武神館忍術

“There is no need to roll over when you do yoko nagare. There is no need to expose your back. Just do this. (Lays down) There are many types of yoko nagare. This is a type of yoko nagare. (Jumps a little to the side as he leans his body) So is this. (Does another henka) That is why one cannot put out books. These are all correct.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“This is for fifth dan, remember. If I taught this to beginners, they would hurt themselves badly.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“I have told you all over and over that Taijutsu is not one on one. It is one on five…one on ten…one on infinity.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“You must understand both the good and the bad. That is the teaching of ten-chi in-yo.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“It does not matter if you block the second arm or not. Just get your hand in position and your opponent will be unable to strike you.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“If you are not in a position where your foot can reach move your body to get where you need to be. Don’t be silly.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“The point of this is to give your opponent everything you’ve got. Don’t let up and don’t stop until he’s down.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“If you have to use an ounce of strength to get this to work, you are doing it wrong.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“For these techniques, you must have the godan sense. That is why everyone who has attained that level should be training here with me.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

We started class with the usual routine of stretches and sit-ups. We also did a drill where you would squat and then kick your partner in the inner hip area.

Doug then called each pair to demonstrate いちもんじのかた (ichimonji no kata) and had us practice that for a bit with the うけ (uke) working on receiving the strike. Then we worked on having the うけ (uke) move with the とり (tori) to strike the face as they deliver their おもてしゅと (omote shuto). We practiced this with a はっぱけん (happa ken) and a ふどけん (fudo ken). The movement here was described as coming from Gyokko Ryu.

Next we worked on evading and countering multiple punches. We received to the inside and struck with おもてしゅとけん (omote shuto ken) making sure to move off at angles. Then we did the same thing with うらしゅとけん (ura shuto ken) counter strikes.

Doug then switched gears by doing basically the same thing on the ground. With the うけ (uke) on top punching down at you cover/dodge and strike back. When the timing is right roll the うけ (uke) to one side continuing to deliver strikes or disengaging. The point here was not to roll so much that the positions were reversed.

After that we were back on our feet and working on a Koto Ryu kata. The うけ (uke) attacks with a じょだんつき (jodan tsuki) and you receive to the inside, strike the side of the face and kick the groin at the same time with the opposite hand and foot, then strike upward to the face with a はっぱけん (happa ken) with the same hand that received the initial attack.

Next we did a variation on this from くみうち (kumiuchi). On the side that the lapel is grabbed raise that hand up to grab the opponent’s collar/lapel as if to choke. Pull the うけ (uke) down as your other hand strikes upward to the face and you kick to the groin. Finish with a はっぱけん (happa ken) strike to the face.

The last technique was from an attempted hip throw. As the opponent moves to throw step around some in the same direction and strike down against the うけの (uke’s) arm that is holding your sleeve. Immediately bounce that strike to the face and kick the inside of the leg nearest you with your heel. Finish again with a はっぱけん (happa ken) with the other hand.

Even though I’m a bit rusty it was a good time.

がんばってください！

“Don’t be trying to utilize ukemi in this roll. It is not yoko nagare. Just twist yourself as you fall to the ground; your opponent will have to come with you.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“The reason why there is some stagnation in the Bujinkan is that people look at the fifth dan as important. People train hard, learning much, then as soon as they get a fifth dan, they rush off to start their own dojo. That is when their progress stagnates. They would rather teach than learn. That is why I keep training, keep trying to learn….That is why I do not teach.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“When you are working together with someone as a team, you need to work interdependently, not independently. Read each other’s intentions and act as one unit.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“Remember: As you get older, your ability to do some of these movements will deteriorate. Just look at me…. Moreover, your ability to attract women will also deteriorate. Once again, look at me.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“Everything is undecided, yet still decided. The opponent never knows what will happen to him and is constantly being put in positions from which he can do nothing.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“When you jump, you must do it in such a way that your opponent can not detect that you are preparing to jump. If your opponent sees you moving your arms or other such movements, he will be prepared for you.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“Strike him, and keep striking him, to put him down!”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

“It is not strength. Taijutsu requires you to use no strength.”

Source: Understand? Good. Play!

Below is a link to another blog with an interesting post about principles of the Bujinkan. The formatting has cut off some of the text on the right side but you can copy the paragraphs and paste them into a text file to read it.

http://erizabesuesu.wordpress.com/2008/04/18/principles/