exploring the concept of 間が詳しい aida ga kuwashī. Hatsumi Sensei shared this idea with us of a good sense of timing by having a deep understanding of aida.
Bujinkan video exploring the kata 桝骨 Masubone. As the opponent cuts in, you evade while controlling his forearm. I learned this from Hatsumi Sensei as a strong grip on the radial bone. This grip can pull, pry, or lever the bone itself to control the opponent. This is what the name of the kata alludes to, manipulating the frame of the opponent.
Last night Paul Masse invited me and my teacher Peter over to his house in Noda-shi. While we were in the backyard swapping stories, his wife Tomoe invited us inside to a warm dinner of ちゃんこ鍋 chankonabe. She and Paul are very friendly and generous.
My Bujinkan video exploring the idea of 雰囲気 Fun'iki. A place can have a mood or an atmosphere, but so can a fight. Hatsumi Sensei advises us to harness these moods to change the outcome of a fight.
My Bujinkan video exploring the kata 柳骨 Ryūkotsu. The literal translation of this name is willow and bone. But kotsu also means a secret skill. So, the definition I prefer is the secret of the willow.
I started the class by asking everyone to review basic 手解 tehodoki. With something as basic as tehodoki, there is a LOT of kuden. It is surprising how something so simple can only be taught in person, through direct experience.
my Bujinkan video exploring the hanbo waza 表逆捕り omote gyaku dori. First, we warmed up with a three distance striking drill with the hanbo. This striking sequence is not often studied in the average dojo.
I began class with 表逆捕り omote gyaku dori. This is a weapon retention waza. The opponent tries to grab a hold of your hanbo. Then you use this to trap him.
my Bujinkan video exploring the Kata 日撃 Nichigeki in Québec. I began with a demo of the basic form. I chose this kata because it is simple in appearance, yet allows exploration of many advanced topics I had been studying in Japan.
Part Five of my Québec Bujinkan Seminar. We began with hanbo weapon retention from 無念無想の構 munen muso no kamae. The basic forms of this apply the principles of 手解 tehodoki. Then it becomes more advanced using quality of 支点 shiten that I have learned with Soke. The initial grab provides a place of connection that can become a fulcrum. This captures all of the opponent’s power and focuses it down to one point. This creates some powerful throws while using no strength or force. We did variations from 型破の構 kata yaburi no kamae that drop one side or the other, or even twist about the center.