Class Record: Juppo Sessho

Class: Thursday 29th Nov

I call this class juppo sessho because of the large range of things we looked at and how it often involved a certain sense of timing and positioning that served to throw uke off balance not just gravitationally but mentally too. I started the class with some ideas I found at the Pedro Seminar that essentially all manipulated uke’s spine in certain ways.

Alex continued and looked at remaining close to uke in order to occupy the space they need to escape or counter with various leg captures and kosshijutsu attacks. The naginata was introduced to act as  a destabiliser, a pivot pint, a weapon, a “paintbrush” if you like! (Referencing Pedro’s thoughts on Bujinkan movement). Alex asked the dan-grads to show techniques and they all essentially involved riding out uke’s atack and throwing them in various directions. Alex expanded on what was shown.

Thought provoker: Do you check to see if your uke is punching properly? i.e. don’t do anything and get hit?

- Ali Martinez

Reminder: Taikai this weekend!

REMINDER – TAIKAI DECEMBER 1ST!

Just a note to remind everyone that the 1st Irish Buyu Taikai takes place this coming Saturday, December 1st in Clondalkin, Dublin. You can find out more about the event by visiting www.bujinkan.ie

 - Alex Meehan

Class Record: Jiyu Waza + Happobiken + Muto dori

Class: Tuesday 27th Nov

“Jiyu waza” is free form training and we did it against a grab/punch attack. Within this sort of training we could see how our kata-trained kamae, positioning, distancing worked. If it all worked well, then techniques such as locks and throws naturally appear without concious effort. The uke could use the time to examine their ukemi in response to unpredicitable balance breaking. This sort of training is nearer to “fighting” than kata and can be used to gauge ones overall ability as well as stamina, both as uke and tori. In fact it’s within this movement that techniques that cannot be tranmitted in kata form occur – but I’d say you’d need training in the kata to get there.

Amazingly Alex started doing some Happo biken based on the kata we’ve studied recently but in a fashion, using the tachi, that prety much mirrored what Shihan Pedro Felitas  did at the seminar on Sunday – the class Alex didn’t actually attend!  We did a few different techniques that were uncannily like the mu-kamae or no-posture stuff at the seminar. This led to muto dori in this class too, with almost the same techniques appearing. Maybe Alex left a hidden camera running at the hall on Sunday!

Thought provoker: With freeform training, how would striking effect the creation of unplanned techniques?

- Ali Martinez

December 2007 training schedule

Here’s the training schedule for December 2007.

Week one
Saturday, December 1st – 10.15am to 5pm, 1st Irish Buyu Taikai
Saturday, December 1st – 8pm to late, Christmas Party and Bonenkai
Monday, December 3rd – 8.00pm to 9.45pm
Thursday, December 6th – 7.30pm to 9.15pm
Sunday, December 9th – 3pm to 5pm (with Ali Martinez Shidoshi) Sword basics

Week two
Monday, December 10th – 8.00pm to 9.45pm
Thursday, December 13th – 7.30pm to 9.15pm
Sunday December 16th – 3pm to 5pm (with Ali Martinez Shidoshi) Beginner’s training and normal class.

Week three
Monday, December 17th – 8.00pm to 9.45pm
Thursday, December 20th – 7.30pm to 9.15pm
Saturday December 22nd – No Training

Week four
Monday, December 24th – No Training
Thursday, December 27th – 7.00pm to 10.00pm Special class with Shihan Peter King, Menkyo Kaiden
Saturday December 29th – No Training
Fees
It’s possible to pay for each class individually – each class costs 12 euro, but if fees are paid for the month in advance on the first training session of the month, each class costs 10 euro instead. It is not obligatory to attend any particular number of classes per month, but training at least twice a week is recommended for optimum progress. Reduced fees are also payable for people in full time education or out of work.

Open mat training
Open mat training is not a class, but rather an opportunity for members of the Dōjō to get time to practice what they feel they need to work on. There is no teacher at these sessions, but senior grades will be on hand to supervise. Sessions are announced in the main classes during the week and on the discussion board. Note: Open mat training is open to all students of the Bujinkan Meehan Dōjō, but only to students of other Dōjōs of 3rd Kyu and above.

Monthly workshops
A workshop is held once a month to allow time to explore a particular topic in depth.

Other classes
Occasionally, weekly classes are offered in particular aspects of Budo Taijutsu – these are announced in class. There are also occasionally classes in Japanese language and culture, first aid, meditiation and more.

- Alex Meehan

Upcoming Class Times

Saturday 24th /Sunday 25th Nov : Seminar in Clondalkin – no weekend class in Rathmines

Monday 26th Nov:  The dojo is closed this Monday, November 26th due to the two day seminar happening in Clondalkin this weekend but will open again on Tuesday the 27th at 7pm, with class starting at 8pm.

Saturday 1st Dec: No weekend class due to Taikai/Party

Sunday 9th Dec: Weekend class with Ali Martinez 3-5pm Sword Basics

Sunday 16th Dec:  Last weekend class of 2007 with Ali Martinez

All other classes with Alex Meehan as normal.

Class Record: Kukishin Ryu Shirabe Moguri Gata Dakentaijutsu + Happo Biken: Kiri-Sage

Class: Thursday 23rd Nov

Did some rolling while picking up objects and staying in kamae. After that we practiced some Suwari Gata movements and then waza form Takagi Yoshin ryu. We did some similar movements while standing and this fed nicely into our Kukishin ryu Dakentaijutsu. Going in deep seemed to be an important aspect of each technique. The idea of not getting necessarily cought up in the uke was also explored a little. The 4th Kata in Kukishin Ryu Happobiken was explored also and I think its easy to see how there really is an infinite amount to play with in these things already.

Thought Provoker: How can you practice things from the happobiken gata on your own?

- Ali Martinez

Pre-order the new Taijutsu book

Hatsumi Sensei’s new Taijutsu book is now available for pre-order on Amazon, even though it’s not due out until next year.

Here’s the text description from the Amazon.co.uk page.

This book explores the essence of various unarmed techniques unique to the Japanese martial arts, known as budo taijutsu. The techniques are highly specialized, and allow the practitioner to evade and receive an attack even from an opponent wielding a sword, enabling them to punch, kick, and finally to lock or control the body of their opponent. Among the various techniques introduced are

• Kihon Happo (Eight Basic Movements)
• Kosshijutsu (Attacks against Muscles)
• Koppojutsu (Attacks against Bones)
• Jutaijutsu (Flexible Body Arts)
• Daken Taijutsu (Fist Punching and Striking)
• Ninpo Taijutsu (Bodily Arts of the Ninja)
• And many more.

These renowned techniques have been secretly inherited through the various lineages of masters for more than a century.Such techniques have been secretly inherited through the various lineages of masters for more than a century. The techniques became the basis of a range of other martial arts, including judo, karate, and aikido. This book will thus enhance the reader’s understanding of the roots of such martial arts, as well as enabling him/her to learn more practical fighting techniques.

The book also shines light on the essence of the spirit of Japanese budo and bushido, and includes many photos of the techniques as well as rare drawings and hidden scrolls.

About the Author: MASAAKI HATSUMI was born in 1931. After progressing through various martial arts, he became the 34th Grandmaster of Togakure-ryu Ninjutsu and eight other martial arts, which he unified into the Bujinkan system. Hatsumi has taught thousands of students and given instruction to law enforcement agencies all over the world. He has received numerous accolades from politicians and spiritual leaders of many nationalities. He is also the author of many books and DVDs on ninjutsu and budo.

This book is being translated from Japanese into English by a good friend of the dojo, Doug Wilson, so we’re eagerly waiting on this one. You can pre-order the new book at this address or read Doug’s excellent Henka blog at this address.

 - Alex Meehan

Class Record: Ukemi + Kukishin Dakentaijutsu + Kenpo

Class: Monday November 19th

Our ukemi waza involved some rolling and leaping against various sword cuts in many directions. Feeding off the Kukishin Dakentaijutsu material we looked at the timing of a throwing counter and how it can lead to various openings to strike, throw, kicks, locks etc.  Our earlier leaping proved usefull in this regard.  Of course if uke didn’t really try and throw the dynamic changed but this going with the flow was important too.

Our kenpo study looked at Kiri Age No Kata with some Sayu Gyaku that emerged naturally out of different angling.  Timing was a big factor here  – something like the timing when avoiding the cuts in ukemi earlier.. that feeling of almost wanting to be cut. We looked at a particular way of controlling uke’s possible counter cuts with percussive use of the back of the blade. 

- Ali Martinez

UK Kukishin Ryu seminar report

Just a quick note to report that the Wiltshire Seminar at the end of October went extremely well. David Oliver and his students from the Koshin Dojo did a fantastic job organising this seminar and in particular David, Gary and Ollie went above and beyond the call of duty to look after all of us that made the trip over.

Everyone was picked up from the airport, put up for the weekend and ferried around fantastically. In particular, David and his lovely wife Ginette really were very hospitable and looked after us really well.

The seminar itself was well attended over the two days and enough people made favourable comments directly to me to allow me to conclude that it was a success. Content wise, we spent some time on Saturday morning looking at basic ukemi and the mechanics of the Oni Kudaki joint reversal in all its variant forms before moving onto to some techniques from the Kukishin Ryu for the afternoon. These techniques are very interesting and quite challenging, as they are longer than the waza we typically practice, with the attacker launching four and five attacks in quick succession before being taken down.Day one finished with some sword stuff and then on Sunday morning we did lots of sword basics – looking at tenouchi, correct cutting form, the construction of kamae, and some drills for hammering home the points made. For the rest of the day, we covered more Kukishin Ryu kata interspersed with variations and more swordwork.

It was nice to see students from lots of different dojos came, and some new connections were made. Some people had never met me or David and so it was interesting that they choose to take a chance to attend a seminar with someone new, but hopefully they had a good time and I certainly made some new friends. It was great also to have Norman Smithers and a few other senior teachers drop by.

Anyway, I really had a fantastic time and it was a good experience for me to see and meet lots of new Bujinkan students, so thanks for having me David, and thanks again to all my guys who made it over – in particular Rex, Ali and Jason. We’ve been invited back next year, and somehow I think time will fly.

– Alex Meehan

Class Record: 9th Kyu test + Gyaku Waza

Class: Saturday 17th Nov 

Three of the Autumn 08 beginners course folks were tested for and passed their 9th Kyu exam. Well done to all and thanks too to all the students who came down to help out.  A special thanks to Alex for attending and giving some good advice too. There’s some more gradings on Monday before class.

Afterwards we continued with  look at musha dori and some techniques that had us entering into the uke’s space in order to unbalance them.

- Ali Martinez