With the Bujinkan seminar scene seemingly exploding there are a lot of things to consider for the host, the attendees and the guest instructor. The main reason to host a seminar is to improve the skills of your students and … Continue reading
What are your training goals? What is the scope of training you want to be proficient at? What level of proficiency are you happy with? What time frame do you have? How much effort are you prepared to make? These … Continue reading
When I want to practice sword I usually use shinai or bokken, but when draws are needed I often use cheap iaito. I don’t expect them to last long, and so consider them disposable training tools. They help a lot … Continue reading
If you can’t walk you can’t run, so the footwork of the Sanshin kata needs to be so well practised it is instinctive. Not known, and not understood, but practised until it is instinctive – there is a distinction there … Continue reading
Truly called “ShoShin GoKei GoGyo no Kata” and so when I learnt it, you would often hear it referred to as “GoShin no kata” as well. It is pre-basic in the Bujinkan, i.e. Kihon Happo is basic and SanShin comes … Continue reading
In times past the Soke of the styles that make up the Bujinkan today would come to a realisation either from their own practice or from observation. Some of these were written down and are the kata we have today. … Continue reading
Most masters hail footwork as the basis of all good martial arts, a pity then that it is so neglected in these days of sports martial arts. Obviously they want people to stand and slug it out as it makes … Continue reading
Rolling in budo is obvious in some ways and not in others. In martial arts we do not roll like people do in gymnastics – straight down the spine. The preferred roll is shoulder to opposite hip or hip to … Continue reading
Here is an article I wrote an age ago. I still find the insight I gained on the day useful and so I am reposting it hoping some of you will also get something out of it: Kukan In January … Continue reading
Bujinkan ukemi is not the same as Judo ukemi. However I know many dojo’s that teach Judo ukemi first for the safety and confidence of the students while they train in the dojo. Judo ukemi is not safer outside the … Continue reading
