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...
my Bujinkan video exploring the kata, 四方 shihō and 八方斬 happō giri. We began with 四方斬 shihō giri. You begin this kata from what Hatsumi Sensei calls tenchi hasso no kamae. This looks different depending on whether you wield a katana or a tachi. I showed both methods. One key in this form is to...
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...
Thursday 10/10/13 Warmed up with the 基本八法型 Kihon Happo Gata flow drill. Continuing from last time, we did 骨指基本三法 Koshi Kihon Sanpo with tobi footwork and the 捕手基本型五法 Torite Kihon Gata Goho with a punching attacker. This year in Japan, Soke has been exploring a variety of themes. For those of you who have followed...
Sunday 7/22/12 Warmed up by reviewing hanbōjutsu 半棒術 techniques: tsuke iri 附入; kosshi ori 腰折; oni kudaki 鬼砕; and ganseki otoshi 巌石落. Then we began class by exploring the intersection of kōsei no kamae 攻勢の構 and juppō sesshō 十方折衝. As we receive the attacker with kōsei, there is great opportunity for kyojitsu. Kōsei forms a...