Feb. 8, 2008 Year of the Rat
Fellow Buyu,
It has been a long time since my last post. I hope all are well and in good health. It is my wish the warrior way has been bringing all of you closer to your martial goals and even closer to understanding the path we have all undertaken. It is a great gift and a great burden, but the world calls us out to embrace our strengths and offer our service to the protection of all. Once we have found our own sovereignty and position of responsibility we can then aid others in the pursuit of their sovereignty as well. The protection of the inalienable rights of all is a warrior’s prime directorate.
The last few years for me have been a wild ride. In 2006 I found myself wandering the streets of Japan, fulfilling some very old dreams. It was an exciting time and also in many ways very disillusioning. It was amazing to research the workings of Shinden Fudo Ryu with the Shihan and get a feel for how things are done in the floating world. As I boarded the homeward plane with a mind full of lessons I only hoped I would one day make it back again. Whatever may happen, I now know a few moments in the Hombu leaves us with a lifetimes worth of practice.
Big changes came for me as soon as I returned home, so in 2007 I wandered off to figure out what I had to learn. I found myself in the mountains of Colorado availing my Bo staff against the spirits of nature while looking within to find some meaning behind the warrior way. I needed to do penance and cleanse myself in the mountain storms and freezing waterfalls so I could see just a little clearer. And it is no surprise for me this year we are investigating the workings of the ninjutsu side of our practice, it seems a natural progression to return full circle.
2008 as many have already noted is a kind of nostalgic return to the old school days. Ah the number eight…perhaps some ninja magic is woven into this year. Who knows? At any rate we have much to work on, Togakure Ryu is fairly extensive, to say the least. I am hoping for some interesting training this year. I intend to make some visits with my teachers and reconnect with some old friends along the way and train. I hope to learn more and share much.
I am not presently teaching, getting myself established out west and training hard is enough for now, but I do have a list of items I am personally working on this year.
Here are some things to think about…
1. Sit. Learn to be still. Meditate. Think hard about why we do all of this "crazy ninja stuff". Where is your heart…really? When you get that Menkyo, what is the purpose? What is the meaning? What or should I say who does it serve? Is it bringing you a closer understanding of Makoto?
2. Live Naturally! Try and use only what you need and leave as few signs of your passing as possible. Do what you can to help YOUR environment become healthy. Eat healthy foods. Think healthy. Mindfully so, get out in the elements and get the elements in you. Remember you are the same.
3. Walk, walk, walk. I will throw in an extra one just in case the importance of this exercise has eluded you…WALK!!! Make friends with your dogs…get out and walk daily. Study the world around you as you walk.
Those are the basics. These three (sanpo) and taijutsu class doing Togakure Waza a few times a week is a good start. You will be well on your way to "a better life". But let us go back to the first point. What is the meaning of the Menkyo? Who does it serve?
Remember something Buyu, responsibility comes with menkyo. We have responsibility to the way. We have responsibility to humanity. Are the basics enough? Remember this as well. It is easy to be distracted by our computers, our games, and our hobbies, even our training can keep us hiding from the very important condition of our shared reality. Our world is at WAR. If you claim the "WAR"rior path as your calling then this is your time to make a stand. It may not as of yet be in your backyard but at the least it still is a condition we must all face at an intrinsic level.
I am not suggesting you run out and join the military, I am not suggesting you do not, this is a wonderful service and most surly fitting a warrior’s heart. What I am suggesting is the ninja’s motto. Prepare yourself for any kind of change. Be fit. If you train hard, train harder. The unexpected can call at any time, are you ready to walk further than what you thought you might have had to. Are you prepared to face a skillfully trained enemy? Lives may one day be in your hands, are we ready? Are we training honestly? The point is this, "when you are not preparing, the enemy is," even when the enemy is within us.
Here is a bit more than just the basics…
Walk. But not only walk. If possible, RUN, and push yourself to run distances and cross country in all weather. Run sprints to build up your endurance. Take long hikes often with a backpack. And pack it realistically with weight equivalent to what you might need for an long trip. 1/3 your body weight is a good standard.
Swim as often as possible. Swim distances. Swim with shoes and clothes on. You should train outdoors as often as you possibly can. Go out and climb trees. Practice fire building skills. Target practice with rifle. Build a foxhole. Go caving. Study nature. Make a guille suit out of some old burlap. Avoid just studying the ninja techniques on the computer or just a few days a week, get out there and do them…often. See if you can truly embrace this as a way of life. These are just a few of the exercises I am concentrating on. If you concentrate on the Togakure Bujutsu Juhappan you will find a life times worth of practice.
Another aspect of Togakure Ryu to work on will be the San-po Hidden. These treasures of the Togakure Ryu offer a subtle secret to carry you further along the warrior path and bring you a few steps closer to the heart of the warrior way. There is more here than just the secret weapons. Think hard about the San-po. Gambatte!!!
This looks to be another interesting year for the Bujinkan. I know I hope to earn myself a new notebook full of training tips, concepts and exercises to keep me going. So, brace up, push a bit harder than normal and enjoy the training. Most of all, "Have a Ninja day." Peace.
Bufu Ikkan Ikken Tenshin
Jeffrey L. Whitman, Shidoshi
Bujinkan Dojo
