Bujinkan Kata 擔撃 Tangeki

I began class with the #bujinkan kata 擔撃 tangeki. Our opponent attacks and we should (一寸腰を低めにし) quickly lower the hips (or lower the hips one sun) and attack the eyes. We assume the structure of 抱囲之構 hōkō no kamae. I don’t think a lot of teachers understand an important translation of the character 擔 tan. It means to bear up, shoulder a burden, or carry. The kata should be taught this way. This is how Soke teaches it. When you do this, your opponent gets caught on the platform or structure you provide in the kukan, then you drop it out from under him. He is left suspended, floating, or falling into your kick. In this moment, you are free to manipulate the kukan however you like. Soke calls this manifestion of hōkō 眼潰の構 metsubushi no kamae (or gantsubushi). This is the 虚 kyo (falsehood, or void form) of 虚実 kyojitsu, and the kick is the 実 jitsu (reality or truth). But one of the most important things to know about kyojitsu is that nothing is fixed. The kyo can become the jitsu or the reverse. I showed how to use this with small hidden weapons from hōkō. Then I added the hanbo. The expression I used was what I’ve been studying with Soke over the last few years. And even last month, in Japan, he showed us how to NOT use the weapon. Accept the echoes of kami into the space and into your movement. Then the hanbo works for you instead of you working for it.    • Bujinkan Kata 擔撃 Tangeki   Of Note: some things refuse to be seen on video #虎倒流骨法術 #KotōRyūKoppōjutsu