I began my morning riding into Tokyo for some gift shopping along with a search for a few training items. I even relaxed at a Niwa in the heart of the city.
A full day of training in Japan today with Furuta and Noguchi 先生方 Sensei-gata. They were both teaching the form of kata, or rather, no form!
on my way to Noguchi Sensei’s class, I answer the people who criticize the fact that I make videos sharing our Ninjutsu “secrets” with the outside world
Gyoku Nage is a Bujinkan kata that explores the transition from omote to hon gyaku in a two punch attack flow.
The dojo was empty we had the space to study 距跋渉毛 Kyoketsu Shōge. Nagase Sensei began with 投げ縄 nage nawa. He shared some details that I had never heard before.
at the bookstore for some inspiration from Hatsumi Sensei’s painting. Through the pages, my eyes settled on a painting of 毘沙門天 Bishamonten riding a tiger.
I began this day by catching a train to the Bujinkan Honbu Dojo for a class with Furuta Sensei. In the past few years I’ve been able to train with him quite a bit. And each class gives me a little more insight into the gokui of 雲隠流 Kumogakure Ryū and Ninjutsu.
I got up early to catch the train into Tokyo. I was headed to 下谷神社 Shitaya Jinja to fill in my 集印帳 shūin-chō stamp book. But I also wanted to purchase some 御守 Omamori as gifts for my students back home.
There are no classes today 令和5年12月2日 because we are celebrating Hatsumi Sensei’s birthday. This day always makes me reflective and nostalgic. It has been four years since I last trained with Soke in the dojō because of his retirement. But every time I’ve seen him in the last four years it has felt like a celebration full of humor, joy, and good conversation.