Why I left the boards….

September 24, 2007 by editor.

I have been asked privately why it is that I have left the online boards (i.e., Martial Arts Planet, MartialTalk, and Budoseek) after so many years of participation.

It may sound strange, but I have always viewed my participation in the boards as “service” to the Bujinkan community. By and large, there are very few “informed” participants in the online boards. (Remember: rank has nothing to do with “being informed.”) After listening to people who do not know what they were talking about speaking as if they did, I decided to step in and try to best direct the conversation toward the teachings of Hatsumi-sensei.

From this perspective, even when I was “arguing” with someone about something on the boards, I generally was not directing my commentary toward the individual on the other side of the debate. Instead, I was speaking to a larger audience, many of whom are merely lurking, trying to gain an understanding of where to go next and what to do once they got there.

In short, I have always viewed myself as a “social commentator” of the Bujinkan, which also happens to be one of the largest and most eclectic martial arts organizations in the world. Much like wine critics, movie critics, financial analysts act as an “informed intermediary” between “the masses” and the object of interest (i.e., wine, movies, and firms), I reasoned that I could do a lot more “good” if I withdraw from arguing publicly about “which wine is better” and instead focus on merely providing guidance about “the wines that I feel are best.” People do not have to agree with my assessments, just as I do not have to agree with Roger Ebert’s movie reviews, but at least I know where Mr. Ebert stands on a topic.

As anyone who is online knows, staying involved with the boards takes a *TON* of time. If I had been drawing an hourly wage for all the time I put into my posts in the past, I would be a very wealthy man today. :-) LOL! In an online world, if one takes a few days away, then people can interpret it as anything. As an example, Dale Seago recently had a very intense work schedule that took him away from Martial Arts Planet for about two weeks. When his absence became conspicuous, the rumor-mongers started claiming that Dale had “run away from MAP” or “was avoiding the tough questions.”

Huh?!?

The reality, of course, is that Dale wasn’t even around to see the questions; he wasn’t even sleeping due to work! Still, people who do not necessarily have a “right” to demand immediate answers demanded them anyways, and then started framing Dale’s non-response as something that it was not.

For me, the lack of time to be constantly monitoring conversations and engaging in them with alacrity is a key consideration in my departure. With my blog, I can post when I have time to post…and can address issues that I would like to address on my schedule…not on someone else’s.

A second consideration in my decision is that I honestly have grown bored with the repetition of the same conversations over and over and over again.

In particularly, the last two years online have been dominated by “religious arguments” concerning “traditional Bujinkan methods” and “hybrid methods incorporating so-called ‘alive’ training). Frankly, I am completely uninterested in arguing about whose “religion” is better.

I honestly could care less whether some person (1) who I have never met, (2) who does not train my art, and (3) who has no interest in learning my art *THINKS* that his delivery system is “better” than the Bujinkan delivery system.

I HONESTLY DO NOT CARE!!!

I have zero interest in convincing him that the Bujinkan delivery system is “better” than his system.

It is simply *NOT* a debate that I feel is fruitful.

If people train in Aikido, or Tai Chi Chuan, or Gracie Jiujutsu, or Silat….good for them! Go for it! I love *ALL* martial arts…though some more than others. :-)

My job has never been to convince the skeptical audience start training in the Bujinkan.

The Bujinkan has more than enough people already.

A better use of my time is providing guidance to people who (1) already train in the system, and (2) honestly want to know how best to come to understand that system.

Thus, I have decided to use my blog as a vehicle for communicating advice and commentary…on my time.

I hope that clarifies!

-ben

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Hidden Gems of the Bujinkan

September 18, 2007 by editor.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of joining Chris Carbonaro, Oliver Martin and Anthony Lucas for the opening of the new Tanuki Dojo in Long Branch, New Jersey. I was *VERY* impressed with what Chris and Oliver have managed to create since returning from Japan. (Note: Both have 3+ years in Japan learning the basics, speaking with Soke and the Shihan in their native tongue, grasping the “feeling”, and building a solid toolbox of Taijutsu.)

The feeling of the dojo was *EXACTLY* the same feeling as being in Japan, and I wondered why more dojo did not feel this way?

The answer is simple: Too few instructors with sufficient exposure to Japan are teaching, and they are unwilling to admit that they don’t know what the hell they are doing.

This explains the various “identity crises” that seem to pop up every five years or so.

In the mid 1980s, a whole bunch of Shidoshi were convinced that Shoto Tanemura was teaching “the true way” and jumped ship from the Bujinkan to the Genbukan.

Then, in the mid 1990s, a whole bunch of Shidoshi were convinced that Fumio Manaka was teaching “the true way” and jumped ship from the Bujinkan to the Jinenkan.

Now, in the mid 2000s, a whole bunch of Shidoshi are convinced that Kacem Zoughari (under Tetsuji Ishizuka) is teaching “the true way.” It is only a matter of time until these two individuals also leave the Bujinkan, I predict….

The cycle will continue, and in the mid-2010s, we shall see same thing happen again. It’s only natural; this is the teaching of Shinden Fudo Ryu….

The reason for these departures (in all cases) is simple: Each of these teachers is telling people that he is teaching “the true way” and not enough people out there understand Hatsumi-sensei’s budo well enough to know that these claims are simply not true.

They look at Hatsumi-sensei’s budo and all they see is “mush.” Then they figure that they can just do mush and things will work out.

They do not see the control and basics that lay at the heart of Soke’s movement.

So when they do mush, and things do not work out, they blame Hatsumi-sensei or “the Bujinkan” rather than blame themselves.

If you train correctly, as Soke instructs, then your budo will not suck!!!
It’s a very simple solution to a generation-old problem.

The fact is that there are tremendously talented people in the Bujinkan who are grounded in the basics of the Bujinkan, but sadly, the people who need guidance the most do not know who these instructors are. As a result, those who need guidance become attracted to anything that glitters. And, to date, everything that had glittered has oxidized when exposed to the world outside of Soke.

As a service to the online Bujinkan community, I have decided to provide a list of the “hidden gems” of the Bujinkan. These individuals are, in general, relatively or completely unknown to the larger Bujinkan community. Some individuals that I thought everyone would know got me blank stares when I mentioned their names in conversations. Thus the list….

Despite their lack of “brand name,” they hold some of the largest pieces of the Bujinkan puzzle within them, in my opinion.

Note: This list *ONLY* contains individuals whose budo I, bencole, *PERSONALLY* have assessed. I shall continue to add names to the list as I come across individuals who bring something special to the table. This list most certainly is incomplete, but it will only include the “best of the best.”

This list will never become “politicized”; it will remain blunt and honest. As evidence, I have even included a few people who I personally do not like. :-) Whether I like them or not does not change the fact that their budo is good, and that they understand Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu as Hatsumi-sensei teaches.

I highly recommend that people seek these individuals out, either by visiting their dojo or by inviting them out for a seminar.

HIDDEN GEMS OF THE BUJINKAN
compiled by Benjamin Cole

UNITED STATES

Michael Asuncion – Michigan – Moves identically to Nagase-sensei. Best timing that I’ve ever seen!

Bill Atkins – Northern California – Frighteningly good!

Chris Carbonaro – New Jersey – Started his training in Japan with Kamioka-sensei, then went on to train with Nagato-sensei and Hatsumi-sensei. Very solid movement.

Bob Frasier – Hawaii – Fantastic movement, especially for a big guy!

Aric Keith – Washington/Oregon border– Solid, solid Budo.

Oliver Martin – Southern California – Moves identically to Nagato-sensei. Uncanny!!! Solid budo.

Luke Molitor – Texas – The only Shidoshi qualified to teach Bujinkan sword in the U.S., in my opinion. Personal student of three Shihan : Nagato-sensei, Nagase-sensei, and Someya-sensei.

Jeff Mueller – Maryland – Hands down, best ukemi in the United States! Wow!

Dale Seago – Northern California – Spooky movement! His job is to keep others alive, not just himself.

Daniel Weidman – Southern California – Solid Budo and a superb athlete!

.

CANADA

Estelle Padeloup – Montreal – She’s got the kukan!

Manolo Serrano - Montreal - Very solid movement.

.

JAPAN-BASED

Bruce Appleby – Japan/UK – Small and light, but very solid Budo. Extensive translation experience at Hombu.

Robin Doenicke – Japan/Australia – Tall, but light. Great footwork/legwork!

Shawn Gray – Japan/Canada – Movement looking more and more like Shiraishi-sensei every day.

Larry Hamilton – Japan/US – Deep knowledge of both Budo and Japanese.

Rod Hodgkins – Japan/Australia – Big as a bear; light as a feather.

Paul Masse – Japan/US – Wow!!! Best foreigner in Japan, imo.

Pete Reynolds – Japan/US – Everyone should train with Pete! Very sophisticated view of Soke’s movement + An ability to teach that view = Great Stuff!

Craig Olson – Japan/Canada – Solid budo. Extensive translation experience at Hombu.

Doug Wilson – Japan/US – Solid budo. Extensive translation experience at Hombu.

.

EUROPE

Andrew Young – U.K. – “If it is frustrating, it is because you are learning something new.” :-) Extensive translation experience at Hombu.

Renan Perpina – Spain – Light as a feather, but packs a big punch!

Sveneric Bogsater – Sweden – Frighteningly good!

Arnaud Cousergue – France – Frighteningly good!

Lubos Pokorny – Czech Republic – Frighteningly good!

.

OCEANIA

Greg Alcorn – Australia – Solid Budo.

Tim Bathurst – Australia – Solid Budo. Extensive translation experience at Hombu.

Ed Lomax – Australia – Solid Budo.

.

You would be wise to train with any of these individuals…and then *PRACTICE* what they teach you, rather than going back to what you do normally.

*THIS* is the single largest problem with the current state of affairs in the Bujinkan, imo: PEOPLE DON’T PRACTICE WHAT THEY ARE TAUGHT!!!

And this has resulted in craptastic movement throughout the world, and waves of insecurity that manifest with a “new messiah” every five years.

If you train correctly, there will be no need for new messiahs….

Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is an “integrated body system” (much like Systema) and *NOT* a “technique-based art” (like most Koryu).

People are confused by this because, on the surface, the Bujinkan has “techniques” like Koryu schools, so people naturally believe that it is a “technique-based art.”

This is not the case at all.

The techniques exist to teach an integrated body system.

*THIS* is the focus of Hatsumi-sensei’s teachings, so *THIS* is what we need to train to understand.

I would like to wrap up with the following anecdote from training at Nagato Dojo in Japan.

One day during training, Nagato-sensei said to me, “Ben. Your foot is in the wrong place. Move it over there.”

I slid my foot. “Here?” I asked.

“No. There.” Nagato answered.

I moved my foot the place Nagato pointed, then asked, “Why here?”

Nagato answered, “Because that’s where your foot should be.”

I nodded and continued training.

About two months later, Nagato-sensei again told me to move my foot to a different location. I did, and then I (dumbly) asked, “Why?” again.

Nagato-sensei again said, “Because that’s where your foot should be.”

Over time, I came to understand that was where my foot should be, and I didn’t need to ask why. It was evident in the progress of my budo.

My teacher told me what I should do, and I did it. And my budo began to improve as a result.

The Bujinkan would benefit at large from more people doing what “good” instructors tell them to do, rather than nodding their heads during the seminar, and the reverting back to the same poor practices with which they’ve diseased themselves….

With the individuals on this list, there is no longer a reason to have crap Taijutsu anymore.

Any one of them can cure you of your “crap Taijutsu disease,” if you will allow them to treat you as a patient.

-ben

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