K I H O N
Newsletter #28
Summer 2003 ISSN# 1534-1437
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An email newsletter focusing on Ninjutsu/Budo
Taijutsu training. Published by www.KIHON.com
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**** CONTENTS ****
>> Shidoshi Wisdom
>> Online Article (Kyoketsu Shoge)
>> Taijutsu Tips
>> Sempai Insights
>> Budo Quotes
>> Keiko Events
>> Tai Kai Comments
*** Shidoshi Wisdom ****
THE BEST YOU CAN BE
Joe Maurantonio, Shidoshi (BNYD)
Many new students judge themselves and their
abilities against other people in their class. I
can understand this line of thought. It's like two
people doing the same job but with one getting
paid much more than the other. It doesn't seem
right.
Often, the fact of the matter is that while both
have the same title, one may go the extra
distance. You don't know how many times I have
seen students complain that someone started
training months after them, but that person is now
passing them in rank.
This is a tale of two students. One young man and
one young woman. The young man began training two
years ago, the woman began training about 14
months ago.
The young man, we'll call him George, attended
class weekly trying to learn lessons as they came.
Every once in a while he would ask his seniors a
question or two, try out the lessons at home and,
when possible, attend a second class during the
week. He enjoyed the training, even if some days
the lesson eluded him. His goal was to advance in
rank and attain a black belt.
The young woman, we'll call her Susan, also
enjoyed class. She joined to learn how to protect
herself but found that the training offered her
more. She came to every class that was offered,
sometimes even when she was sick. Arriving at the
dojo, she bowed at the entrance and immediately
started stretching. Class started and she listened
intently and asked questions when appropriate. Her
goal was simple - learn something new every class
and try to move more smoothly than she did at the
previous class.
It was very apparent to all the students and
instructors that Susan was moving more smoothly
each week, though she didn't see her own progress
so clearly. She received several ranks and, in
truth, was moving well along. As time passed,
George seemed bogged down in his own thoughts. He
missed more classes than ever and his steam was
running out. He seemed destined to quit.
My story is similar to George's. There are people
ranked higher than me who haven't been training
nearly as long. While that may cause a moment's
pause, I usually shrug it off. Their rank is a
reflection of THEIR journey - not mine. It doesn't
matter to me in the least.
There's an old martial arts proverb that says "If
you keep one eye on the rank, you have but one eye
left for training. If both eyes are on the rank,
then you are blinded and will not progress at
all." If you're going to learn, you have to free
your mind of desire and let the lesson be the
guide.
*** Online Article ****
KYOKETSU SHOGE
Joe Maurantonio, Shidoshi (BNYD)
The kyoketsu shoge was a weapon used almost
exclusively by the ninja of the Japanese region
called Iga. The weapon was a combination of
dagger and hooked blade attached to a length of
cord with a four inch metal ring...
Use this link for the complete FLASH format
article:
http://www.kihon.com/articles/kyoketsu.html
**** Taijutsu Tips ****
TAKING NOTES
Don Houle, Shidoshi-ho (BNYD)
With many modern conveniences available to
students of Budo Taijutsu, it's sometimes
challenging to still make good training notes.
Video, audio tape and photographs would seem to
make the act of taking written notes obsolete.
This couldn't be further from the truth. Written
notes should be an important part of the martial
arts student's training. By thinking through the
movements involved in a technique, the student can
mentally "relive" the training. This exercise in
visualization and recall is an important skill
that can increase the rate at which one learns new
concepts and movements.
Taking notes during a break in training or even
between techniques can present a challenge. How to
explain the movements of both uke and tori in just
a few quick sentences that will be understood by
the reader some time after they were written?
Often, the student chooses to develop a sort of
shorthand to enable him to capture the essence of
the technique until more detailed notes can be
made. In some cases, a word or two can adequately
describe a collection of movements that could take
several sentences to convey.
This is one reason why it is important to learn
the Japanese names of techniques. For example, the
basic technique called "jodan uke" generally
refers to the defensive movement against an
opponent's strike in which the defender moves
diagonally away from the attack and counterattacks
the punching limb with a strike of their own. This
series of movements could take a few minutes to
write down, but just writing "joudan uke" takes
only a second, leaving more time to describe the
remaining parts of the technique.
One advantage to using Japanese terms (or kanji
and kana characters) to write one's notes is that
this provides a bit of "security". If the notebook
is picked up by someone who does not train in this
art, it will probably be difficult for that person
to understand what's written. Even the average
Japanese citizen will probably not make much sense
of the terms used to describe our movements!
*** Sempai Insights ****
TALE OF THE DOJO
Glenn Catania (BNYD)
The Bujinkan New York Dojo has been at its present
location for over ten years. This is an amazing
feat. In these chaotic times, most things do not
last... Not like they did in years past. Our day
to day lives easily get in the way. It seems easy
to collesct one's stuff, call it a day and just go
straight home.
It has been an honor and privilege to have been
involved with this dojo throughout its existance.
There were times when I was injured and my doctor
recommended that I stay home but I came anyway. I
came to class, sat and watched. It gave me the
opportunity to understand concepts, analyse and
appreciate them better by watching my fellow
students train.
A Dojo teaches dedication and camaraderie in a
diverse way. There is something about sharing a
takedown with a dojo member that you can't quite
compare to anything else. I have found it very
easy to make close relationships in our Dojo.
Training at our Dojo has had a deep effect on my
life. When I first began I was unable to do a back
roll. When I write this I am not referring to the
fact that I was unable to do the roll; What I mean
is that I could not sit back without looking
behind myself. The act itself was very frightening
for me. Something internal would not let me trust
myself. I would literally endure panic attacks
while waiting my turn on line. With patience and
dedication, I was able to get past this fear. It
was not easy and I could not have conquered it
alone. My fellow students were there to help me.
Our school has always been a place where teachers
and students support each other in training and
oversome mental hurdles. Our school has always had
this feeling of comradeship. Hatsumi Sensei writes
in his Ninpo philosophy book (NINPO: Wisdom for
Life, pg 97) "The Budo performance of Uke and Tori
are just like a couple. If one of them does not do
well, the other will not do well either."
From the beginning, our teacher Joe Maurantonio
(Shidoshi) has taught us to work together. We
encourage fellow training partners to progress at
their own pace, but rely on the dojo as an entity.
Training at our dojo has given me the ability to
learn other skills. When I was younger, I was
easily intimidated by new opportunities. Through
our dojo lessons I have learned to make training a
part of me in everything I do. It reminds me of
the phrase, "If you fight with your spirit the
sword will follow." Somehow, by training and
beginning to understand taijutsu, it has made it
easier to fit together the pieces of other life
lessons.
Our dojo is comprised of a very interesting group
of people, all in different stages of training and
life. One dojo friend has been here for over ten
years. Through the years I have watched him grow
up. He is the optimal example of the Bujinkan New
York Dojo at its finest. He is always looking for
the subtleties and reminding me to make use of the
strengths I have, to take advantage of them and
work on what I'm missing. His spirit and drive are
very motivating. When you train with him, they
seem to press the training up a level.
Another dojo member, and friend, has been with us
for over eight years. Throughout that time he has
developed into a genuine teacher who always makes
causes me to think differently. He has a very Old
World feel to his taijutsu; I watch him and this
is what I work towards. Though he's a gentle
person, there is a great strength in his
personality. When he takes you down, you know it.
These are my friends and sempai. They help shape
the atmosphere of the dojo.
During the past decade, many people visited,
joined and left our dojo training. Throughout that
time Shidoshi Maurantonio has always been a great
example of inspiration: the heart and soul of our
training hall. His perspective on the martial arts
has taught us to always strive for growth. "If you
accept less, that is what you will get."
Besides my teacher, Joe Maurantonio has been one
of my closest friends. For many years he has
helped me stay on this path when life's problems
got in the way. He reminds me that we are training
in Ninpo, and always tries to share the
subtleties. He is always willing to listen or
share an anecdote with an insightful lesson. I can
never thank him enough or repay him for sharing
this training with me.
Ok... Now, let's all do "Dojo Rule Number One: Be
Quiet and Throw a punch."
*** Budo Quotes *****
Life is full of symbolic walls and vacuums. When you
encounter these points, you should encourage yourself,
break through these walls, and continue onward.
That is the way of the truly strong and brave man.
By Masaaki Hatsumi
[Ninpo: Wisdom for Life, Pg 24]
http://www.kihon.com/ninpo/
*** Keiko Events *****
* Tai Kai USA (New Jersey)
August 8-10, 2003
http://www.winjutsu.com/taikai2003/
* Bujinkan New York Dojo
http://www.kihon.com/dojo/
* Bujinkan Middlesex Shibu
http://www.kihon.com/dojo/
**** Tai Kai Comments ****
TAI KAI USA - BE THERE
Joe Maurantonio (BNYD)
Each year for the past 18 years Hatsumi Sensei has
journeyed from Japan to the United States to offer
training at the International Bujinkan Tai Kai.
Each event has a large gathering of Bujinkan
members come to see, hear and learn from Hatsumi
Sensei and the Shihan (senior teachers). This year
the Tai Kai in New Jersey is reported to be the
last that Sensei will be doing outside of Japan.
As such, it will be quite a memorable event.
Many people have been asking me what I think of
attending this year. I am very eager to attend
this event which is sponsored by Jack Hoban and
Mark Hodel. Both have offered many fine Tai Kai
gatherings over the years. During the past six
months I have been encouraging my students, buyu
friends and many Bujinkan members in the online
community.
My students and I have found previous Tai Kai
events to be wonderful sources of training and a
common ground in which to meet other people that
train in the Bujinkan arts. Whether these tai kai
have taken place in California, Georgia, New York,
Washington,DC or elsewhere, each has been a
gathering of buyu (warrior friends) who train
during the day and chat about local events.
This year theTai Kai seems to offer a bit more.
The event is located "on the beach" so that has
encouraged many to bring their families, which
always adds a more pleasant atmosphere. There will
be an additional night of optional training and a
few surprises. Rumors have it that we'll be
treated to news of what will be happening in Japan
during the next year and that Hatsumi Sensei will
be letting us know about upcoming Bujinkan video,
DVD and book projects.
I want encourage each of you to take the time try
and make it for at least one day. Check out the
web site and make sure you register before the
August 1, 2003 deadline. See you there.
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Copyright (c) 1999, 2003 by Joe Maurantonio
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