Bujinkan Kelowna Dojo
1310 bertram St V1Y2E8 Kelowna, BC, Canada

Bujinkan Hombu with Soke Hatsumi

Our 1st Yoroi Kumiuchi Bushinden Kai was a great success. Everyone assisted in preparations and helped each other put on their yoroi. During this time, it truly... had the atmosphere that we were about to engage in battle. It was a great effort by the students attending and a true example of their passion for the Bujinkan Martial Arts. My respect to you. We studied the Dakentaijutsu Goho Kamae of Kukishinden Ryu, Kukishinden Ryu Dakentaijutsu Shoden Gata, Kenjutsu,Sojutsu,Hanbojutsu and henka with Mompa ( battle hammer ) Ono ( war axe ) and the Dai Sharin ( wheel & axel ). The training was tough but we also had a lot of fun. Balance is the key. This was an important day of training for all martial artists to understand the source of modern budo. Judo commence from kumiuchi ( grabbing the lapel and chest ). This originated from the battlefield when samurai would engage in jutaijutsu and dakentaijutsu at close range. Also, the tachi was a sword that differed to the katana and when fighting in yoroi, standard cuts etc would not work as we see from schools of Iaido etc. Yoroi Kumiuchi with a tachi was a different manner of fighting. Swords would not cut through the armour so, taijutsu and placement with the body of the sword and using the armour as guides to find the openings was necessary. It is not modern swordsmanship that most people study today. True budo study is practicing and understanding that fighting changes quickly from armed to unarmed and vice versa and thus also changing from long to short distances etc. The predominant weapons were the spear and tachi. Samurai would learn both to be able to defend against both. They called themselves SouTou or " men of the spear and sword." Being a specialist and not knowing the other weapon or manner of usage is dangerous. The Kukishinden Ryu was considered a complete art. Among tactics, aspects of Ninjutsu, Bajutsu, etc the family practisedDakentaijutsu,Jutaijutsu,Kenjutsu,Bojutsu,Hanbojutsu,Sojutsu, Naginatajutsu,Shurikenjutsu,Juttejutsu/kabuto wari, and also used heavy weapons such as the Ono ( war axe ), Mompa ( battle hammer ) and Dai Sharin ( wheel and axel ). The Kuki family had a Suigun or "naval military" to protect the waters around Mie and Osaka. The Dai Sharin was a ship yard tool to roll the boats or cargo on and off the shore. Thus, it was naturally used as a tool of defence as it was around them regularly. Correct kamae and taijutsu is imperative to wield these weapons to keep balance and use effectively etc. It is my aim to hold an Annual Yoroi Kumiuchi seminar here in Tasmania. All Bujinkan members are of course welcome! Oh, and watch out for the ninja sneaking through the class in the clip. Lol ;) ( southern tiger )