GN #18 June 2008 PT II

8
Japanese
Part of understanding our tradition is learning at
least a basic level of Japanese, the original
language of the ninja and samurai.
Send your answers to:
nindja
_dude@yahoo.com
Last months item:
Studying these basic phrases helps us to bridge
cultural gaps and helps us have a basic
understanding when training with Sensei who
might not speak our native tongues.
Here are some basic words, which you will
eventually come across in our art. Please
familiarize yourselves with these as well.
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Tsuba
The tsuba or hand guard was used on a number
of Japanese weapons, not jut the sword. The y
could be found on all the various sword weapons
such as katana, Tachi, no-dachi, etc... They were
also found on various Naginata, yari and even on
the shafts of certain tobacco smoking pipes,
which were modified to be used as weapons as
well.
The purpose of the tsuba was to protect the
hands ITom the opponents cutting weapons. It is
an idea, which has been used around the world,
especially found on bladed weapons.
Various prominent samurai (lords, shogun,
etc...) also had tsuba, which were elaborately
engraved and sometimes inlayed with precious
metals such as gold and silver. This let people
see that you were of a higher stature in the class
system but by no means provided any indication
of ones skill with the blade.
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SHOTEN NO JUTSU ascending to
the heavens tech.
SHOTO short sword.
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SHUGYO learning
SHUGYOSHA person undergoing the
trials of severe self-development
training
SHUKO - metal hand claws for
climbing
SHUTO KEN sword hand
SO JUTSU art of fighting with the
spear
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SOKE
- head
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ofthe family
(Grandmaster)
SOKUHO to the side
SOKUYAKU kicking tech.
SOTO ITomthe outside
SUI water
SUIGETSU NO JUTSU water, moon
tech. (falsehood appears real)
SUI KI water tools (breathing devices,
etc... )
SUIREN water training
SUlTON JUTSU -water escape
methods
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SUTEMI
-sacrifice
SUW ARI WAZA
tech.
- techs.performedin
seated positions
TABI -traditional footwear of the
Japanese
TAEIRU disappear
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We should familiarize ourselves with as many
phrases and words, and try to build a large
vocabulary in Japanese.
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Book / video review
Here we will review books and videos/movies on
the ninja and samurai arts.
This month we will have a short review on
Soke's video titled, "Ken, Tachi, Katana".
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 dude@yahoo.com
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SIDHAN DEAN ROSTOHAR
(15TH DAN)
Soke made this video showing the historical
lineage of the Japanese long blade. From the
beginning, with the Chinese style Ken (straight
sword, double cutting edge) to the Tachi, which
was next in the evolution of the Japanese swords
history to the Katana we all know and love.
Not just a history lesson, but one of practical
experience. Soke demonstrates how techniques
were developed for the various weapons,
depending on the situations encountered at those
times in their growth. One really interesting part
of the Tachi section was the use of the No-dachi
by Soke in the video.
I give this video a five-shuriken rating. All blade
lovers such as myself should enjoy this one.
Rating:
+++++
Five-senban shuriken!
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JAPAN KANJO SEMINAR
May 31-June 1,2008
Zagreb, Croatia
Togakure Ryu Ninpo
KOSTAS KANAKIS
(1 5THDAN)
Shihan Dean Rostohar 15.Dan
And
Shihan Davor Ga~parovic 13.Dan
E-mail: specwogdean@bujinkan.hr
September 05 - 07,2008
Saxony/ Germany
Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu & Ningu
SIDHAN CHRIS CARBONARO
Seminar Administration
E-mail: seminars@bujinkanbudokai.eu
info@bujinkan-zwickau.de
Sven Gutknecht
(+49) 375 6068670
SEIREN DOJO 5th ANNIVERSA Y
KAGEYAMA'S SHIEU
July 26th 2008 Cookstown,
Ontario
BUJINKAN KEIKO-KAI
July 5 - 6, 2008
Cliffside Park Dojo
Cliffside Park, NJ, USA
Shihan Jay Zimmerman, Shihan Oliver Martin,
Shihan Chris Carbonaro, and Shidoshi Anthony
Lucas
BUJINKAN KEIKO-KAI
August 2 - 3, 2008
Minnesota, USA
Sponsor: Shidoshi Ethan Capers (Mizu Nagare
Dojo)
More info coming soon!
KAT A PRACTICE, TAMESHIGIRI,
BBQ and BIRTHDAY Wishes,
GOMA FIRE RITUAL
Phone:
(705)458-8872
e-mail: seirendoio@rogers.com
For Sale
Carbon Steel Samurai Sword
E-mail: shidoshi@tanukidojo.com
tanukidojo@gmai1.com
Black and red saya and tsuka ita (handle
wrapping). Sharp. Very nice display piece.
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Does not have a full tang but very good for doing
test cutting on multiple pieces of cardboard (have
done this myself).
Retail price is $150 CDN. Will sell for $100
CDN to Bujinkan students. 2 left for sale.
Sword stand not included.
Tool steel. Antiqued or plain steel. Can have
name engraved on prong to personalize.
Excellent gift. Handle wrapped in hand-braided
nylon rope (will not wear out). Have style above
and straight prong style. Various lengths.
Limited supply. I will not make any again once
sold out.
Koeai or Kozuka throwine
knives
$35 CDN / US.
Custom Sword/metal work
Here are a few things I have made in the past
.
These knives were found in pockets of the katana
saya (scabbard) and were used for many
purposes. Antiqued to look old. Can have your
name engraved in either Latin script or Japanese
kanji (please supply yourself). Great gift.
$20.00 CDN / US.
Handmade Jutte
Silver inlayed Fuchi (collar), Tsuka,
Tsuba
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New Saya
Habaki (brass collar next to hand guard)
Handle wrapping
Same (white stingray skin under
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Yari head, regular and Jumo~i yari
Complete swords
Kusari weights
Kusari gama
wrapping- myownimitation)
Drop me a message with your design or wish and
we can talk. All work custom, one of a kind.
Great gift for your sensei.
nindja_dude@yahoo.com
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Training tip
Ken Kaeshi
(Counter-kicking)
Keri kaeshi is the method of countering against
an opponents kicks. This is usually done with
the legs but can also be done with other parts of
the body.
The attacker kicks at the defender. This time the
defender moves out of the attack angle and
quickly kicks under the attacking leg. striking
various kyusho (pressure points). This can also
be done with the toes instead of the shin/instep
once the toes have been sufficiently conditioned
The attacker attempts to kick at the defender.
The defender in this case quickly counters by
striking the attackers shin/instep area, effectively
jamming the kick before it can come out fully.
1 The defender moves outside the attackers kick
and catches the attackers leg with his foot and
shin.
The attacker kicks at the defender. The defender
quickly moves out of the way and kicks to the
attackers base leg.
2 The defender then raises and pulls the
attackers leg forward, pulling him very quickly
into a splits position. The attacker falls in great
pain caused from ripped groin and leg muscles.
Note how the defender can strike completely
unopposed The defender can also easily pin the
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attacker by simply kneeling on the attackers
thigh causing excruciating pain.
"The Most Important thing is to
Master Budo for Yourself'
During the 2007 Daikomyosai party, Nagato
sensei approached me and said, "Chris, the most
important thing is to Master Budo for yourself."
I was caught a bit off guard about this, and have
come to understand what Nagato sensei told me
5 months ago. The only person that matters
when it comes to life and budo is YOU. Nagato
sensei told us a story about how Soke was able to
meet with a 10 l-year-old monk on his deathbed.
Soke then asked the Monk what is the secret to
life. The monk answered, YOU are the most
important thing on this earth.
At fIrst, many people will be caught off guard
with this answer, but you have to look deeper
into the meaning. How many times do we see
people trying to help others, when they cannot
even help themselves? By doing this, it makes it
harder for those people to get themselves to a
good point in life. Therefore, life and budo must
start with YOU. Once you have been able to
reach a good point in life, then you can help
others, and help them more easily. This is the
same with Budo. When you come to the dojo,
the only person that matters is YOU. No one is
there to take you by the hand and guide you
through life/budo. When you come to the dojo,
you must be ready to learn for yourself. I
noticed this weekend that many people do not
understand how to train. Therefore, I would like
to share with you the way I train, whenever I go
to see my teachers in Japan. I use the same
training method when I go to seminars, or
another Shihans class.
The fIrst step in learning, is to ask questions.
However, I am not talking about asking your
instructor, but about asking yourself these
questions. When you are in the hombu dojo, and
there are over 100 people, it becomes difficult to
train well.
That is why you have to look for the key points.
There are always key points in every technique
that is being shown. This is the first question:
What were the key points based on what the
instructor showed? The eyes are very
important, because you have to be able to catch
what happened in only an instant of time. This
would be expected of you as a witness to a
crime. It only happened once, and you would be
asked a million questions as to what happened.
You have no time to think, but all the time in the
world to process.
Once I have fIgured out the key points, I then try
to fIt them into the series of movements that
were shown. When the instructor stops the class
and shoes the technique again, although there
may be a slight change, the majority of the
technique is there. It is at this point; I realize
that what I was doing was not 100% correct. I
then make a few changes to correct what I was
doing. This is the second question: Am I
really doing what the instructor is doing?
While you are training, you should not simply
just move, or go through a series of movements
that will not help you to grow. Instead, you have
to fmd the pattern of the technique that is being
shown, and then add in the key points.
The last step in the training is to feel the
technique. Soke often tells us that only the
person who is uke can truly understand what is
going on. Therefore, if you are fortunate enough
to be uke for the class, you have to feel how your
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body was manipulated, and try to reproduce this
feeling. This is the third and final question:
When I do the technique, does my uke
respond the same way? If not, what can I do
to make him respond the same way? Was my
foot in the wrong position? Was I too far away?
Was I too close? Did I use my left hand instead
of my right hand? The list can go on and on.
However if you implement these three main
questions into your training, you will fmd that
you taijutsu will become like new. Ifnot, then
you will continue on an endless loop of doing the
same movements day in and day out. By staying
on this loop, your taijutsu cannot grow.
Therefore, it is important to remember that your
training starts and ends with YOU. YOU must
try and learn for yourself. YOU must cultivate
your eyes to see the truth. YOU must want to
continue to grow and better your taijutsu. When
YOU return to your dojos, go to Japan, or attend
seminars, please try to implement these three
questions in order to improve your taijutsu.
YOUR taijutsu is only important to YOU.
Therefore, it is only YOU who can choose to
learn, or to stay on the endless loop.
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 free to pass this information
among other Bujinkaners.
All content published here is for the exclusive
use ofBujinkan 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.
This is NOT an official Bujinkan newsletter.
Sincerely,
Chris Carbonaro
Bujinkan Shihan
Please watch who and what you
teach.
www.onibujin.com/tanuki/
Peace!
Sokespeaks
Nevin Zeljko Broz
Shidoshi-ho
Bujinkan Seishin Ronin Dojo
"Use your body to punch. It's not just your
arm power, unless of course you're
extremely strong. Use your spine and body
regardless. "
Soke Masaaki Hatsumi
Taken from "Quotations From Soke
by Benjamin Cole
- Part IV"
Copyright 2008
Bujinkan Seishin Ronin Dojo