki with 片手内回 Katate Uchi Mawashi and 片手外回 Katate Soto Mawashi. The first kanji in tehodki means “hand”. The second comes from 解ける hodokeru which means to to come untied, to come apart, or unravel. But we normally translate tehodoki as wrist escapes.
my Bujinkan video exploring the Kata 追掛捕 Oikake Dori. The name of this kata means to chase and capture. We follow our opponent and initiate a surprise attack from behind.
exploring 片胸捕 Katamune Dori. The name of the kata is descriptive of the attack. It means grabbing one side of the mune, or chest. This is 高木揚心流柔体術 Takagi Yoshin Ryū Jūtaijutsu, so the response will reflect the strategies from that school.
Use the cover unique to the school. Then break the grip. Not with your hands but with your body! When I trained with Hatsumi Sensei in December, he described it as seperating yourself from the attack. This can be understood on many levels. In fact, at one point he said we must become “almost like a (妖怪 youkai) spirit or a monster.”
11/07/13 Warmed up with the 基本八法型 Kihon Happo Gata flow drill. One student observed that the kata work better when they are done in a spirited manner. So then I suggested that this starts with the attacker delivering a committed and substantial attack. So we repeated 骨指基本三法 Koshi Kihon Sanpo with this feeling. Since we...
10/22/13 Warmed up with 体変術無刀捕型 Taihenjutsu Mutōdori Gata. First 一文字之構 Ichimonji no Kamae, followed by 十文字之構 Jūmonji no Kamae, then 平之構 Hira no Kamae. During the Jūmonji, I added a henka that used yoko nagare. Now I began class with the kata 五輪碎 gorin kudaki. A vital part of our study this year is juppo...
10/17/13 Warmed up with ukemi and taihenjutsu including:zenpo kaiten, koho kaiten, sokuho kaiten, zenpo kaeru kaiten, koho kaeru kaiten, oten, and mute oten. I began class with 落花 Rakka. The mantra I have repeated so often this year was not to evade too far. This is because Hatsumi Sensei says the same thing. But beyond...