Transmitting the martial art of the Bujinkan

Something a little personal: "Transmitting the martial art"...

Today, after 22 years since I opened a dojo (in 2004) and 38 years since I began practicing martial arts (in 1988) and 6 and a half years since I "really started learning" (that's what I call the event I went through since I returned from Japan in October 2019), I came to a thought, and perhaps a conclusion, regarding the manner and way of transmitting the knowledge of the martial art of the Bujinkan...

First, because I had - fortunately - several teachers, each with different knowledge and teaching/transmitting approach, it can be said that until now I was "confused" and not coherent in the way of transmitting knowledge. Secondly, it turns out that a teacher or trainer also grows and learns over time and develops his/her own private/personal approach to learning and tranfering the knowledge, and in my opinion, the "act of transferring knowledge" is doubly difficult when it comes to martial arts that are so deep and complex - philosophical and "internal" - like the Bujinkan: this is not just about transferring a technical set of movements, but a very complex depth of emotions, psychology and philosophy. In my opinion, this is about "dismantling the personality and rebuilding it" (if you will: shu-ha-ri...). So how do we do this? What have I understood now and how do I think I should proceed from this point? A very difficult question... but I am starting to try a different approach than I have done so far, an approach that I hope will succeed in assimilating - in me and in the dojo trainees - the ways and personalities that I have internalized from the many teachers I have had over the years: the "fighting spirit" - clear and uncompromising - that I received from some of them, alongside the humanity, wisdom and immense depth that I received from Hatsumi soke and the Japanese shihans.

The way to transmit this teaching is, in my opinion, a combination of the feeling which Hatsumi soke emphasized so much in his lessons, alongside strictness and richness of technical precision and practicing "flowing and chaotic" combat situations. The path is challenging and not easy (well, it's "Hatsumi's way"... ), but - keep going - I am sure that if I persevere (and so do the other trainees and students) we will be able to climb to the high peaks of the Bujinkan and Budo.

Amen. Just - Keep going and Bufo Ikkan

Ishin-denshin: direct, personal, and complete transmission of knowledge or tradition from teacher to student