Bujinkan Santa Monica

Sometimes people want to adopt military or law enforcement tactics in the Bujinkan. Maybe they percieve these tactics as being the most real since these people are on the front lines testing their tactics everyday. While it's true their tactics are proven and tested, the reality their tactics address is not the same reality the Bujinkan is training us for. This can be seen clearly in the "rules of engagement" in the military or "use of force continuum" used by law enforcement. standard police Use of Force Continuum: 1. Physical Presence 2. Soft Hands 3. Mace or Pepper Spray (A K-9 unit would fall here) 4. Hard Hands 5. Police Baton, etc. 6. Threat of Deadly Force 7. Deadly Force The 1999 Marine Corps Close Combat Manual (MCRP 3-02B) presents a “Continuum of Force” broken down as follows: Level 1: Compliant (Cooperative). The subject responds and complies to verbal commands. Close combat techniques do not apply. Level 2: Resistant (Passive). The subject resist...

Takamatsu Sensei used to say that even a small fly could go go to the ends of the earth if it held onto a horses tail. That's what we are doing if we follow Hatsumi Sensei's teaching. We are trying to hang on to a galloping horse. But the horse is not Soke. It is the many generations of tradition and the spirit of Ninpo that is greater than any of us. Even Hatsumi Sensei himself has stated that his fifty plus years of training doesn't mean much. He feels he is still walking along behind Takamatsu. Soke also reminds us that a horse's tail is actually used to flick away pests. So if you don't respect the nature of what you have grabbed onto by training in the Bujinkan, you may be in for an unpleasant journey or swatted away. Once you have a feel for the nature of the ride you are on, the trick is learning how to hang on. It can't be done with strength or willpower. Maybe this is one meaning of Bufu Ikkan. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I was training in Hombu dojo one day in Noda and both my training partner and I were scratching our heads over something Oguri Sensei had just demonstrated. As usual with Oguri's taijutsu, it looks unassuming and simple, but has a dramatic effect on the Uke.  I make a point of going to Oguri's classes when I am in Japan.  There are many wonderful treasures he can share from his 40 plus years of training experience.  Anyhow, my partner and I kept having to pause in the middle to try to observe Oguri Sensei across the room as he helped another group of students. We would see him move and the result he had on the uke.  Then we would try.  And the results were not as wonderful.  I looked down at Oguri's feet and noticed their position.  Something clicked in my head.  I asked my training partner to attack again.  It worked! What I had noticed was Juuji.  Or, rather, the perpendicular angle of Oguri to his uke's kamae.  Often this...