October 2008 Volume 12 Number 10

Providing information to Bujinkan members in 68 different countries around the world

Recently I bought myself a book in Japanese which contained 4 pages that dont seem to match the rest of the book. These 4 pages are all about Hatsumi sensei and Koto Ryu. The book dates form the very early 1960s and depicts several photos of Hatsumi sensei performing kata such as Yokuto and Hito (see below).

There is also a short text on Koto Ryu which is below with a translation

Koto Ryu koppojutsu is taught today as a secret technique of Iga Ryu Ninjutsu, but Mr Hatsumi Yoshiaki Chiba prefecture, ichi no Noda 636 the youth that succeeds as 18th generation head of the family. Opening a bonesetting clinic in the city he has strived to gather local people of similar interests to practice every day at a dojo. Because it is a dangerous technique it is not taught recklessly nevertheless Mr Hatsumi stressed the practicality of this koppojutsu technique. What is also interesting with this short article is that it also has photos of Fukumoto sensei, one time student of Takamatsu and close friend of Hatsumi sensei. All of the practitioners in the article wear white Gi, including Fukumoto sensei and Hatsumi sensei is seen in Black Hakama and kimono. What is nice about this article is that it shows that Hatsumi sensei and Fukumoto sensei used to train the techniques that they learnt form Takamatsu sensei side by side with each other and also taught others in Noda together.

Lincoln Hanako Air Soft Day

Sunday 19th October was the organised air soft day for club members & friends. We had agreed to meet outside the dojo for 8:00am surprisingly this was pretty much on time, with all participants looking bright & breezy these being; Paul, Phil, Karl, Kirk, Josh, Leon Mike and Connor in the minibus, Paul & Luke followed behind us in another vehicle We were meeting Steve ,Scott & Jay Out there.

That was it, we were on our way after a short drive of approx 50 mins to Manby (http://www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk/) , which is a old disused Airforce airfield, we had arrived. As we pulled around the corner the old buildings came into view, and we were informed this was the playing area. (Some of the dojo members during a break pose for a group photo) In our party of nine we were mainly first timers with the exception of Jay, Paul and Mike, who were members of a group called the hornets. Once we had got out of the minibus, out came the guns belonging to Paul and Mike, with the remainder of us all being told to pick them up to feel the weight etc. All there was to do now was to wait for the others to arrive. After a short while Steve & Scott, then Jay had arrived and Lindsey Air soft had got the buildings opened. In we went. Once inside we all had to sign for our gun, face mask. As we collected them individually we were given the once over about safety switch on the guns, single, automatic fire loading the magazines etc everything we needed to know to have a good day. After a short briefing in an area called the safe room we were allowed to load our magazines and teams were designated by the Marshalls, surprise, surprise all the first timers against the hornets, nothing like lambs to the slaughter. That was it outside we loaded the mags into the guns, to have a fire at the trees to make sure our guns were working okay. This was my day (game on). We all had to climb into the back of a old army truck (photo left Josh, Leon, and Steve in the back of the truck) to be transported to the playing zone, this was very full as we made our way to the playing area The first couple of games were to be played outside, the first called defend the hill, white team to defend & red team to attack with a flag being at the top. A quick blow of the Marshalls whistle and that was it (game on) off we went in our little groups like ants up a hill blat,blat,blat I was dead out flanked by the white team, inexperience cost me there as I made my slow walk back to the Marshalls to wait for the game to finish. Needless to say there was our team coming back in dribs & drabs another blow of the whistle game over swap ends now. It was our turn to defend, of we went with our new strategys in place, once in position it was now our turn to watch them make their way up the hills. After a short while they were in range blat, blat, blat I could hear all around me. Air soft is a honour game, own up to your hits. As I fired away - from my hiding point with the enemy dead in my sights, it was as though they had a force field in front of them, they were not taking

their hits I turned my gun round on another group coming up the hill, success this time hands up in the air Im dead was the shout coming from their mouths. Time to feel good but not for long, blat, blat, blat I was dead. A little wait for the whistle, game over. By now I was feeling good with myself as we made our way back to the Marshalls, talking with my team members who had also shot the enemy as they had become known. (Photo right Mike and Martin from the hornet strip a gun down which packed up to fix it in a break) Next game defend the control tower, the Marshalls had decided to swap some of the team members about, this was greeted with much appreciation from the red team which was the newbies, as we had become known. In we went to find our strategic points to defend. A blow of the whistle game on, lots of shouting lots of gunfire keep your head down & fire back when you can. Then BOOM Im dead, grenade through the window, by now I knew what to do, arm in the air walk back to the Marshalls, this went on as the order of the day. After the game had finished, back onto the truck, it was half empty. On the way back someone asked where the rest of them were Oh theyre walking back came the reply a setup were going to be attacked someones says masks on. True enough as we were on our way back to the safe room the lorry stops, ambushed BBS coming in from every direction, we were firing back as best we could. Then the lorry moves again, lots of laughing from inside the lorry. Every one got off the lorry, it was now dinnertime. (photo rightPhil article author shows how to eat a noodle snack pot without a fork) After dinner the remainder of the day was going to be played inside, we were informed by the Marshalls. Dinner time was a short break with the Marshalls again trying to even the sides up more. The building inside was nearly complete darkness. But the hornets had torches, lasers fitted to their guns also they knew the layout of the place, stitched up yet again, but not to worry we were there to have good day which we all did. Once we had been told rules & objectives of game, another blow of whistle, game on this was called defend the ballroom. Which is exactly as it sounds, one team defending the other attacking. This is where I was introduced to my second grenade BOOM, this one seemed even louder than the first but guess what, yes Im dead again. Then it started, how could you throw that grenade, as I had shot you already, shot you I heard from another team member, on my side. As I said earlier, its about honesty shortly after, the whistle blew again. On to the last game of the day, new rules, new objectives more team swapping & we were ready, lots of surprises in store in this game, we were told. Myself and my two sons set of on our mission. Up the stairs we went, trying to find these bits of paper we needed to complete the objective - clearing out the hallways and checking rooms as we went on, some of these were locked. Some were alarmed which meant you were dead, if when you opened the door and the alarm went off. After you had found a piece of paper you handed it to a Marshall who then read it out. We soon found a piece and proudly gave it to a Marshall who read it out, guess what

BOOM YOUR DEAD she read out to us, thats it back to the safe room. On the way back down we ran into a senior player, who had said that the other team had been cheating we were back in the game. Back up the stairs we went same as before, but now we were on the other floor, checking rooms as we went. We got to a room, there were two of the enemy inside (Josh & Steve) god knows why, as the rules didnt say they had to go in them, but only defend them. Needles to say there was a lot of firepower going into the room Im dead we heard, one down, one to go. It was important we cleared this room, so that we could check it for a piece of paper. The second one had been very crafty, hiding inside the cupboard within the room. Sheer firepower forced him out, floor cleared objectives reached. Downstairs now to the ballroom, advancing in the dark BBS flying past you, ricocheting of woodwork and walls all very exciting. Im dead again shot in the back this time, off to the safe room, yet again. Soon after, the whistle goes again thats it day finished. A great day fun had by all, some war wounds, to show each other on the way home. All they talked about was when are we going again. Im sure the others would have had similar days On a closing note if you have never tried this, I recommend it. Thanks to Paul for organizing it & thanks to Phil for driving his minibus there and back a truly enjoyable day
(Jay in his Andy McNab disguise sets off to battle)
Article By Phil Parrish,

Randori or Kata?
By Terry M. Ham Shidoshi
The debate that exist today over which training method is best Sparring, or Kata is not new in anyway. It has existed since the Edo period and was even written about. During the time period of the Sengoku Jidai, the training was very different and not many Ryu Ha ( Japanese schools ) were in existence as they are today. The training was for combat plain and simple, you learned to kill... if a teacher held back from teaching a student then that mistake may have been fatal. After the Sengoku Jidai period ended and Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Japan moved into what later became known as the Edo Period. This time in history is were Ryuha began to multiply and training halls were being opened by many Samurai. The menkyo licensing system was widely used at this time and the schools became more systemized and techniques were organized and placed into order according to the teachers preference.

As time went on some schools felt that Kata training itself was the best method of training, while others did different forms of sparring and resistance training. The main argument being made by some was that many Ryuha were losing there effectiveness. Some masters said that The warrior arts of ages past, had degenerated into - Flowery swordplay... Fujita Toko wrote Training came to be like childs play wherein one studied only Kata . So other schools developed training methods so they could train and prepare for Shinken Shobu which was a real life duel to the death. On a warriors journey or Musha shugyo one would test his abilities against other schools and the Bushi you encountered. Randori continued to became a popular training method and it was not set in stone as to how it was done. The rules were normally agreed upon before hand or some schools actually had Randori no kata sections of study within the system in place, where the randori drills and lessons are learned as a section and listed along side the Kata. Some schools had terms and agreements for the more friendly matches. One was Takagi Yoshin Ryu School in which before a challenge match was fought you would say Ote Yawara Kani which means Let us train with gentle hands but a strong spirit. Another was the Kito Ryu in which they would do a Judo match, implying to spar as gentlemen. This term Judo was recorded and used almost 200 years before Kano entered into his Jujutsu training. A movement was accruing in Japan around the Meiji period to modernize and continue to solidify Japan as a world power. This effected the Japanese people as a whole including the martial artist of the time. Many schools of martial study were coming together to form a unified method of training while at the same time some students of Jujutsu were becoming thugs and bullies. Jigoro Kano was a student of Jujutsu and studied at the Tenshin shinyo Ryu and later the Kito Ryu school from the age of 18 to 22 years. Professor Kano was in a unique position in that he was able to train with two different teachers from the same Ryuha whom one mainly practiced Kata while the other Randori. He also trained with Iikubo Tsunetoshi of Kito Ryu school which emphasized throwing. Kano left and began teaching a method of study he felt was best, later to be called Kano Jujutsu then Kano Judo and finally Kodokan Judo. Ground fighting seemed as time went on to become extremely popular among the Japanese of the time, so much so that Prof. Kano implemented new rules at the Shiai or tournaments to restrict the ground work or Newaza and focused on the throwing. The rule change was that you had to stay moving on the ground and not stall and he limited the Hikikomi waza or drag down

techniques. Prof. Kano felt that Judo should be 15% ground and 85% standing. He was approach by a student who felt it should be 50/50. When Kano disagreed and said it was because you could be kicked while on the ground, the student laid down and said kick me. Kano could not kick the student so he changed his mind to 25% ground but still would not agree to 50/50. Prof. Kano however was a smart man and allowed some schools to continue with the practice of newaza and these schools later on became known unofficially as Kosen Judo. Mitsuyo Maeda (Photo left) was a student of Judo ( Kano Jujutsu as it was called at the time ) and was said to have been told by Prof. Kano himself to focus on the newaza because he was very good at it. Maeda along with a few other Kodokan teachers was sent over seas to spread the art that was to become Kodokan Judo. Maeda having to take a challenge match to defend the teachings of Prof. Kano later decided afterward not to return to Japan. He made his way from America to Spain and eventually reaching Brazil in 1915. Along his journey he had many matches to support himself. These matches were mainly against Boxers and western wrestlers. Maeda later told Norio Kohyama who wrote his biography titled "A Lion's Dream, the Story of Mitsuyo Maeda", that he developed a strategy to deal with these western fighters where he would enter with a strike then do a throw or takedown to finish with a choke or lock. Maeda later teaching Carlos Gracie for about 2 years surely would have imparted his experience. It would seem that the Gracies have continued the tradition that Maeda was apart of in which Randori was a corner stone of training. Takamatsu Sensei believed in Randori as part of his training. We know this as a fact because it was said by Kimura Masaharu ( one of Takamatsus earliest students ) that they would often spar and do randori. Takamatsu sensei would enter for a throw and switch to a joint lock or try for a lock and then quickly change to a throw. In the earlier days of training for Hatsumi sensei, we are told and I am sure many have seen old footage of sparring sessions by Hatsumi Sensei. This goes along with what Hatsumi sensei has said many times before about his teaching and training method being from the Sengoku Jidai period. So the question again is which is best, Randori or Kata? In the end you have to find that answer for yourself. What is best for you is not what is best for

me. I feel it should be balanced personally. One thing that should help to guide you to the answer for yourself is Makokoro or a Sincere Heart if you have this and ask yourself why you train then it will naturally lead you to the correct answer for you. Terry M. Ham Shidoshi Bujinkan Chosui Dojo www.pasadenadojo.com

We now stock various DVD, Tabi, Tabi socks, Kaku Obi, shuriken of various kinds including a newly designed Togakure Ryu Senban. We also . have Bo-shuriken from different Ryu.

Instructors an qualify for 10% discount on large orders (contact prior to ordering to get the discount) Various books such as Paul Richardsons History book and his version of the Tenchijin is available

Tuesday 2nd September Final preparations and dress rehearsals for the demo. All is good and everything looks very well presented. The demo is running at 30 minutes. Roll on the weekend Sunday 7th September We are now studying some Kusarifundo. Paul did some with a chain school in Japan and has done a lot over the past 25 years in the Bujinkan so this was started as our theme weapon for the first time in about 7 years. Lots of twirling and learning how to hold and cast he chain. Tuesday 9th September Paul was away this week. Jay took the class. The basics theme will be Ukemi and Kaiten with a lot of emphasis on learning how to break fall properly and getting those that dont know how to do it or have no confidence in being taken over and them thrown on to the mats encouraged to take the fall and learn how to land properly. Over the next month or so a lot of time will be given to learning how to breakfall, and then we will spend some time only doing throws. Sunday 14th September - Kusari Fundo is our current weapon for Sundays ensnaring the hands and striking at the hands and face while the Uke cuts with a sword was worked on. Very simple movements but easily done if the body is positioned correctly.

www.hanako.co.uk
Tuesday 16th September - Every one is getting lazy with their basics. This class everyone had to perform all the Kihon Happo at least 3 times while Paul took general notes on the good and the bad things that people are doing. Complacency and laziness is easily taking over if the students are not jumped on enough. This bad technique should also be the fault of the teacher as well as the student. The teacher should be watching for bad habits occurring all the time and the student should put some attention in their training to getting things right. Once all had demonstrated Kihon Happo, Paul then went through the g good and bad list pointing out to everyone mainly the bad habits and fixing them then working n what was good so everyone can see what some are doing better than others. Sunday 21st September - We practised Sanshin no kata with Kusari Fundo. Many dont realise that Sanshin no kata is the basis for weapon training in the Gyokko Ryu so what better way to train this than to practise the section its for with a weapon. We worked on two versions of each kata with the Kusarifundo. Its started to get a little cold in the evenings now so we got the legs going with some Keri kaeshi, looking at some of the different ones that appear in the Gyokko Ryu Jo Ryaku No Maki such as the ones in Koku and Renyo etc. Emphasis was placed on getting the knees up and the hips moving and working correctly. Keeping the back (spine) straight was also important so this was constantly pushed with the students. Tuesday 23rd September - Paul Was away at a meeting so Jay took the class. Lots of rolling and basic throws.

TRAINING TIMES: Tuesday 7pm 9pm Sunday 6pm 8pm Ermine United Reform Church, Sudbrooke Drive, Ermine East, Lincoln
is the newsletter of the Bujinkan Lincoln Dojo (UK). This is not an official Bujinkan newsletter. It is also Hanako a free publication, and may be copied and distributed to anyone free of charge, no monies are to be paid for newsletters except for the cost of reproducing the copies. Anyone wishing to submit an article should e-mail it or post it to the addresses below Produced and edited by Paul Richardson (Shidoshi) Bujinkan Lincoln Dojo, 13 Windsor House, Sudbrooke Drive, Lincoln LN22DZ, England. E-mail Umaryu@yahoo.co.uk Telephone (+44) 07975656472 For information regarding the newsletter, training, any comments, or to be added to the mailing list (Mailing list is Bujinkan Lincoln Dojo e-mail based only), please E-mail us at umaryu@yahoo.co.uk 2008ad

Disclaimer. All comments and views made in the articles are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the personal views of the Bujinkan Lincoln Dojo or the Bujinkan Dojo directly. If you have an issue with an article please take it up personally with the author. We dont have time for petty childish Bujinkan Politics.

9 - March 2008

Newsletter for the Bujinkan Lincoln Dojo