There’s an interesting post at Mr. Hayes‘ Blog. Some students from Texas did a school report on him and their teacher suggested they contact him. He’s answering their questions at his blog. Read it here.
Enjoy
Dennis
Shinobi Martial Arts
95 Plaistow Road, Plaistow NH
When talking to students about meditation and the mind sciences we study in our art I have noticed two sides of the same question. It seems to come from western science on one side and religion on the other asking the same thing; “How can I explain the things we study within the framework of my science/religion?”
As a former engineering student and catholic I was very interested in this question early on in my training when my teacher, Mark Davis, gave me a simple Chi Kung exercise to help deal with hitting the ground rather hard on one of his throws. This one drill lead me to a fifteen year search of religious and scientific explanations of the skills I was learning in our art.
To get into all the information I found over the years to support what we are being taught is beyond this post but I have found two videos that have helped me immensely understand both from a western scientific perspective and a western religious perspective. The first for the scientific side is “What the Bleep Do We Know?” (Mark Davis suggested this one) and the second for the religious side is “One” both are available here.
If you just want to learn more about them first go here.
Enjoy the trip.
Dennis
Shinobi Martial Arts
95 Plaistow Rd. Plaistow NH
Ninjutsu is unique in the martial arts because it is about understanding the principles of nature and how to use them to be safe and happy. This seminar is a chance for you to get a sneak peak at the things you can learn here at Shinobi Martial Arts. Each of you is on your own personal journey to martial arts excellence so join us to see just how far you can go!
Saturday
January 24th 2009
9:30am – 2:00pm
95 Plasitow Road, Plaistow NH
I don’t think you can label what we do.
It can’t be a set of techniques or a way of training because Dr. Hatsumi’s TenChiJin no Maki of the Bujinkan, Mr. Hayes’s Marishi Kai Program from the Bujinkan and his current To-Shin Do Program are all teaching the same ‘thing’ with appropriate techniques and teaching methods for their audience.
If you look at the classical systems we study, their histories and philosophies vary. A Kuki Shinden Ryu fighter looks very different from a Togakure Ryu fighter on the surface. But they share that same ‘thing’.
I believe what we are studying is a path, a path to tatsujin (fully actualized human being). That path includes lessons on how to survive in a fight. It includes that ‘thing’, the truth about fighting.
You know it when you see it; movement that is so natural it’s almost imperceptible. The person doesn’t seem to be doing anything but the technique happens as if it were no different than a leave falling from a tree.
There’s no great effort or force needed it just happens. I don’t think the technique or the system is the reason for it, I think it’s the understanding of that particular person. I’ve seen people demonstrate ‘kata’ from our lineage that have no concept of how to actually do them.
Yet I’ve met friends of my teacher Mark Davis (Nema who studies kung fu and Kenny De Jesus who was the senior student of Remy Presas) who move with a natural power that is both beautiful and frightening to see. They’re doing what we study they just took a different path to get there. But once there it is all the same, the natural truth of fighting.
If you watch the “Everybody Needs A Ninja” video you can see it as Mr. Hayes effortlessly drops the yari onto Shane Stevens’ neck before he can move. Or as James Norris gently lifts his leg knocking Shane (again being uke: best way to learn Shane) into to an arm bar take down without any tension. This is what we do or more acurately what we don’t do but make happen.
Just my thoughts…
Dennis
Shinobi Martial Arts
95 Plaistow Rd. Plaistow NH
