All Posts (Darren)
Re: MAP thread about a Rob Renner |
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Village Old Timer
 
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I also note that the iai draw/cut as taught by Someya Shihan follows a very similar alignment as well. I haven't trained with Someya Shihan to see how he teaches his tsuki, but my friend is a student of his and he also does his tsuki the same way as in the photo. I also know he trains exactly how he is taught, so likely this is what Someya Shihan teaches as well. But, that's just my guess... So many variations, even among the Shihan...
Posted on: 9/8 6:09
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Re: MAP thread about a Rob Renner |
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Village Old Timer
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When I was there last, Noguchi Shihan was working with a small group of his own students on tsuki off in one corner of the hombu while the rest of us were doing what he demonstrated. The posture he had them do was more upright, the weight evenly balanced and he was working with them on the strike alignment (keeping the strike over the lead leg) and how to transition from kamae to tsuki using the knees and turn of the hips/shoulders. As the tsuki came forward, he had them bend their knees and drop their weight sharply down in more of a 60/40 weight distribution. He was not having them lean their upper body forward as in the 'old way' of doing tsuki and recovery was much faster than the 'floating fist' such extended posturing tends to have. This is how I train and teach as well, as it is more in line with the current look and feel of what I see coming from Soke and the Shitenno, as well as my own sempai. I also find it more applicable to real fighting, in my experience. *** I must point out that my own direct experience with Soke and the Japanese Shihan is terribly limited compared to some others here, but this was my experience *** As I said before, I don't believe in a 'set way', as there are various reasons to strike certain ways and it is good to train to move/strike to adapt to a variety of situations. But, over the many years, I have seen striking postures change from what the photo shows to more upright, evenly balanced striking. Maybe this has to do with the kinds of unarmed fighting techniques we face today vs back when samurai fought each other on and off the battlefield. Who knows. But, it is what it is, so we can either train in the "now" or in the "then". At least that's my thought on it.
Posted on: 9/8 5:59
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Darren Dumas "More fun than a tornado in a trailer park!" - (Tow) Mater from "Cars" |
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Re: spiritual training and kihon happo |
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Village Old Timer
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I know. This is why I said these things are difficult without real example. But, try this to get an idea of what I mean: stand in Ichimonji no Kamae. Without transferring weight forward, 'throw' your rear hip and shoulder as one towards your right 45 degree angle. At the same time, just lift the rear foot using the thigh/calf muscle - without raising your body up. You should be able to shift angle without having to go forward. Now, when you step back into Ichi from Shizen, you just keep the motion going as you turn in the hip/shoulder/leg to be at 45 degrees. It's difficult, but it can be done until it becomes easier. You'll find that there is no stepping involved, but rather a curved redirect of motion using the hips and shoulders. This can be done from low kamae because it uses a horizontal movement initated from the hips/shoulders. The leg just keeps up to hold the balance. However, unless you develop your joints and muscles for it, it is difficult. You really need 'budo legs', something us in the West can often have a hard time with. As far as moving back from a downward cut, body mechanics dictate that if you only move the head/shoulders back, the hips/stomach will actually push forward and get cut. If you move just the hips back, the head will dip forward and be cut. But, if you move the hips back, bending the legs, you can make an arcing shape that matches the arc of the downward cut - and create a forward momentum for you to lunge forward with. The feeling is that you are moving forward the entire time, but the shape of your posture/body allows space for the weapon to move through without contact. I think my friend has video of that. I'll find it and post it for you if I can get it (it's on YouTube, so it's already public).
Posted on: 9/8 2:25
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Darren Dumas "More fun than a tornado in a trailer park!" - (Tow) Mater from "Cars" |
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Re: spiritual training and kihon happo |
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Village Old Timer
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There is a good exercise in this. As a receiver of such movement, if you see the body shift to their left and they advance with their right leg, you aim your strike just to the right line of their step - because that's where their weight will naturally return to. The trick is to create motion by first bending the knees. Once motion is started, you can guide it along the same line as your step - without having to take weight away from your stepping leg. Transfer of weight and the step are all done together instead of 2 movements. This is a singular transfer of motion in one line. It also reduces the shifting, which is a vulnerability and a suki to anybody who has moderate skill. Arnaud Shihan taught me a version of Sui no Kata where you start from Shizen, step back to Shoshen, then shift to the angled Ichimonji no Kamae - all in one movement. There is no stop from Shoshen to the 45 degree angle change into Ichimonji/Jodan Uke. It requires creating the motion straight back into kamae, then lifting the rear leg and using the hips to arc the movement to the 45 degree angle without stopping. Beginners will shift weight forward onto the lead leg to 'step' over to the 45 degree angle, then transfer weight back to the rear leg. This is incorrect and dangerous. You have to do this move while keeping the weight going backwards. It uses a lot of the calf muscle and using the hips to change direction of movement. The feet move in time with where the balance point is, as it moves first straight back, then arcs out to a 45 degree angle. The footwork is used to keep balance. I hope this makes sense...
Posted on: 9/7 13:47
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Re: spiritual training and kihon happo |
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Village Old Timer
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True, especially when first learning muto dori. The thing I caution is that in order to move weight, it has to either lift off a planted posture, or knees need to bend in order to create motion, then guided with footwork. When you move from A to B, you have to be careful not to let weight settle too much. That's when you lock in your position. You can't unlock and move fast enough. This can happen when you move too much body weight in one direction, then stop. Knowing how to move your parts independently, to keep the motion continuing, is key to avoiding this trap. It's also hard to track.
Posted on: 9/7 9:14
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Re: spiritual training and kihon happo |
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Village Old Timer
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If I might add, there are many ways to move depending on the context. In sabaki gata, or any kind of receiving, the first body part that moves is responding to the act of aggression. Therefore, the last body part moved is what you are leaving in the 'target spot' the longest. If your feet move first, then your body is staying in the 'target spot' far too long. If you move just the hips, then both feet and head stay there. If the upper body moves first, then balance is lost. If the body moves in unison, then everything moves off the 'target spot' in one motion.
Now, if you are bending the legs and shifting the hips, then the angle of the body changes and this can offer a protective shape as well that permits the attack to miss it's target - and fool the attacker into thinking he just might hit you. I good tenchigiri would show just what is lingering in the 'target spot' - it will be cut/hit. In striking, what you move first sends the telegraph that something is happening, unless you have a distractor (i.e. lead hand, kazushi, etc) or can hide the strike through angles, etc. There are those who place their lead foot in the weak space, turn the hips, then roll up the spine to the strike (i.e. unwinding power). There are also those who put their weapon in the space first, then propel the body behind it. And, there are those who strike as one unified motion. All are good, depending on the circumstances. In my experiences, I have found there isn't a 'set in stone' manner of moving. Even balance has been toyed with, such as creating a falling motion to propel a weapon or movement, or using Hicho No Kata as an exercise in losing balance (ref: Kobudo no Kihon DVD). It can be said that balance, being important, should also not become a fixed object of importance, or it is a trap. So, I think the pending argument above is going to end up being fruitless without physical examples to show just what each other means. Without context and example, this is just too difficult. Of course, that's my opinion, so...
Posted on: 9/7 3:26
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Re: Self Introduction |
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Village Old Timer
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Hi Jarod, and welcome to Kutaki! There are many good buyu (martial friends) all over Japan who can help you get as much from your experience as possible. In fact, the owner of this site, Shawn, also rents out an apartment to visiting Bujinkan buyu... Soke teaches between the Hombu and at Ayase. But, I encourage you to spend as much time with the Japanese Shihan as you can to pick up more "nuts and bolts" kind of training. As each will have their own unique approach to training, I recommend training with them all.
As far as your own training, focus on kihon and ukemi. This is important in being able to get as much from your Japan experience as possible. Knowing how to strike and kick, how to apply basic kihon happo, and how to roll all directions safely is what I'm referring to. Since you are 7th kyu, I'm assuming you've at least gained a basic exposure to such things already, so you already have a base to practice. Have a great time and soak up as much as you can, even from the many talented buyu who are over there. You'll likely be training with people who are dan ranked, even over godan, so you'll be surrounded by quality people. Learn from them all. It would also be great if you shared some of your experiences with us! Gambatte kudasai!
Posted on: 9/6 3:58
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Darren Dumas "More fun than a tornado in a trailer park!" - (Tow) Mater from "Cars" |
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Re: いちの構え制す？空手 |
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Village Old Timer
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Hmmm... I found that with the Japanese Shihan, everything I 'needed' in order to resist was already 'broken' or there was never anything TO resist to begin with! 
Posted on: 9/1 0:39
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Darren Dumas "More fun than a tornado in a trailer park!" - (Tow) Mater from "Cars" |
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Re: いちの構え制す？空手 |
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Village Old Timer
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2003/2/4 2:12 From Sacramento, CA (USA)
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My question to practicing martial artists is always if their training is enhancing or reducing their capacity to "live". If you are having dislocated joints, reduced hearing and vision, missing teeth, back troubles, etc all because of training and competitions, then the answer is pretty clear.
Hatsumi Soke just passed the late Takamatsu Soke in age. Compare the two in their health. Takamatsu Soke had hearing loss, vision problems and arthritis - likely gained from a life of hard training and real fights he 'chose' to participate in (and some he didn't). He apparently was a heavy smoker as well. Hatsumi Soke is as vibrant as ever and seems to just keep moving better and better. He walks miles every morning. He is involved in so many things that it would make the average person's head spin. And, even though he was a very competent sports martial arts competitor, gave it up when his health became bad (the timing of it is my assumption, so check your facts). The bottom line is that how you train might be a 'fast track' to some level of proficiency, but you always need to consider the effect on a long term basis. With any luck, you might be around for many more years, much more than the average person back in the day when martial arts were necessary to protect one's life on an often almost daily basis. It's not the occasional rumble, criminal activity, or other violence that is our greatest danger today. Rather, it's our own lifestyle choices and traffic accidents that pose the greatest risks. If you agree that those are the greatest risk factors to living a long, healthy life, then how does your training mirror that? Where is your emphasis? The importance of sparring I understand. I know guys who rock as far as their ability to handle violence - and all they do is spar. Their physical prowess is great. But, they are all fairly young (less than 30) and have all their health. But, I also know many who trained the same way that now, in their 30's and up, have weak ACL/PCL knee joints, weak rotator cups, and many other health problems. In fact, some have dropped their life of hard training and take Tai Chi at the local health club... Responsibility for one's training is not a short term concept.
Posted on: 8/27 1:00
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Darren Dumas "More fun than a tornado in a trailer park!" - (Tow) Mater from "Cars" |
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Re: いちの構え制す？空手 |
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Village Old Timer
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Nice - this is foundational advice. Imagine what the Bujinkan would be like if everybody stuck to that.
Posted on: 8/26 11:39
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