This also gave me some time to do my homework from class with Nagase Sensei. It was a very physical class but chock full of valuable insights into training.
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.
Have you ever heard of 撒菱 makibishi? I first heard them called 鉄菱 tetsubishi back in the ’80s. These were the iron spikes or caltrops that a ninja would scatter on the ground to cause problems for anyone chasing him. Sometimes after jumping a wall, he could leave some on top for his enemies hands...