The Samurai Creed

Ive come to realize that our art of Budo Taijutsu (Ninjutsu) is very closely linked to the the lineage of the Fighting techniques of the Samurai. Japanese history also lets us know that the Samurai was the main warrior class of feudal japan. Here is an interesting excerpt from a scroll by an Unknown Japanese Warrior. The credo of this creed speaks to me and so I share it with you! :)

The Samurai Creed

I have no parents; I make the heaven and earth my mother and father.
I have no home; I make awareness my dwelling.
I have no life and death; I make the tides of breathing my life and death.
I have no divine power; I make honesty my divine power.
I have no means; I make understanding my means.
I have no magic secrets; I make character my magic secret.
I have no body; I make endurance my body.
I have no eyes; I make the flash of lightning my eyes.
I have no ears; I make sensibility my ears.
I have no limbs; I make promptness my limbs.
I have no strategy; I make “unshadowed by thought” my strategy
I have no designs; I make “seizing opportunity by the forelock” my design.
I have no miracles; I make right action my miracle.
I have no principles; I make adaptability to all circumstances my principles.
I have no tactics; I make emptiness and fullness my tactics.
I have no talents; I make ready wit my talent.
I have no friends; I make my mind my friend.
I have no enemy; I make carelessness my enemy.
I have no armor; I make benevolence and righteousness my armor.
I have no castle; I make immovable mind my castle.
I have no sword; I make absence of self my sword

- anonymous warrior from the 14th century 

Why Do I train?

I haven’t blogged here for a while. There are various reasons for that spanning from being busy to traveling a lot to laziness... but I suspect one of the main reasons is because I haven’t been training enough. Yes there is a connection. There more I train, the more my thoughts get ruffled, the more my beliefs get shaken and the more my conditioning gets disseminated. Now that it’s a month since I’ve been regular with training I feel like I have something to say again. And thus this new blog post! :)

Some time ago I was asked to write a testimonial on “Why I train”. You can see it here. I concluded somewhere in my head “I train because its makes me Who I am." 

This got me started with the unending process of realization .. again... of the answer that eludes most - “Who am I”. Afterall this is the quintessential question that man asks himself time and again. Life is but of course a process of self discovery.

I get into these introspective modes once in a while and the question bugs me till I find some answer and solace and then Im peaceful for a bit again until the next friction in my head makes me ask question myself once again! Cyclical in a way.. like everything in the universe?

Inspired by my friend Purab Kohli and his new show "Life mein ek baar" I realized that In the quest to find out the “real” I listed out my many roles in life and multiple garbs that I wear. Anjaan the Radio Jockey, Anjaan the Programming head, Anjaan the son, Anjaan the Husband, Anjaan the Brother, Anjaan the Brother in law, Anjaan the Professional Compere, Anjaan the social media evangelist, Anjaan the tourism ambassador, Anjaan the Friend, Anjaan the councellor, Anjaan the Party Maker... Who is the Real Anjaan?
 

I know for a fact that All of it is me.. but at the same time none of it is.
 

 Purab goes on to say that he chose to do the show to find out the real him. Facing fear and using one's intuitive guts is a sureshot path to find out the self. Which is Why I like Training. When a fist attack is being launched at your face by your opponent, you don’t have time to think of who you are, how you sound, what you are wearing and how you look etc. You just have time to feel the attack and move away. This to me is real and that is why I train.

Names, positions, titles, achievements and wealth often conceal the real "self". Try to avoid being blinded by these terms or else you will feel like a traveler who cant find his way home.  Happy training and I hope you find what your looking for! :)

Shinden Fudo Ryu Seminar

So its seminar time again

And this time its a 
Shinden Fudô Ryû Seminar with Shihan Arnaud Cousergue

The seminar is over 2 weekends at Connect Studio,

5th Floor, Sona Towers, No. 71 Millers Road

Come by for some fun if you'd like!

The Black Belt Hoax!!

So here‘s how I felt,

Today when I got the black belt!

I realised that there is a way,

to get what you want anytime any day!

The secret & the trick is to first want IT

& then go after it - without any BULL**IT

then know ur strengths & weaknesses & become aware

get connected, get moving and practice your fare!!

Believe it & You can become one of the Gods

You can get the power to conquer all odds

all you need to do is believe...

and like I did - your dreams you will achieve

so from today take a "panga" with life

make your passion your wife

flying, dreaming perceiving right & being free

every obstacle becomes a victory!!

It hardly feels like yesterday since I started training and started this Blog. And today I blog from Japan. This afternoon at the DKMS Shihan Arnaud Cousergue walked upto me and asked me IF I was feeling ridiculous wearing a green belt among hundreds of black belts from around the world. Before I could gather my wits to give him an answer he had handed me a blackbelt and the Indian Buyu were clapping and photographs were being taken....

Actually Im still in a state of shock - even though I knew its time for me to get my black belt. Im in shock becuase it came as a surprise even though i was expecting it. I am in shock because I feel I deserve it, but dont know If I am worthy of it. I guess like my 9th Kyu Grade now I will have to deserve it!

For all of you spoilt by the commercialization of Martial Arts - Frankly a Black Belt is NO big deal. Its a hoax actually. Whats important is that you understand the unlimited potential inside you and endeavour to discover the keys to unlock that. Its a Hoax that a world plays on our minds to make us think we have reached somewhere. Its a trick seniors play on juniors to make them believe in something and aim at something. It is what most art practicioners use to make you help make them rich!
Trust me - the whole concept of a black belt is flim flam - its a joke played on the gullible. The black belt is in your head. Imagine if one could free themselves of the options of a limited goal. The possibilities are limitless once this kind of free thinking is achived.

Today I was given my black belt. But i believe Today is the day I AM accepted as a student. Today is when I will start learning. Till now I was learning how to learn - and now I am ready, perhaps.

The trick is to not want success - or failure. Its to just be and keep doing things. Try to focus on your training, there is no substitute for that. The more time, mind and energy you devote into that - the faster you will see results. 1
Afterall showing up is winning half the battle! SO today - Decide to be present - in your present. Become aware of the moment and Enjoy it. AND JUST SHOW UP!!!

Henka - Change

Its been long since Ive posted here. Everyone said after the Shinken Gata (6th Kyu level) your opinion of Budo changes, and thereby life itself changes. Around the same time (after my shinken gata) someone also told me the best way to grow in Budo is "SHUT UP AND TRAIN". I guess I did take this too seriously! :)

This December I head to Japan,  and soon I might even have my black belt (Have been given my 4th Kyu a couple of months ago). I fear all my Kyu experiences will fade away and I wont remember anything. And so Ive promised myself to devote at least 1 blog per week sharing my growth in the path of Budo with the world, with you. 


Over the last 3 months we (Bujinkan India Dojo) have had the privilege of being visited a International Shihans including Arnaud Cousergue, Darren Horvath. and Robin Doenicke seminar. All these Shihans have opened my eyes to the possibility of us being able to control our lives. If you dive into and fully explore the idea that we create our own reality, you discover that it logically follows that this means we create or choose our own life and death experiences.Training in Budo Taijutsu gives you a practical platform to test out those experiences.

These Shihans have also opened my eyes to the true meaning of the techniques taught by the Bujinkan. And the answer lies in the fact that there are NO techniques. No form. Only variations.
In fact every technique is henka waza, as you have to adapt it to size, speed and quality of uke.

It isnt a coincidence that my Martial name (everyone is free to choose one) is "henka"






Today I truly feel the power of the Martial arts that I'm training, Today I realize that training isn't life, but Life is training. I feel martial arts consuming me. I feel it absorbing itself into every aspect of my life. I feel change seeping through my every pore.
I feel Henka Change is the only constant, its the signal for rebirth and its the egg of the phoenix!

Wish you Happy Changing too! :)

Being One - through Shinken Gata

Yesterday I graded for my 6th Kyu. The grading involved a test called the "Shinken Gata". The matrix of meanings that the words "shin" and "ken" can have are innumerable. But some basic ones could mean - spirit, soul, heart, self, truth, real etc.

Shin can be written using different kanji characters 真, "true" , 伸, "extend" , 新, "new" , 心, "heart", 晋, "advance" 信, "belief" , 進, "progress" , 慎, "humility", 紳, "gentleman"

Ken could mean Sword, fist, weapon among many other things. The dictionary definition of Shinken Gata could be "Real Combat Movement/training"

I have previously spoken about the lack of hitting, no violence and non existence of a sport like sparring situation in this martial art! Yesterday's grading was the anti thesis of all the conditioning I had in my head about the art. This form is as real as REAL can be and yesterday I WAS in a real fight with 6 black belts... and more with "Myself".

I was thrown around, hit, smashed, poked. I even have war bruises, poke marks and blod clots as proof!
No Im not saying the form propagates violence - but I also realised the only way to understand nonviolence is to truly study violence. Kind of like discovering motion in stillness.

Shinken Gata is used as a way of sharing the seriousness with which we are to approach the art. Shinken Gata is a real-life application of the moves we learn with the physical and spiritual consequences associated with taking such encounters seriously. This idea of "one encounter, one chance" (ichi-go, ichi-e) is what separates all budô (martial ways) from sports or mere exercise.

When your body tires and has no energy left, you wonder where to go. People speak of a certain "inner inspiration" and "mind over matter" - last evening I felt it.
I realised training in a martial art form is all about being able to be in this "Zone". And staying there! After my Shinken Gata yesterday Ive learnt that the body has its own thinking and is only infinitely connected to the world and the surroundings through the mind.

Once you acheive this "one"-ness your body will automatically move - without help from your mind. There is no thinking involved. Just the pure essence of feeling.

Once you let this connection control you, you derive energy from everything and everybody around you letting you be calm and composed while actually exerting tremendous physical energy. These connections are omnipresent and are easy to tap. All it needs is a certain "letting go".

Ive always prided myself on being articulate but the feeling of oneness that you achieve after the "shinken gata" cannot be described in words. Like most things in life the only way is to experience it. in the DOJO or Outside.

Ive realised that tiredness or fatigue is a state of mind and pain is in your head. If you take your thinking out of the situation and your mind out of the equation then your Taijutsu becomes Shinken Gata.
I also surprised myself a few times and on reflection am still wondering how I did those things. Now my next aim is to achieve this "natural movement" one-ness more often and perhaps even bring it to REAL Life applications

After reading this I hope you are inspired to find new meanings for "being one"

Ninjaan Turns One

Its been a year since I started Training in Ninjutsu. Over the last year life has changed terribly. I am not too sure if my Life is affecting my training at the Dojo or its the other way round, but I definitely feel different! Read my First Blog Post on Ninjutsu Here

The biggest learning for me over the last year is reconfirmation of the fact that there are NO Coincidences! Nothing happens by Chance! Everything has a Reason and these reasons are invariably
controlled by Intentions.

Ive always believed in being able to control what happens to one - and Ninjustu just helps you understand it and train it. I might confuse you with this next line - but we truly train to not know - thereby knowing. We train to let go - there by gaining control. We train motion thereby achieving stillness. Ironic? Yes!

This art form reconfirms my belief - Life is like a football. It goes where you kick it! (World Cup is on now as I write this btw)

The Bujinkan - besides being a banner head for all the Ninjutsu ryuha (schools) is a community for with powerful intentions. We believe in the power of intentions. It might sound like something from a "Laws Of Attraction book" but is much more than that!

Ive seen magic happen over the last year and This magic is what keeps me attracted to this art form.
Having met have lots of other martial artistes, fighters and sport fighting practitioners, People keep asking me why practitioners don't get involved in mixed martial arts tournaments?

After all, if the Ninja are the cream of the crop (some claim us to be) and at the top of the martial arts food chain, why aren't they "taking it to the ring?"

While it would appear, from several different perspectives, that ninjutsu - the art of the ninja - is..

1. Just another martial art among the many martial systems out there, and...
2. No different from mma since ninja mix striking, kicking, grappling, etc.

The truth is that there is much more to the art of Ninjutsu than meets the eye. Read here where I try to explain what i mean!

Here are a few of the differences between Ninja training and mixed martial arts:

The ninja are first and foremost warriors. They are protectors - not fighters.

The first skill to be developed by a ninja is seishin teki kyoyo, "spiritual refinement" - not competitiveness and a sense of sportsmanship and fair play.

The ninja is a no-limits person. The rules inherent in a sport competition-based system run counter to the strategies and philosophy of ninjutsu.

The Ninja balances the lessons and tools for producing results in combat with those that achieve success in society. A true ninja would never use something like sport aggression to make a name for him or herself.

Add to this the techniques, tactics, strategies, and weapons of the ninja - all designed for one purpose - winning - quickly, easily, and completely. To a ninja, fighting - if conflict cannot be avoided - always comes as a last resort. Not as a means of entertainment and ego-gratification.

This isn't the list that most people expect when it comes to see what Ninjutsu has that MMA, or any other martial art, doesn't. But then, authentic ninja training isn't what most people expect either!

Ive been here for a year, Ive been training all my life!

Welcome to My world! - hope some magic touches you! :)

The Art of story telling!

We just finished an intensive 2 day "Bo Jutsu" (Stick Fighting) seminar.
We were extremely happy to have 15dan Shihan Shihan Arnaud Cousergue come down to Bangalore dojo to hold another seminar - and this time on one of the most important weapons of Buki Waza (weapon training)

To me the last two days were an intensive course in "Story Telling".
Ninjutsu's main teaching can be summarized as the ability to convince your opponent that he has lost. Now this happens only if the practitioner himself has the conviction that he is victorious. Winning is a relative term, and so is Loss. Once you understand there is actually no victory or loss you have conquered the fight! Its only about surviving! And the best way to survive is to tell stories.

Takamatsu Sensei with the Bo

The traditional definition of Storytelling is an ability of events, thoughts with improvisation or embellishment. The medium differs from person to person. For me Ninjutsu helps tell stories and the Bo is the perfect medium for the narrative.

The seminar taught us to tell stories. To use the bo as a sheild, as a rope, as a sword, as a spear and even as a bo itself. The seminar covered some elemental, fundamental points of the bo staff.

Historically the Staff was the one of the most important weapons in the ninja's arsenal. It is generally around 6 feet long, made of hard wood or bamboo. In most cases it was hollow. The reason for the hollow was another trick of the ninja trade. By flicking the bow with great speed, the ninja could launch a poison tipped dart or small knife out of the open end of the staff, often catching the opponent off guard.

The great thing about the bo is that it CAN be found in real life, taking on the guise of various everyday implements. You can find it in brooms, pool cues, thin branches, mops, etc.

Although the bo staff is a versatile and commonly found weapon, let’s face it – it’s a big stick. You can paint it, and sprinkle it with kanji-adorned mystisism, but it’s still a big stick. And even this weapon - being a big stick has its basic Principles (Kotsu)

• Use the maximum distance of the bo (hold the ends)
• Keep at least one elbow close to the body
• hold the bo lightly so it can slide
• When holding in hira no kamae - ur hands are on ur thighs - hold it with a smaller grip so u can get
  
• Always keep hands closer to the centre so its well balanced
• Always strike (tsuki) with the tip of the bo - not the sides.
  
• Remember angles of the bo and use it to maximum impact

Bo staff spinning (Bofuri) was one of the first things we learnt when studying bo staff, personally it’s certainly one of the more impressive techniques. Its also called Long Staff Rolling Shield - and Like with all elements of Bo Jutsu, you’ve got to start off slow and practice hard.

At this juncture I’d like to remind you that you have to mentally separate the acrobatic and tricking aspects of the bo from the applicable and self defense aspects.

The spins and tosses get pushed to the wayside exceptionally quick when trying to use the Bo as a weapon rather than a tool for entertainment.

This seminar taught me that , if one can master distancing and timing along with simple thrusts, pokes, and quick strikes, you’ll be on your way to learning the traditional nature of the weapon!

And remember no matter how much you read about martial arts online There is also kuden; things taught personally from teacher to student, so please find a good teacher and study with him/her.

Happy Storytelling! :)