GN #25 Feb 2009

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GAMBATTE NE
Newsletter for the advancement of Bujinkan studies - Takamatsu den
February 2009, Volume # 25
No Dojo Politics...No Hype...No Bull
2
This month
I hope everyone's training is progressing and
that they're having as much fun as I am. I've set
the theme for my dojo as Koto Ryu and
Bikenjutsu. Man it's going to be a great year!
know a little more about, as well as historical
figures ftom our different ryu.
Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu
(Jeweled Tiger)
Peace man!
Nevin Zeljko Broz
Shidoshi-ho
Bujinkan Seishin RoDinDojo
(Gyo
ko
Ryu)
Gyokko Ryu History
By Peter Carlsson and Mats Hjelm
According to Kuden, the verbal tradition in
Gyokko ryu, the system was developed in China
during Tang-dynasty (618 AD - 907 AD).
nindja [email protected]
Soke speaks
"Don't use your arms to attack with the knife.
By simply moving your body out of the way of
the attack, you have set up your counter. "
Soke Masaaki Hatsumi
-
Taken ftom "Quotations From Soke Part IV"
by Benjamin Cole
Expose
In this section we will introduce you to many of
the Bujinkan's top (and a few of the lower
ranked) instructors. Sensei you might not have
heard about and individuals you might want to
There are two possible origins. One assumption
was that a guard at the palace developed the
system to suit his small stature; the other theory
is that it was developed by a princess. This is in
accordance to the system of movement, which
implies that the school was developed by a
physically smaller person.
According to another source, a famous musician
and authority on the history of music by the
name of Mr. An of Xian in China, there was a
woman in the court of Xian (which was the main
residence of Tang-dynasty). She was very
famous for her skill in dancing and the martial
arts. By the fall of Tang-dynasty, year 907, many
people of high station in society escaped ftom
China to Japan. The name that is connected to
the origin of Gyokko ryu in Japan is Yo (or Cho)
Gyokko, it could have been introduced by a
single person, but it also might have been a
whole group.
The first formal grandmaster of Gyokko Ryu in
Japan was Hakuunsai Tozawa. He appeared
some time during the period of Hogen (11561159). How he got this title and knowledge of
the system is unknown, but Gyokko ryu, which
means "Jeweled Tiger", is according to the Dai
Nippon Bugei Ryu Ha one of the oldest
documented martial arts in Japan.
3
The system was kept alive during the Kamakura,
Nambuko and Muromachi periods, by the Suzuki
family. In the 16thcentury it came into the
Sakagami family, and between 1532 and 1555,
the methods were organized by Sakagami Taro
Kuniushige, who called the system Gyokko ryu
Shitojutsu.
The next grandmaster, Sakagami Kotaro
Masahide, was killed in battle 1542. Because of
this the title was passed on to Sougyoku Kan
Ritsushi (also known as Gyokkan Ritsushi).
Sakagami Kotaro Masahide was also known as
Bando Kotaro Minamoto Masahide, and he also
was the grandmaster of Koto ryu koppojutsu.
Sougyoku Kan Ritsushi, who either came from
the Kishu area or belonged to Kishu ryu,
renamed Gyokko ryu Shitojutsu to Gyokko ryu
Koshijutsu. He had some students who, in the
18thcentury, founded different schools based on
Gyokko ryu and knowledge from Sougyoku.
In spite ofthe fact that two of the schools
founded by Sougyoku Kan Ritsushis students
went on to Takamatsu Toshitsugu and Hatsumi
Masaaki, Gyokko ryu went it's own way along
with Koto ryu. The schools went to Toda Sakyo
Ishinsai and Momochi Sandayu L After that, the
schools remained in the Toda and Momochi
families until Takamatsu, who was the last of the
Todas to learn the arts, passed the schools to
Hatsumi Masaaki.
It is thanks to the Toda and Momochi families'
activities in Iga province that the schools have
come to belong to the local ninjutsu tradition,
despite that the schools themselves were not
really ninjutsu. Another connection in history is
that Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu, Takamatsu's
teacher and uncle, is said to be a descendant of
Hakuunsai Tozawa.
Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu taught Takamatsu
that the most important thing is to study the
techniques ofKihon Kata, also known as Kihon
Happo, since they are the basis of all martial arts.
This means that Kihon Happo covers all methods
that are effective in real combat such as blocks,
punches, kicks, breaking of wrists and elbows,
and throws.
The methods of Gyokko ryu are based on
Koshijutsu (attacks against soft parts of the
body). The strategy differs therefore very much
from for example Koppojutsu, which
concentrates on the bone structure.
While Koppojutsu (Koto ryu) motions go in and
out to they come at right angles to the joints.
Koshijutsu techniques move sideways, or around
the attack, getting close to Kyoshi (kyusho the
weak parts of the body). These targets may be
nerve points, inner organs or muscles as well as
where the muscles are attached. The power in the
counterattacks are therefore not generated by
muscles, but by the hips and the spine. This is
shown by the method of blocking, which
concentrates on a powerful block to break the
opponents balance, and thereby reaches the weak
points ofthe body. An important detail to keep in
mind, in order to move close to an opponent the
backhand is held in front of the face as a guard
against counterattacks.
A frequently used body weapon in Gyokko ryu
are the fingers and the fingertips. This is the
reason for the earlier name Shitojutsu, which
means techniques with the fingertips. Shitoken,
also known as Boshiken, is the most common
finger strike. This is a strike with the tip of the
thumb, mostly against the muscles where they
are attached or at nerve points. The bone located
by the wrist is also a weapon, which is used for
blocking, hits against Kasumi (the temple), etc.
-
_. OJ
)
t'
___J
Another way of hitting is to push the knuckle of
the middle finger in front of the other knuckles
in a modified Shikanken. It is not only Boshiken
that has another name in Gyokko ryu. Shutoken
is called Kitenken, for example.
4
The thumbs are an important part of Gyokko ryu.
It is mostly shown in the three main stances:
Ichimonji no kamae, Hicho no kamae, and
Jumonji no kamae, where the thumbs always are
directed upwards. The reason for this is that the
energy always should flow freely, and there
should be no lockups in the movement. In
Gyokko ryu it is important to protect the heart.
Therefore a starting position with the right leg
forward is preferred, so that the left side is turned
away from the opponent.
Shoshin no kamae, Doko no kamae - "Angry
tiger", and Hanin no kamae are also said to
belong to Gyokko ryu.
Gyokko ryu consists of several parts. First there
is Kamae no kata (stances) and Taihen Kihon
(falls). The next step is Ki kata, also known as
Sanshin no kata. Ki kata teaches basic
movements based on the five elements. These
movements reoccur in all techniques in Gyokko
ryu. After that comes Kihon kata and Torite
Kihon kata, which are basic exercises for
punches, kicks, blocks, grabs and throws. There
are different statements on how many of
exercises there are, and which exercises belong.
Usually there are three exercises for punches,
kicks and blocks, and five or six for grabs and
throws. The last are trained from both sides.
After all these basic exercises, you come to
Koshijutsu. Koshijutsu is split in three main
parts:
Joryaku no Maki
-Unarmed
vs. Unarmed
-
Churyaku no Maki Unarmed vs. Tanto or
Kodachi
-
Geryaku no Maki Unarmed vs. Ken or Yari
Muto dori waza from Geryaku no maki are
techniques against sword or spear and is
considered to be the highest, and most difficult
level of Gyokko ryu.
Gyokko ryu was, beside the Koshijutsu, also
known for it's methods with Katana, Tanto and
Bo. Except for some techniques with Bo, very
much of this is unknown. More of this will
probably be known, however, since Hatsumi
Masaaki is releasing more information on the
subject.
Even though Gyokko ryu can not claim to be a
ninjutsu school, due to the lack of philosophy
among other things, there is one saying that has
followed the school: "Bushigokoro wo motte
totoshi no nasu", which means "The heart of a
warrior is precious and essential".
According to the 1968 edition of the Bugei
Ryuha Daijiten, Masaaki Hatsumi is the current
Soke (head master) of the ryu which was passed
to him by his teacher Takamatsu Toshitsugu.
..
..
.
Kata of The Ryu
-
Ki Gata 5 kamae
Torite Kihon Gata 10 kata
Joryaku No Maki - 12 kata
Churyaku No Maki 8 kata
-
-
GeryakuNo Maki- 8 kata
Ki Gata
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(San Dan Kamae)
Migi Ichimonji no kamae
Hidari Ichimonji no kamae
Migi Hicho no kamae
Hidari Hicho no kamae
Jumonji no kamae
Other kamae from the ryu...
.
...
Shoshin no kamae (Posture of First
Body)
Doko no kamae
Hanin no kamae
Hira no kamae (Shizen)
Other kamae..., which involve Kuji
..
.
..
Tenryaku Uchu Gassho
Futen Goshin Gassho
Hanno Bonitsu Gassho
Kohyo Gassho
Tonryu
Torite Kihon Gata
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Hidari Omote Gyaku
Migi Omote Gyaku
Hidari Ura Gyaku
Migi Ura Gyaku
Hidari Musa Dori
Migi Musa Dori
5
7.
8.
9.
10.
Hidari Omote Gyaku No Tsuki
Migi Omote Gyaku No Tsuki
Hidari Jigoku Dori
Migi Jigoku Dori
5. Ku no kata
Soke of Gyokko Ryu (Denkei)
(Lastnamefirst,Japanesetradition)
Jo Ryaku No Maki
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Kokuu - False space/void
Hane Bi
Renyo - Emperors palanquin
Ketoh
Danshu - Shooting hand
Yubi Kudaki - Finger crushing
Danshi - Shooting fmger
Ketsumyaku
Saka Nagare
Teiken
Keoh
Sakketsu
Chu Ryaku No Maki
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Ujaku
Housen
Seitou
Kou
Da Shin
Shien
KouRai
Houraku
Ge Ryaku No Maki
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Shunu
Kou Ryaku
Shun Soku
Iaifuuji
Ichi Geki
Chingan
Kaisoku
Fuu
Taihenjutsu Muto Dori no Kata
1. Hira no kamae
2. Ichimonji no kamae
3. Jumonji no kamae
Sanshin no kata
1.
2.
3.
4.
Chi no kata
Sui no kata
Ka no kata
Fu no kata
lkai (Cho Buren) 1056
Hogenbo, Tesshun
Sasabe, Tendo
Hachiryu, Nyudo
Tozawa, Nyudo Geneai
1. Tozawa, Hakuunsai 1156-1159
1161-1162
2. Tozawa, Shosuke
1171-1180
3. Suzuki, Saburo
4. Suzuki, Gobei
5. Suzuki, Kojiro Mitsu
1288
6. Tozawa Soun
7. Yamon, Hyoun
8. Kato, Ryu Hakuun
1394
9. Sakagami, Goro Katsushige 1532
10. Sakagami, Taro Kunishige 1532
11. Sakagami, Kotaro Masahide 1532
12. Sogyokkan, Ritsushi
1532
13. Toda, Sakyo Ishinsai
1532
14. Momochi, Sandayu
1542-1555
15. Momochi, Sandayu II 1573-1591
16. Momochi, Tanba Yasumitsu 15951615
17. Momochi, Taro Saemon Genna 16151624
18. Toda, Seiryu Nobutsuna
1624-1644
19. Toda, Fudo Nobuchika
1658-1681
20. Toda, Kangoro Nobuyasu 1681-1704
21. Toda, Eisaburo Nobumasu 1704-1711
22. Toda, Shinbei Masachika 1711-1736
23. Toda, Shingoro Masayoshi 1736-1764
24. Toda, Daigoro Chikahide 1764-1804
25. Toda, Daisaburo Chikashige (1804)
26. Toda, Shinryuken Masamitsu 18241908
27. Takamatsu, Toshitsugu Uoh (1909)
1887-1972
28. Hatsumi, Masaaki (1968) 1931-
-
There are several lists of Soke from GYOkkOryu
floating around amongst training partners. I
have included the most common one. The
person said to have organized Gyokko ryu into
the present system as a ryu was Sakagami, Taro
Kunishige (listed here as the 10thSoke).
6
The Nine Rules of Gyokko Ryu
1. The character NIN means to guard the
nation with even your life.
2. Forget the self; be patient and do not
fear dying.
3. When in danger, say and show nothing.
4. As a strong enemy attacks, keep an
indomitable spirit.
5. Serve and protect the master, as you
must your parents.
6. Vices dissipate your proficiency.
7. Being drunk affects your judgment.
8. Destroy the enemy's power, But leave
his life.
9. Do not teach others without the
masters' permission.
Taijutsu technique
2 The defender drops his body weight and steps
out to the side, simultaneously raising his arms
tofree himself from the attacker's grip.
,...
1 The attacker grabs the defender from behind.
3 The defenders right arm stays underneath
the attacker's ann. The left hand clasps the
right, trapping the attackers forearm and
bending it backwards.
7
find or create a modem form, the modem
ninjutsu!
Modem ninjutsu! What kind of poor unknowing
miserable bullshit is this? If your taijutsu doesn't
let you win the fight, there, in fact, is nothing
wrong with the taijutsu; it is YOU that are
wrong!
What is this thing called modem ninjutsu? Is it
perhaps creating a sport system out of the art? If
so, to prove what? Or is it like kickboxing,
where you take a few techniques from many
forms, to do many techniques for one form? If
so, to prove what? Maybe we should take
today's hi-tech weapons and use them in a gi and
a hood? If so, to prove what?
4 The defender starts to lever the attacker's
arm, causing him tofall backwards.
Modem Ninjutsu
Or is it what I believe it is. I believe this way of
thinking and talking comes only from some
people's minds with only one purpose...to find a
way to make more money, nothing else! Well,
maybe another reason is so these people can then
call themselves masters. Who are these people?
I am sure they are those who don't know enough
basic taijutsu and they are afraid they will no
longer be credible as martial artists. Therefore,
they have found other ways to be believed. I
think it is from them that we are hearing the talk
of modem ninjutsu. They say, "We have to be
more modem." What I hear is "I need to be
believed." .
Ifwe like to play beautiful music (taijutsu), we
have to practice. In the beginning, there is more
dis-harmony then harmony and the sounds we
make are not much like music... more noise then
melody. But as we continue, we become more
familiar with our instruments (mind/body) and
we learn to create a melody (technique). Through
everyday practice and study, our self-confidence
increases along with our skills, eventually we
will be able to play simple melodies
(movements). However, we are still very, very
far away from mastering our instruments. In
order to do that, it takes years of dedicated study
and hard practice.
By Sveneric Bogsiiter
The following article was written in December
1990 for a European newsletter for "friends" in
the training.
This is not functioning... it is too slow... it is not
a good way... not explosive enough! We have to
As in golf or chess for example, some people
have the ability to reach a ''world class level;
others will never become more than very anxious
"amateurs." But as in everything we do, to
include ninjutsu, it is only our self-confidence,
our study, and our dedicated hard practice, which
will give possibilities to each one of us to use our
talents in the best way.
8
Don't waste your talents in what someone calls
"modem ninjutsu" because as I see it, they don't
understand the basics, the philosophy, the depth
or the reality oftaijutsu. Don't give up a current
philosophy for a new one until you study long
enough to know what you're giving. Don't feed
those persons (who I think should do something
else other than ninjutsu) who don't care to give
you a true way to reload your batteries with clear
and clean natural power, so that you can get the
personal strength to shape that power with
others.
Hatsumi says, "When you learn to liste!nto your
own heartbeat, you will start to live; the sound
from the heart is music, the melody oflife. To
live in, and with this fantastic melody is our
budo."
To reach such a level, we have to STUDY AND
PRACTICE; not only practice. Ninjutsu is
taijutsu and taijutsu is not a simple self-defense
system. The ninpo taijutsu is an art; an art to be
lived, to show a way of living, and to survive.
Ninpo taijutsu gives you, if you can see it, the
possibilities to live your life-not just experience
it. In fact, it is your attitude to the art, to taijutsu,
which will make it function or not function.
As I claimed earlier, there is nothing wrong with
taijutsu; it is you who are wrong!
Please stop talking about modem ninjutsu in the
meaning of changing the system. Let us instead,
use the system to live and survive in our
"modem" time.
Finally, I would like to say, "Look at nature to
understand the art ofninpo taijutsu. But
remember that what you see is not nature, but the
nature seen through your own way of
questioning."
Soke speaks
"The movement is first kiri-age, then kiri-sage,
then tsuki. Practice them welL"
(Noguchi-sensei's comment) "If you are trying
to kiri-age, don't bend your elbows. Otherwise
your sword will point downward. Rather, extend
you arms. "
"After the kiri-sage, there is no need to remove
your swordfrom their body to do the tsuki. If
it's already in their body, leave it there. Just
twist and thrust.. If you hit a rib,just twistyour
blade to lay itflat, and then thrust all the way
through."
"When you go to do a kiri-age, be mindful of
your tsuka. It could get in your way. So you
need to remember to either push it away with
your elbow, or hold it close with the inside of
your arm. It all depends on the situation. "
"You could also push your tsuka straight back
with your elbow like this. (Soke is standing in
Hasso no kamae, which means that his left
elbow is infront of his body, and thus his
forward-pointing tsuka. Without losing his
stance, he places the inside of his left elbow on
the open end of his tsuka, and pushes it straight
back) It's a real shame, but many people who
are involved with creating 'jidai-geki' (samurai
movies, etc.) do not know such techniques. If
they were to see this one, they would be
extremely surprised... You can't see itfrom the
front; you have to look from the side. It
certainly looks cool, don't you think?" (Yes, I
must admit It did.)
"You can hold the sword at many different
heights in hasso. It can be up high or down low,
depending on the space you have to work with...
Ifit is down low, for example, you must make
your kiri-age cut tighter to your body. "
"The line of the cut, the distance, and the
direction are all very important"
(Someya-sensei) "I was cut on my finger last
year and the sword just slid right through it
Being cut with a sword is like being shocked by
electricity. Keeping that in mind, you can see
how with the first cut (the kiri age), you can
actually open a person up for the kiri sage cut
on the other side. "
Soke Masaaki Hatsumi
-
Taken from "Quotations From Soke Part IV"
by Benjamin Cole
9
Survival technique
Here we will run a monthly survival feature,
which can be used in case of emergency or to
enhance your ninjutsu skills while training in
nature.
Getting stuck in a Canadian winter is no fun,
trust me, I know! Probably one day someone
was watching a snowshoe hare hoping across
deep snow pockets and it inspired him to create
this great thing known as snowshoes. With
snowshoes you can easily walk over deep drifts
of snow without sinking in as you take every
step. This can help you get out of a tight
situation or help in hunting as many animals
such as deer have a difficult time traveling in
deep snow. You can get in for a much closer
shot or even a chance to throw a spear at an
animal you plan to harvest providing you with
sustenance.
The easiest way to make a quick pair of
snowshoes would be in the Chippewa Indian
style (which is pictured below).
C.H'PEWVAI'I
FIVE lIAR
This type of snowshoe is made with two equal
lengths of wood, which are bound at both ends.
Smaller crosspieces are added and lashed down
giving support to the frame. Twine is then tied
to the ftame and cross tied (like a net) which
gives the support to keep you from sinking in the
snow. The more surface area created the higher
you will walk. In an emergency you can use
braided grass as twine or small diameter twigs.
Yu can equally use planks or cloth stretched
across the frame. Remember, more surface area,
easier, higher walking.
MONTAGNAIS '"DI"N
SINGL!. eNt
Here is another type of Indian snowshoe. It is
one stick wrapped around in a loop and bound
together. A cross piece is added and then mesh.
If you have trouble bending the main stick in this
style or the one above, thin the inside wall
thickness of the stick with a knife, or if you have
the time, boil some water and place the area you
plan to bend in the boiling water for about 15
minutes then bend and hold till it cools. These
same two methods are also used to create bows
(yumi).
Here are a few different ways to tie the
snowshoes to your feet. The area around your
toes has to be securely tied to the snowshoe.
Then you have another strap, which goes around
the back of your foot (heel) or around the ankle
as shown above. Your toe area becomes a pivot
and the heel raises itself as you step forwards.
As you walk it takes a little experience to keep
ones balance without falling.
If you've ever tried walking in a scuba divers
swim fins, you kind of have the idea, just about 3
times more difficult. Many stores that sell
snowshoes also sell ski poles as supports. I've
never wiped out but came close once or twice in
the beginning. When turning, take small
sideways steps so that you don't cross one
snowshoe over the other or else you'll quickly
fall down. Don't try to lift the snowshoe off the
ground thinking to put the back against the
ground and pivoting it into the direction you
wish to go like a skier. Hello, you're standing on
deep snow, try this and watch you snowshoe sink
and you will as well, probably do a face plant.
All in all it's a fun way to travel and a really
good work out.
One unrelated point.. .if you find yourself out on
ice and it starts to crack, don't try to run if you
are too far from shore. Lie down and spread
your weight. This way there is less chance of
10
falling through the ice. Crawl to thick ice then
get up and go.
Yuki waragi (n~a snow sandals) used to keep
feet off of snow and help with gripping. Made
nom bamboo and twine. One really good thing
is that you can't tell which way the ninja is
traveling (nont / back looks the same).
Book / Video review
Here we will review books and videos/movies on
the ninja and samurai arts.
This month we will feature a short review on the
DVD titled "Chinese Super Ninjas".
An epic tale of vengeance, betrayal, and
ambition against the backdrop of ninja martial
skills and arts. When his school is destroyed and
his colleagues all slaughtered by supreme ninja
Cheng Yun and his five element ninjas, Tsiau
Chin Hau sets out to take his revenge. But
stopping the elemental ninjas (gold, wood, water,
fire, and earth) is an awesome task. So, Chin
studies the secrets of the ninja under the
guidance of teacher Yan Yong Fe. Thus armed,
Chin and his newfound cohorts Li Yin Win,
Chan Sin, and Wan Fong challenge the element
ninjas in a climactic battle to the death. Once
again, Chang Cheh displays his unique talents
for marshalling aggression, violence, and balletic
grace within an inventive format.
This classic movie is also known as "Super
Ninjas". The movie begins with two rival Kung
fu schools competing to see who is superior.
The "evil" Kung fu master substitutes a Japanese
samurai/ninja in as a fighter who eventually gets
killed. True to his ninja heritage, the Japanese
poisons the "good" Kung fu master and sends for
his ninja clan to come and avenge his death. The
ninja's come and kill all the good guys except
for one. This single guyjust happens to find a
Chinese master who happened to train in
Japanese ninjutsu, who just happens to train him
and a few select others to wipe out the ninja clan.
Okay it's a kind ofhokey film. But what's really
cool is the fact you get to see real ninja weapons
used in film such as Togakure ryu shuko, ashiko,
kakute (spiked ring) as well as others. At the
beginning of the movie they provide a small note
telling of trying to show authentic ninjutsu
according to an old ninja scroll in their
possession (authors).
Running Time: 104 min.
Made in 1982
My opinion: Some of it is so unbelievable, but
what do you expect nom a movie. I like it as it
shows a certain truth about ninjutsu (even if it's
very little).
Flying shuriken rating.
Rating:
"Quick Overview"
+++
Three-senban shuriken!
11
Soke speaks
"(Concerning Doron teaching a knife
technique) "Listen to him. He's a 'killer.' You
all need to get that 'killer' instinct as welL
Otherwise, you will he killed yourself. "
Ninpo Taijutsu Shinken Gata
Jan 31- Feb 01,2009.
Bujinkan Seishin Dojo
Zagreb, CROATIA
Soke Masaaki Hatsumi
Taken ftom "Quotations From Soke
by Benjamin Cole
- Part IV"
Seminars
Here we will keep you informed of upcoming
seminars, as well as reviews of those attended.
If you want to advertise your seminar here
contact us at: nindja [email protected]
Shihan Dean Rostohar
Ninpo Taijutsu Shin ken Gata
March 07-08,2009.
Bujinkan Tengan Dojo, Andrej Jasenc Shidoshi
Ljubljana, SLOVENIJA
Info: [email protected]
Ninpo Taijutsu Shinken Gata
. March 21-22, 2009.
Bujinkan Zanshin Dojo, Magyar Attila Shidoshi
Budapest, HUNGARY
Info: [email protected]
2nd Annual Canadian Shih an
Taikai
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Craig Olson
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Courtland Elliott
Eduard
Divantman
Bill Brown
April 11th and 12th, 2009
Info:
http://bujinkancanada.org/index.html
Frank Hill
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Brad Hutchinson
Bernard Gregoire
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Francine Tremblay
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Henri Caron
Manolo Serrano
Shihan Moti Nativ
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Shawn Gray
Estelle PadeloupSerrano
Info: [email protected]
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Shihan Holger Kunzmann
Info: Paul Fisher, Shidoshi
(561) 832-5255
[email protected]
Ed Figueroa, Shidoshi
[email protected]
Shihan Frank Hill
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Shihan Jack Hoban
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"Mind Seminar"
(Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Wood, Metal,
Void and hypnosis)
February 21,2009
Oshawa, Ontario
Info: [email protected]
Shihan Richard Van Donk
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, Defending Others,
Weapons Training
Saturday
February 14,2009
The Palm Beach Bujinkan Dojo
West Palm Beach, Florida
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June 13/14,2009
Mississauga Bujinkan Dojo
Mississauga, Ontario
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Email: [email protected]
or
[email protected]
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Special QulrincloSeIfHeitHngArts and Mediation
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or ~80C£d PtactlOOners.
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3 full dayS and 3 n.ighrs of training. Stans
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TO ALL,
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ED MARTIN
SEMINAR, WHICH WAS TO BE ON
FEBRUARY 7 & 8, 2009,_HAS BEEN
CANCELLED.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING IT!
special
PLEASE PASS ON THIS MESSAGE.
TenChi Jin booII.
Pierre Benoit, CHt, RCCH
Bujinkan Shidoshi
Info:http://www.ninjutsu.com/tai-kaievents.shtml
Kacem Zoughari
Hiden no Togakure Ryu Ninpo
(Secret Ninjutsu)
The following is a translation from the Japanese
Book, Hiden no Togakure Ryu Ninpo, or Secret
Togakure Ryu Ninpo, by Soke Masaaki Hatsumi.
As always, 1 have edited it only for grammar,
and have left the content just as it was written by
Soke.
Shidoshi Ken Harding
There is a lot of misunderstanding regarding the
ninja. Some ninja were originally "failed
samurai"; they started out with a bad reputation.
- Ol.February
Novi Sad, Serbia
31 January
Info:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Takagi Yoshin Ryu level 1 plus Bo vs. sword
The Japanese character for "Shinobi" implies a
lack of heart, coldness, and ruthlessness. That
applies only to the lowest or worst class of ninja.
True ninja have very deep and proper emotions.
Love and peace is very important to them. They
must, however, learn to be very patient with their
bodies and emotions. They train their
subconscious (natural intelligence) also. They
are not concerned with "saving face". They
strive to win in the end. The ninja's emotions
are like a flower. Ninja enjoy the peace of
nature, and have a peaceful nature as well. They
use natural movement to disappear when
attacked with a sword. They fight to protect
community and country. It is bad that people
15
write about the ninja without really knowing
anything about them.
Ninja have many techniques, but their secret is
Kyojutsu ten kan ho (the art of changing).
Today's society is very crazy. There is no good
philosophy. Heart is the most important element
of my philosophy. It will carry the warrior
through this confused time.
Budo Philosophy: In general, it is used to protect
the country, your community, and your own
body. The way one approaches and uses this
philosophy is very important. People say that
the way you cut with the sword is important, but
good eyes, strong muscles and bones are not the
"way". Gross technique is more like cutting
wood than swordsmanship. Swordsmanship
against an opponent involves a totally different
"way". You also need to learn different
techniques but the "way" is the important part,
which Sensei stresses.
Just means technique, but it also means heart.
Jutsu must come ftom the heart. Therefore, your
heart must be straight and honest. If your heart
is not clear and straight, your jutsu will be
lacking and you will not improve in the martial
arts. Lust for victory will not give you the
victory. You must receive the victory ftom your
opponent. He has no choice but to give it to you
because he will sense your heart as better and
truer. Nature is your mend; it helps you to win.
Your enemy will have unnatural movement;
therefore you will be able to know what he is
going to do before he does it.
I refer to mastery as a "feeling" in the individual.
The certificate, even 10thdegree, is no proof.
One must be honest and think on this very
deeply. There is no proof, however, if you look
for it. When you don't need to look, that is the
proof. When one develops Shin Kid To Ichi (the
heart, universe and weapon as one) that is
mastery. This is the proof; this ability always
allows the budoka to win, his technique always
works.
Ninpo protects all of you, your body and spirit.
Other budo philosophies don't have this. In
budo, and other philosophies, if your spirit is not
straight, you can kill yourselfl For example,
medicine should protect one's health, but used
improperly, the same techniques will kill.
Likewise with eating and drinking; improper
habits will destroy the body. The same with the
leadership of a country. Leaders should protect
the people; a bad leader (poor philosophy,
greedy, selfish) can destroy a country. Religion
can be good for society, but greed and fanaticism
can destroy. Here is a paraphrase of a letter ftom
Takamastu Sensei to me: "The universe gives
no one can stop
you a mission and guides you
you will gain enormous strength, lose all
you
fear, become as one with all of the natural world,
and have total fteedom in your movements.
Your mind will be straight and honest. If you
are truly straight and honest, you can get this
power. Common sense, justice, and no surprise:
this is Togakure Ryu Ninpo".
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How to learn the gokui (secrets) so as to become
Meijin (a master)? Everyone wants to get the
makimono (ryu scroll legacy that is held by the
grandmaster). Only by studying long and hard
can you become strong enough to take the
makimono. Once you have it you may find that
it is hard to move for several years because the
makimono is too heavy. You begin to
understand the commitment that using the gokui
entails. The makimono becomes like a physical
weight. Here are some clues to the gokui
(secrets). It has to do with Takamatsu Sensei's
return to Japan ftom China. In China he was
known as Mo-ko, the Mongolian tiger. But in
Japan. But in Japan his mends called him the
Yamomoto pussycat. They asked him why he
was acting like a pussycat, and not a tiger.
Takamatsu said that he needed to act like a tiger
in China to survive. Now he needed to act like a
pussycat so that women would like him and want
to pet him. The secret is flexibility and
appropriateness. When you need to be a tiger
you can, and are one. When it's better to be a
cat, you can be and are.
I was once asked by a ftiend: "Why don't you
fight a bull like Mas Oyama? You are a very
strong ninja master." I smiled and said that even
though a bull has more muscles, even a farmer
can pull it around by the ring in its nose. Gokui
(the secrets of martial arts) is in a person's heart
and his personal commitment. Be ready to think
all the time. If you want enlightenment, practise
every moment how to answer these types of
questions, like the one about the bull. This
means everyone has the capability to learn the
gokui in ninpo. Practise every day, every
moment. Prepare your heart, make it pure in the
way that the universe is pure - natural energy.
Then your techniques will also be pure and ftom
the heart. You can learn ftomanyone if you are
16
sure of yourself. If you are strong you can have
good friends and bad friends, and learn from
both. I have all kinds of friends because I have
no compulsion to judge them. I am not
susceptible to bad influences, nor overinfluenced by "good" influences. To keep your
focus, you must have a purpose - don't waste
your time. Learn from everyone.
about the roots. Some day you will bloom into a
beautiful flower anyway. Dreams can help you
improve your techniques. Dreams can help you
improve your techniques. Dream about your
techniques. Practise also, again, again, again.
People like to practise budo in the dojo with their
friends. It is very important to go by yourself
into nature and work against the trees, rocks,
with animals. Study the movement of animals
and "wrestle" with nature. It is important to
have a master, but if he is no good, it could be
better than none. Look to nature.
If you, as a teacher, have a student who doesn't
respond to teaching, don't teach him. Leave his
training to him. Ifhe likes ninpo, he will learn
on his own by observing; if not, he will leave.
Don't talk too much: demonstrate. I have many
very high level techniques that I never teach. If
the student's are not advanced enough, the
training can be detrimental.
You must love before you can create. If you
love ninpo, you can learn with or without a
teacher. Strive to fmd the root of winning.
Practise yourself, by yourself if necessary, all
your life. Don't be wishy-washy. Use your
brain. You can learn many things. Learn them
all rather than wasting time vacillating between
what you think is important to learn. Never give
up, even if you get sick. I thought about budo 3
times as much as anyone else I knew, trained 3
times as much as anyone, and spent 3 times as
much money in my martial quest. I got strong
enough to find out that I was weak. I became
very confused, but dido't give up. I tried to just
stop wonying and train. But I got sick anyway.
I thought that I would die at one point. I was in
bed for five years. I thought that if I died, then I
might fmd peace. After the five years I realized
that, no matter whether you are alive, dead, sick
or healthy, old or have lots of vitality, you must
practise, honestly, according to your situation.
Now I don't wony anymore! Use natural
technique; nature's power. When you look at
someone else's technique and you feel
inadequate, you are probably open for
improvement - unless this feeling persists for
more than ten years: then give up. Use your
practise to gain insight into other things.
Techniques are based on philosophy. The
fundamentals of both must be strong. Practise
the basics. Don't wony about the flower, wony
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You have to have a purpose. Why are you
studying? Most great martial artists have these
purposes:
Self-improvement. They never quit. They
practise all their lives to improve.
They realize that it is their own selfimprovement that is the positive thing that rubs
off on others. Both good for themselves, and
good for those that come in contact with them.
It is important to know how little you know.
When learning ninpo, keep the fire in your heart.
Your technique will then be forged from fire like
the samurai sword. Fire andjustice are t he keys.
If you want to change your body and your life,
train with fire and live a just life. The number of
techniques you know isn't as important as your
attitude. You need purpose and a good eye for
those things in life that help your purpose.
Takamatsu sensei was in many real fights and
never lost because he was mindful of these
important things.
How to become a student: first of all, you need a
good teacher. If you have a quack for a "master"
then you are wasting your time. Usually a great
teacher will go through many students looking
for the ones who have a great sense of the
martial arts. In the old days, students had rules
for example, they had to cut wood, clean house,
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etc. .. for several years. The master then judged
their strength, patience, perseverance, and
attitude. If the master decided that you were
good, he would invite you into the dojo. There
the training would be very hard. Some students
couldn't hack it. They thought that the master
was cruel. The ones who could make it were the
ones who saw the greatness of the master.
The purpose of each person's quest can differ:
physical strength, mental strength, animal desire
to win, or it may be an emotional quest. Practise
religion if you want to make your mind/spirit
strong, not martial arts. Martial arts can kill.
However, to make your body strong enough to
just kill or win honours, lift weights, eat
vegetables, and walk to become strong. Don't
bother with the martial arts. Only 1 in 1000 will
continue to seek the true practise of ninpo. He is
stubborn with a one-track mind bordering on
stupidity. Student and master must respect each
other. Takamatsu sensei always called me
"sensei." But master is master, student is
student, always. I learned life's most important
lessons from Takamatsu sensei. Of the three
great relationships - parent/child, wife/husband,
master/student, the third is the most important in
life.
Brought to you by the, Missouri Ninja Center,
8336 Watson Road, St.Louis, MO 63119 (314)
842-9373.
Feelfree to distribute this information to anyone
either electronically or on paper provided that:
It is unaltered, including this message,
you do not charge money for it.
Kobo Daishi, the Koyasan
Monastery, and the Yamabushi
Kukai (Kobo-Daishi) (774-835) was born at
Buyobu-ga-ura (Sanuki), of the Saiki family. He
entered a Buddhist temple while still quite young
and, at 19, took the name of KukaLIn 804, he
went to China as part of the train of the Japanese
ambassador, and then traveled to the Tang
capital, which was then the greatest city in the
world, where the Chen-yen (Shingon) school of
esoteric Buddhism was the most popular of all
Buddhist schools. Because mastery of Sanskrit
was mandatory to the study of esoteric
Buddhism, he mastered this language by
studying in the temple under the master Hui-kuo,
who felt that Kukai was the one and only
suitable individual to whom to pass his
teachings. Kukai returned to Japan in the autumn
of 806, bringing with him a prodigious number
of volumes oftexts on esoteric Buddhism, as
well as Sanskrit works. He gained entry into
court circles as the leading exponent of Chinese
culture and won the patronage of emperor Saga,
which facilitated his spreading the teachings of
Shingon. He engaged in a discussion, organized
by the emperor, between the most learned bonzes
and surpassed them all in eloquence and science.
In 816, he retired to Mt. Koyasan (Kii), where he
founded the temple ofKongobu-ji, which
became one of the largest in Japan. Although
Kukai was not able to finish the temple during
his lifetime, Mount Koya, the place of his
internment, became the most hallowed center of
the Shingon sect. In 823, Kukai was granted the
temple, Toji, located at the entrance to Kyoto,
and received permission to use the temple
exclusively for Shingon clerics. Toji and Mount
Koya thus became the bases for Shingon in
Japan. Thus the foundations were laid for the
religious organization of this sect. Emperor Saga
abdicated in 823 in favor of emperor Junna
during whose reign Kukai achieved his highest
glory and, in 834, he received permission to
establish a Shingon chapel in the imperial palace.
By this time, many of the Buddhist sects were
dominated by esoteric Buddhism. In all of his
many pursuits, Kukai considered that even the
making of tea or writing poems in the presence
of the emperor and nobles were forms of
religious activity.
Many statues and paintings, whose authenticity
is at least doubtful, are attributed to him. He
invented the alphabet called hiragana, and wrote
the poem (iroha-uta) composed of 47 syllables
18
after the manner of Japanese poems. He was an
acknowledged master of calligraphy. In 921,
Kukai received from the emperor Daigo the
posthumous name of Kobo-Daishi, by which he
is generally known. He carried the sword called
"ama-goi-ken" which had the design of the rain
dragon wound around it. Kukai died in 835 and
his body resides in the inner shrine ofMt. Koya
Koya-san: A mountain in Kii, also called
Takano-yama, Nanzan, famous for its numerous
Buddhist temples. The first, Kongo-bu-ji, was
founded by Kukai in 816. Thanks to the
liberalities of the emperors and the daimyo of the
province, the monastery became very
prosperous. It occupied 223 hectares of land on
which rose 723 main buildings, besides 440
outhouses. During the Middle Ages, it had
soldiers of its own (sohei)- Yama bushi - who,
more than once, caused disturbance in the
neighborhood. (The armor illustrated is probably
quite typical of Yama bushi armor).
Koya-san was for a long time, a place of exile for
persons of rank. There Hidetsugu, nephew to
Taiko, was invited to commit seppuku (1595); to
that place too Oda Hidenobu, Chosokabe
Morichika, Masuda Nagamori, etc. were
banished after the battle of Sekigahara (1600). A
certain number of temples were destroyed by
fire; and the decline of Buddhism, after the
Restoration, dealt a last blow to the prosperity of
the famous monastery. The immense cemetery of
Koya-san preserves the tombs, if not the bodies,
of a great number of celebrated men: Taira
Atsumori, Kumagaya Naozane, Takeda Shingen,
Akechi Mitsuhide, Ii Kamon no kami, the
bonzes Kobo-Daishi (Kukai), Enko Daishi
(Genku), etc. It is believed that those who have
their tomb near that of Kobo-Daishi, obtain
through him the grace to start a new life in
Paradise (Jodo) hence, the great number of
funeral monuments erected in this place.
I
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Taijutsu technique
1 The attacker grabs the defender from behind
in afull nelson.
--2 The defender reaches for the attackers
fmgers, causing pressure to various kyusho.
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Gyokko ryu scrolls
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3 The defender spreads his legs as he drops his
bodies' weight. He grabs the attackersflngers
and spreads his arms.
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All content published here is for the exclusive
use of Bujinkan students. We will strive to be as
accurate as possible. If anyone feels that they
have anything to contribute please e-mail it to
me and it will be considered for publication.
Any comments or questions will be welcomed.
The author or any contributors assume no
responsibility whatsoever for any misuse of the
information found in these pages.
I
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4 The defender extends the attackers left arm
while pulling the attackers right arm towards
himself.
1
This is NOT an official Bujinkan newsletter.
Please watch who and what you
teach.
Peace!
Nevin Zeljko Broz
Shidoshi-ho
Bujinkan Seishin Ronin Dojo
Copyright 2009
Bujinkan Seishin Ronin Dojo
..----....5 The attackers right arm is pulled up into his
left armpit causing pressure to certain kyusho.
The technique is similar to ura gyaku of the
kihon happo kata.
Disclaimer
It is highly recommended that medical advice be
sought before following any of the suggestions
written in this newsletter. It is also highly
recommended to seek out a qualified, competent
instructor to guide you safely before attempting
this or any other potential knowledge.
The purpose of publishing this newsletter is to
help serious students of the Bujinkan advance
their studies through a community effort. This
concept is reflected in the name of our
newsletter, "Gambatte ne", which means, "Keep
going". Please feel tree to pass this information
among other Bujinkaners.