"There is no such thing as a modern or classic kenjutsu!" Miyamoto Musashi

2009-01-08T14:42:00.000-08:00

..."you either know what you are doing, or you do not".

There can be, however, a classical, contemporary and/or substandard style-seekers' ways of representations.

Antonio Paredes LaMotta

Shinobi Kai (Nin Kai) is the name that was bestowed by Tadashi Yamashita, to honor the school founded by Antonio LaMotta on September 18, 1993. Trademarks and copyrights were filed in the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia shortly therein. Its aim was to implement an advanced study and practice of Matayoshi Kobudo/Kenjutsu (White Crane Techniques), culminating into the break-through and understanding of its methodology and philosophy in the fall of 1993. Following this, advanced group of students of Shorin Ryu and Matayoshi Kobudo (Nin-Kai) formed as one in dedication to the study and practice of the Yamashita's Sui Ken Weapons' Systems. "Techniques flowing continuously, like a waterfall" antonio lamotta.

" It's nice to see a lot more sword competitions in tournaments. Twenty years ago I was shunned by most kobudo competitors. Some have never seen a bladed entry in their tournaments before, much less the double-swords. I have never owned an iai-to, I only use live blades - apparently, there were more than enough well informed officials there to have allowed me to compete (East Coast). After all, Kobudo means: the ways of the ancient warriors (and that doesn't exclude the swords). The return was no less than standing ovations, and the more surprise I was - the louder it gotten. Its comeback is certainly here - the fencing is here, but we're still far from the Way of the Sword. I wish you well in your journey on the path of bushido."

"I have undertaken this long journey, because I knew deep in my heart that I could accomplish it. Even if I would have failed I would certainly cherish the experience of the path bestowed herein. I thank the lord for the strength and skills that he had lent me and I thank the men and women that have supported me throughout the length of this journey. Behold, here is the proof: wisdom, strength and compassion - the agony and victory - unbeatable technique and admonition - rise of the East and dawn of the West - the one soul of the Pen and the Sword, constituted and embodied by us few. We happy few".

VENI - VIDI - VICI

I came - I saw - I conquered

...like a friend imprisoned as a stone by a gorgeous ritual - free him.

2009-01-07T21:55:00.000-08:00

VIDEO 0-1

Sword and Saya Kata: In this kata, the steel scabbard is used to assist the sword - as it would have been done in the double sword demonstration. Note that there would be several binding or trapping techniques used followed by a kick - to neutralize the opponent.

VIDEO 0-2

A Double Sword Exercise: showing a swordplay against multiple attackers. Note that the hands would be the optimum target, followed by the legs. The simultaneous feign-and-strike would have been a pair of thrusts (to injure the corners).

VIDEO 0-3

00:04, Trap or bind his attack to the right and go straight for the neck.

00:09, Parry number 1 and clip at the right forearm.

00:11, A series of angled placement of the sword, resulting to him pushing your sword against his own neck (in this case - his face as well).

00:13, Circle down and thrust to the groin.

00:16, A series of feign and strike (in this case to his right hand and forearm). Circle above and/or below his guard, also use semi figure-eight movements.

00:33, Circle below and thrust or clip his neck (murasame and/or matsukaze).

00:39, Continuous action to disrupt the gate (keeping his attacks checked at the gate), then thrust low to the groin.

00:46, A series of dodge back (retreat) while thrusting.

00:51, Circle below followed by a unexpected left-hand thrust to the throat.

00:57, Circle below and bang him on the head.

PRACTICE YOUR REAL-TIME TECHNIQUES

Your reflexes must be automatic and precise. If you have to think in a duel, you're dead

PLEASE BARE WITH US FOR CONTINUING EDITIONS OF SCROLLS, VOLUMES OF MANUSCRIPTS AND SPECIAL FILM FOOTAGE BEING POSTED. THANKYOU.

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A Letter from the Editor:
Thank you for all of your support. We are continuously receiving visitors from
every part of the world and I will never stop on posting until I have exhausted
everything that I have learned and learning.
I believe that Strategy is the cradle of civilizations,
and the perfect strategy is a universal gift of God.
Therefore, everyone can harmonize within its boundaries.
The perfect Strategy of God's Warrior utilizes everything in his surroundings, nature,
indigenous animals and people. It also utilizes the universe, the seasons, the tides,
and the winds. A lesser form of order, no matter how strong it is in the beginning,
will only exhaust itself of all its fuel that drive its momentum in the end.
Nature will always triumph. This is the main ingredients of the perfect strategy.
If we omit anything, but a small piece of nature - it will surely comeback on us.
When we achieve the role of perfect strategy, we will end all hostilities.
Mathematically speaking: if we have a perfect equation, it automatically
identifies and cancels-out the viral plug-ins.
A sinister plan will only act out its duration until it is snuffed-out by its
own demise. Let's have harmony and patience. I wish you well in your endeavors.

OUR DAILY VISITS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

What is Kenjutsu?

Beginners, novices, and fencers think that kenjutsu is a fighting style, a regulated fighting system, and even a religion based strategical philosophy with its contents handed down from the classical time in its pure form. They expect forms and regulations much like from the fencing sports and military training method to be followed uniformly and catatonicaly. None of the above exemplifies kenjutsu. Kenjutsu, in the classical times (ken-no-jutsu) : is a three-kanji word that the japanese use for (noun or verb) to refer to sword-method from any part of the world. It's not a style like Aikido, Judo, or Karate. The single style japanese kenjutsu does not exist. The only tradition handed down by kenjutsu is to keep your techniques secret from your neighboring warriors to better defend yourself someday. There is no regulations in kenjutsu. The challenger in front of you may be a trap, and you may be surrounded by twenty other attackers. As in the wild west, the kenjutsu does not follow any rules - only warrior instinct for survival.

The King's bodyguard or the Emperor's security staff regulate the degree of instructions everyone else gets, including the military. This is easily done by blinding the subordinates with strict regulations and gorgeous rituals. Miyamoto Musashi symbolically refrain from a religious rite prior a skirmish to make us aware of the separation of religion from a strategical course. But: one may consult religion to minimize the potential sacrifices.

The beginner starts with understanding motor-skills and relations of timing and counter-actions. A kenjutsu master is able to neutralize his attacker at will. This is done by using subterfuge and impeccable timing. Then the blade is turned to prevent unnecessary severing and decapitations. Who in their right mind would cut a person knowing that he can do it at will? Only the fencers think like that. A kenjutsu master will not be intimidated by an attacker's blade, knowing that he can crush all his metacarpals in an instant. This is in the same manner why the naginata (nagai-no-to) is designed to attain a single edged blade - to be able to switch from the cutting mode to the strike mode. The katana have come a long way from the type of the sword that it was in the Ise Shrine (one of the secret relics kept in the shrine). Miyamoto Musashi captured numerous prisoners during the Christian Civil War in Japan.

The beginners also start by cutting tatami mats to familiarize with the blade. They get over with that soon. I started by cutting sugar canes when I was seven - and ate them too. The worst thing that can happen to a fencer is that the gorgeous rituals (medusa syndrome) would eventually freeze him like a statue, not able to advance on his quest for freedom, harmony, truth, compassion, and creativity.

Kenjutsu has nothing to do with sport or rituals. Kenjutsu is the application of appropriate tactic to neutralize overwhelming odds of aggression, with effective permanent capitulation. In other words: make the enemies admit defeat to the bottom of their hearts, because a re-kindled fire is much harder to subdue. Look the enemies in the eyes and make them realize who allowed them to live. If the enemies could trust you with their own lives, who would be your enemies?

Kenjutsu is the learning of the true way of the non-glamorized sword. It weighs the potentiality, consequences, and aftermath of the impeding actions. A kenjutsuist is a tactician, not a connoisseur of swords or sword cutting.

I am not saying that dealing with the enemies is as easy as that. Enemies can be as blind as a bull and must be dealt with accordingly with precision and surgical skill of a matador. Sacrifices should also be treated as like applying tourniquets, ready to loose a part of your body and survive long enough to get the job done (as one filipino method). The bottom line is: understanding kenjutsu is harmony and utilization of the universe.

On Leadership

We have enough clowns that are paid well to do their jobs. It's another thing to have a military tactical leader to act as the lead clown. We have a great deal invested in a military deployment that even the lives of our own paps depend on the qualifications of our leaders. We want to make sure that their sacrifices are not in vain. Also: our leaders must keep the integrity of our country and military. Soldiers would have stood and volunteer to die on the spot to prove their convictions to follow their leaders.

On the other hand, I know how it feels to think that you could be dead in a month - and that you had told your loved-ones that you'll be back, even when you're sure you won't make it. A leader may have injested poison in his soldiers' souls, but it's not to kill their souls, but rather to kill the pain, fear, and sorrow that these brave souls will be infected with. In his men's eyes he was successful of this. We want the brave warriors to go forth and prove to our enemies that we love them. We want the least possible casualties upon them to stop this war.
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We can't mix these two precepts together. The truth is not always fathomable to everyone. In a different time the context is wrong. Nevertheless, he who thinks that he has not sinned or is perfect, come forth and stone the man yourself until he's dead. God, help them, and forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing.

Kenjutsu (Sword Techniques)

"There is no such thing as a modern or classic kenjutsu!" Miyamoto Musashi