In Jujutsu, details matter. The Bansenshukai Ninjutsu jujutsu curriculum is made up of a 30 part kata of maneuvers from American Jujutsu in the Crawford system. It's the basic stuff you see in an MMA fight, really. Mount reversal, guard break, side mount, key lock, arm bar, arm bar, juji gatame ... you get the idea.
What astounds me is how much the details matter. Fo instance, in step 4 of the drill Tori is in side mount and Uke breaks an arm bar and grabs for a scarf choke. Tori goes to gaidon and get a vertical arm bar. Uke's arm is laying against the back shoulder and chest of Tori, and Tori has both hands to get the lock. In BSSKN, we use the palm grip (palms together, thumbs interlocked, fingers folded over back of hand) and tonight Sensei reminded me to use the knife edge of the inside of the forearm to get the lock. Just put that bone right on the top of the tricep.
That makes all the difference.
It is simpler to just grab the elbow joint with the hands. In fact, you can just hit it with a fist and break the elbow joint if you want. But putting that edge there just puts Uke in an inordinate amount of pain right away, and who doesn't want to end a fight faster?
So next time you train, work out the details. It's not just a fight, it is a set of techniques, and blending them will take time. Focus on the techniques now so them come naturally later.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Pistons
In the world of taijutsu, legs are like pistons. You let the pressure out of them to lower yourself to the ground, and increase the pressure to lift yourself up. Take Morote Gari. You drop to a sprinters stance - releasing the pressure in your knees (performed by the calves and thighs) and position yourself at the knees of uke, then increase the pressure in your knees to take uke to the mat.
Hokojutsu is the same thing. The key to moving my bulk around silently is to not place my leg, but lower it, and then lower my weight onto it. If I just place it, I thump. If I lower it, I don't. It's a totally different way of thinking.
There are a bunch of examples. When I perform Oni Kudaki, for example (in the classical way) I slide into uke with my back foot and lower by center of gravity on my pistons to take balance. Then I raise myself after I get the lock on the elbow. The legs work just like hydraulics to lower and raise my body.
Hokojutsu is the same thing. The key to moving my bulk around silently is to not place my leg, but lower it, and then lower my weight onto it. If I just place it, I thump. If I lower it, I don't. It's a totally different way of thinking.
There are a bunch of examples. When I perform Oni Kudaki, for example (in the classical way) I slide into uke with my back foot and lower by center of gravity on my pistons to take balance. Then I raise myself after I get the lock on the elbow. The legs work just like hydraulics to lower and raise my body.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Preparation
It's surprising how much preparation is a part of hensojutsu. I have been reading On Acting by Sanford Meisner, and his approach to preparation has me thinking a lot about hensojutsu and reality. Meisner says that 'acting is living truthfully under imaginary curcumstances.' Admittedly, if you have one hell of an imagination you can just jump up and do what is required under the circumstances.
I don't.
So, Meisner has his students prepare. The difference is, he has them prepare for the emotion not the action. For instance, say you have a scene where your sister has died. But you are an only child. You don't know what it would feel like to lose a sibling. Well, let's get close, Meisner says. Ever lose a parent? Dear friend? Was it pretty miserable? Alright, THINK about that and say the lines.
For my 6th kyu test I have to perform hensoijutsu as Yado Nashi, or a homeless man. I originally thought to do research, and that is a good idea for the facts - where I live, how I got there, etc. For my actual preparation, though, I have to key in on emotion - hopelessness, or determination depending on my character. I have to call up something that harbors the emotion of the character as well as remember the facts. It isn't like the facts will be more true with the right emotion, but they sure will be more believable.
I don't.
So, Meisner has his students prepare. The difference is, he has them prepare for the emotion not the action. For instance, say you have a scene where your sister has died. But you are an only child. You don't know what it would feel like to lose a sibling. Well, let's get close, Meisner says. Ever lose a parent? Dear friend? Was it pretty miserable? Alright, THINK about that and say the lines.
For my 6th kyu test I have to perform hensoijutsu as Yado Nashi, or a homeless man. I originally thought to do research, and that is a good idea for the facts - where I live, how I got there, etc. For my actual preparation, though, I have to key in on emotion - hopelessness, or determination depending on my character. I have to call up something that harbors the emotion of the character as well as remember the facts. It isn't like the facts will be more true with the right emotion, but they sure will be more believable.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Strength
By far, the easiest way to defeat me in randori is to wear me out. I am 36, 230 pounds, and don't work out enough. Lie on me and make me work - I'll be wiped in no time.
Recently though I have been training with the kuji-in. Funny, that. It seems to work. The Bansenshukai curriculum has one of the nine ninja mudra for each of the nine kyu. The first mudra, for ninth kyu, is Rin or Strength. Every day, during my meditation, I have been focusing on those times when I have found extraordinary inner strength. Once, I stayed up for a very long time when I had a project due and Adam was sick. In a less poingnent example, I recently ran a long time on the treadmill, finding some inner endurance. I lasted a long time in one particular randori, and can recall that.
All of this is done while making the Rin mudru, which is hands together, fingers intertwined. The middle finders are raised and touching. what this allows me to do is use the unusual muscle memory to recall all of that hours of meditation in a moment's notice. Say, for instance, right before a long randori match.
It might sound dorky but it works. Just like sitting in Seiza might make you think about class, the mudra recalls the topic of the meditation. I was impressed. I am totally not into mystical stuff (ask anyone about me lack of respect for religion) but when something works it works. The tie between muscle memory and long term memory is well documented.
I like it a lot. This is where the 'magic' of the ninja comes in.
More at Wikipedia.
Recently though I have been training with the kuji-in. Funny, that. It seems to work. The Bansenshukai curriculum has one of the nine ninja mudra for each of the nine kyu. The first mudra, for ninth kyu, is Rin or Strength. Every day, during my meditation, I have been focusing on those times when I have found extraordinary inner strength. Once, I stayed up for a very long time when I had a project due and Adam was sick. In a less poingnent example, I recently ran a long time on the treadmill, finding some inner endurance. I lasted a long time in one particular randori, and can recall that.
All of this is done while making the Rin mudru, which is hands together, fingers intertwined. The middle finders are raised and touching. what this allows me to do is use the unusual muscle memory to recall all of that hours of meditation in a moment's notice. Say, for instance, right before a long randori match.
It might sound dorky but it works. Just like sitting in Seiza might make you think about class, the mudra recalls the topic of the meditation. I was impressed. I am totally not into mystical stuff (ask anyone about me lack of respect for religion) but when something works it works. The tie between muscle memory and long term memory is well documented.
I like it a lot. This is where the 'magic' of the ninja comes in.
More at Wikipedia.
Monday, February 18, 2008
S.U.R.V.I.V.A.L.
I have been reading The Special Forces Guide to Escape and Evasion by Will Fowler to kinda formulate a strategy for Intonjutsu in my mind. We study element driven styles of escape and evasion in the club (like Katonjutsu, using fire to mask scent or make a barrier) but I like the forest view once in a while, so I read overview books on contemporary Ninjutsu topics.
I learned something very cool in the Zanson area in the first chapter, though. I like acronyms in emergency situations - when you can't remember much else, you can often remember cool acronyms. Here is one for situations in which Zanson is important: SURVIVAL.
Size up...
... the situation
... the surroundings
... your physical condition
... your equipment
Use all senses
Remember your location
Vanquish fear
Improvise
Value living
Act like the natives
Live by your wits
Now, I think that is good anywhere. If you are in the desert being chased by a band of roving Mujahideen or in the mall during a fire, this is a good set of steps to keep yourself on track. The first and most important thing that most people always forget to do in any emergency is to take a second and Size up the situation. Stop. Look around. What is REALLY happening? Where are you specifically AND in general. Can your environment help you? Are you hurt? Are any of your wards hurt? What do you have with you? Would it be better in your hand right now, or stowed?
A better part of Ninjutsu, as I have posted before, is preparedness. While at the time I was talking gear, it is important to be prepared mentally. None of us know how we will respond in an emergency until one happens, so it is a good idea to have a Contingency Plan of Action for most major types of emergencies, and starting with SURVIVAL isn't a bad bet.
I learned something very cool in the Zanson area in the first chapter, though. I like acronyms in emergency situations - when you can't remember much else, you can often remember cool acronyms. Here is one for situations in which Zanson is important: SURVIVAL.
Size up...
... the situation
... the surroundings
... your physical condition
... your equipment
Use all senses
Remember your location
Vanquish fear
Improvise
Value living
Act like the natives
Live by your wits
Now, I think that is good anywhere. If you are in the desert being chased by a band of roving Mujahideen or in the mall during a fire, this is a good set of steps to keep yourself on track. The first and most important thing that most people always forget to do in any emergency is to take a second and Size up the situation. Stop. Look around. What is REALLY happening? Where are you specifically AND in general. Can your environment help you? Are you hurt? Are any of your wards hurt? What do you have with you? Would it be better in your hand right now, or stowed?
A better part of Ninjutsu, as I have posted before, is preparedness. While at the time I was talking gear, it is important to be prepared mentally. None of us know how we will respond in an emergency until one happens, so it is a good idea to have a Contingency Plan of Action for most major types of emergencies, and starting with SURVIVAL isn't a bad bet.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Killing
I have been reading On Killing by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, and it has me thinking about the reality of the martial arts. War is war, and defeating the enemy is just another word for killing them. Lt. Col. Grossman puts a lot of emphasis on the distance factor (it being aa lot easier to kill with bomber than a knife) and it came to me that a lot of Ninjutsu is about killing at VERY close range.
Lets face facts. Ninjutsu is not a movement study. It is about completeting an objective, no matter what the odds. If you are training any other way, you might want to ask yourself why you are into Ninjutsu and not Aikido or tai-chi if you like the movement, or judo or karate if you like competition aspect. Nonetheless I have to wonder how many of us could stab an adversary with a knife if the situation warrented. Many of my friends in the club are military and police - they are studying to improve their chances of survival. They might have to complete that thrust we all learn in tantojutsu.
Could you? I don't know if I could.
The psychological aspects of Ninjutsu are shrouded in a combination of the general fear of discussion of Ninjutsu and the "you'll learn that later' part of the art. Fact is, I think a decent psychoanalyst could have a field day with most of us, starting with Hatsumi himself. Studying a combat martial art in this day and age, when you aren't actually planning on any combat is, well, strange.
So why do we? Preparation? Are we getting ready for when martial law is declared? Is it really just self defense? I have no idea. But I have a sneaking suspicion that 1) there is a lot to learn form this art without being consumed with the concept of death and 2) not many of us are gonna find out and that is a good thing.
Read On Killing. It will get you thinking.
Lets face facts. Ninjutsu is not a movement study. It is about completeting an objective, no matter what the odds. If you are training any other way, you might want to ask yourself why you are into Ninjutsu and not Aikido or tai-chi if you like the movement, or judo or karate if you like competition aspect. Nonetheless I have to wonder how many of us could stab an adversary with a knife if the situation warrented. Many of my friends in the club are military and police - they are studying to improve their chances of survival. They might have to complete that thrust we all learn in tantojutsu.
Could you? I don't know if I could.
The psychological aspects of Ninjutsu are shrouded in a combination of the general fear of discussion of Ninjutsu and the "you'll learn that later' part of the art. Fact is, I think a decent psychoanalyst could have a field day with most of us, starting with Hatsumi himself. Studying a combat martial art in this day and age, when you aren't actually planning on any combat is, well, strange.
So why do we? Preparation? Are we getting ready for when martial law is declared? Is it really just self defense? I have no idea. But I have a sneaking suspicion that 1) there is a lot to learn form this art without being consumed with the concept of death and 2) not many of us are gonna find out and that is a good thing.
Read On Killing. It will get you thinking.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Training
Shidoshi posted recently about taking change of one's own training. I don't think I could agree with him more if I tried but only now, after almost a year in, am I starting to get more insight into that principle.
You see, I am not of the warrior caste, as I think I have posted about before. I really have to work at this stuff. None of it comes naturally. I usually get my self up to 80% and them let my natural talent carry me the rest of the 20%. In this, I can't do that. I don't have any natural skill. I have to train all the way to 100%. I have never had to do that before in anything I have done.
So I need a new way to work.
In my particular school, there is a lot of stuff to learn. A LOT. Most than most ninjutsu schools that I have seen the kyu sheets for. Ok, more than all of them. Put together. For my 7th kyu test, I have 29 individual testable points. For the taijutsu parts, I have to know henka and counters, too. Ouch.
Shidoshi says that you have to do each individual movement 100 times with a compliant uke before the muscle memory even starts to think about kicking in. After that, you need to take it to randori and work it there 100 more times. Ok, I think I agree. I am going to formalize it a little bit, and actually plan my training.
For my 7th kyu exam, I am going to actually make a training chart, and track how often I train on each individual item. Everything - from the side roll to the jujutsu kata items. Some I can train alone, most I need an uke for, but that's what open mat is for. AND I will go to class as well.
What I need now is to revise my vision on why I am training. Fact is, I am training like I will use it. Fact is, I probably won't use it. I might once or twice (Aikido has saved my ass twice) but probably not much more than that. I need to now train to get good at it - becasue it is going to be really good for me to get good at something that I have a hard time with.
That might not be enough though. I am a very competition driving individual, though I don't pretend like I am. Takamatsu-sensei said something that matters, though.
The way of the martial artist is the way of enduring, surviving and prevailing over all that would destroy him. More than delivering strikes and slashes, and deeper in significance than the simple outwitting of an enemy, Ninpo is the way of attaining that which we need while making the world a better place. The skill of the Ninja is the art of winning.
Yes. Yes indeed. That's what I am training for - winning. Doesn't matter if it is in the boardroom or a brawl, winning is winning. That's what I am after.
You see, I am not of the warrior caste, as I think I have posted about before. I really have to work at this stuff. None of it comes naturally. I usually get my self up to 80% and them let my natural talent carry me the rest of the 20%. In this, I can't do that. I don't have any natural skill. I have to train all the way to 100%. I have never had to do that before in anything I have done.
So I need a new way to work.
In my particular school, there is a lot of stuff to learn. A LOT. Most than most ninjutsu schools that I have seen the kyu sheets for. Ok, more than all of them. Put together. For my 7th kyu test, I have 29 individual testable points. For the taijutsu parts, I have to know henka and counters, too. Ouch.
Shidoshi says that you have to do each individual movement 100 times with a compliant uke before the muscle memory even starts to think about kicking in. After that, you need to take it to randori and work it there 100 more times. Ok, I think I agree. I am going to formalize it a little bit, and actually plan my training.
For my 7th kyu exam, I am going to actually make a training chart, and track how often I train on each individual item. Everything - from the side roll to the jujutsu kata items. Some I can train alone, most I need an uke for, but that's what open mat is for. AND I will go to class as well.
What I need now is to revise my vision on why I am training. Fact is, I am training like I will use it. Fact is, I probably won't use it. I might once or twice (Aikido has saved my ass twice) but probably not much more than that. I need to now train to get good at it - becasue it is going to be really good for me to get good at something that I have a hard time with.
That might not be enough though. I am a very competition driving individual, though I don't pretend like I am. Takamatsu-sensei said something that matters, though.
The way of the martial artist is the way of enduring, surviving and prevailing over all that would destroy him. More than delivering strikes and slashes, and deeper in significance than the simple outwitting of an enemy, Ninpo is the way of attaining that which we need while making the world a better place. The skill of the Ninja is the art of winning.
Yes. Yes indeed. That's what I am training for - winning. Doesn't matter if it is in the boardroom or a brawl, winning is winning. That's what I am after.
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