Training day ! We took a really in depth look at Ganseki Nage and its application in its base form. We also expanded a little outside of the technique and look at other ways that this technique can be set up.

Muso Dori was next on the list, we explored pulling the balance of the uke in some various ways as well as defending against potential attacks. We reviewed the Kihon Happo and went through omote and ura gyaku as well as Oni Kudaki.

A long time was also spent on advanced forms of taisabaki and using smaller movements to evade attacks. An interesting topic that came up is that while evading one tends to wait for the uke to attack. This is fundamentally flawed as if you make smaller movements then the attacker is closing distance to the point where if you wait for an attack they are dictating the outcome and will make contact. One should not wait for an attack but progress in their movements to prevent an attack and that way the tori will then dictate the outcome and control the engagement on their terms.

It is always good to see some positive press out of the MMA World. The link below is to an article where former UFC fighter Pat Barry help save a woman who locked herself in her hotel room. While it sounds kind of silly good for him.

UFC Fighter Saves Woman

Below is a video clip from a 4th kyu test. This clip is only the highlights and does not show all of the techniques required for 4th kyu and a lot of the commentary has been removed. Hope that you enjoy !

Some of the techniques show are Hicho Kaiten (diving rolls), Koppo Ken (thumb knuckle fist), Hicho Geri (jumping kick), Ashibari (leg sweeps), Geri Kudaki (destroying a kick), Takeori, and the bofurigata staff twirling drill.

Training Day - Today we really focused on a lot of ukemi and taihenjutsu with our ground falls and rolling. All of the various rolls were practice with and extra emphasis on the sokuho kaiten as it can be a bit tricky. We also practiced the arm locks and throws from the 4th kyu curriculum. Takeori is a great technique that was picked up on fairly fast by all trainees, Oogyaku is a little more difficult to execute due to the speed and change or arm positioning and height. A two handed version where the tori controls the uke's shoulder is a lot easier to execute and it would appear that the one handed version is way more difficult.

We also worked on some Gracie  Jiu Jiutsu and other grappling / ground fighting techniques.Specifically we worked on trap and rolls from the mount, passing guard, rear naked choke submissions, taking the back and mount control. One key element we worked on is when taking the back go for the over under for better control and to wear out the opponent. if you go for a RNC too soon they can lay flat and have better defense against it than if you roll them over.

Training Day, worked on Kamae flow drill and the feeling and attitude associated with the different Kamae. We work on our taisabaki (evasion) started slow with 1 punch combos then moved on to 2 and 3 punch variations for our Kentai Ichi (fist/body harmony) we then spend things up a little bit for more realistic training. Worked on basics of omote and ura gyaku and how they translate when disarming a knife attack.

 

Also worked on lessons 1-7 of the Gracie Jiujitsu curriculum, safety note – do not lean forward when bringing someone back into closed guard from  punch block 3 and 4, I got head butted (KeiKaKu Ken) in the jaw and almost knocked out.

Took part in a webinar over the weekend with Shihan Phil Legare from takesaigi.org. Topic of conversation was the western influence on martial arts and the importance (or lack of importance) that should be placed on obtaining rank.

My thought is it depends on your goals in training. If you want to learn some self defense techniques and feel good about yourself with your new found confidence then maybe black belt is a good stopping point. Shihan Phils stance is that once you get a black belt all you have done is learned the basics. I think that if one wants budo to be a way of life then you are never done training regardless of what you know or how good your taijutsu is

These are the people we martial artists need to surround ourselves with other with the same life goals. and understand that Bujinkan budo taijutsu is a way of life and not just some techniques. The true beauty of it is that it is a undefined way and a path that each individual must make on their own.

Training Day, apart from the usual ukeni and taihenjutsu we had a stong emphasis on Ganseke Nage and some henka (varioation) of the technique. This has got to be one of my favorite thorws since it can be applied from a clinch with a underhook from close distance which in a confined space it is good to refine techniques like these. Also trained a lot with muso dori and explored henka with it as well. We trained in the technique by itself and included other aspects. We worked through hicho no kata in its pure form. The issue is starting form hicho no kamae does not seem natural so we also trained in starting from Shizen and falling back into hicho for the gedan negash (lower block) that begins the technique

After watching the UFC event last night All I have to say is wow, Aderson Silvas leg break was probably one of the grosest things I have seen in the UFC. I hope he comes back to fighting.