Japan Trip Review - The Skipping Stone


When I first arrived at the new Honbu, I was incredibly impressed by its fresh character. A lot of thought had gone into layout and facilities, while a bright and well decorated interior provided a clean backdrop for Budo training. As much as I miss the old training hall, it definitely felt like an upgrade. The famous chalk board schedule still hung upon the wall, and I was excited to see that I would have the chance to train with many Shihan during my stay.

The first class was with Nagato Sensei, and immediately my attention was drawn to his movement. It seemed that as he demonstrated the initial grab, punch, or kick attack would be the same, and he might even travel in the same initial direction, but from there it would change each time. As the attacker fought back or readjusted balance, the defenders flow would just continue, circumventing the opponents strength and patiently letting a technique unfold naturally.

Nothing was really completed, one moment it appeared that an Omote Gyaku was going to be applied, but then it would suddenly transform into Ganseki Nage, in this way I saw a full flow of Kihon Happo techniques demonstrated, I felt this significant and so it stuck in my mind.

Grandmaster Hatsumi Sensei was of course the heart center of inspiration. I actually had the opportunity to see him teaching five times during my trip and all my observations have since overlapped. He mentioned that this year he had been focusing on Muto Dori, but it felt like he was trying to explain that this represented more than just empty handed defenses against a sword wielding attacker. There was a feeling to it, which was always there, regardless of whether he was armed or not.

Often he repeated the importance of not 'evading' the attack quickly, but to find the right rhythm and space. He also demonstrated the use of very light touch, sometimes using just a finger to control a cover point on the attacker. On a few occasions he didn't even need to touch the opponent, simply covering the important spaces was enough to alter the opponents next move. In fact, he even said not to see the opponent as an opponent to be beaten or defended against, but rather as a collaborator.

He often used his elbows to control, leaving his hands free to strike, or take other points, all in a natural flow. He likened this to the concept of the skipping stone, bouncing across the water. I felt that much like the skipping stone, the outcome is predetermined by the conditions, but any slight variation in those conditions appear to cause vastly deviating visual results. He said the important thing to do was to keep going along with the flow, and to have faith that one will survive.


Another notable concept was his usage of fulcrums and levers, especially when employing a sword or staff. He often found a way to set himself up, so that a simple soft movement of his body exerted incredible natural force against his opponent. Sometimes he even asked for multiple opponents to attack, and he was able to leverage them against each other. He did warn us not to take his Muto Dori too seriously though, and went on to show us how as a swordsman he could easily cut by utilizing the same flow and feeling as if he had no sword.

Hatsumi Sensei actually had an extra class for his Birthday. He talked about how he had spent the last 42 years working on what he had learned in 15 years with his teacher Takamatsu Sensei. He finally feels that he can do justice to the titles he received, and later mentioned that it is sometimes necessary to grow into a title or award, which has been received in advance of reaching the required ability.

He said that he has had a good time during those 42 years, he did a lot of travelling around the world teaching and spreading his art during less turbulent decades. Now however, it might be that as Budoka we have to step up to become examples for future generations as the world itself is changing. This change, and need to evolve was referenced often. Next, next, next....what is going to happen in the next cycle, it felt like a lot of that is really up to all of us now.

I studied with all of the Shihan that made themselves available, my cup was full and emptied several times. I realized I could not take back home their techniques or form, but their advice and training methodologies were certainly something I could work from. Apart from which, their skill and ability are all an inspiration to keep going, reference points to what is possible if I just keep pushing.

Hatsumi Sensei also talked about this, he said that when one hits a wall, one should not give up, but keep trying to find a way through. He said even if the wall is really strong, you can broadcast through it, and that way still reach the other side. That we should not let these walls be such a determination of who we are. With such motivational words, it was really a powerful training environment.

There certainly was a great deal of energy at the Dojo, I was awestruck not just by Hatsumi Sensei and his skills but also at the entire atmosphere he has created. It was very hard not to be distracted and I was reminded about Jack's teaching on the combat mindset during the year. I began to wonder in the skipping stone analogy whether we are supposed to be the skipping stone, or the water.


Buyu Camp Review 2015

September 2015, already a fading memory, was the setting for another excellent Buyu Camp. Martial friends from far and wide trained together, learned together, networked, and grew.

Friday night began with us training Sanshin no Kata and Kihon Happo. Jack Hoban took us through the basics, highlighting many of the key points: Alignment, distance, timing.

Boshiken


There was a wide range of participants there, from those who have been training several decades, to those who were experiencing Bujinkan Taijutsu for the first time. It felt like everyone had something to learn from this review, and it primed us all us all up well for the weekend ahead.

On Friday night some of us staying at the camp enjoyed a warm campfire. It was a pleasant evening for weary travelers who had spend many hours on the road, and added to the feeling of the camp.


On Saturday morning, after a warm up by Ed Martin, the group assembled to practice some Kukishinden Ryu Dakentaijutsu along with some variations. Jack explained how we could use the concept of Shu-Ha-Ri (守破離) to first study and learn the form, and then to break the form, and finally to lose the form. He also demonstrated the concept of capturing the Ukes balance, and using this balance point to topple the opponent. Either sending the uke flying, or taking them down to the ground and submitting them.

Uke Nagashi

After breaking for lunch there were several breakout sessions, where we could choose which instructor we wanted to train with. This was also repeated on Sunday morning.

Mark Guest taught a class on Bojutsu


Ed Figueroa demonstrated how good Taijutsu could be used in everyday life


Ed Martin explained the principles of escaping a knife attack and protecting others


Murray Taylor and Phil Bradshaw talked about the Hokken Juroppo (16 Striking Treasures)



Miki Fujitsubo showed some Taijutsu concepts


Craig Gray worked on ground fighting tactics


Josh Reis taught pistol and knife work


Josh Sager and myself also held a class for Kihon (basics)


It was a very busy time of sharing and learning. With teachers from the east coast, the west coast, and Europe, there was more than enough knowledge and information available for the participants.

On Saturday night, many of us attended a no host dinner at the local Colts Neck Inn. A great chance to unwind and compare notes, as well as getting to know each other a bit better.


On Sunday afternoon Jack brought forward some 'what if?' scenarios, including multiple attackers. Connecting the opponents to each other was key, so as to capture the balance point together. 

We also practiced Hanbojutsu, using kyo-jitsu to draw out the attack and using the Hanbo tactically to control the kukan. 

By the end of the weekend my cup was completely full, mission accomplished.



Looking forward to seeing everyone again next year!

STRIKE! Learning to maintain the combat mindset.

On July 11th I attended Jack Hoban's seminar in Spring Lake, NJ. The month of July is linked to the passing of one of Jack's life mentors, Robert Humphrey. As many people may know, Robert Humphrey was a rifle platoon commander on Iwo Jima, and also an honorary Bujinkan 10th Dan.

If you do not know about his work, I would like to recommend this benign looking but powerfully eye opening book:
http://www.amazon.com/Values-New-Millennium-Robert-Humphrey/dp/0915761041

The seminar itself began with 90 minutes of STRIKE training. This training methodology originated from Robert Humphrey's own experience in military combat in WWII. During this time of intense conflict, he became aware that during firefights, only a small percentage of his unit were returning fire and shooting at the enemy. He surmised that most of his men were suffering from shock and fear, yet, for some reason, he himself was able to overcome these emotions.

He speculated that maybe his experiences as a boxer had helped him to override much of the physiological responses to danger, and was keen to instill the same capability in his men. He took his platoon to the beach, and one by one engaged them in taunting and slap fighting, pushing his men to the point of losing their cool and fighting back. Once in this heightened state, he instructed them to go through the mechanical action of shooting their rifles into the ocean.

Although rudimentary, this strategy appeared to work. He had essentially taught his men to experience the emotions brought on by a threat to their well-being, and yet maintain enough control to perform measured life protecting responses. This methodology was taken back to the marine training facilities, with the idea of having recruits box each other and develop confidence. Except the concept backfired! What happened under normal boxing conditions was the skilled fighters often bullied the weaker ones, and the less confident became even more "gun-shy".

The solution was STRIKE as it remains today. A designated "catcher" will face off against the person undertaking the exercise. The catcher will encourage the participant to attack, and when opportunity arises deliver a measured STRIKE of their own, usually limiting themselves to lead hand attacks. At this point the participant must be encouraged to overcome the physiological shock and get back into the fight with a counter attack. Again however, this situation relies on both the catcher and the participant remaining cool enough to not overreact. For this purpose a rope is suspended between the two participants, neither boxer is allowed to cross the rope, and at any time either party can back away from the rope to create the necessary breathing space to re-organize mentally. Using the rope as cover is a key component in making strike work, and truly "develop" confidence no matter the starting level of the participant.

So why is this STRIKE training so important? As Rober Humphrey wrote in his book. "Experienced truly professional fighters do not let anything make them uncontrollably mad. Anger is usually self-defeating;physiologically, it shuts down the thinking processes". Yet at the same time, a fighter can not be paralyzed by fear. It is a balance, and STRIKE helps develop that balance.

After lunch, we continued the recent theme of Kukishinden Ryu, starting with a traditional form (in this case Iwa Kudaki), and employing different methods of pinning the opponent after the take-down. As always the underlying concepts of the Taijutsu were fairly complex and non-intuitive in nature. Three dimensional and leveraging actions from a changing safe space while maintaining good kamae. This kind of training takes time as well as mental, physical and spiritual effort to master. However, on the occasion that these elements start to fall into place, the difference in ease of application, and vulnerability of the opponent can be astounding.

Jack finished the day by pointing out that good Taijutsu requires use of the frontal areas of the brain, whereas fear causes thoughts to retreat to the brain stem, where our actions become more basic and less capable of perspective based problem solving. This understanding of brain function is not theory but scientifically known with modern technology. As Jack pointed out, before technology allowed it, warriors already were aware of methods to maintain conscious awareness, such as the use of Zen meditation. Could it be that these ancient warriors were tapping into their own form of STRIKE.

March Seminar Review - The take down

At the latest seminar we continued to focus on Kukishinden Ryu Dakentaijutsu. This followed on from a seminar the previous month, during which Jack discussed the usefulness of being able to successfully take down an opponent in combat, be the situation military, law enforcement, or simply personal defense. And how, according to the environment, one or both parties may be wearing armor, weapons, or even bulky winter clothes that impact the Taijutsu employed. With this thought in mind we started to look at the nuances of the techniques in this particular school.

The techniques of Kukishinden Ryu Dakentaijutsu are overtly brutal, with many patterns designed to maim or incapacitate the armored opponent, heaping them onto the ground awkwardly, leaving them wide open and helpless for an accurate finishing counter attack. Of course, as Jack pointed out, for most of us this might simply be an opportunity to escape and seek the assistance of law enforcement. The important question was, as always, what can we learn from the basic forms in terms of developing better Taijutsu.

There are many recurring themes in terms of bad habits in my experience. Not bending the knees, curving the spine, reaching with the arms, pulling with just the arms, looking down at the floor, stopping the feet....the list seems endless. It wasn't a newsflash to notice these 'bugs in my system' creeping out, however, something did catch my attention. I noticed that when I physically have hold of someone with both hands, trying to execute a technique, it was much more tempting to try and use strength. As a result all the aforementioned Taijutsu flaws were dragged out into plain view much earlier, and much more clearly than usual.

As Jack deftly guided us through several variations, we started to see that these were all methods of causing the Uke to unbalance themselves, and then exploit that opening by controlling their attempts to regain their position. Of course the trick is, being able to 'see' and 'feel' what is happening spatially, and adjust accordingly, rather than have a fixated intention on what is going to happen. This takes practice to even develop basic competency, and so the day was hard but rewarding work.

During the seminar Jack "re-introduced" the importance of Katate-Hicho no Kamae. This kamae is not simply a Gyokko Ryu Hicho in armor, but was demonstrably used to great effect as a stepping stone while moving from one tactical position to the next in Kukishinden Gata. This gave us some much needed help, bridging some gaps in our Taijutsu.

Jack had opened the day by raising an important point from his mentor Robert Humphrey. I paraphrase here due to lack of phonographic memory, but it was along the lines of:
In order for society to truly work, everyone had to be able to fight. That is to say, in a place where people are not afraid to stand up for what is right, there will be far fewer problems.

I would say by the end of the seminar, everyone had worked hard to try and make this a reality.

Robert Humphrey's speech at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville April 10-12, 1997