Month: April 2015

Session Log April 25, 2015

[av_four_fifth first] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”] One night, early last week, I was browsing through Someya-Sensei’s book “Kakushibuki jutsu Nyumon”, and discovered a section with techniques that looked very familiar to skills I learned about 30 years ago during Wado-ryû karate-jutsu class (I never learned those in Shotokan or Gensei-ryu). I am referring to the Shuto jutsu (手刀) techniques, explained from page 50 and up. Today, I decided to explore and dissect some of the techniques from the still images in the book. These techniques are very close to tegatana or te-waza in older forms of karate. After a while, I realized that the techniques contain footwork that is rare in modern karate-do, much more relaxed and shorter than in most Japanese karate. Some of the footwork and hand techniques almost look more like they were inspired by methods such as those from Motobu-Sensei, going back to the Okinawan origin of karate-jutsu (or kenpo) rather than karate-do. Besides seeming very effective defensive techniques, they also feel like they were intended to prepare hand and arm, as well as hip and foot for working with Shoken-jutsu and other Kakushi buki. Although I only explored a few techniques, we will definitely incorporate these skills into the Saskatchewan Keikokai curriculum, as recommended by Otsuka-Sensei. I find it fascinating that there are always new doors opening in the world of Budo, sometimes hidden in books, other times hidden in plain sight. [/av_textblock] [/av_four_fifth] [av_comments_list] [av_social_share title=’Share this entry’ style=” buttons=” share_facebook=” share_twitter=” share_pinterest=” share_gplus=” share_reddit=” share_linkedin=” share_tumblr=” share_vk=” share_mail=”][/av_social_share]

Session April 18, 2015

[av_one_full first]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
Participants: Kelvin, Chris.

Today, we had two sessions. Earlier in the day, I decided to use materials that I had on hand to build an outside shuriken target. I did not want to make a permanent target, since my son often plays in the backyard and has friends over. Over the wood, I installed 3 layers of used puzzle-mats. On top of that, I placed the actual target mat. This way, the shuriken does not penetrate the wood as much, which preserves the tip much better.

First session: After the target was build (in the rain), I practiced nikyu waza, focusing on shomen-uchi and gyaku-uchi from 1.5 ken. The birds, who had arrived earlier in the morning, sang a nice song and were eagerly looking for seeds. After about 1 hour, it started to rain heavily, and therefore discontinued the training.

Second session: A few hours later, Kelvin joined for indoor-training. We focused on Gokyu waza, going through all kamae, tenouchi, zanshin, and reiho. Performing technique, we spent quite some time on ashi-sabaki and hip movement. Kelvin’s skill really improved during this hour.

Next session: Tuesday April 21, 2015, 7:oopm
[/av_textblock]

[/av_one_full][av_one_third first]
[av_image src=’https://meifushinkageryu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/target2-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’23516′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ animation=’no-animation’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’][/av_image]

[av_image src=’https://meifushinkageryu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/target-3-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’23513′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ animation=’no-animation’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’][/av_image]
[/av_one_third]

[av_one_third]
[av_image src=’https://meifushinkageryu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/target-1-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’23512′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ animation=’no-animation’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’][/av_image]

[av_image src=’https://meifushinkageryu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/target-5-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’23515′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ animation=’no-animation’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’][/av_image]
[/av_one_third]

[av_one_third]
[av_image src=’https://meifushinkageryu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/target-4-845×684.jpg’ attachment=’23514′ attachment_size=’gallery’ align=’center’ animation=’no-animation’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’][/av_image]

[av_image src=’https://meifushinkageryu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/junco-1-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’23517′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ animation=’no-animation’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’][/av_image]
[/av_one_third]

Session March 31, 2015

Participants: Darren, Chris.

This session was about 1.5 hours long. We started with reflection on the seminar, and shared tips, adaptations, and exercises that Otsuka-Sensei had shared with each of us. We then briefly discussed a way to setup a “semi-permanent” target stand for use outside. Techniques we trained focused mainly on shuriken-jutsu: shomenuchi from various distances, as well as gyaku-uchi from 1 ken.

We also did a trial run with the online collaboration system, to allow other participants to “virtually” attend our training sessions when they are not available for in-person training in La Ronge. Chris discussed this with Otsuka-Sensei beforehand as an opportunity for connecting our more distant Saskatchewan Keikokai members. The virtual system turns out to only have a delay of about 1/2 of a second, with crystal clear (almost) live video. An excellent way of training together over longer distances, especially when each of us are on the road so often. It does not replace in-person training though, and each member understands the requirement for frequent group training sessions.

Chris also created a training log for each member, consisting of a Moleskine Cahier. In this journal, participants reflect on their training sessions (group training and individual training), document which techniques were trained on, and keep track of their training hours. This was done to allow the minimum training period of 3 months per Kyu level become  meaningful, since there is a difference between a participant training 3 times per week during a 3-month stretch, and a participant who trains once per 2 weeks in the same stretch. We believe the focus is on quality, quantity, and effort combined.