Breathe Right - Stay Happier!

I love the Bujinkan system of fighting. Here is reason #1493

Part of our training includes Junan taiso (junan meaning flexible). This is a yogic method of stretching and breathing. This predominently helps us develop and maintain good physical condition and wellbeing. The exercises promote relaxation, blood circulation, muscle toning and flexibility
All major joints are rotated and stretched in a proper manner while healthy breathing and concentration are practiced.

The use of breathwork through out any given exercise drill set is quite literally mind blowing. The exercises are designed to strengthen the body from the core outwards, allowing for greater muscle and joint flexibility. Furthermore due to great emphasis being placed on ligament as opposed to muscle strength, the practitioner finds they are able to practice effectively right into old age. The body becomes full of calm yet explosive with energy.

The trick to stamina is correct breathing. The secret to good posture is correct breathing. The answer to physical pain & worries is correct breathing. The differnce between "alive" and "dead" is also breathing. Being awarness of ones breath is also the core of most meditation practices.
I hope you come to class soon and learn to breathe right! :)

Stay happy!
 

Bujinkan UAE is on Facebook

Training in the UAE just got a bit more cooler. We have had regular classes 3 days a week over the last 4 months and now even have an active community on facebook.

In case you are not a part of it.. then join right now. All you need to do is click "like" on www.facebook.com/bujinkan.ae

This page is predominently for practitioners of Bujinakan Budo taijutsu (Ninjutsu) in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman) But even if you dont practice you are more than welcome to come hang out with us! :) If you want to know more about martial arts in general or our martial arts system in specific, feel free to give us a shout.

Pretty cool eh?
 

The Sensei who failed in his journey.

 Sensei planned a long, ten thousand mile road trip with Eager Monk and Ego Monk.

The idea was to travel across many cities, meet many people, bless, guide & help followers & seekers. The trip was planned to take a year to complete.

The route was charted out, the milestones chosen, the paths marked. The logistics agreed upon and the grand plan decided, signed and sealed.

On the day of the journey, Sensei took a seat at the back of the car. Eager Monk was driving and Ego Monk was navigating the car.

The car engine growled, & its tires crunched the porch gravel. Just as the car reached the Monastery gate, Ego Monk said, “Take a left. That's the shortest route to reach the highway.”

Eager Monk said, “No. We have to turn right. That’s the shortest path.”

Irrespective of which side the car turned, just by traveling a few hundred meters, the car would have reached the highway.

Ego Monk said, “Left, left, left, left, left, left…”

Eager Monk said, “Right, right, right, right, right, right…”

The car, the monks and the day remained still. Argument and dissidence rained everywhere. It was like black rain.

An hour later, things were status quo.

When the two fighting monks finally looked back to request Sensei for a verdict, they were shocked to realize that he was no longer in the car. He had vanished into thin air...

**

Truthfully speaking, Sensei had not vanished. He had calmly walked out of the car and headed back to the Monastery. The two argumentative monks had not noticed him leaving.

In the meditation room, Sensei had performed ‘see-saw breath' meditation with the Monks and & told them, “I failed today. My journey of a thousand miles could not even begin with a single mile.

The reason was because of my mistake. I should have remembered that no matter how eager you are, you cannot have an ego. And if you have an ego, then no matter how eager you are, you cannot go far….”

***



I shared this story to inspire starting over. Learning. Change & dedication to a purpose!
May you become aware of your ego, All the best!

Bujinkan Ninjustu training in Dubai

Yes it has been a while since I posted but life has made a whirlwind change over the last few months. Ive always believed life is henka  (変化 - beginning of change/end of change) .. and change is the most inevitable contsant. You can see constant updates HERE

Over the last 4 months, I got a job offer in Dubai, I relocated, started a brand new show on UAE Radio, (Josh 97.8) found a house and furnished it, got my driving liscence, and even started training in Aikido (more on that in another post). Govt documents & relocation has kept me busy and Ive hardly found time to train and lets not even get into blogging!! haha

During training, we have a saying - “Banpen Fûgyô” (10000 changes no surprises) and so to stay true to this motto, I've managed to welcome this change with open arms!

 

Here's good news - Bujinkan Ninjustu training has resumed as usual. I now train on the mats 3 days a week.

Our classes on Monday and Wednesday (7:30pm to 9pm) are at KO Gym at the DUBAI MARINA and its open to beginners & seniors alike.

 

We train in weapons, open hand techniques, locks, throws, grapples, ukemi + breakfall and all techniques from the 9 ryuha (schools) of our system!

 

In case you are in Dubai the Gym is located adjacent to Almaya supermarket in Dubai Marina, the one facing Sheikh Zayed Road

The address is - Dreams Tower 1, Beside Al Maya Supermarket ; Dubai Marina

 

Here is a photo of my training partners and the Dubai Instructors - Juan Pablo Napoli & Hassan Osman

In case you are visiting and want to traing with us drop me a message or a mail - we would love to see you on the mat!

Let the training continue! :)
Ganbatte kudasai!

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!!!