Japanese Martial Arts

For anyone interesting in starting classes at any one of our locations throughout N.J. and N.Y.  or would like to host Carbonaro Shihan for a seminar please write an email to chris@bjkninja.com 

Also Please visit www.bjkninja.com and fill out our contact form and get a free training manual!

Ukemi

Gyogyo no kata

Kihon Happo

Sankakujime

Ketsumyaku (gyokko ryu)

Ippon Nage

Setsuyaku (Shinden Fudo Ryu)

Henka

Jissen Gata

Tachi

For anyone interesting in starting classes at any one of our locations throughout N.J. and N.Y.  or would like to host Carbonaro Shihan for a seminar please write an email to chris@bjkninja.com 

Also Please visit www.bjkninja.com and fill out our contact form and get a free training manual!

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Over the past few years, there seems to have been more of an emphasis on basics in Japan. One of the first times I heard about this, is when there was a lot of talk about how people who are coming to Japan wearing a black belt; yet they cannot even sit in seiza. When Kamioka-san was teaching me basics when I first started, he was very strict about being flexible, and having good Kamae. Kamioka-san is still very much this same way today.  

In 2008 Noguchi Shihan started teaching more basic classes, taking everyone through the Ten Chi Jin of the Shinden Kihon Gata. Noguchi Shihan still continues these classes today. If you are lacking in your basics, or even if you do not think you are, you should attend these classes. Many people take wild ukemi, and although it looks great, it serves no purpose for being able to attack back. This is very important. One must take ukemi to be able to survive. Surviving may also call for a Kaeshi Waza (Reversal Technique). If you take wild, flashy ukemi, you will not be able to reverse a technique.

On my last trip to Japan Noguchi Sensei performed Hidari Tobi Waza. He told everyone that if you cannot leap like this, that you should take off your black belt. Nagato Sensei said the same thing about being able to do gyaku waza. He said that if you could not perform omotegyaku, that you should take off your black belt.

What does this mean to you? Can you do tobi waza? Can you perform gyaku waza? I believe that we all need to re-exam the way we train. Because of this, I have changed the structure of my class, to include the first 45 minutes which is made up of Ukemi, Gogyo no Kata, and the Kihon Happo. These sets of techniques are essential in your training, because these are the most important things to learn. If you know these three sets of techniques, you can perfom just about any waza. That being said, it is also important to train the feeling, because if you only do one or the other it is not good either. Budo, like life is a struggle of balance. When I train waza, I train them with the mind set of Jissen Gata. I do not just train the waza to perform a movement. I first look at where to move to get out of the way of the opponents second punch. I am also looking at how to keep the opponent off balance at all times, both physically and mentally. This is important. Many people just train the waza to learn a series of movements or techniques. However, without the mindset of Jissen Gata, you will never learn how to defend yourself or others.

It is important to have the right heart (magokoro) as well as the right mind (magokoro). By doing so, one can learn to move freely in the space.

Sincerely,

Chris Carbonaro

Bujinkan Shihan

www.bjkninja.com

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Ukemi

Gyogyo no kata

Kihon Happo

Sankakujime

Ketsumyaku (gyokko ryu)

Ippon Nage

Setsuyaku (Shinden Fudo Ryu)

Henka

Jissen Gata

Hanbo/Tachi

For anyone interesting in starting classes at any one of our locations throughout N.J. and N.Y. Please visit www.bjkninja.com and fill out our contact form and get a free training manual!

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Ukemi

Gyogyo no kata

Kihon Happo

Sankakujime

Ketsumyaku (gyokko ryu)

Henka

Jissen Gata

For anyone interesting in starting classes at any one of our locations throughout N.J. and N.Y. Please visit www.bjkninja.com and fill out our contact form and get a free training manual!

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On Feburary 20-21st, old faces and new faces got together for the grand opening of Eastern Martial Arts Center. Jay Zimmerman and Chris Carbonaro shared their latest training experiences. It was a wonderful blend of jissen gata from the kihon as well as from the free flowing side.
 
Several of us recently returned from Japan a few weeks before the seminar and I will tell you, it was a lot like being back in hombu dojo. We covered quite a bit of taijutsu, as well as, hanbo and taichi. The same themes we covered in our trip.
 
There was several significant things pulled from the seminar. One, was to use the concepts you learn in kihon and apply in a jissen gata style. That was a big point in several classes we attended in Japan. Two, was how important basics were. Although much of the training was somewhat “advanced”, looking around I realized very quickly how much all of us need to work on basics. Many of us are encumbered by seeing things that we think are new, but in reality the “new” is just peices of what we learn from the kihon. We just need to devolp or basics until they are second nature and we need to develop the eyes to see this in the techniques others demonstrate.
 
It was eye-opening!
 
It was so fantastic to see friends from near by and far away.
 
Please don’t mix the next opportunity for training at this level, pay attention to our calender for upcoming events at our dojo!

 
Doug Tweedy

Bujinkan Shidoshi

http://easternmartialartscenter.com/

If you are interested in training in the Bujinkan, please visit www.bjkninja.com and fill out our contact form!

Sincerely,

Chris Carbonaro

Bujinkan Shihan

www.bjkninja.com

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I have never been one to harp on etiquette, however I now realize the importance of it, and I have started to impliment more etiquette at my dojo as well as my seminars. When living in Japan, it is easy to be in the right mindset to train, because the country of Japan has it’s own feeling of how to act. This feeling could be felt as soon as you get off the plane. The country of Japan is based on a military system. This comes from the way of the Samurai. Even today in the business world, you will find many etiquettes still being practiced. Although we may not be Japanese, it is important for us to have the Japanese mind set while training martial arts. After all the Bujinkan is a Japanese martial art. Soke has mentioned this alot lately.

“If we truly want to understand the Bujinkan Martial Arts, we have to first understand that it is a Japanese Martial Art. Second, we should not put our own thoughts and ideas into the training, and I am still learning from my teacher.” (Soke Massaki Hatsumi)

When students of the dojo are not in the right mindset to train,  there are many openings in there techniques. The whole essence of Soke and Nagato Sensei’s training, is to have no openings. We start by doing this by learning how to punch and kick correctly. After that, we then need to learn how to defend correctly. We must always keep our opponent off balance as well. If not then your opponent will be able to attack back.

Soke and I were talking about this very thing in Japan a few weeks ago. I explained to him that many people train slow, and try to control the opponent, but that is the hardest part isn’t it Sensei? Soke then told me that if you do not control your opponent well, he will counter attack.

Many people like to get together to have fun. However, we should train more with the mind of survival and less play in our movement until we reach 11 12 13 14 15 dan ranks. Here is what Soke has said about the ranks in the Bujinkan:

“Up until 5th dan, everyone should be using power and taking this time to build up your body. This is because you are still training in the basics at this level.” “From 5th dan until 10th dan, you should be training in various techniques, henka.”Once you reach 11th dan, then you should move like me.”

These points are very important for our training. Friendships will be made, however, the focus of training should be on survival (Jissen Gata).

Keep going!

Sincerely,
Chris Carbonaro
Bujinkan Shihan

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Bujinkan Class and Seminar Etiquette
These are 10 unwritten rules of training that are being practiced in Japan.
Adhering to these rules will ensure fun and safe training for everyone.

1. Always address the instructor as Sensei: Man or female, addressing your teacher or anyone teaching a seminar or class you attend, the instructor should always be referred to as Sensei. Depending on Rank, the following are appropriate “Sensei (Reserved for the head of your dojo), Last name Sensei, Last name Shihan, Last name Shidoshi” Example: Sensei (Masaaki Hatsumi), Nagato Sensei, Noguchi Shihan, Senno Shihan, Oguri Shihan.

2. Show up to training on-time: During which you should pay for the class, then get changed and stretch before training begins.

3. Show up with the proper training attire: Everyone should bring the following to training every time. One t-shirt to be worn under one black Gi top; showing proper rank whenever possible. One pair of black Gi bottoms. The proper color belt and indoor tabi.

4. If you are not teaching, you should be training: The reason for going to someone’s class or seminar is to learn. Therefore, everyone should be training during the seminar. No one should be walking around and trying to teach people what the instructor is doing. This is the job of the instructor.

5. When asked to show a technique: If you are asked to show a technique, the proper etiquette is to go to the middle of the floor, show a technique without speaking, and then sit back down, unless otherwise specified by the instructor.

6. Mimic the instructor’s movement: In order to learn, you must be able to follow what the instructor is doing. If not, you are only doing your own technique. Doing this is no benefit, because nothing new is being learned. After one goes back to his or her dojo, they can then explore the techniques they learned with their own taijutsu. While the teacher is teaching, you should sit in seiza. After the techniques are shown, you should bow once. By doing so, this indicates to the instructor that you are listening as well as paying attention to what is being taught.

7. Shut up and train: Talking should be kept to a minimum. Only share your thoughts or feeling if told to do so by the instructor. Never just shout out your own thoughts or feelings. This is very disrespectful to the instructor. The dojo is a place for training. The more talking one does, the less training they are doing. Learn how to train while keeping talking to a minimum. This will also ensure that you are training and not just hanging around.

8. Do not ask the instructor to show you a technique: The Japanese learn by using the eyes. Techniques will be done to the uke the instructor chooses. One must be at a good level in order to receive these techniques. Uke’s will be picked according to the level they can receive a technique.

9. Clean up and pay before you leave: When training is over, and before you change, everyone should pick up any garbage around them. All weapons should be placed back where they were taken from. This should all be done before any goes to change their clothes. Make sure that if you were not able to pay in the beginning that all money is paid before changing as well.

10. No photography or videotaping allowed: Photo and video taken is prohibited unless permission from the instructor has been received. The reason for this is because video taping and photography disrupts and interferes with everyone’s training

Respect the dojo, the instructor, and your training partner: By adhering to these rules, it will ensure that respect is being shown at all times. Although there are more etiquette than listed above, adhering to these rules listed will be accepted in all dojos accross the globe. Therefore, it is important to practice good etiquette in order to cultivate a good budo spirit. Although each dojo does things slightly different, you should follow the etiquette of the class or seminar based on the teacher.

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Some of the members of the Tanuki, Shima and Hidden Mountain Bujinkan dojo traveled to Japan for our yearly training with Soke and the Shitenno.  Soke was unable to make class on the Friday that we arrived, so both Noguchi and Senno Shihan taught class together. This was the first time ever two of the Shitenno taught class together.

My teacher Nagato Sensei brought up a good yet interesting point during the break in one of our classes. Nagato Sensei said, “I am not sure why, but is seems that when everyone comes to Japan to train it is like a cleansing takes place.” “The Hombu dojo is like a clinic, and everyone who comes here to train gets cured after coming here.” I find this to be very true. I have been lucky to have so many of my friends and students travel with me to Japan.

 I have been studying martial arts for 18 years now, starting with Tae Kwon Do under Grandmaster Sung Bok Nam, Aikido with a teacher who studied with the Ueshiba dojo in Japan, and Ed Parkers Kenpo Karate under Paul Dye. I was fortunate enough to fulfill my childhood dream of living and training martial arts in Japan. I am happy that my students are able to take part in this wonderful budo training called Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.

 Soke was very Genki, and really stressed the importance of everyone going out to buy a tachi to train with. He explained that if people do not buy a tachi, that they can never get good at using one. Soke puts out themes for us to study each year, and it is important for us to follow that.

(The tachi I bought on Soke’s request, and a painting from Nagato Sensei)

Soke also mentioned that he will begin the construction of the new Hombu Dojo next year. Soke really hopes that all the Jugodan will get together, to teach there, and for everyone to train with the Jugodan from around the world.  We had a very interesting chain of events on Sunday’s class with Soke. After Duncan gave Shidoshi Doug Tweedy from the Shima Dojo a shimenawa for his dojo, Soke saw the shimenawa in Doug’s bag, and handed him a large Okazari for Doug’s new dojo as well. If you plan on attending Doug’s grand opening seminar this weekend, you will see the Okazari hanging up in the front office. Doug’s wife Michelle Tweedy passed her godan test with a perfect test for both Michelle and Morton, the one who gave her the test.

 After speaking with Soke on the side, I explained to him that Doug was having his grand opening seminar, and it was great for him to receive the Okazari from Soke. Soke spoke with Doug for a while, and after finding out Doug has been training for 10 years, Soke promoted him to 8^th Dan. Soke then promoted me to 12^th dan as well. The Bujinkan also received recognition in the Japanese news paper under the name of Togaure Ryu Ninpo. One of the Japanese female practitioners was attacked and used her Taijutsu and an umbrella to defeat her attacker. This brought up another conversation between Soke, Chief and me. I was explaining to Soke that Chief understood very well about these types of situations. After some more conversation, Soke then promoted Chief to 7^th dan.

During this class, Soke called me out as Uke, and I threw two punches, and thought I hit Soke. So much to the point that my heart felt like it was going to explode, because I thought I struck Soke. Soke then asked me to explain what I had felt. On Tuesday night training, Soke was using his fingers a lot. The feeling was that of Tamashii. Soke found some very painful points on my face, and the right side of my face swelled up.

On Thursday, I took some photos with Nagato Sensei, and he also grabbed my face. My face then swelled up even more. The swelling and pain on my face did not go down until one week later. We have to realize that budo involves combat, and training is sometimes unbearable. However, we as budoka find a familiar bond with one another through our training. It always amazes me that so many people from around the world travel to train with Soke. In the presence of Soke, it seems that everyone is bonded like a brotherhood, no matter what everyone’s individual agenda maybe. Soke is like glue that is holding us altogether. I am very happy to have met so many great people since I started studying martial arts. I am looking forward to training another 50 years, and I hope everyone will continue to do the same. I have been invited to teach at Doug Tweedy’s grand opening seminar along with my good friend Jay Zimmerman. It looks like we are going to have a huge turnout and I am looking forward to meeting up with new and old friends.

I truly wish that more people will come to understand the importance of training budo. If we look at the Juppo Sessho Kuji, it teaches us to erase ourselves from danger. We cannot fight what we cannot see, hear, or understand. Soke also made mention of the importance of having luck in one’s life.

Sincerely,

Chris Carbonaro

Bujinkan Shihan

www.bjkninja.com

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                        (Kagami Mochi)

I find it very interesting that in Japan, they have what is called a Bonnenkai. Bonnenkai is written with the Kanji 忘 wasureru (To Forget)  and 年 toshi (Year).  So litterally, Bonnenkai means a gathering to forget the year. I find this to be linked with the teachings of the Bujinkan. Soke is always telling us to forget the technique, forget power, forget strength, the feeling is what is most important. I feel that often times, people hold grudges and continue to feel pain from events that have taken place in their lives. I think the end of the year is a great way to forget those things that have happened in the past, and look to the bright future of tommorrow. Many people tend to look at this as a metaphor. People do the same with their training. However, what we should be doing is incorporating the teachings of budo into our everyday life.

Every class we begin and end with the words “Shiken Haramitsu Daikomyou” this too is about a new beginning. When we come to the dojo, we need to be focused. If we lose focus, serious injuries can occur. Therefore, we have to clear our minds, and get ready to train. This is why it is important to get to class early, warm up and be ready to go once the teacher says “Line Out.” We must have a sense of urgency and awarness when we are in the dojo. Too many people either talk to much or are always looking around. However, everyone should be focused and ready to train. After all, we are learning warfare are we not? If we can focus in the dojo, we can focus at our jobs, we can focus when we drive, we can focus when we cook. Focus is a very important aspect of our everyday lives. Without proper focus and concentration, lives can be lost.

We conducted training last night by having the shidoshi show a technique. We would then run through some henka, but never get caught up with the technique. This is the same as forgetting the technique, forget the grudge, forget the pain, just keep going. Although it is important to have good technique, being an expert martial artist or marksmen can not save you in the face of terror. This is why it is so important for us to train. Training is something that all humans should do. Not only martial arts training, but all types of training such as sports, drawing, meterology, etc. We can always better ourselves through good, hard, training. Soke mentioned the importance of the Juppo Sessho Kuji. He has asked that all the Judan practice this. It is important, because the idea of the Juppo Sessho Kuji is to make yourself zero. Soke explained that no matter how good of a martial artist you are, you can not fight your way out of a building that gets blown up. The only thing you can do is to not be in the building when a bomb goes off. This is just one of the many teachings of budo. In the movie Avatar, after Jake loses his gun, he gets a stick and makes a spear. Soke often talks about this as well. This is why we train with traditional weapons. In the event that technology is lost, we must be able to survive. We all rely on technology, but we see how easy it is to jam cell phones, hack computers, and overide software. The idea of budo training is to become one with your natural self.

In the middle of class, we take a tea break. This is done in Japan as well. It is important not to get caught up with fighting, because too much fighting and even too much training can make you ill. Nagato sensei often says that it is not good to train too much. That is why it is important to show up to class when class is held. That is the time that is set for training. Training at class will help to keep balance in your life. Of course you should do training on your own to get better, but you should not become obsessed with training. Next year is the theme of  Tachi (Sword). There is a saying, that it is important for you to control your sword and not to let your sword control you. The reason for this, is because when you use your sword to often (killing with it), you can become diseased and lust for the thought and chance to use your sword again. This is why it is important not to use martial arts or your sword unless you have not choice. Many people become addicted to killing once they kill someone or something. Therefore if you have to kill someone, it is important to pray for them. This will keep  you sain.  Therefore, it is important to take a break from training, calm the excitment and enjoy some tea. Tea break is also a good way to get to know the people in your dojo. I used to never take breaks when training. Sometimes we would train 4 or 5 hours straight. However, after this year 2009, I feel that importance of making connections and good relationships with people. Again this is the goal or point of our budo training!

(From the Tanuki Dojo Students Happy New Year!)

Thank you to everyone who is, has been, and will be a part of the bujinkan training, and especially the Tanuki Dojo. I feel that the true meaning of Nawa no Kanaku was expressed over the year of the Ox 2009. Now it is time to all this feeling, and these realtionship to be carried by the Martial Wind (武風一貫). It is now time to start the year of the Tiger 2010. We are looking foward to seeing all the Tanuki Dojo members as well as the Maten Dojo members, and any other Bujinkan member or dojo in the area gathering for the Shinnen Keiko-Kai 2010 on January 9th at the Tanuki Dojo. For more information and to sign up for this event, please follow this link http://bjkninja.com/shinnenkeikokai.html.

良いお年を来年も宜しくお願いします

This year was great, let’s have another great year next year!

Sincerely,

Chris Carbonaro

Bujinkan Shihan

www.bjkninja.com

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