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IMO, from my knowledge, I have not met the student who had the perfect Seigan-no-Kamae of kenjutsu any other than two certain Japanese Kunoichi

Don't try to find them

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Two shihan have menkyo kaiden which relate to kenjutsu. Why don't you learn from them ? Or ...

http://www.kodansha-intl.com/books/html/en/9784770021984.html

M.Harada

Hatsumi sensei already mentioned how we must think about relation between taijutsu and weapon in this DVD.

DVD BUJINKAN SERIES 19 "BUJINKAN KOPPO-JUTSU" QUEST

This is why we practice as

Gyokko-ryu Kosshijutsu Happobiken
Koto-ryu Koppojutsu Happobiken
........

M.Harada

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BINGO !

This is one of the reason why I said so.

Also please check the last part of "Fuu". It describes a way to cut with sword.

M.Harada

Some rate of injuries at old times.

arrow 40%
rock 10%
sword 7%

If we use this rate to 33000 soldiers that were killed at battle of Sekigahara in 1600 ...

arrow 13200
rock 3300
sword 2310

We have to think about this number not only from weapon's efficiency but number of soldiers who can hold it to battle. It is clear that arrow's production is easier and the price is cheaper than a sword. It was told that discount price of sword was about $3000 and average pocket money of samurai was about $800/year in Edo era.

Yagyu Munenori cut 7 soldiers and his older brother Yagyu Muneaki cut at least 18 soldiers by one kata in the battle.

Any way, from my experience in Bujinkan, it is obvious that Gyokko-ryu has kenjutsu. This is clear from Hatsumi sensei's kuden, practice and densho.

M.Harada

In Zen it tries to throw away a ego mind from sitting calmly. Posture is same but different in mind.

To practice kata correctly means to throw away a dangerous habit in your movement which always come from your ego mind and daily life custom. Its object is not standardization but sophistication of your movement. Complete kata expresses zero movement which can defang your opponents. As you know, it is difficult to disappear those bad habits. This is why we should practice it a lot of times correctly.

You can handle of any nature change, i.e. dangerous situation, around you after you master it. Because you are zero, pure. This state is what we call "万変不驚 Banpen Fugyo", I think.

M.Harada

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I think misunderstanding of kata is regardless of national origin. Because the problem already existed in many schools more than 300 years ago; the middle of Edo Period.

I won't write a detail about my policy, because it may be delicate opinion for others:) So, I will suggest this word which I trust.

"You should practice kata logically, otherwise you would be a running blind boar."

Hatsumi sensei mentions this word in his video.


M.Harada

It seems most of the effectiveness which discussed in here is only about the one aspect of budo. Our goal is not to be "Mongolian Tiger" but to be a peaceful cat napping in the backyard.

According to the densho, we should practice more than one thousand times about each one kata correctly without henka. IMO, the true effectiveness might come up to you after that and this is why we say "Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo".

M.Harada

pitiful, very sad

What have you guys learned in Bujinkan ?

punching ? kicking ? how to cut makiwara ? agitation ? calumny words ?

Hatsumi sensei talked to me about the issue at Ayase dojo last week. It is very difficult to explain about the story behind it. I do not want to give misleading knowledge from my poor English writing. So, I give you these words.

"You must understand that the secret of Taijyutsu is foundation of peace." by Masamitsu Shinryuken Toda

"Let go of your melancholic mind. Just pick up a happiness bookmark." by Toshitsugu Takamatsu

"We are not doing religion. We don't need it. Taijutsu is the Bible for us." by Masaaki Hatsumi

M.Harada

Repress sneezing !

otherwise ...

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=PLfplQ7_nIA

M.Harada