Kihon Happo

Reiver Post in Class Notes，
24 September 2009
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The first three techniques, known as the Koshi Sanpo Waza (3 striking method techniques) are thought to be from the Gyokko ryu and are:

  • ichimonji no kata
  • jumonji no kata
  • hicho no kata

Ichimonji Kihon No Kata

Uke punches to head. Tori (in Ichimonji) steps diagonally backwards to the right and strikes the attacking arm just above the elbow. Tori then sets the left foot and steps forward with the right foot while delivering a Shuto ken to the neck. Power is generated by twisting the spine. Distance is set by second step. Shuto is directed at a slight downward angle not completely horizontal.

Jumonji Kihon No Kata

Uke: From Ichimonji no Kamae, right punch to the head

Tori: From Jumonji no Kamae, block the punch, then boshi ken to the armpit, ribs or chest. Shako ken to the face or in front of the face to distract Uke while leaping/stepping back with the left foot.

Uke: Left punch to the head.

Tori: Repeat above against the left punch (reverse sides).

Hicho Kihon No Kata

Tori stands in Hicho (on one leg).  Uke (in Bobi) punches to the stomach.  Tori performs a lower sweeping block, and then kicks to the lower ribs.  Tori then drops forward and performs a shuto to the neck.

Torite Kihon Go Ho Kata:

The next five techniques are known as the Torite Goho (5 arm attacking methods).  As the name for this group of techniques implies, these movements usually attack an opponent’s arms and involve taking the attacker to the ground in ways that do not allow him to roll out or land safely.  The five techniques are: Omote gyaku dori, Ura gyaku dori, Ganseki nage (Muso dori), Onikudaki and Musha dori (also called Goja dori). Ganseki nage is often replaced with Muso dori as the two techniques are rather similar. All but one of these techniques appear in Gyokko ryu – Onikudaki is probably from Kukishinden ryu.

Omote Kote Gyaku Dori

Uke: From Ichimonji no Kamae grab left lapel with the right hand. Optional left punch to the head.

Tori: From Shizen no Kamae cover Uke’s hand with your left hand. Put your thumb into the back of their hand. Fall back with your right leg to take Uke’s balance. Lower your weight and lift hand off with both of your hands. Step back into Shizen no Kamae with your right foot then step back and turn to the left with your left foot whilst rotating Uke’s arm to take down.

Ura Gyaku Dori

Uke: From Ichimonji no Kamae grab left lapel with the right hand. Optional left punch to the head.

Tori: From Shizen no Kamae slap Uke’s face to distract them with your right hand as you bring it across to cover Uke’s hand. Put your thumb into the back of their hand. Pull their hand off to the right as you turn to the right. Keep their elbow straight and their arm parallel to the ground. Use your left hand to apply pressure to Uke’s elbow as you take down. Finish as desired.

Omote Onikudaki

-Attacker grabs defenders lapel with his right hand. Defender covers this hand to prevent the attacker escaping/using it to punch. Defender steps diagonally back to the left taking the attacker off balance the performs an outer wrist lock. Stepping in close the defender then locks the attackers arm and takes him to ground.

Uke grabs Tori’s right Lapel with right hand.  Tori places the back of his wrist against the attacking arm and steps in bending Uke’s elbow.  Tori then captures the arm with his right arm bringing his hands together to strengthen the hold.

Musha Dori (Gosha Dori)

Uke: Right forearm grab with Tori’s left arm. Optional punch to the head.

Tori: Bring your right arm up, over and under Uke’s left arm to bend the elbow and apply a lock. Bring Uke close to you. There is a sense of urgency. Keep the right palm facing upwards and place your two palms together (do not lock the fingers). To take down either kick to the back of the leg or step back into a half kneel or hit your right hand up with your left hand (be careful when you do this as it causes extreme pain

Ganseki Nage

Uke: Left forearm grab with right hand or right punch.

Tori: Avoid punch and step in sending your left arm behind Uke, clipping them on the back of their head. You should end up very close to Uke and be facing in the same direction. Your left foot should be between Uke’s feet but slightly forward and facing in the same direction. Your left shoulder should be under Uke’s right armpit and your left hip on Uke’s right hip. Rotate your body to the right without moving your legs to throw them across to the right in front of you.


Fu: Feeling of Wind

Reiver Post in Class Notes，
17 September 2009
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Tumbleweed, Balloon blowing in the wind.  Aspects learned: Doesn’t tie you up, very easy to strike and keep moving.  Scenario in class was in respect to EP.  Multiple attackers come in.  The first is struck with a devastating slap.  You allow your spine to generate as much power as possible and take a J-step.  This winds up the spine for the secondary attack.

Had a nice flow

Gyaku without grabbing – 3 Demensional

Reiver Post in Class Notes，
17 September 2009
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The Gyaku is performed combining 3 points of pressure.

  1. The horizontal twisting of the wrist commonly associated with a wrist reversal
  2. A Take Ori type feeling, collapsing the palm towards the inner arm
  3. A crushing feeling applied to the hand trying to fold it in half so the pinky touches the thumb.

With these 3 points of pressure, direct the energy towards the attacker’s feet.  Do not grab the hand and get caught up fighting over it.  Hold and “Roll” the attacking hand like Dough.  Keep moving.  Moving towards the attacker provides assistance in bending the elbow and making them go straight down.  When the elbow is bent aim for the rear triangle.

Koto Ryu: Kurai Dori and 5 Kamae

Reiver Post in Class Notes，
19 July 2009
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KURAI DORI

Kurai Dori in a simple meaning is to take proper distance or stance. Not all Kamae are used to initiate a fight sequence. Some Kamae are used to create the required distance between you and your opponent. Therefore, in such a case as this you really need to become aware of your surroundings for each Kamae.  The position you take toward others is influenced by the World around you, as well as your own state-of-being, at the given point in time you come in contact with them. If one understands their presence in the world, then one may be able to manipulate themselves at will.

1. HIDARI SEIGAN NO KAMAE – Left True Sight
The left leg is forward and slightly bent. The left arm is straight out pointing at Uke’s face, and the hand is in Shuto. The right hand is in Shuto, and is held above the left bicep with the palm facing towards the face.

NOTE: Ichimonji no Kamae, has the rear hand in Shuto. “In Koto Ryu” for Migi Seigan, your hand is placed in front of you, pointing at the adversary, and the left hand is placed in such a way that you guide the attack.  You are ready for any type of attack.  Since this is called Kurai Dori, foot positioning becomes very important and is crucial for proper distancing.  This will help freedom of movement.

2. MIGI SEIGAN NO KAMAE – Right True sight

The Kamae is the same as Hidari Seigan no Kamae, but in Migi.

3. HIRA ICHIMONJI NO KAMAE – “Flat” figure 1 posture – Windy feeling

The arms are held out to the side of the body, shoulder height. Hands are in Shuto.

NOTE: With the Hira Ichimonji no Kamae, you must imagine yourself trying to control a large area.  Possibly against multiple attackers.  A very open feeling that helps you from getting tunnel vision on one target.

4. HOKO NO KAMAE - Bear receiving posture.  Feeling is to make yourself Big. Earthy Feeling.
The left foot is slightly forwards, and the body is upright. The hands are held above the head in Shako Ken. The whole posture looks as though you are holding a large ball.  Make yourself look big.

NOTE: Make yourself look bigger. You are showing yourself to the enemy, and saying “I will protect myself no matter what”. When some animals meet their enemy, they threaten the enemy by making their body look bigger than what it is. This posture is good for a small person, and the attitude for this posture is, “I will defend myself no matter what happens, attack whenever you want”. Your centre of gravity is balanced.

5. BOBBI NO KAMAE

Similar to Ichimonji but the right hand is at the obi, in a Fudo Ken, the open left-hand, points directly in a straight line at Uke.

NOTE: This posture contains the mental attitude – Come anytime. The foot positioning of the Koto Ryu is very important in Kamae. It will also help with distancing. This will also give you freedom of movement. Right hand is in front and left hand is on the hip. You are ready for any attack any time.

Shiken Haramitsu Daikomyo

Reiver Post in Philosophy，
18 April 2009
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Some info I found researching the meaning.

It (conceptually) translates as :

May the Light in our heart bring the awareness of harmony perceived by spiritual awakening, and bring sincerity, loyalty and faithfulness in what we are achieving.

This roughly translates to “May our next act bring us enlightenment or the great light of wisdom”, so to simplify it you could say, “Every experience has the potential to be that one thing that brings you closer to enlightenment.

We have all heard “Every experience is a learning experience”.  It originates from the Bhuddist Mantra, Shiken Haramitsu Daikomyo.  To them the traditional meaning is

“The Wisdom of the Four Hearts leads us to Enlightenment”

The ‘Four Hearts’ ( literally: Four Perspectives) are:
The Merciful Heart
- expresses love for everything
The Sincere Heart
- follows what is right
The Attuned Heart
- follows the natural order of things
The Dedicated Heart
- holds to the chosen pursuit.

Shiken (four perspectives): is the sensation and the harmony perceived by the sense of hearing and heart.

Haramitsu (-in Sanskrit: Paramita): is Buddha’s Satori or a permanent state of spiritual awaking that transcends the limitations of life and death.

Daikomyo: is the ‘Great Komyo’ – the ‘big bright light’ of illumination – the light of your heart – the Radiance of a Deity (Buddha, Bodhisattva, ‘Vidyaraja’, etc) – the manifest expression of the Light of Wisdom: the means by which illumination “dawns on us.”

***The original interview with Hatsumi Sensei occurred in June 1998 between Hatsumi, Masaaki 34th Soke of the Togakure – ryu and Mr. Bernard Bordas, 10th Dan (Shihan), the author of the original text which was in French.

Bernard Bordas: Sensei, do you have any piece of advice to give to the BUDOKA?

Hatsumi sensei: Trying to reproduce a form is being its prisoner; the form kills the KI, the creativity as well as the spontaneity. Practicing a martial art is becoming more and more flexible (JU) and so, becoming better able to adapt to any situation. In these days and age, people are being prisoners of forms, comfort and fashion in an increasing way. One must not put too much emphasis on these things (keeping your distance, breaking free). In the opposite case, both the body and the mind become stiff and rigid, which is very dangerous as it is not natural. Stiff people become obtuse, strong headed and end their life in loneliness.

Bernard Bordas: They become too YANG i.e. rejects all opinions that differ from their own, and thus they lose all their relationships, right?

Hatsumi sensei: Yes, that’s right. Becoming flexible is working in the same way as nature, animals are flexible, they don’t overburden their lives, and they accept it as it is. That’s very interesting; it reflects the idea of « SHIKIN HARAMITSU DAIKOMYO ».

Bernard Bordas: Can you tell us more on this subject?

Hatsumi sensei: SHIKIN means existence, life (what IS)…

HARAMITSU is calling us to the global idea of protection (knowing how to protect oneself), for that, finding a sincere way (MAKOTO NO MICHI) is very important. However, thinking that your chosen way is a just one, it must be a naturally just one, that is the MAKOTO NO MICHI. As important is to know how to give. Nature gives without thought and expecting nothing in return. We must live naturally. TAKAMATSU sensei tried to the best of his abilities to live in a simple and natural way (food, hygiene, and exercise). Nowadays, a lot of people practice the budo while following the wrong path (they force themselves to be stiff and rigid, which gives them a feeling of « power »). You must respect nature, live in harmony with it and stay in touch with it, this is the right way: being in harmony with life. Accepting what is as being an integral part of life, this is the definition of « living naturally ».

DAIKOMYO means that we must always keep a bright light in the darkness (keeping the faith true the worse challenges). When I’m making videos, that’s all I’m trying to pass on. That is what I’m teaching, but many people don’t understand. If somebody tries to teach you otherwise under my name, then it is not really my teachings. Some people use the name BUJINKAN without knowing me or all of this; it’s a great shame because they are deceiving their students. More than that, knowing nothing of the real (salutary) practice of the BUDO, those people are dangerous to all those who give them their thrust.

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