2009 Update

 

 

 

There are two kinds of lies humans subscribe too.

1: The kind they WISH were true. 2: The kind they are AFRAID are true.

 

I took up Cowboy Action Shooting. I met 65 year old men that can draw and shoot a single action six shooter six times accurately in only a few seconds! That's a martial artist! The rate of fire they can command is greater than most military submachine guns!
In October 2007, I decided to take a year off from the Internet. No e-mail, no forums and no website updates. I briefly got on the Web and read some really silly and untrue things about myself. It says more about the insecurity of others than it says about me, I guess. I didn't pursue martial arts to learn how to play politics or listen to ignorant fools.

 

After a year or two, I decided to take time off from teaching as well. I took six months off for the first time in more than 37 years of training in the martial arts. I indulged in pursuits to better expand my knowledge and skills in other arts.

To start off, I spent more time volunteering. I volunteered at a local museum as a research librarian. Since I am a bibliophile, I was very happy in my position.

 

I spent more time volunteering at the Jordan / Bachman Pioneer farm, doing blacksmithing and woodworking. I became friends with some very talented artisans and craftsmen that helped me vastly improve my skills and knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm volunteering at the nearby Buddhist temple as a gardener, and was welcomed to meditate with the head monk and her group. As all of them are of Asian extraction, they thought I was a strange giant. That's okay, as I am indeed a very different sort of person. Since I am allowed to come and go as I please they call me the "Ninja Gardener".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They ask me to do pruning, dead tree branch removal and rooting on a section of the vast garden, and magically the next morning, all is done without ever seeing me. All the debris has "magically" disappeared. I like getting up very early.

 

 

 

 

 

I've spent a long time studying Western martial arts and weaponry, as did the venerable Bruce Lee. I took up one weapon recently with a vengeance, the Longsword. This sword is very much akin to the Japanese Katana, with many more unique techniques.

 

 

After this sabbatical, I am renewed and refreshed and training and teaching again. I'd tried at the urging of my students to turn our group into a viable commercial enterprise, yet I've always avoided this. I rented a space for a dojo for a year with air-conditioning and lighting, yet this didn't feel like the tougher arts of bujutsu. So, when my lease was up, I closed it and returned to training in the wild.

I've also been spending more time making my own versions of traditional Japanese ancient weapons, namely the naginata and kusarigama.

Generally speaking, there are two distinct styles of the naginata. There is the masculine style - large, heavy and best suited to the battlefield. The feminine style is light and quick. This style has no tsuba (guard) so that it can be stored flat on a wall rack.

While I am familiar with both styles, I prefer the "feminine" naginata. The wives of Japan's Samurai had great skill in the use of this weapon when defending their homes.

The naginata has been seen in many variations throughout Japan's turbulent history. The length of the haft, the blade and it's curvature changed from period to period. The Kamakura Period (Warring States Period, 1186 - 1333) produced some of the most robust types.

 

 

I've seen that generally when you treat the art as a business, the art suffers and is diminished. When you treat the art as an art it remains true and pure.

I prefer the latter. If you wish to study and train in the arts of Bujutsu, and you have a true heart, a keen mind and shining spirit - then the door and path is open to you. If you are a shallow, spiteful human being - I will root you out and make you leave. There is no room for fear, stupidity, hatred, ignorance or willful ignorance in our dojo.

Those who only seek a rank and a black belt don't last long in our dojo. I have often given some students desperate for a black - belt one just to see what they would do. Some immediately left our dojo and proclaimed themselves the best teacher to train with. Others felt undeserving of this honor, and humbly decided to try as hard as possible to be worthy of the right to wear a black belt. See if you can guess which ones I respect and admire.

A black belt does not mean you can defend yourself in a life or death fight. Only skill and luck will.

My most loyal and dedicated students in the meantime asked for permission to form a sanctioned training group for the first time in 2008. There has been no other such group before 2008.

I had never been asked to do so before or permitted such a group. They quickly found about how difficult it really is to take on the mantle of a Sensei. Other students went to Japan to study with the Grandmaster, and he and his Master Instructors were very impressed and pleased with their skills as they were told most Americans "do not understand real Taijutsu". Some students also sought out other Instructors in the Budo Taijutsu arts, and found some who are tenth Dan teaching "karate" as taijutsu. They also found kindred spirits, Teachers that are only devoted to their students and sharing the finer arts of Budo like myself. I am deeply grateful, as I've made new friends in the martial arts because of my students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consider this proverb - "Guile must wear clothes. Truth goes naked."

I do not seek disciples. I seek kindred spirits and like-minded people to train with. After all, we are all seeking the same thing - Budo (the way of the warrior, the way of war).

Make no mistake. If you think that that training is all about the Teacher walking back and forth like a drill Sergeant barking orders, you have no idea what we are trying to achieve.

We train in the worst kind of conditions, namely intense heat and cold, rain and mud, etc. at times.

My Sempai (senior students) and I occasionally train in dangerous, crime - ridden areas of Austin, Texas. We allow our presence to be known. We keep up with the crime statistics in various areas, and have seen crime rates drop in the areas we train in.

My wife is a very skilled textile artist, and I took up the arts of sewing, garment making and tailoring. I could rarely find traditional Japanese style training uniforms, clothing and in particular - the much sought after tabi footwear. I decided to learn how to make my own. I bought a few books to help me out, and they are great.

 

I quit eating sugar many years ago. My wife and I rarely go out to eat, but instead prepare our own healthy food.

I also quit watching all but a few television shows, and more DVD's since canceling Time Warner Cable. Aside from PBS, most shows on commercial television are pure drivel. I started composing and playing music again. I returned to practicing the arts of Sumi - E, (Japanese calligraphy and painting), drawing, painting and sculpture. I also do my own version of Japanese Sushi style rolls. Yum! My friends in the film industry are teaching me special effects makeup.

I learned something in 2009. Too many Americans do not recognize something of value unless they see a $ in front of it. Since the economy tanked, times are hard for everyone I know. Since we are not a commercial dojo, and don't require written contracts, I just started "passing the hat" after each class. The student body rapidly dwindled, at times I only got $5.00 for six students. It then went to only two students, and only one reliably came through with dues.

I gave it a good try to help out my students, and it's my own fault for being on the edge of homelessness.

I'm very glad I still remember my college days, where Ramon noodles were a daily feast!

2010 will have some new rules for training with me.

If you are looking for mere rank and glory, you won't find it in our dojo. What you will find is rough and tumble warrior arts. I teach people how to stay alive and protect those they love and those who can't protect themselves.