You gotta hand it to them, they always do a wonderful job at their events. you can see more of them here: Improv Everywhere!

Per cent’anni!

1. Explanation and demonstration of Bojutsu reiho. Standing and seated versions.

2. Description of the length and type of wood used in crafting a real rokushakubo (six foot staff). Also, detailed explanation on how to craft a padded training rokushakubo, jo (tsue) and hanbo. Recommendation that all students craft their own training version so they can have it available at class from May through September.

3.How to grip the staff: the floating grip, sliding the staff along the hips and allowing it to “snake out” at the opponent.

4. Moving the staff from posture or twirl to position for striking.

5. Shiho furi gata. All directional twirl. Practice this regularly for a few weeks so you get the knack of it.

6. Understand that our art physically emphasizes Taijutsu (circa 40%), Kenjutsu (20%), Bojutsu (20%) and all other weapons (20%). Additioanlly, much of our early years of training should stress 80% physical and 20% mental while after about 20 years that changes to something like 40% physical and 60% mental.

7. Proper hand positioning and movement while thrusting (tsuki) the staff.

8. Understanding and applying a sinking motion (bending of the knees) to create a strong foundation for the strike.

9. Recommendation of a book to read: Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams.

10. Waza. Rokushaku Bo Shiho furi gata to tsuki. Tori to understanding the transition and making it seemless so as not to allow openings for the opponent to attack. Uke practices how to use his sword to invite attack, then deflect or guard against the staff thrust.

11. Sempai – Kohai relationship and how it applies to dojo, learning and fostering a positive training enviroment.

12. Waza. Uke begins in Daijodan no kamae and then cuts shomen giri.
Tori (person receiving the attack) begins in Seigan no kamae while creating an opening for the Uke. You step left foot to left side as left elbow raises slightly to begin uke nagashi. His cut is guarded and deflected toward your right as you continue your flow to deliver a left kote strike to his outer right arm. Continue to move on your forward left diagonal as you cut across his torso. (kotsu: lower your center of gravity when striking, keep proper distance, move in proper timing and keep a guard).

13. Waza. Uke right punch.
Tori begins in Ichimonji no kamae and receives attack with Jodan Uke Nagashi. Migite shuto to his inner right wrist as you left step to your left diagonal. Study: Timing, Distance, Angling and Flow.

14. Waza. Uke right punch.
Tori begins in Ichimonji no kamae and receives attack with Jodan Uke (guard, not striking). Migite clasp hand… as left leg steps on diagonal, right hand uses timing to apply omote gyaku with your body motion rather than strength. Study: Timing, Distance, Angling and Flow.

15. Discussed a variety of topics during our after workshop chat (local seminars, current movies, books and DVDs by Hatsumi-soke, and the nature of the many “ninja” people advertising on the internet.

Like many of my buyu, I am eagerly awaiting the latest release of Quest Video’s Bujinkan DVD line: Daikomyosai 2009. Having been there during the filming, I know from experience that it’s a must have for all Bujinkan shidoshi.

Follow this link to watch a clip on YouTube.

Over the years, we have heard some negative things about his personality… however, he remains outspoken about Native American and Tibetan rights.

But now, he’s making a return to TV with a reality show called: Steven Seagal Lawman. I’m not sure how I feel about this.

http://www.aetv.com/steven-seagal-lawman/

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 “With one eye fixed on the destination there is only one left to guide you along the journey.” If you’re going to learn, you have to free your mind of desire and let the lesson be the guide.

There are at least a dozen different translations of this work… many focusing on a broader audience than just martial artists. In the 1980s and early 1990s it was an often quoted, must read, by business executives for adaptation to the workplace.

Since first reading a copy in the early 1980s, I have read several English editions, and portions of both Italian and Japanese versions. If you enjoy swordsmanship, swordplay or if you are a martial artist, I recommend this edition:

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We also have a free online version available at:
The book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi

Here’s a great clip from the excellent movie Miyamoto Musashi (1967) starring Toshirô Mifune as the lead character:

If you think you might like to own the DVD:
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Some great maps of Japan:
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As the process of learning this secret, there is a ceremony of the initiation by the sixth sense, which lets the student learn this strange technique. The student dressed in white clothes sits motionless in an open room. The master, like a shadow and without making any sound, attacks the student with a sword, like a floating boat. If the student managed to dodge the sword, he got the secret, but if he couldn’t, then that was it. There is a similarity between this and the ceramist who destroys his new work if he doesn’t like it.

One day I was sitting in my master’s room when he said to me: “Wait here with your eyes closed, and do not open them no matter what happens.” I loosened myself up after I felt he was gone. Soon, I did a side roll after I had felt certain heaviness and saw a shadow as if my body had been split in half. Next I did a front ukemi after I felt that my head would fly away. When I recovered to the position of shizen fudoza, I opened my eyes to his voice saying: “Well done; you can open your eyes.” I saw Takamatsu Sensei standing with a sword in his right hand. Being unbelievably calm, I realised that this was the spiritual technique by the sixth sense. I then received the sword from my master. Later I was told that this was Juji Giri Mumei no Itto.

A year before Takamatsu Sensei passed away he said to me: “I leave the martial arts in your hands.” Nine years since he passed away, I’ve been training hard and lately, I can assert that this is true Budo. By the way, in the test for Godan in the Bujinkan Dojo, I attack with menace from behind the student who is sitting with his eyes closed. If he dodges, he passes.

This is the beginning. This is not just a dodging of an attack from behind. Sometimes you have to know the other side of the world. In human relations, the person you trust might someday betray you. Even then you can realise the courage which keeps the peace through this training. It is just a trick to cultivate only the sense, which permits you to dodge an attack from behind. This kind of mentality makes a distance between you and the truth of life, and ruins life. That kind of mentality is the cancer to correct growth. In this sense Juji Giri Mumei no Itto is the operation to remove this cancer in the early stages. It can also be said that one should stop teaching the person who should not be taught.

When you teach a lot of students, then some kind of sense is important. Buddha taught the ten followers, but one failed. One of Christ’s 12 followers was a rebel. Even a relationship between the master and pupil has a failure. The relationship between the teachers and students in a modern school system is bad. In these situations it is the most important principle which keeps: to learn the true martial arts mind.

When you pass the test for Godan, the way of training will change necessarily. It changes to invisible training; incomprehensible training. I teach students who have been training for more that 20 years, but only cordially. It would be the instruction of incomprehensibly strange techniques to them. They understand, but they can’t do it. They might understand but they don’t really understand. Like this, strange techniques start breathing. It’s OK with me if they don’t understand, because I’m teaching incomprehensible techniques. If they understand, they are Superman. They will improve because they don’t understand.

One day, one of my senior students came up to me and said: “I heard there is a technique, which allows us to throw an opponent without touching him.” I decided to try and teach this without letting my students get hurt. Myself, along with the student and four other students went to a place that had a video camera. Nine eyes are staring. “Come on!” “Yes sir.” We passed each other. My senior student flew by me and fell down. A few minutes later he got up with blood coming out of his mouth. “Understand? ” “No sir.” “Rest of you understand?”

“No sir, but we think we will understand with the video which we will watch later.” “You won’t understand, ” I told them. We watched the video, but none of the students could catch the picture in their eyes. This is martial arts. It is impossible to learn the strange techniques with taking pictures and writing down notes. In another way of thinking about this, even if you showed your techniques on a scroll and it is stolen, that’s OK. This is the essence of martial arts. Taking pictures or writing down is useless. There is no other way than to study under a master and do what he says.

On the occasion of publishing this book, I introduce for your information the part of the book, which Takamatsu Sensei had taught me As a rule of this Ryu, writing down is forbidden. Because if you write down, the depth of its essence comes to an end. The martial arts will be the secret without limitations. So writing this book is against my will. Even if I write with explanation for later study, nobody will truly learn. As Takamatsu Sensei said, “Learn with hard training. ”

One year before his death, Takamatsu said to me: “You are a fine martial artist now. I’ve been rewarded the favours of my masters.” I was half in doubt. I believed that you could master the essence of the martial arts a few years after you are taught. So since the master passed away, I have been asking myself for nine years, and now I decided to publish this book.