Blog: 2009 Japan Training Trip
From July 10-19, 2009, a group of Dayton Bujinkan Dojo students and friends were in Japan to train with Hatsumi Soke and the Bujinkan Shihan. Below are photos and notes from the trip.
(The following post is a condensed version of Jeff’s full, detailed trip journal.)
Being uke for Noguchi Sensei is completely unpredictable. You have to commit to the attack and trust your ukemi to save you.
Nagato Sensei stressed the importance of a good uke for the tori to train with. If the uke is poor – for instance, if they do not attack properly – then the training will be poor for the tori. “[Bad] training in is [bad] training out. You must train properly.”
Nagato Sensei: You have to strike and take control. It’s real budo.
Nagato Sensei: Soke talks about the feeling. It is not your feeling or my feeling. Your feeling is no good. Soke’s feeling is to take away the opponent[‘s feelng] from the fight. Some students only have “skin deep” kihon experience, and they end up training on advanced concepts without the depth of the kihon required.
Discussions with Duncan: You have to use muscle to learn something new. Once you get it, you strip away the muscle while maintaining the power. This is how it’s done in the Bujinkan. Muscle strength is weakness, while natural power (taijutsu) is what we need to develop. Training in the kihon (basics) helps to develop this, along with the right spirit.
Hatsumi Soke looks great at 78 years old. This year’s theme is Sai no Konki 才能魂器 and Kukan no Nawa
空間の縄. “Being rigid is [like] cutting the rope. Be flexible and relaxed.”
Soke: The uke thinks they are going to hit you when they punch. Don’t evade. You have to control their mind during their attack to take it away from them. Your attack isn’t an attack. It’s just a movement. This way you can move through whatever they are doing (or trying to counter). If it hits them, then it was an attack! (Everyone laughed)
Soke said at the end of class that you are not really part of the Bujinkan until you are godan.
Soke directed all of us to keep training and continue on our path under the guidance of the true Shihans (those who are 15th Dan). If we continue, we can one day surpass the kukan, moving into the Yugen no Sekai and beyond.
My brother Sean called Noguchi Sensei the “Magic Man”!
