Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu Kaeru Dōjō

The art of Gyokko Ryū is said to not rely on force or strength. That through proper learning one can develop the ability to knock down an opponent with the power of a finger.

By studying the techniques (kata) correctly we can learn how to use skills that allow us to defeat larger, stronger opponents. Even when old and frail.

Come along and study the nine schools of the Bujinkan in Torbay.

At the base of the martial arts is the fundamentals. Within the Gyokko Ryū, these are the Kihon Happō.

Tonight in the dōjō we will be working on the fundamentals found within Gyokko Ryū and how we can learn from them.

Come along and learn.

What people call the basics encourages them to learn once then leave them alone for more advanced techniques. Never to be touched again.

Instead if we reframe them as fundamentals we look at them as the firm building blocks that help us develop and grow. We should not ignore them. We should revisit, review, and revise them to maintain a strong base.

We must make sure that we are practicing our fundamentals correctly. Not using strength to force something that isn't working. Not using speed to hide poor technique. Not changing it because we don't understand it.

Tonight in the dōjō we will be revisiting the fundamentals. So why not come along and try it out?

There is a fascination with martial arts that being the strongest or the fastest is the best. But how often is strategy neglected?

Within the Bujinkan, the aim of the kata (techniques) is to learn strategy and principles that transcend strength and speed. These lessons should serve as well at 70 as they do at 18.

The only barrier to martial arts is in your mind. If you think you are too slow, too old, or too out of shape, then try a different martial art.

So why not come along and try Bujinkan which is a mixture of nine different martial arts schools in one?

When people talk about Ninjutsu, they often conjure up the images of the old Sho Kosugi movies. People dressed in all black sneaking through the dark and assassinating others.

How about you come to the dōjō and learn avout the truth of the Japanese Ninjas and Samurai?

In the Bujinkan, previously is has been talked about how riding the ninja boom of the 80s was helpful to spread the awareness around the organisation, but that continued association was harming the goal of the Buiinkan.

So under Hatsumi Sōke's guidance the name was changed from Ninpō Taijutsu (body arts of ninjutsu strategy) to Budō Taijutsu (body arts of the way of war).

This was done to promote that the art was to be taken more serious and was to seek higher understandings of the Budō arts holistically.

In training we look at studying the kata (forms) and waza (techniques) of the nine different schools of the Bujinkan. Often we are asked what is the point in learning the kata and waza?

The point is to learn the lessons passed down through the generations to us hidden within the forms and techniques. Lessons which can only be passed down through correct training and understanding.

Studying from a book or a video can't teach you the same way that training in person with a knowledgeable instructor can. You need to learn from the direct lineage of master to student where it is correctly taught.

So come to training in the dōjō and learn properly the mysteries and secrets of the martial arts of the ninja and the samurai.

This time last year we were hosting Merlyn Sensei for the one year celebration. What a great time it was to train.

Due to personal reasons (all good things), we haven't arranged anything to celebrate two years of Kaeru Dōjō.

So I wanted to say thank you to everyone who supports, follows, and engages with the Dōjō. Hope for many more years of training official and certified Budō Taijutsu in Torquay/Torbay.

Takagi Yoshin Ryū is often referred to as a school for bodyguards. Part of this is learning how the techniques we learn one on one can be applied as a team.

Don’t forget that outside of a sporting setting, a majority of fighting does not occur one-on-one, so as martial artists we should be prepared for how fighting asymmetrically impacts both the larger number and the lesser number.

Tonight we are continuing to look at Takagi Yoshin Ryū as it is the theme for the month. Why not come along and check it out.

Within martial arts there are forms (kata) and techniques (waza). The aims of these is to teach the learner certain lessons.

Further to this each has an outer (omote) and inner (ura). While many see the outer and think they understand, it is only through struggling with the forms and techniques can the inner and full understanding be gained by the learner.

So why not come along to training and work through the forms and techniques of Bujinkan? Learn the lessons of the ninja and samurai of ancient Japan in modern Torquay.