Plans for 2010
Rock climbing on November 26th
Rock climbing is an excellent form of supplementary training- it conditions the arms, legs, grip, coordination, and stamina. In addition, you must always focus on what you are doing in the present moment. And with the rope knowledge and climbing, it's probably the most "ninja" sport around! So, as a last kind of "field trip", we will be visiting Coyote Rock Gym on Friday, November 26th, at 7:30PM. If you wish to attend, please contact the Dojo for details. On request, we may meet at the Heron Road Community Centre before going to the gym.
Koto Ryu Hekito-Gata begins November 15th
In mid-November, we will start the final scroll of Koto Ryu Koppojutsu: the Hekito-Gata, or "forms (that are) barriers against a sword". This is a type of Muto Dori, which are unarmed combat techniques against an opponent armed with a sword. There are numerous techniques of entering, striking, disarming and grappling an opponent to neutralize his lethal katana; however, without excellent taihenjutsu, or body movement, these will not work. The Hekito-Gata are the highest expression of Koto Ryu Koppojutsu.
Jinen Ryu Kenjutsu begins October 20th
After months of practicing Tantojutsu (dagger/knife technique), we will return to the core of our "blade arts".
Jinen Ryu Bikenjutsu is our primary school of Kenjutsu (traditional Japanese sword technique); specifically, the name means "secret sword method of the School of Nature". It was created by Manaka "Unsui" Sensei to distill the lessons he both had been taught, and derived himself, for teaching the art of the sword.
Our sword art is divided into five bodies of teachings, or "scrolls", after the old sense. They mirror the famous Gorin no Sho ("Book of Five Rings") of Miyamoto Musashi; students begin in the Chi no Maki, or "Scroll of Earth", which appropriately contains the foundations. From there, they progress through increasingly advanced techniques and principles. Practitioners familiar with both Kukishin Ryu Kenjutsu and Togakure Ryu Ninja Biken can see where Sensei drew on these martial traditions to create an authentic sword method with a rational teaching progression.
Jinen Ryu Bikenjutsu's primary weapon is the single katana, the famous dai-to (literally, "long sword") of the samurai and bushi of feudal Japan. Students and enthusiasts considering joining the Jinenkan Ottawa Dojo are encouraged to have their own bokken ("wooden sword") for solo practice, as well as a fukuro shinai- a leather-covered training sword made from one piece of split bamboo- for partner practice. A fukuro shinai can be purchased from the Jinenkan Webstore. If you have any questions, please contact the Dojo for details.
Hanbojutsu starts on June 6th!
Sunday classes in Bojutsu will soon see a new addition. We will be adding Hanbojutsu, the "technique of the half-staff/stick", to complement our regular trainng. The Hanbo, also called the San-Jyaku-Bo can be translated as "half-staff" or "three-foot staff", respectively. Traditionally this art was derived for situations in which a longer wooden pole or weapon was cut down by a sword; to a modern sensibility, any cane or walking stick-length pole could also be used to execute these techniques. The Hanbo complements the longer Rokushaku Bo; it emphasizes reaction and entering in close.
For regular students, no additional equipment is necessary; if you are interested in joining us for this topic, please contact us for details.
For a more in-depth look at this martial art, please read our Primer on Hanbojutsu.
Report on the Tulip Festival Demonstration
On May 24th, we performed at the 2010 Canadian Tulip Festival, thanks to an invitation from the Ottawa Japanese Comunity Association. Victoria Day Monday was unusually hot and humid for this time of year in Ottawa; it was a lot like being back in Japan.
In the past, the Victoria Day weekend is often cold and rainy; this time, the main stage, which is matte black and draped in black cloth, was like an oven by the time we began in mid-afternoon. Nevertheless, we had practiced carefully, and were ready to demonstrate the classical martial arts of feudal Japan.
We started with Classical Jujutsu; I took the lead in applying locks and throws to my partner. He and I had put a lot of practice into working out how to make the movements big enough to be seen at a distance. I honestly wasn't able to take the time to observe the audience, but judging from what I could hear of their reaction, I think it was well-received.
But my students had responded enthusiastically to the idea of the demonstration, and had trained hard to be part of it. Two of them are musicians; they naturally like being on stage! So, I took the role of the receiving partner and wielded the sword against them in displays of Kodachi, Bojutsu, Juttejutsu, and Kenjutsu. My students, both experienced and more junior members, really took to their choices of short and long weapons: the training they did with the short sword, long staff, truncheon and sword (respectively) really showed. As they swept or cut a leg, or performed a throw, I would take the fall, and was grateful that we've put in additional ukemi practice recently; for those segments we weren't using mats. I've very appreciative of my students and the hard work and enthusiasm they've shown.
Our last segment was Muto Dori - "catching the opponent's sword while unarmed". By the time the last segment came around, the heat had taken a toll, and I was blinking through heavy sweat. Catching the correct timing to enter was a bit tricky, while still trying to apply proper staging so the audience could understand what we were doing. I demonstrated disarms, locks and throws against a opponent with a sword alternately scabbarded and drawn. I've wanted to include Muto Dori in a demonstration for a long time; I only hope it was as exciting and interesting for the audience as it was to do.
We've been fortunate to work with the Japanese Pavilion at the Festival in the past, and are appreciative of the chance to do so again.
Tantojutsu begins March 31st!
Beginning March 31st, we are going to be departing from our staple training in Kenjutsu to explore new waters: in keeping with the theme of blade training, we will begin studying Tantojutsu, the art of the dagger or knife. Jinen Ryu Tantojutsu is Manaka Sensei's approach to what is often a misunderstood component of martial arts; with it, he has formalized years of experience into a comprehensive training regimen. My students and I are very excited to be practicing this material, as it is rare in the world of Japanese martial arts. This is a direct progression of our studies in Kenjutsu; the focus is defending yourself when your opponent has a sword, and you are therefore at a disadvantage. Jinen Ryu Tantojutsu is based on the movements of the unarmed combat schools of Gyokko Ryu and Koto Ryu: it builds on unarmed technique, and gives students a whole new perspective on timing, distance, and use of the whole body in action.
Field Trip- Workshop on World War II Combatives: Monday, March 29th
We're planning a "field trip" next week (Monday, March 29th, from 7PM - 9:30PM) from the Jinenkan Ottawa Dojo to Rockland for a workshop by World War II-era Combatives authority Cris Anderson.
This is a free workshop in an interesting subject I've done a fair amount of reading on.
This is the fourth such workshop we've been invited to attend. According to the response I received from the organizer, Jeremy McCann,
Cris Anderson would have you bring a mouth guard, and groin protection.
Pants with no snaps, buttons or zipper, please.
T-shirt or sweat shirt is fine.
Mr. Anderson will insist that everyone sign his waiver of liability.
If you have practice knives, you might want to throw those in the gym bag just in case.
Bring your water bottle.
Bluewater Martial Arts Academy is located at 1587 Laurier in Rockland.
Take the 417 to the 174 split.
Take the 174 to Orleans.
Continue straight when the highway becomes the 17.
Turn right on Edwards St in Rockland.
Go to the end.
Turn left on Laurier.
We are a block and half up and on the right.
Plenty of parking at the Caisse Populaire.
New beginnings for the New Year: Sunday staff technique (Bojutsu) kicks off with the Sabaki-Gata!
Are you thinking of doing something different for the New Year... perhaps related to a certain resolution? But do you want to try something different, which pairs a solid, yet progressive, physical workout with doing something different every class? Why not try Bojutsu, the Japanese art of the Staff? With the New Year upon us, we're making a fresh start by studying the Sabaki-Gata; literally, the "Forms for Using Skillfully". The Sabaki-Gata are a progressive set of kata, practiced both solo and with a partner simulating a sword-wielding opponent, which contain all of the movements for the Bo. Within the Sabaki are techniques of striking, thrusting blocking and receiving, spinning the Bo with one or both hands, jumping- when done first solo, then with a partner, these make a dynamic, ever-changing workout!
To begin, all you will need is a six-foot staff (Rokushaku-Bo), comfortable training clothes, and indoor-only running shoes. More equipment can be obtained later.
|
|
