K I H O N
Newsletter #8
July 2000
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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. Submissions are welcome.
**** CONTENTS ****
SPECIAL FEATURE:
Principles of Self-Defense, by Ed Martin
1. Taijutsu Tips: Tips to enhance your training.
2. Kata Ideas: Form variations worth trying.
3. Ninja Reviews: Books, videos, items of note.
4. Shidoshi Insights: Shidoshi Q&A or article.
5. Budo Quotes: Budo quote of the month.
6. Keiko Events: Upcoming training events.
7. Dojo Locations: Contact info.
8. Shoshin Comments: Endnote.
*** SPECIAL FEATURE *****
Principles of Self-Defense
Ed Martin, shidoshi
Pennsylvania Bujinkan Dojo
The very first principle in self-defense is simply
this: don't stay where the attack can hit you.
Without the knowledge of how to get out of the
way, this can be difficult to accomplish. Getting
out of the way requires getting off the line of
attack. It is very difficult to avoid an attack by
backing away when your attacker is coming forward
because your attacker can move forward faster and
easier than you can move backward. One of the most
effective ways of getting off the line of attack
is to shift the weight to one leg while twisting
the hips. The movement must be done with the spine
straight and the shoulders remaining in line with
the hips.
The following exercise helps train the body to
move correctly. Put a vertical line on a full-
length mirror, align your center with the line,
and with the feet shoulder width apart, shift your
weight from one leg to the other while twisting
your hips. Watch the line on the mirror. You will
see how the center of your body actually moves
three to four inches to the side of the line.
Most sports require a lot of time training because
an athlete must rely on his/her muscle memory when
the action starts. Once correct muscle memory is
learned, the correct response will be automatic
and without thought. In an altercation there is no
time for thought; everything happens too fast.
Conversely when the body moves without thought,
the appearance is blinding speed.
In addition, distance is critical to the speed
with which an action occurs. If your opponent's
fist or foot must move three feet while you only
need to move three inches, your opponent needs to
be impossibly fast in order to succeed. Speed and
distance are inseparably connected.
Let's add one more action to this hip movement
exercise: let your hands come up to about eye
level with your elbows close to your sides. When
you turn, let your elbow contact the attacker's
arm or leg, whichever is extended. Don't reach for
it, just let the power of your body movement do
the work. If you have ever had an elbow hit your
leg, you know how much it hurts! Done correctly,
it will probably mean that your opponent won't
throw another attack. Take note of your
positioning in relation to your attacker. Many of
your attacker's vulnerable points will be exposed.
With minimal effort, you can avoid an attack
thrown with your opponent's maximum effort, and
also prevent another attack from coming at all.
*** Taijutsu Tips *****
Take What You Get
Glenn Catania, BNYD
When we train, we sometimes forget a very
important rule: wait for the attack you know is
coming, and only take what you get. It is very
easy to get caught up in the form and anticipate
what is going to be thrown at you. This happens to
all of us, but there are many good reasons to take
what you get. One of the most important is that
you are cheating yourself in your own training
when you react before your partner has committed
to the motion. If you always train yourself this
way, when the technique really counts your
opponent may have a better chance of changing his
attack before you have completed your premature
reaction.
We have to remember we are training in a living
art. I have watched some very good martial artists
get so caught up in what they want to do that they
miss the most obvious, the most simple. When
working on a technique just shown in class, you
are supposed to do what the teacher demonstrated,
but there are still different ways to get there. I
am not talking about freelancing your own style,
but if someone throws a right punch at you and the
angle changes, it is ok to take the better opening
given to you. That is why we train, to avoid
becoming stagnant and getting tied down to the
printed footsteps on the floor.
For me, training is just like my other favorite
thing: driving. It is easy to get lost in the flow
of driving and just move in and out of the
openings. It becomes a game. Instead of pushing
your way through the cars, wait, look ahead and
see the weak links in front of you. Then, as they
move closer, take advantage of them and slip in,
matching their speed and distance. Taijutsu, like
driving, can be a game. Don't forget the serious
nature of what we do, but relax and take what you
get. Remember you can't pull on grass and make it
grow faster, it comes out when it is ready, so let
your opponent help dictate the best way to defeat
him.
*** Kata Ideas *****
To Stomp or Not To Stomp
Don Houle, Bujinkan Middlesex Shibu
Anyone who has trained in Budo Taijutsu for any
length of time knows that there are almost
limitless "kicking techniques" that appear in our
art, but the basic form is known as sokuyakuken
(bottom of the foot strike), and it appears
deceptively simple when used as a zenpogeri
forward kick. Popularly known as the "stomp kick,"
sokuyakuken is a strike that is unique to budo
taijutsu. When explaining this kick to people new
to the art, I tell them to imagine a SWAT team
member kicking in a door in order to gain entry to
a room or house.
There are several advantages to this type of kick.
First, it is simple to perform. Since the targets
that we strike with this kick are usually on the
lower half of our opponent's body, you don't have
to be a gymnast in order to hit them. Second, this
kick gives us a stable platform from which to
strike the target. To the surprise of many, we
don't do any spins or any unusual steps to set up
the stomp kick, so we don't have to worry about
our ground leg slipping, or worse, missing the
target because we can't see it. And third, this
type of strike allows us not only to damage the
intended target, but to move it as well. If need
be, we can follow through with the motion of the
strike and continue the fight, or knock the
opponent away to reassess or retreat to a safer
position.
The sokuyakuken also allows us to use a similar
motion to kick to the side (sokuhogeri) or to the
rear (kohogeri). There is no need to learn several
different ways of kicking when the principles of
the sokuyakuken remain the same no matter the
direction of the kick. The real beauty of this
type of strike becomes obvious when one learns to
use the motion of the kick to employ different
weapons. For example, one can strike with the
toes, the ball of the foot, the heel or the top of
the foot and shin all with a motion similar to the
basic kick.
*** Ninja Reviews *****
Shinobi no Mono
Directed by Satsuo Yamamoto
Reviewed by Don Houle
Shinobi no Mono is a series of eight Japanese
historical drama films that were released in Japan
over a four-year period from 1962 to 1966 by Daiei
Pictures. The plot of the films focuses on the
famous ninja Ishikawa Goemon and his struggle to
survive during Japan's warring states period.
What is the connection to the Bujinkan (other than
just being a cool series of ninja movies)? Soke
Masaaki Hatsumi, (then going by the name
Yoshiaki), and late soke Toshitsugu Takamatsu are
reported to have worked as technical consultants
on the first and second movies. Due to their
involvement with authentic ninjutsu, much of the
ninja action that appears in the films is
historically accurate.
The fight sequences are fairly realistic and
certainly reflect the way taijutsu is practiced
today. The characters' use of familiar kamae,
weapons, and techniques is rather interesting.
After the second movie, things become a bit more,
uh... dramatic, and certainly a bit less
realistic, but they are still great fun to watch.
Since the films take place during the late 16th
century, the historical and political atmosphere
is relatively accurately depicted.
Subtitled editions of the first four movies are
available from Samurai Video in NY. According to
the latest update from Samurai Video, they are
working feverishly to translate and subtitle the
rest of the series. The best way to support their
efforts is to give them a call and purchase the
four videos that are currently available.
*** Shidoshi Insights *****
Perseverance
Joe Maurantonio, shidoshi (BNYD)
Shinobu - persevere; endure.
One of the foremost personal traits in martial
arts training is perseverance. Perseverance is the
ability to continue onward even against great
odds, and it is necessary for anyone that wishes
to learn and advance. Therefore, we must all
recognize that natural talent and ability are less
critical to our martial training than having the
heart of one who does not falter in the face of
great adversity.
Training, like all of life, can often challenge
one physically, mentally, and emotionally. Yet, it
is the character trait of perseverance that can
sustain one through all harm that would come one's
way. Perseverance is developed through personal
trial and maintaining commitment to one's purpose.
One must remind oneself to have unwavering
dedication to one's cause, as well as to family,
friends, and self.
*** Budo Quotes *****
True victory relies not upon you, but on your enemy.
Thus, victory comes naturally to you. You have only
to wait for it to happen. Do not search for victory
or seek gain, allow it to happen naturally.
By Masaaki Hatsumi
[Ninpo: Wisdom for Life, Page 11]
http://www.kihon.com/ninpo/
*** Keiko Events *****
* Tai Kai Atlanta 2000
Koto Ryu Koppojutsu, Teppan & Ninja-to
Hatsumi Masaaki, Soke
Atlanta, Georgia
August 18 - 21, 2000
* Mark O'Brien USA Seminars
http://www.kihon.com/mob.html
* Bujinkan New York Dojo Seminars
http://www.kihon.com/dojo/events.html
*** 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 *****
Balance And Alignment
Lauren Brandstein, editor
A couple of weeks ago in class, a fellow kyu asked
my teacher what qualities one may observe in "good
taijutsu," or what makes good body movement good,
including that of people who have no martial
training. My teacher then asked the kyu to
identify in one word (or phrase) what *he* thought
was the most basic observable element in "good
taijutsu." Finally, forced to answer concisely, he
said "being relaxed." The question was then passed
on to each student in turn, and a list was formed,
including fluidity, awareness, intention, and
"moving the body and the weapon as one." These are
all good answers, and all extremely reflective of
the people who gave them.
My answer reflects something I am starting to
recognize and strive for in my own training. Never
being the type to limit myself to one word where
two will do almost as well, I said "balance and
alignment." "Balance and alignment" were not
precisely what I meant, although those two
elements are essential to my current idea of good
body movement. Unfortunately, there is no one word
in English that I can think of which encompasses
the feeling I am thinking of: it is a kind of
stability and confidence, which encompasses
relaxation, fluidity, intention, and whole-body
motion.
The reason I answered "balance" and "alignment" is
that, in my own thoughts on training, I am really
trying to focus on specific tactics for achieving
that calm, natural, flowing movement of good
taijutsu. I believe that the way one begins to
attain that type of absolute surety in motion is
through close attention (awareness) to the body's
alignment and balance during training. For many of
us, it is far easier to see what a technique does
to our opponent's body than it is to feel what it
does to our own. Because of the nature of
training, it is possible to take someone down very
smoothly and thoroughly without realizing how
badly our own alignment or balance has been
compromised.
One must pay close attention to one's body
alignment, (knees aligned over toes, head not
looking down, elbows close, etc.), as well as
maintaining constant awareness of one's center of
balance, (keeping low, making footwork the basis
of all strikes, etc.). Once the habit of awareness
and the knowledge of what to look for are
established in the dojo, that attention should
extend outside of the dojo and training to
everyday life. Good body movement comes from good
body awareness, and I believe that specifically
taking note of one's own alignment and balance at
all times is the best way to attain a high level
of confidence and fluidity in movement.
_______________ KIHON Newsletter ______________
** STATEMENT OF PURPOSE **
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.
** DISCLAIMER **
It is recommended that you seek out medical
advice before following any of these suggestions.
It is also suggested that you find a qualified
instructor to guide you in your martial arts
training.
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KIHON Newsletter and all contents
Copyright (c) 2000 by Joe Maurantonio
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