K I H O N
Newsletter #2
November 1999
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An email newsletter focusing on Ninjutsu/Budo
Taijutsu training. Published by www.KIHON.com
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***** MISSION STATEMENT *****
We at KIHON.com wish to provide a short newsletter bringing you
information about Bujinkan dojo and upcoming training events, as
well as some insights into training that we hope will help to
further your growth as a martial artist.
***** CONTENTS *****
1. Taijutsu Tips: Tips to enhance your training.
2. Kata Ideas: Form variations worth trying.
3. Ninja Reviews: Books, videos, and items of note.
4. Shidoshi Insights: Monthly questions and answers.
5. Budo Quotes: Budo quote of the month.
6. Keiko Events: Upcoming training events.
7. Dojo Locations: Location & contact on our dojo.
8. Shoshin Comments: Endnote.
*** Taijutsu Tips *****
The Power of Balance
By Glenn Catania
Bujinkan New York Dojo
One of the most overlooked weapons in our taijutsu arsenals is
balance. This simple thing, this fundamental tool, is so often
missing. What I mean by balance is the ability to know where you
are in a movement.
I was working on a technique in class recently and stepped out
after my turn. I glanced around the room and noticed the movement
of one of my training partners was looking very good. What was
different? What had they done that they weren't doing before?
Then it hit me. Her knees were bent and she knew where she was.
By this I mean she was not extending behind her opponent, giving
him more strength. She was actually in line with him, and this
gave her arm lock the angle it needed to correctly execute the
move. 'Wow,' I thought, 'that really looks awesome, she really
knows where her body needs to be in relationship to his.'
This took my thought to a different place: "muscle memory." This
is what we are all really training for. I have heard my teacher
talk about it many times. After several years of training, your
body just begins to remember. A sense of balance and muscle
memory are one and the same. We train in repetition, so that our
bodies instinctively give the response that we are looking for.
When punches have been thrown at you ten thousand times, if a real
attack is coming, you should naturally step to the side and block,
without thinking.
There should be no thought, no idea of what you are going to do,
no plan. This is the point where your body feels comfortable and
does what it is supposed to do. When my friend bent her knees and
kept in line, the look on her face told me she wasn't thinking
about it, she was only listening to her body, feeling the balance
of where she should be and correcting it naturally. The key is
listening to your body and paying attention.
I have seen many people get so caught up in the technique that
they really don't realize where everything is. They want to get
it done, so they don't pay attention to their balance. They stand
straight up and try to find strength in this, rather than bend
their knees and have the taijutsu do the work for them.
I think we should all pay full attention to what our bodies are
doing and let it happen; not be reckless, but give ourselves a
little credit and let our body find the position it is looking for.
Sometimes it is better not to *think* too much, but to *feel*
where you body needs to be in relation to your opponent.
*** Kata Ideas *****
Musha Dori
By Don Houle
Bujinkan Middlesex Shibu
You've done musha dori a hundred times and just can't seem to get
the movement down. Your uke just wiggles out of your technique
or stands there without being a bit off balance. What do you do?
Let's take a look at this fundamental technique and how to make
it work better.
As with all taijutsu, the most important aspect of musha dori is
the correct use of the ashi sabaki (footwork). In the beginning
of one's training, one often mistakenly focuses on the upper body
and the arms. Begin from a single same-side wrist grab. As your
opponent grabs, you should first lower your weight slightly by
bending at the knees. Then, take a step back, unbalancing the uke.
Do not just pull your arm away from the grab. Use your legs and
hips to pull. Now you have the uke off balance both physically
and mentally.
Next, you need to move in and trap the opponent's arm. Again,
using your legs to propel yourself forward as you stretch your
arm over the uke's arm. Lowering your weight by bending your knees,
you push the opponent off balance as your ascending elbow meets his
elbow. Now your opponent is unable to counter your attack as his
balance is taken and you are in a position next to him that is
difficult to reach.
At this point, you use your legs to turn, locking the uke's elbow
and shoulder. Rise up, increasing the torque on the opponent's
arm. It's a good idea to place your hands together in a "praying"
position as you apply upward pressure with your own elbow. You
should then move slightly behind the uke so that you are safe from
any attacks. Taking advantage of this position, use your inside
leg to kick the uke's leg from behind. This should force him to
the ground. In training you should lower yourself to the ground as
the uke falls, but in a real combat situation, you would continue
to apply pressure to the arm.
Give it a try while paying attention to each "part" of the
technique. Every movement has a reason for being. It's our job
to examine these movements and determine what those strategic
reasons are.
*** Ninja Reviews *****
The Hidden Roots Of Aikido Aikijutsu Daitoryu,
By Shiro Omiya, 1999 Hardcover
Reviewed by Fred Feddeck,
Bujinkan New York Dojo
The Hidden Roots Of Aikido offers a unique insight into the
Daitoryu Aikijutsu tradition and its effect on the development
of Aikido. Broken into two parts, history, and technical
examples, the book is very informative and easy to read.
Information covered in the history section includes the roots
of Daitoryu, the development of Aikijutsu, and the major
historical figures that have shaped the Daitoryu. The second
section includes step by step photos of some of the technical
material in the Daitoryu. The examples offered are interesting
to examine for a number of reasons from a martial artist's
perspective.
The pictures offer a good superficial introduction to some of
the types of techniques covered in Daitoryu, from wrist grabs
to body attacks and attempted throws. The photographs also offer
a glimpse of the relaxed nature and flow needed to perform
techniques well, in Budo Taijutsu as well as in Aikido.
If you are looking for an informative book on Aikijutsu, or simply
a new and interesting martial arts book to read, this could be just
what you're looking for.
*** Shidoshi Insights *****
Joe Maurantonio, Shidoshi
Bujinkan New York Dojo
QUESTION:
A few times a week I train on my own. I spend a lot of
time on San Shin and Kihon Happo, but the one area that
I have trouble with is Tai Sabaki... Do you have any
suggestions on how do I pratice Tai Sabaki on my own?
ANSWER:
One of my teachers used to say that the best Tai Sabaki
training you can do (outside of the dojo) is stand on a
Manhatten street corner around noon on December 24,
and evade the crowds of Chritmas shoppers. Another of
my Sempai told me that he felt walking across a dance
floor as the band played "The Twist" while evading swinging,
twisting, gyrating and flailing limbs, was sure to improve one's
Tai Sabaki. You can readily see in both these instances, that
additional people are required to "practice" one's movement.
The reason is this that Tai Sabaki is relative to the timing
you share with your opponent, partner or people in general.
On the other hand, one could always simulate the timing of
another person by using a moving object such as a child's
swing set. I'm sure that most of us can recall a time when
we were younger and enjoying our time on a playground.
Remember, pushing you friends swing higher and higher
until you had to step to the side and evade (er, Tai Sabaki)
the swings arc? The secret of good Tai Sabaki lies in timing
and footwork.
*** Budo Quotes *****
Training greatly effects the molding of character. By
making it a custom to train correctly, a person can change
his personality and integrity. I hope every one of you
becomes a person who can see their lives illuminated by
the light of training. Consequently, know that the most
dangerous way of thinking is to pretend you know everything.
If you do not know something, it is okay. It is important
to know that you do not know.
By Masaaki Hatsumi
[Ninpo: Wisdom for Life, Page 19]
more info at: http://kihon.com/ninpo.html
*** Keiko Events *****
Bujinkan Kukishin Seminar
Mark O'Brien (Shidoshi) Instructing
Nov. 13 & 14, 1999
Bujinkan New York Dojo
Bujinkan Hombu Daikomyosai
Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1, 1999
Tokyo Budokan
3-20-1 Ayase
Adachi-ku, Tokyo, 120-0005
Togakure Ryu Workshop &
Bujinkan NY Dojo Anniversary Training
Joe Maurantonio (Shidoshi) Instructing
Saturday, December 4th, 7 pm -9:30pm
Bujinkan New York Dojo - $15
*** Dojo Locations *****
Bujinden Hombu Dojo
Atago, Noda-shi
Chiba-ken, 278, Japan
Bujinkan New York Dojo
27 Milburn Street
Bronxville, NY 10708
Bujinkan Bellaire Dojo
Houston Gymnastics Academy
5756 So. Rice Blvd.
Houston, TX
Bujinkan Middlesex Shibu
300A Carlton Ave
Piscataway, NJ 08854
*** Shoshin Comments *****
Theme And Substance
By Lauren Brandstein, editor
I am sincerely grateful to all the contributors and readers
of the Kihon Newsletter. The writing, even pressured as it
is, has been so focused, and readers, your feedback has been
instrumental in shaping this endeavor. Everyone has produced
some wonderful and amazing stuff in the last few weeks, and
our subscription base is growing exponentially. Thank you
all for being a part of this, and keep the good stuff coming!
Inexplicably, the first two issues have had a subtle but
undeniable theme thing happening. I would love to claim the
credit for this, but I can't account for it. All I can say
is that fate, or something, must be with us. I am somewhat
apprehensive about knowingly attempting to duplicate this
effect, but nonetheless I am exploring possible themes for
future issues.
I have also been toying with an idea for a personal project
for some time. The concept is an information resource by kyu
and for kyu. I would like this to be a website. It will consist
of a wide range of basic information about Budo Taijutsu,
covering everything from kamae and techniques to history
and philosophy. I have compiled some jumbled notes into
jumbled files, but so far I have done little other than that,
except to invent some really horrifying puns with which to
name the "Kyu Cue" project.
____________________ KIHON Newsletter ____________________
** DISCLAIMER **
It is recommended that you seek out medical advice
before following any of the suggestions stated herein.
It is also suggested that you find a qualified instructor
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KIHON Newsletter (c) 1999 by Kihon.com
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