Born to Fly: Japan Report One 令和7年

I titled this post Born to Fly because I sometimes feel like I am compelled to fly to Japan. It feels like a second home. But I also benefit from all of the wonderful Bujinkan training, friends and teachers there.

This latest Japan Report video is accompanied by「Born to fly」from アキSONGBIRD. When I arrived in Noda-shi for a class with Furuta Sensei, I noticed some changes. I walked to my quick bird watching spot in さざんか公園. And I saw the pedestrian bridge over 県道3号 was closed for repair or demolition. Also the パチンコマルキン (pachinko Marukin) is no more.  

Class with Furuta Sensei

Furuta Sensei began with a type of 打払型 uchi harai gata. He struck the opponent in 朝霞 asagasumi. But there was a hidden, hooking finger strike down into the throat.

During this exchange he focused on changing levels. He used cross steps to enter and occupy space. And the “body lean” to occupy the gaps in the opponent’s kamae.

He had the attacker deliver a second punch. And Furuta Sensei used a cross step to hook and stretch the opponent out. It resulted in a 逆武者捕 gyaku musha dori and a locked shoulder. He told us not to take the arm, but take the space.

He opened more space by sweeping aside the second punch. He leaned out of range to sweep it aside, then leaned back into the gap that created. It was like he was hiding in the gaps in the opponent’s attack.

Furuta Sensei called these leans “taihenjutsu”. This means the art of changing the body. These body transformations allow for escapes and counters.

It also creates opportunity for 虚実 kyojitsu. He exposed his own 脇 waki to draw an attack. Then dropped his elbow to parry.

Furuta Sensei then changed to 半棒術 hanbōjutsu 基本 kihon. First with a kind of 四方捌き shihō sabaki. He told us to move our body while the stick stays put. He used the word 吊るす tsurusu, to describe the way the stick remains suspended in space.

Then you might release one end of the hanbō for a long range strike. He explored this against a sword. He used 3-4 strikes with 八文字振り hachimonji furi.

Next, he shared some similar ideas with the 六尺棒 rokushakubō. He had a fascinating way of palming the end of the bō to remain neutral and uncommitted. With this technique any strike became possible in the moment. I guess the stick was “Born to Fly” because he demoed 棒投 bō nage.

Another neutral position came when he put the bō in a floating 起て “tate” position. This preceded a downward strike like 面打 men uchi. But because of its zero quality, the bō could fall on any axis. This would be for deception or necessity if there were multiple opponents.

My latest Japan training trip was off to a great start. I always arrive with plans of things to do or see. And I even prepare questions I hope to ask the teachers. But my favorite experiences are the unplanned. And there were many which I will share in the next posts.