Taihenjutsu includes Ukemi (breakfalls), Kiten (rolls), Tobi (leaping), Oten (cartwheels), Shoten No Jutsu (running up surfaces), Kuten (handsprings), Nobori Kata (climbing) and probably more. These skills are necessary for good training especially if you don't want to get injured.
This is something our Shidoshi Charles Benham drills into us. At first I was like whats this it is boring, wanting more Taijutsu training. However as I have progressed I now see it is very important to have great Taihenjutsu skills if I plan to be able to come out of any confrontation with minimum injury.
Consider Taihenjutsu evading injury skills in my opinion, weather it is going to the ground using Ukemi and Kiten, or using Shoten No Jutsu or Nobori Kata to remove yourself from the situation.
This is something that must be a focus for beginner and advanced students alike from everything I have seen to date tells me I better have this down before I go to Japan.
(Video included shows some Taihenjutsu **** Please Do Not Try This At Home ****)
Showing posts with label Bujinkan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bujinkan. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Monday, June 01, 2009
March Taikai 09 TenChiJin
Although the camp was almost 2 months ago now I thought I should write something about it.
I would have to say this experience has helped my taijutsu and my life in multiple ways. I enjoyed the training and the family environment created by Shihan Richard and Linda Van Donk's and the IBDA Family at large, which was something truly unexpected.
It was interesting to see all the little points that make all the difference in the world. For anyone interesting in going to a IBDA Taikai my opinion is yes it is worth all that money. The experiences will last long after you come home and help motivate you in your life and your training.
The Theme of the camp was TenChiJin - Ten meaning Heaven, Chi meaning Earth and Jin meaning Man. We looked at the different aspects and how it related to our taijutsu. Going over all the basics and drilling them in hard using the essence of the TenChiJin infused with all our taijutsu was something that provided a different perspective on the techniques and the feeling or shadow of the the technique.
Chimko and I also ranked up at the camp to 6th kyu. We also managed to be in the first bunch of people to sign up and got a copy of Shihan Richard Van Donk's latest TenChiJin Book. Got some great comments and advise that really helped us thanks to everyone at the 09 March Taikai. We meet great people with in the IBDA Family that really just made the whole trip worth while.
I would like to take the time to thank our Shidoshi Charles Benham for preparing us well for the experience and encouraging us to go. To the Shihan's Richard and Lynda Van Donk Thanks for making all this available for us all. Of course I should also thank Shihan Joel Everett and Shihan Dan Ordoins for their instruction along with everyone else who worked with us in anyway.
(picture inculdes left to right top: Shidoshi Charles Benham, Shihan Richard Van Donk, Sarah Benham
left to right bottom: Shannon Mc Dowell, Robert Currie (Chimko)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Junan Taiso
Junan Taiso includes joint rotations, body massage, stretching, balance among other things. I find that it is very important for injury prevention, also helps those annoying aches and pains to go away from sitting at the PC for to long. It also helps I am currently seeing at 6th kyu in being able to do a technique or not, especially when it comes to the wrists and foot work.
I try to do this everyday but have found recently being not so well I have not kept it going. Something I personally need to sort out, still I do it at lest 3 times a week when I attend class.
I try to do this everyday but have found recently being not so well I have not kept it going. Something I personally need to sort out, still I do it at lest 3 times a week when I attend class.
Shihan Richard Van Donk has a short Junan Taiso Demonstration on the 9th Kyu DVD in his Black Home Study Course. I have been informed by his blog in the members area that there will be an Advanced Junan Taiso Book and DVD Set to be release soonish. He has been working on this project with Dr Greg D. (I believe it was) along with other studies in this area. Ether way I am looking forward to it.
(Video Included shows a Demonstration of Junan Taiso. Please Note there is a lot more to it than is shown here)
(Video Included shows a Demonstration of Junan Taiso. Please Note there is a lot more to it than is shown here)
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Why I went with IBDA
** should read this post first: http://ninpo-ikkan.blogspot.com/2008/09/why-i-study-bujinkan.html
Well I enrolled in the IBDA or Internation Bujinkan Dojo Assoication: Distance Learning Ninjutsu Study Course that takes you from White to Black belt using a standardized step-by-step learning and ranking system created by Shihan Van Donk, that in my opinion is second to none.
They are an Association of International Dojo's and Student's which for someone like me who travels that's kinda handy. I now also train with Shidoshi Charles Benham and Sensai Pat Vawter at the Mountian Warrior Budo Dojo in Denver who has a great style of guiding my buddy partner and I along our Bujinkan path.
They are a network of students and instructors online and in dojo's around the world to support us along the way. Combine this with the fact that at each rank we are Certified from Japan. We can train anywhere and have rank recognition. Also hoping it will make for some brilliant camps, sure we will soon find out.
They have a huge collection of products, videos and almost everything you would ask for along your path to becoming a Ninja or Shinobi/Kunoichi whatever you prefer.
Anyway so that's why I chose this time round to go with IBDA. I am sure I will have more to add to this post as we work towards that black belt.
Well I enrolled in the IBDA or Internation Bujinkan Dojo Assoication: Distance Learning Ninjutsu Study Course that takes you from White to Black belt using a standardized step-by-step learning and ranking system created by Shihan Van Donk, that in my opinion is second to none.
They are an Association of International Dojo's and Student's which for someone like me who travels that's kinda handy. I now also train with Shidoshi Charles Benham and Sensai Pat Vawter at the Mountian Warrior Budo Dojo in Denver who has a great style of guiding my buddy partner and I along our Bujinkan path.
They are a network of students and instructors online and in dojo's around the world to support us along the way. Combine this with the fact that at each rank we are Certified from Japan. We can train anywhere and have rank recognition. Also hoping it will make for some brilliant camps, sure we will soon find out.
They have a huge collection of products, videos and almost everything you would ask for along your path to becoming a Ninja or Shinobi/Kunoichi whatever you prefer.
Anyway so that's why I chose this time round to go with IBDA. I am sure I will have more to add to this post as we work towards that black belt.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Why I study Bujinkan
When I was a child of about 11 or 12, I saw the movie American Ninja (the first one and second one). I regular looking guy who fought with honor, speed, stealth balance and great skill. After I saw that I just had to find out more, I decided "When I am older I will go to Japan and see if it is real and study to become a Ninja".
Well being someone who loves to learn I couldn't wait, I just dove right in. First I went to the library to see what I found books by people claiming to have been to Japan. One Author which I wont mention at the moment but all within the Ninjutsu world know. Whatever his reasons or disagreements about things he shouldn't have done. Ether way that was how I found that Ninjutsu really does exist.
From there I read and practised everything I could. Now my Dad got me interested in Martial Arts when I was 5 on my first day of school some kid thought it would be funny to smack me across the head with a big stick. Long story short my Dad made sure I would me caught not knowing what to do again. So up until I was 16 I studied a number of different arts including Aikido, Kempo and of course tons and tons of books.
Now I said until I was 16 because when I was 16 one of my best mate even to this day heard of an opportunity to study Ninjutsu right down the road in a primary school. We studied with them for about 3-4 months before running out of money. But what I learnt in that short time stuck with me. I loved the way it moved, it felt, the way of movement it all felt so right and the whole "Why didn't I think of that before" many of my fellow Bujinkan peers have been through them selves.
Without going to far looking into the different Martial Arts available. I choose Bujinkan for my Primary Art because of the way it works with my body. They other areas other arts don't cover and the fact that unlike most of the Martial Arts community. Bujinkan embraces the spirit and the spiritual side of life and includes it in the studies. Hence I found my style, my art, my Taijutsu.
Years on I was able to continue my studies for about 6 months or so under the same group tho a different instructor in a different location. Now in New Zealand Bujinkan from my experience they train hard. No mucking around with that lot I can tell you. Anyway one thing led to another and I wasn't able to train anymore. I continued off and on with a 2nd kyu mate of mine who had the chance to private train with Shihan Mike Gent. (New Zealand's first to study under Soke Masaaki Hatsumi)
So anyway I reached 31 yrs and said to my self enough of this putting off stuff. I not getting any younger and there are things I want to achieve in my time here. So realising I would not be able to carry over any training ranks or whatever and have to start again. I decided to make sure I did it the best way possible for me. So I investigated all the different Ninjutsu schools and decided on IBDA International Bujinkan Dojo Association. (which is for another post)
So in my opinion a Warrior is not defined by his Art. A Warrior is who he or she is. Your Art will only add and refine to the Warrior your already are inside. Embracing your Taijutsu and looking after your self and your families well being will also refine the Warrior within. If you are looking at different styles to study I Highly Recommend Bujinkan, however please hear me on this find a style that suits you and your body, that feels natural and right when you do it. Well that's my opinion anyway hope you enjoyed this post.
Well being someone who loves to learn I couldn't wait, I just dove right in. First I went to the library to see what I found books by people claiming to have been to Japan. One Author which I wont mention at the moment but all within the Ninjutsu world know. Whatever his reasons or disagreements about things he shouldn't have done. Ether way that was how I found that Ninjutsu really does exist.
From there I read and practised everything I could. Now my Dad got me interested in Martial Arts when I was 5 on my first day of school some kid thought it would be funny to smack me across the head with a big stick. Long story short my Dad made sure I would me caught not knowing what to do again. So up until I was 16 I studied a number of different arts including Aikido, Kempo and of course tons and tons of books.
Now I said until I was 16 because when I was 16 one of my best mate even to this day heard of an opportunity to study Ninjutsu right down the road in a primary school. We studied with them for about 3-4 months before running out of money. But what I learnt in that short time stuck with me. I loved the way it moved, it felt, the way of movement it all felt so right and the whole "Why didn't I think of that before" many of my fellow Bujinkan peers have been through them selves.
Without going to far looking into the different Martial Arts available. I choose Bujinkan for my Primary Art because of the way it works with my body. They other areas other arts don't cover and the fact that unlike most of the Martial Arts community. Bujinkan embraces the spirit and the spiritual side of life and includes it in the studies. Hence I found my style, my art, my Taijutsu.
Years on I was able to continue my studies for about 6 months or so under the same group tho a different instructor in a different location. Now in New Zealand Bujinkan from my experience they train hard. No mucking around with that lot I can tell you. Anyway one thing led to another and I wasn't able to train anymore. I continued off and on with a 2nd kyu mate of mine who had the chance to private train with Shihan Mike Gent. (New Zealand's first to study under Soke Masaaki Hatsumi)
So anyway I reached 31 yrs and said to my self enough of this putting off stuff. I not getting any younger and there are things I want to achieve in my time here. So realising I would not be able to carry over any training ranks or whatever and have to start again. I decided to make sure I did it the best way possible for me. So I investigated all the different Ninjutsu schools and decided on IBDA International Bujinkan Dojo Association. (which is for another post)
So in my opinion a Warrior is not defined by his Art. A Warrior is who he or she is. Your Art will only add and refine to the Warrior your already are inside. Embracing your Taijutsu and looking after your self and your families well being will also refine the Warrior within. If you are looking at different styles to study I Highly Recommend Bujinkan, however please hear me on this find a style that suits you and your body, that feels natural and right when you do it. Well that's my opinion anyway hope you enjoyed this post.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
What is Ninpo-Ikkan?
Ninpo Ikkan is a saying taught to us while studying Bujinkan and it means "The Spirit of the Ninja is our Primary Inspiration."
The Spirit of the Ninja gave rise to enthusiastic students all over the world looking for someone to teach them. They found in it one man Soke Masaaki Hatsumi the inheritor of the 9 Ryu's from O'Sensei Toshigatsu Takamatsu. Soke Hatsumi combined these 9 Ryu's into one system he called Bujinkan.
Ninpo-Ikkan is an Online Bujinkan Study Group for Bujinkan Students currently active with their studies.
Ninpo-Ikkan.com is intended to be an area for the discussion on the finer points of all things Bujinkan and other related Ninjutsu topics...... (Basically everything a student of Bujinkan wants to know or find in one place)
Thats a nice pretty way of saying while I study Bujinkan what learn will be added to the site and the site will grow and change as I grow along the path. Feel free to join me on The Path of the Shinobi.
Intended Content will Include:
Looking at Techniques
- with pictures and video
Discussion on the Different Ryu's within Bujinkan
- elemental differences between the Ryu's
- hopefully some history on each of the Ryu's
What makes a great Instructor/Dojo and how they do it
- discussion on what your instructor/dojo does really well
- discussion on what you would like to see in your dojo
- if you were an instructor you would .....
- if you built you own dream dojo it would....
Discussion on where to buy Ninjutsu/Bujinkan Related Products
- best places to buy each product and discussion on those products
- looking for quality and price
- not getting raked by shipping
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