Morning travel into Shibuya. I was invited to an art exhibition by a new friend from Tokyo by way of Memphis, TN. who is part of the art collective, EIGHTLEGS
I began class with 掛倒 Ketō. I was fortunate to study this in Japan a couple of weeks ago with more than one instructor. Nagato Sensei did a nice interpretation.
This morning I went into Tokyo to visit the 黒門 kuromon, or black gate. This was one of the few structures from 寛永寺 Kan'ei-ji that survived the battle of Ueno
I’m off to Japan again. Every trip has a hidden influence so it feels fresh for me. I get excited leading up and preparing for travel. What will I find?
start off this day going to Hatsumi Sensei’s house and the Bujinkan Honbu office. I do this on every trip because this is how I submit my rank paperwork for my students. In the video I talk about my “secret” route to his house. I also recall past times when I could just visit and have tea with Soke.
Nagato Sensei is posed on the ground as a chair. Soke knocks the “patient” down across Nagato’s back and says, “Then the chair picks him up and takes him away.”Nagato stands up with the guy slung across his back and walks away. Hatsumi Sensei says, “he might be a very strong nurse!”
my Bujinkan video for Hatsugeiko, our first training for the new year. It’s not like we are trying to prove anything, but my students are tough. Training in all kinds of weather and even on Holidays!
Nagato had some really interesting variations on catching the opponent’s rhythm as you walk past. Some had kamae like a helicopter, picking up the uke’s collar. Another henka had you reverse to walk backwards to catch his hand in a really subtle way.
I was surprised when he asked me to now show another technique. I had no clue what to do, so I just motioned for Peter to grab my lapel. Again, didn’t wait for an attack, I just used Peter’s elbow on the grabbing hand to affect his balance, Then covered his opposite side, before picking that arm up for an omote.
We warmed up with the 六尺棒術 Rokushakubō Jutsu kata 両小手 ryō kote. This kata begins with deception coming from your 中段之構 chūdan no kamae, and transitioning into a moment of 撆倒之構 heitō no kamae. This creates a control over the kukan that you must not relinquish. Then you deliver the strikes like taiko 撥 bachi...