Heart, Faith and Steel » bronxville

Quotes & Proverbs

Joe — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:00:02 +0000

Saru mo ki kara ochiru. “Even monkeys fall from trees.” – Japanese proverb

The first priority to the ninja was to win without fighting, and that remains the way. — Toshitsugu Takamatsu

When the student is ready, the master appears. — Buddhist proverb

The first step in Ninpo training is that of physical endurance. — Masaaki Hatsumi

Ishi no ue ni san nen. “Three years on a rock.” – Japanese proverb

Advanced Stick Fighting

Joe — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 08:00:31 +0000

In 2005 Hatsumi-sensei released his new book, Advanced Stick Fighting. Almost immediately, this book about the long staff was compared to his earlier book called Stick Fighting (publiched in the early-1970s) about short stick training. Both continue to be considered “must read” in the stick fighting community.

“I think it is good to push yourself to the extreme; to push your mind and body to the point of imminent death has a purpose during a time of war. The tradition of severe training in the martial arts aims to awaken inner power. However, when the time comes, change swiftly. This is tenkan, in other words, being able to control yourself.” — Masaaki Hatsumi

Understand? Good. Play!

Joe — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:00:53 +0000

With the private release of Ninpo: Wisdom for Life there seemed to be a renewed interest in Hatsumi-sensei‘s writings. Ben Cole, a Bujinkan member, had been writing down quotes from Hatsumi-sensei Japan classes visits for several years and sharing them.

This eventually transformed into Understand? Good. Play!, a book of Bujinkan quotes from Masaaki Hatsumi. A great success, this book has been out of print for too long.

“This [training] cannot be taught. It cannot be understood through mere words. It must be experienced personally. Books are for use after you know the techniques. It is the same for the densho. If you know the technique, and then read the words, it makes sense.” — Masaaki Hatsumi

Ninpo: Wisdom for Life

Joe — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:00:44 +0000

In the 1980s, I met Hatsumi-sensei for the first time and found out that he had several books written in Japanese. Being an avid reader, I asked one of the Japanese-shihan about them. In a short while I was working on a translation of the first chapter of one book.

Eventually I began a project to translate one whole book from beginning to end. It was a challenge, but with Hatsumi-sensei‘s approval, updates and encouragement Ninpo: Wisdom for Life was published.

“Musha Shugyo [warrior errantry] was to go beyond the bounds of simple training. You must stretch beyond your personal limitations.” — Masaaki Hatsumi

BNYD twitter feed

Joe — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:30:54 +0000

If you enjoy reading quotes about martial arts training, you may want to check out or subscribe to the Bujinkan New York Dojo Twitter feed. You can check it out here:

http://twitter.com/bnyd

The Bells Were Ringing

Joe — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:00:26 +0000

The martial arts are about living (not dying). We study the arts of protecting our friends, family and ourselves from those who would harm us; but equal in importance we are studying how to live, grow and foster the same in those around us.

So, (on Saturday, April 24, 2010) when one of the members of our group was getting married, it was obvious that many of us would be attending. Bill and his beautiful wife, Geovanna, had a wonderful sunny day and awesome wedding! Congratulations!

Per cent’anni!

Longer than you've been… alive.

Joe — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:30:42 +0000

A few weeks ago, I was speaking with one of my students who was returning to college far from our dojo. Even though he lives far from home, he has continued training with an instructor near his school. We were chatting a bit and the conversation rounded to how many years he’d been training and his age (which totaled 24).

There is often a moment in a pleasant conversation, in which all sound ceases and you realize your partner is waiting for you to speak. Often, it’s subtle and other times there is a gentle nudge of, “And how about you?”

For me, speaking of my rank or years training is often akin to someone bragging about their greatness or skillfulness. For the most part, my rank is my own. It’s a measure of my journey for me… On the rare occasion I do speak of it, I almost never mention the actual level but prefer to be vague. And the more I see the new generation of students openly bragging of their rank, the more I cringe. It seems apparent to me that humility is quite lost today. I’m sorry, I digress.

So the moment was there, hanging before us. I remember opening my mouth and saying, “In the Bujinkan I have been training a little longer than you’ve been…” then thought about that number 24 (his age plus his years training), and said, “… alive.” Which made him smile and me say, “That’s not what I meant.” We laughed.

It is odd for me to think about these past 25 years of training. Has it really passed so fast? I can still remember my first meeting with Hatsumi-soke (1986) like it was yesterday.

Are you wondering how I’ve done it? How did I succeed at training over twenty-five years? And not missing a single week! Training where ever I was; whatever part of the world I was in. How?

My answer is simple. The first character of the word ninja stands for “nin” or “shinobu.” This is a concept that means perseverance. So, years ago I chose a path and it’s been an enriching one that has offered me many lessons and hardships.

My taijutsu journey began one day; I continued it one day at a time. I joined the Bujinkan, met Hatsumi-soke, became a shidoshi (1991). Some years have passed, but I still look forward to tomorrow’s lessons.

As a friend of mine wrote in his book, The Shadow Warrior: “Treasure Your Training!”

Buy this book:
The Shadow Warrior

Kentai Ichijo

Joe — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:16:51 +0000

If you didn’t hear it yet, Peter Crocoll (shihan) will be visiting New York for a two day seminar on September 27 and 28, 2008. That Saturday and Sunday will be a wonderful event in which several area dojo will come together to share the mat and learn from one of the USA’s senior instructors. If you aren’t “in the know,” Crocoll-sensei has been training in the Bujinkan since about 1982.

I hope that you will take a moment to read the Peter Crocoll Seminar Flyer and consider attending. It will definitely be an event to remember.

Ninja Lessons swimming in the Flood

Joe — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:10:49 +0000

Welcome to Bronxville, NY. Home of the first PGA championship (late 1920s), one of the wealthiest USA communities, notable residents John F. Kennedy, Dick Clark, and Andrew Shue, the Bujinkan New York Dojo and annual flooding! This years storm (Hanna) dropped over 4 inches of rain which seemed to pool outside the dojo’s entrance. I think it was about a foot deep – nowhere near last years about six feet! This picture is from April 2007, the morning after the storm hit.