Study of these two things is key to understanding the taijutsu of The Bujinkan. When we do the San Shin No Kata, we strive to better our skills through the observation of timing, distance, and balance. Each time we do a technique, we check ourselves to make sure that we have good timing, good balance, and also that our distance is correct. Without constant study of these things, our techniques and taijutsu will not be effective. People can muscle through techniques, but that is not true technique. Forcing anything goes against the natural flow of things. Life is like a river. It is up to each one of us to decide to 'go with the flow' or to 'swim against the tide'.
Through constant study of San Shin No Kata and Kihon Happo, we come to understand the deeper meanings of what we are really doing. It is not all about technique. At first it is, as that is all we have to look at. As we go on with life and our study, our eyes start to open in other ways and we start to see things we never had seen before. We start to understand how these techniques can be related to our lives and also we start to see them at work in nature and in society. Without the constant practice these things will never become evident and our eyes will not open to them
Let us now talk about Kihon Happo. When we do San Shin, we do it most of the time without a partner and we develop good strikes through the constant practice. We can also practice San Shin with a partner. When we study Kihon Happo, we use a partner primarily. We look closer at the relationship of timing, distance, and balance to the opponent's attack. While San Shin No Kata has no Torite, or grappling exercises, the Kihon Happo looks into this aspect of combat.
Through constant study of Kihon Happo we also gain insight into things that are not evident without it. We get a better feel for being closer to the opponent. What do we do when the opponent is within striking range? Kihon Happo gives us some things to work on and think about.
When we do Ichimonji No Kata, we should look at the distance first. Once we have a good grasp of this concept, we can change the timing, distance, and also the balance of the attack as well as the response. With this in mind, we can practice this one technique infinitely.
When we do Hicho No Kata, we should focus on the balance. Being on one leg really tells us how our balance is. We quiet our minds and then the balance is easy in response to the opponent's attack.
When we do Jumonji No Kata, timing is what we should focus on. Can we time our response to the opponent's attack so that he impales himself on our Boshi ken? If the answer is No, then we need to study very hard until we can figure it out.
Now we can look at the practice as a whole and apply the ideas of timing, distance, and balance to all our techniques. Without these things we discover that the training works some of the time. The more we start to 'fill in the holes' the better our taijutsu gets as well as our understanding of what we are doing. With this understanding, we can then start to apply these things to our lives and truely live our art.
By Brian Tritico
Driving to work just the other day I was listening to a Marilyn Manson song and it was about a guy who keeps getting picked on so one day he decides to kill the people that are being the antagonists. I did some thinking for a second and found myself seeing the whole Colombine shooting incident in my head and I started wondering if maybe this was the case. I don't think anyone will ever know what really happened that day when those kids started killing their class mates. I do think it sent a serious message to people who go out of their way to pick on the people who are different in any way … shorter, listen to different music, black, white, Hispanic, etc. This type of activity has been around probably since the dawn of mankind on the planet, but until recently, I don't think anyone has really taken a second look at the consequences of these kinds of actions. Right after that shooting occurred, I heard about all kinds of copy-cat shootings all over the nation by kids who had just had enough of the torment from their 'peers'. I am not saying this is a good thing in the sense that kids are dead, but I do think it is time people started realizing that in this day and age, if you pick on someone or go out of your way to 'get' someone, then you had better watch out because that person may just turn around and blow you away.
The reason I brought all this up is because recently someone tried to do something to me because this person does not like me. I had helped this person when they were down and out, giving moral support and being there, etc. It turns out that this person tried to get to me by spreading untrue gossip. After some investigation by myself and the other party, it turns out that this person's allegations were all crap and it became clear to me, and more importantly to the other party, that this person was just trying to start trouble. The scheme backfired right in this person's face.
How do things like this happen?
In this day and age, most people are out for themselves and themselves alone. They will do anything they can to get to 'the top' and won't give a second thought to the consequences of their actions. Who they hurt or step on along the way is not their problem. They don't care one bit about anyone else. The good thing about this type of person is that after a while they become like a ship that has 4 times as many passengers as it should, and end up sinking themselves.
I think a lot of what is going on is due to jealousy, feelings of inferiority, and just people having bad heart.. and I am not talking about heart disease. When things get me down such as this type of thing, I always pick up one of sensei's books and start reading it. This was no exception. I started reading and it was like he was sitting there talking to me about my particular situation. People who desire what you have, and don't have themselves, will sometimes try and do the worst things to you so that they can get what you have. People rob people for money, rape people for sex or control, etc,. The thing not to do is try and seek revenge by your actions. It is always best to let the other person destroy themselves. There are times when you must act, especially in a physical confrontation, but in the business world where people back-stab those that help them, acting without thinking can get you fired or worse. You can not let yourself get worked up too much over these things. In Hatsumi Sensei's book on philosophy, he says things to this effect. "Be indifferent to gossip…" is just one of the many things he elaborates on that I found to be very useful for my situation.
Sometimes in the workplace you will do better than some other employees and they will resent you for it. You have purposefully gone out of your way to make that person look inferior by your performance… or so they think. These people are idiots and will never grow spiritually or as people until they get past this. They will always be scheming and thinking about how they can get you later. One day they will fall, and when they do there will be much rejoicing.. I forget where I heard that line by the way.
Getting a new car is a wonderful experience. You get to drive to work in comfort and actually get to work dependably. There are some people who have cars that aren't so good or as dependable who might curse you under their breath because they are stuck with a clunker. So instead of trying to make more money to get their own new car, they sit around and try and figure out ways to 'get even' with you. These people are nothing and never will amount to much for very long.
If you ever encounter this type of thing, always remember to take some time and not react too quickly with your emotions. They can lead you to your own ruin. Hatsumi Sensei says that when accusations are flying and things are up against you, think of it as muddy water. "If you stay calm in muddy water, you will understand that the mud sinks to the bottom and the water becomes clear." This actually happened in my case.
Always remember that other's will need your help, but just try to be alert enough to know when someone is trying to stab you in the back.
How many times have you gone to a seminar and seen someone holding a bokken by the blade? Resting thier arm on the handle while the point is sticking into the ground in between the toes of their tabi? Or how about putting both arms over the bokken from behind to make a sort of arm/shoulder rest thing? I see it all the time. I don't think that anyone can truly learn to be effective with a sword unless it is treated as a sword. Whenever you hold a bokken, you are in effect, holding a sword. Because it is made of wood should make no difference. You should always treat it as if it is a live blade. By training this way, you will learn things you would not learn by doing it the other way. Some people will say, "You are being too critical." or "What does it matter? It's just a wooden sword!." To this I say Hogwash! If you picture your training tools as the real thing in your mind every time you pick them up, you will start to gain a new understanding of what it is you are doing and your spirit in the training will increase as well. Some people will also say, "We see Sensei Hatsumi doing just about anything he wants with his equipment. We should be able to do the same." Well you know, they seem to forget that Sensei has been training for 40+ years and he can do things that no one else can. He didn't get there to that stage of ability over night. It took lots of dedicated training and hard work. So the next time you pick up a training weapon, try and visualize in your mind that it is the real thing and see what results you get. Try it for a week or two. I bet you will improve quite a bit.
What is your answer to the question above? Most people will say, "Yes, I am always at class 100%, 100% of the time!", and it is not true. I have seen many people stumble through technique after technique because they were 'distracted' by ...
"The girls that were walking their dog(s)"
"I have a date later"
"I am having problems at work"
"My girlfriend/boyfriend is doing such and such.."
"A plane crashed 20 years ago and I have never been the same ever since.."
"I like the color red.."
"My training partner's gi smells really bad and I can't concentrate under these conditions.."
"I was mauled by circus lions.."
The list goes on and on. Training is a learning process and you learn in stages. At first when you begin training, it is difficult to stay focused on anything at all, let alone a single technique. As you come to class and train more and more, you SHOULD be able to focus 100% on what you are doing. This is easier said than done. With the world as busy as it is... everyone has millions of things going on in their lives, etc., most people find it hard to really focus on what they are doing, even for the short time they attend class every week. It takes a great deal of effort to focus all of your self and intentions, etc, on any one thing. Once you discover how you can make this work for YOU, then it becomes easier and easier to avoid the distractions offered by our busy world and lives.
Try the following ideas and exercises the next time you attend your class. It doesn't matter what your rank is or how long you have been training. Give it a try and see if anything improves for you. These things take some effort.
#1) Picture yourself back in 'The Old Days' when Ninja/Samurai were actually alive and part of the culture. Picture yourself living at that time. See yourself doing the training you are doing now, but back then. They didn't have MTV or most of the distractions we have today. Do Uke Nagashi. In your mind, think of having to do this technique because your life depended on it. If you don't do it right, you could actually die.
#2) When you start to enter the dojo, take all of your worldly worries,/problems, and put them in a little mental basket and leave it outside the dojo door. When you enter the dojo, think of it as if you are entering another world. You are free to pick up all of your problems/worries when you leave.
#3) Every time you pick up a weapon, think in your mind that it is a real weapon. If you pick up a kyoketsu shoge, think of the dagger/hook end as being razor sharp with the hook end of it like a large fisherman's hook. Think of the ring at the end of the rope as being made of steel. Think of what will happen to the person who gets hit in the head with this thing.
#4) When facing an opponent with a sword, think in your mind that you are already dead. If you are already dead, then there is nothing to fear.
I have personally used the exercises listed above and they really helped me to be able to focus a lot better than I was ever able to before. My training took on a new meaning once I was able to focus and be there 100%, instead of 98% or 99%. Even at 99%, I thought I was doing good. Once I was able to do techniques or flow with the opponent while I was 'in the moment' 100%, everything was much different.
If you have had the good fortune to train with Hatsumi Sensei, he is actually 200% into the moment! He is already thinking of what is next. He started with being in the moment 100% first and then graduated to a much more advanced way to be 'in the moment'. Watch the next time he does anything with multiple attackers. One person punches, the next kicks, and then everyone is dead somehow and there is Sensei, off on the side somewhere. It seems that he already knows what is going to happen before it happens. I don't know that there is any way to explain this other than him being completely aware of what is happening at any given time. I do know that your training is only sub optimal when you are not into the moment. Make your training the best that it can be by being into the moment 100%.
Teaching kids Ninpo/Ninjutsu is a very tricky thing. You have to approach it from a very different mindset than teaching adults. I did a kids class for several years and found out a few things the hard way. You must approach the idea of teaching kids from an ukemi standpoint. This means that the primary focus of class should be on the ability of the kids to do rolls, be gymnastic, avoid shinai (done slowly of course!), and take very basic falls. There should never be a focus on techniques that will cause pain or injury.. which is a good portion of what we practice in Bujinkan. I made several games out of ukemi when I was doing my kids class. Listed below are a few:
Dive rolls over - (1)Shinai (2) Students in Seiza (3) Padded items at the gym (padded barrels, etc)
Rolling in all direction to avoid nerf shuriken The kids REALLY liked this
Cartwheels to pick up ping pong balls
Basic muto dori/sabaki gata done with a playfull spirit
Ukemi from very basic throws such as Osoto nage/gake, etc
"Judo/Sumo" type games - 2 of the kids in the center of a ring and one tries to get the other one outside the ring
Low crawling over and around various gym obstacles
Walking on balance beams
The only techniques I would teach would be a standard Osoto Nage/Gake, Koshi Nage, and Yoko Nagare. I also would line everyone up and have them do basic punching and kicking with everyone facing forward.
If you do a kids class please be careful! Go slow and have a nice gentle spirit and a playful nature. Also please remember that kids don't know what a broken wrist is and don't really have any concept of what it means to hurt someone. This is the very reason I never did things like Omote Gyaku, etc. Good luck!