K I H O N
Newsletter #13
January 2001
Happy New Year!
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An email newsletter focusing on Ninjutsu/Budo
Taijutsu training. Published by www.KIHON.com
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**** CONTENTS ****
>> Taijutsu Tips: Training Tips
>> Sempai Insights: Instructor Insights
>> Budo Quotes: Martial Arts Quotes
>> Keiko Events: Upcoming Events
>> Shoshin Comments: Comments
*** Taijutsu Tips *****
Arriving Late To Class
Fred F. Feddeck, BNYD
Every now and then in your training you might
arrive late to class due to a train or traffic
delay, or maybe staying late at work. Arriving
late is better than skipping or missing class
because you think it is "too late" already. In the
Bujinkan New York Dojo, when a student arrives
late they are supposed to change into their gi as
quickly and quietly as possible, and then sit in
seiza at the edge of the dojo floor until the
teacher acknowledges them to join class.
New students at the dojo might think of this as a
"punishment" for arriving late - the teacher
ignores them while they sit in seiza. However,
that is not the reason; sitting there is the
opposite of a punishment. Sitting for a moment
allows students to take some time to relax and
clear their mind, about being late and all the
other distractions of the day. This way, when
students enter class, they can do so with a free
mind.
Furthermore, it allows the student a moment to
observe the training and what lesson is being
shown, so that when they join class, they know
what is going on. With that understanding, if you
are late to class some time and are sitting at the
edge of the dojo floor, take the moment to calm
yourself and prepare for the training.
*** Sempai Insights *****
White Belt Is A State of Mind
Glenn Catania, BNYD
One of the greatest skills anyone can use is
observation. You can learn a lot about people and
the world around you just by paying attention.
It's fascinating to see how the rhythms of certain
thinks work together, or work against each other.
Sometimes when martial art practitioners train for
a time they forget how to learn. If we are not
careful there can develop an attitude of "oh, I've
seen this before." This is a very, very dangerous
point in training: the place where one forgets to
be a white belt.
There is a difference between reacting without
thinking, and thinking with a reaction. Relish
every beginning forward roll you do, you may never
be able to do another. Every lesson we learn does
not end after we feel it has been absorbed. On the
contrary, look at every technique you have been
taught and relearn it every time. Observation is a
wonderful gift, so use it to your full advantage.
Ask yourself, am I just doing this movement
exactly the same way I have done it the last two
hundred times, or am I going to work on learning
it from the beginning again? Work on it like it is
brand new, every time, with a little bit more
skill, but with the heart of a white belt. If you
throw away your ego and be a beginner, you will
always have the skill to learn.
*** Budo Quotes *****
I do not think that to become strong and work out
completely is the only budo. These are some of
the important things to accomplish through budo
training: learning your shortcomings, rectifying
them, and spending your life full of joy. To
practice performance for happiness is the true
way of budo.
By Masaaki Hatsumi
[Ninpo: Wisdom for Life, Page 99]
http://www.kihon.com/ninpo/
(NEW! Pay online via credit card)
*** Keiko Events *****
* Mark O'Brien USA Seminars
http://www.kihon.com/mob.html
* Bujinkan New York Dojo
http://www.kihon.com/
* Bujinkan New York Dojo
27 Milburn Street
Bronxville, NY 10708
http://www.kihon.com/ny/
*** Shoshin Comments *****
Take Nothing For Granted
Lauren Brandstein, editor
Last month, I suffered an injury to my shoulder.
This is the first time in training I have ever had
an injury, and I never expected any real physical
setback to my training, so I was not prepared to
accept it when it happened. When I was forced to,
because I could not move my arm, I went to get
proper medical attention, having x-rays taken and,
over several visits, having the joint examined by
many doctors and specialists. The injury was not
anyone's fault, but apparently due to the way my
body is designed, with loose ligaments in that
particular joint. It has healed slowly but surely,
and I need to exercise it continually, for the
rest of my life, to make sure it becomes, and
remains, strong enough to endure training.
At first I took this as a purely negative event. I
was very discouraged by it, feeling that I could
not fully participate in training, and not knowing
when I would be able to practice again the way I
could before. However, my sensei reminded me to
have a "can-do" attitude, to view this as a
challenge and meet the test of my character as a
warrior. I was also reading one of Hatsumi
Sensei's books a few days ago, and I read this
passage: "It is important to make an effort under
any circumstance - stagnant, sickness, being in an
unstable lifestyle, even when society is insane.
You should consider such moments as an omen before
you move again... The keiko that is most important
when you cannot move is kage no keiko [shadow
training]."
I take this too as a reminder that such events are
not necessarily setbacks, but just normal events
that occur in life, times to be endured and used
to grow. Instead of whining and feeling sorry for
myself because I can't do rolling or receive
strikes or whatever, I should be using this as an
opportunity. It is forcing me to train with more
attention and less strength. If I cannot practice
a technique physically, I should observe it and
train mentally. Because of this I have also begun
to value those things I am currently prevented
from doing much more, now that I can no longer
take them for granted. I have also discovered a
new gratitude for all the things I can do, since I
never know when I might be unable to do them
again. I hope I will be able to maintain this
attitude of a greater value and respect for
training as long as I live. It is a mindset I
should have had before, something I thought I had,
and maybe I needed this injury to occur to show me
the truth.
_______________ KIHON Newsletter ______________
** NOTICE **
This issue of Kihon Newsletter is a bit shorter
than usual. As the new year begins, we are making
a number of changes at KIHON.com. We will be
trimming each issue of the newsletter by two
columns and will be expanding on those in our NEW
online Kihon Magazine.
Kihon Newsletter will remain monthly while
Kihon Magazine will be released Quarterly (the
first issue will be on display January 15, 2001 at
http://www.kihon.com/magazine/
They are both FREE.
** STATEMENT OF PURPOSE **
KIHON.com provides this FREE short newsletter in
an effort to offer information about taijutsu
training. We hope you have enjoyed reading it.
** DISCLAIMER **
It is recommended that you seek out medical
advice before following any of these suggestions.
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KIHON Newsletter and all contents
Copyright (c) 2001 by Joe Maurantonio
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