Tristan Sutrisno's Bushi No Te Summercamp in 30

It' been 30 years since Tristan Sutrisno began his Bushi No To summercamp dedicated to martial excellence. I attended the first 10 years, but time and distance meant I discontinued attending. This weekend they are having the 30th camp and we wish them well, as they will have fine training, among which is Silat, Karate, Tai Chi, Aikido and other arts. His Bushi No Te is grown out of his father's organization on Indonesia. (This is not related to the use of Bushi No Te for my organiization)

That camp among other activities there was Aikido, Karate, for the instructors there a study of Nijushiho, crossing a rope bridge while retaining hold of your weapon of choice, 4 am training sessions, application study of Shotokan, and even a war game crawling around in the rain. We held it at an old Boy Scout's campground.

Pictured are a few of the instructors there.

Charles Murray 1968 Tokumine No Kon

The teenage Charles Murray in 1968 performing Bo Tokumine No Kon

Uezu Isshinryu Bo Sai Kumite

Hayanawa Kappo Kenpo Kyojan Zukai, Zen

Hayanawa Kappo Kenpo Kyojan Zukai, Zen

Complete Illustrated Book of the Teaching Method of Tying (Hayanawa),

The Striking Methods of Jujutsu (Kenpo)

And the Method of Resuscitation (Kappo)

Preface by Tetsutaro Hisatomi Sensei, Jujutsu Kyoshi

Afterward by Hachiro Imaizumi Sensei, Enbu Kancho

Pictures/Copy by Ginko Adachi Sensei

Writing/Literary Work by Matsunosuke Iguchi (or Inoguchi)

Introductory Remarks by Count Takashi Washio and Fiscount Nobuyoshi Kaieda

Published May 17. 1896 (Meiji 29)

Tokyo, Kinseido.  108 pages. 50 Sen Japanese Language

Notes on Chosen Chibana’s Karate

Notes on Chosen Chiniba’s Karate – ‘A Karate Odessey’

Fron an interview with Sensei Pat Nakata in ‘Classical Fighting Arts’ vol 2 No 14 Issue #37.

Kihon keiko would be called by one of the senior about once a month and not on a scheduled basis.  Chibana Sensei taught that each movement of a kata was a kihon waza and kata was fighting training.

Chibana Sensei’s main element of training was kata. Chibana Sensei did the counting of each kata and would correct each move as needed. He would focus on:
 

            Koshi (hip)

            Hara (abdomen)

            Stance

            Foot positioning

            Breathing

            Hand or arm position

            Kime (focus of technique)

            Etc.
 

Depending on what he felt would improve the student at that time.

Chibana Sensei was concerned  with form (posture and stance) and physical positions when you were learning the kata.

Once you learned the movements Chibana Sensei would teach you the application of each movement for the kata.

Chibana Sensei taught there were at least three interpretations per movement. Chibana Sensei also taught that there were meanings or applications when you moved from one technique to another. He corrected the transition and intermediate moves.

Chibana Sensei taught that there were three levels of teaching in the kata, especially the Pinan kata.

The three levels for the Pinan kata were as follows:
 

1.      The first level which was for elementary and intermediate school students, was basic punch, kick, strike and block.

2.      The second level for high school students with more dangerous interpretations.

3.      The third level went into very viscous applications and was reserved for older students.

 

Old Memories 1 -2- 3

Complete Aikido

I continue to talk about the great works of Martial Literature. This time a current tale.

While it is true I have never met a book about Aikido I didn’t like, “Complete Aikido”, published by Tuttle Press and written by Suenkaka and Watson, is a marvelous book on many levels.

It tells the story of Roy Suenaka, a Hawaii of Japanese ancestry, who was literally raised in multiple martial traditions, choosing to serve this country in the Air Force. Then stationed in Japan almost instantly became deshi to Usheiba Morhei, received his Menkyo Kaiden from Usheiba, moved for service to Okinawa and then opened the first successful Aikido dojo there, always continuing new training experiences, was then accepted as a student by Soken Hohen.

His description  of the break of Aikido instructors following Usheiba’s death is a tale that still repeats itself in other arts. Eventually he opened the Suenaka-Ha Tetsugaru-Ho Wadikai Aikido program in Charleston, SC.

This is an exciting, literal account of great training, over a lifetime. As a book it is an exceptional tale.