This is the season of the Ghost technique.

 Season of the Ghost  First you see him (or her) then you don't as the Ghost disappears before your eyes.  The days grow shorter, daylight too disappears before our eyes.

10-26-2001

This is the season of the Ghost technique.

I find our true worth rests with our friends.  My closest friend is Ernest Rothrock a martial artists who resides outside of Pittsburgh, Penna.  We all walk many paths, his represent an incredible number of studies. I've been fortunate that he is my instructor as well as my friend.  As students go I'm certainly one of the least he's trained. But as a friend he has shown me depths I would have never found without his guidance.


One of the most fascinating concepts which I've been exposed to from our friendship is that of the Ghost technique. The ability to disappear in plain sight of your enemies.  This can become true magic.


Now it didn't happen because he took me aside and drilled me in the secrets. In fact, I did it the old fashioned way (a la 'Five Fingers of Death').  Several decades ago he trusted me with a copy of an advanced manual for his senior students.   The 'Fire Dragon Martial Arts Advanced Training Manuel', and therein was a page describing Ghost Techniques.


I was training in a variety of Chinese Forms from many differing systems in order to obtain an overview of the Chinese Martial Arts. This was in addition to my Yang Tai Chi Chaun studies with him.  We did discuss some of the concepts of that manual, but as with many texts, it went on my self and sat for quite a few years.


I came to understand the basic concept of the Ghost Technique.  In my words, you are using the focused awareness of your attacker to his or her disadvantage.  The attacker attacks you where they know you are.  Unless highly trained themselves, that focused knowledge can work against them if you shift away from where they 'know' you are so you aren't there.


No, its not magic, in fact I'm sure most of you have studies which parallel that training. In Japanese terminology it's the use of Tai Sabaki (body shifting) to evade the attacker.


Well one evening after I had moved to New Hampshire I was moved to review Ernie's manual.  I started working through the techniques descriptions in my head, and decided that I should give this a try the next class.  I decided on what I would try ( and it wasn't exactly as his manual described), and the next class I had a student attack me with a punch. He attacked, I moved and shifted and before he stopped moving I was standing 15 feet behind him.  The rest of the group was falling down laughing from the expression on his face asking 'where did he go?', for as far as he was concerned I had disappeared, right in front of him.


Focused awareness is an interesting thing.  Trevor Legett in his fascinating study "Zen and the Ways", describes the concept of Isshin (focused awareness) and Zanshin (wider awareness). [Forgive my very short description.]  The perfect martial artists (IMVHO) would have both at the same time. Isshin focusing on the immediate task, and Zanshin to focus on the wider picture, too.


The funny thing, most attackers aren't that well trained, and their focus on you as the object of the attack, can be used with Ghost Techniques against them.


Once I understood Ernest's concept, I began to find examples everywhere. When I had a course in wrestling in college, I had learned to pull a whizzer, and spin out and away from someone riding me. A ghost technique.


Tris Sutrisno, in one of our early training sessions, used a technique against a punch (or a grab) of just moving slightly back, to be a hair away from the focus of the opponents attack (a somewhat similar concept is contained within Ernest Rothrock's form "Lung Lek Kuen - Supple Dragon"). They attack where you are, but as you are no longer there, then shift slightly forward into the space you created, and that creates an opening to be utilized.  Heck I forgot, the same concept is found within the opening section of the Yang 2 person set demonstrated by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming in his 2nd volume of Advanced Tai Chi. There, against an attack, you simply step back creating a void that pulls the attacker into the opening, creating the opening for your counter attack.


An attacker rushes you.  Your response is to step aside and counter with an Isshinryu squat kick into their abdomen.  They rush where you are, you sidestep out of their awareness, the ghost technique, and you respond by kicking into their entry into that void.


Of course, these are but several basic choices available to the Ghost.


Take the turning potential in kata, such as Chinto, Kusanku or Seipai to name a few, and use that turning to evade, control or set up the opponent.  That is the beginning of advanced ghost techniques.  I can give some other hints.


You might consider how the application of the evasions of Aikido techniques represent the Ghost.  Correct entry into the Heaven and Earth Thlow against an attack is among the highest levels of Ghost Technique.


If you have M. Nakayama's Best Karate Series Volume 3, Kumite I, check out page 114 for penetrating tai sabaki.


Of course the highest level I personally experienced, was when Tris Sutrisno disappeared before my eyes when I was trying to strike him. His response was to stand on my shoulders, before I finished moving forward, jump off with a flip side technique to my face and land with a grin.  Personally that was one of the true scary moments I've faced in my life, for I had no idea how he got up there, and None of his Black Belts in attendance watching the whole thing, understood how he did it either. Full disappearance before everybody.   [I'm sure I'll live to regret mentioning this again, most likely giving Ernie some idea of trying something else new on me. Would that I could disappear myself
when needed.]


In many senses this might be among the highest level of our arts. It makes more sense not to be there when attacked, than to be the toughest monkey on the block.


I don't think I've ever asked Ernie where the term Ghost Technique came from. I've often wondered whether it was related to the Ninjutsu techniques of Tengu Ashi (Demon Steps) where at least the concepts of the names sound similar to me.


I don't think I'll be any more open about these techniques at this time. Certainly I wouldn't give out Ernie's own as that is his right.  And my own studies, well I'm getting older, slower and creaking. I've got to keep something up my sleeve, at least for now.


What I will do is close with a similar concept from "The Sword & the Mind, translated with an introduction and notes by Hirotaki Sati.  This comes from the Heiho Kaiden Sho (Family  Transmitted ook on Swordsmanship) from the 1500's and the 1600's of Japan. There in there is a section of scrolls titled "The Goblin's Selection: Eight in All".  Page 43.

"Tehiki (also know as Eiibo): Entrapment

When parrying appears to be leading nowhere, feign sudden withdrawal by lowering your fists. The moment the opponent takes the bait and strikes at your fists, quickly reverse the positions   of  your  f eet ,  forward  and  backward,  jerk  your  fists  to the  right  to  dodge  the coming  blow,  and strike  to his fists."
 
 Yet  another vision of  the Goblin or Ghost .
 
 To   close from the play of  Tom  Stoppard,   " Rosencrantz  and  Guilderstern  are  Dead " .
 
 " Rosenâ ¬ ¦ . . Guilderâ ¬ ¦ . .    Well,  now you  see  me  and  now  you   ..... "
 
 Victor  Smith
 Bushi No Te  Isshinryu
     
 
 

 
Date:  Tue Oct 31, 2000  10:20 am
Subject:  RE: [bunkai_unlimited] Season of the Ghost - errrr dragon ?
 
 Greetings - all, Victor San,

   Last night while training I was given a double complement   by one of the Goju black belts I train with, this related to your  disappearing post (It will take a minute to set this up).  We were practicing the bunkai of Kakuha-sho (created by Seikichi Toguchi   sensei), this is done in one continuous drill between two people,   alternating  Uke and Tori. At the end of the form  is the same movement that is at the end of Seiunchin kata, (cat stance,  circle the arms up and drop the elbows down and then  outward)  rather than use this as a defense for a lapel grab we use it  as a defense for  a double leopard paw strike (like Ippon ken but  done with all four knuckles, (someone have a better term for this ?))  to the ribs,(or better yet just below the breast nipples),

  This is the same movement that we use in Saifa kata (instead of the   double punch, just before the low circular hammer fist strike into   open palm),   

 Anyway, this is the end of the form so we generally improvise
  the finishing movement,   As the double leopard paw strike came in I retreated in a cat stance   dropped both elbows downward and separated his strikes, then circled   my hands to the outside, pushed his right arm up and across his body,   ducked under is arm (and struck his ribs on the way through) and   passed him turning 180 degrees and ended up behind him, stomp kicked   his leg and grabbed his face from behind (gentle like).

  He said "You have the spirit of the dragon in you", Being a Isshinryu practitioner this was more of a complement then he knew,   (I view IR as Tatsuos style)  what he  was actually referring to is the   ability (or characteristic ) of the dragon which allows  it to  appear   and disappear at will, he said that I just disappeared and it surprised him, when I attacked from behind him.  This fit right in with previous posts.

  Question is do dragon style techniques really exhibit this type   of characteristics ?  Is it a part of the nature of the movement   is what I'm asking.  anyone have a comment ?

I think this movement worked for me because he is larger then   me, 5-6 inches taller, a weight lifter with a lot of muscle mass.   when I lowered my stance , moved closer and pushed his arm near his   shoulder upward, I completely disappeared from his normal range   of vision,by the time he figured out where I went it would have been to late . (another great use for a quick turn and kick in kata , passing the opponent and attacking from the rear, which  I seldom think of while solo practicing).

  nice r.t. ^..^
 

 

Ghost Techniques Annual Training        4-25-2024
https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2024/04/ghost-techniques-annual-training.html

 

Just a step back – the simplest of Ghost Techniques  10-30-2-15

 https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2015/10/just-step-back-simplest-of-ghost.html

 

Some Thoughts on Ghost Techniques    10-27-2012
https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2012/10/some-thoughts-on-ghost-techniques.html

Conversation with a Ghost    11-7-2009
https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2009/11/conversation-with-ghost.html

The Friendly Ghost        11-19-2009
https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2009/11/friendly-ghost.html

Ghost Techniques for the Season        10-3-2009
https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2008/10/ghost-techniques-for-season.html

Become the Ghost    10-26-2001
https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2021/10/become-ghost.html

Become the Ghost

 

 

Every year at Halloween we have some special training, based on very serious black belt studies.  It is how to disappear before an attacker. Not by magic, but based on the principle most attackers believe they know where you are, and because they know where you are, they aren’t really looking at you. So you move to where they are not looking and disappear before their eyes.

 

In ancient Japanese legends there are stories that Goblins taught these techniques to ancient warriors. They are called ‘Tengu Ashi’ which translates into ‘Goblin Steps’ or translated into more modern English “Ghost Techniques”.

 

While today Okinawa is part of Japan, not so in the distant past, yet part of karate is based on the same principles.

 

As I mentioned this is a very serious Black Belt study, but we are going to look at the first steps tonight.

 

Ghost Techniques or How Not To Be There.

 

For this practice each attack the attacker steps forward with their right foot and throws a right punch at your center line.

 

1.     The first Ghost Technique involves stepping back from an attack.

 

Right foot steps back with a crescent step, avoiding the strike.

 

2.     The second Ghost Technique involves side stepping from an attack.

 

Step to the left side with your left foot, Slide your right foot over and parry with your right hand sweeping right, your left hand held at your solar plexus.

 

Or

 

Step to the right side with your right foot. Slide your left foot over and parry with your left hand sweeping left, your right hand held at your solar plexus.

 

3.     The third Ghost Technique involves stepping away with a surprise technique and walking away.

 

Step with the left foot ot 45 degrees left (away from the strike), spin counter-clockwise with your right foot, then walk away on the diagonal line.

Of course if there is time, you can practice doing this to the right, using mirror image of the first technique.

 

4.     The final Ghost Technique involved stepping forward outside the attack, then stepping forward with the other foot and spinning so you are behind the attacker.

a.     Then you can Moon Walk away from them, and avoid conflict.

b.     Or if tightly done, end up behind them to counter their attack from the superior position.

 

Step forward with the left foot (as close to their strike as possible), then crescent step forward with your right foot (placing it behind their position), spin clockwise with your  left foot to end up behind their back.

 

This  can be done paired, to work on the movement and to work towards increasing speed, After the spin movement, both people slap hands together. It almost becomes a duel to see who can do it faster, Using the slap to strike their body instead of their hands where both are using the same speed,

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Season of the Ghost

 

First you see him (or her) then you don't as the Ghost disappears before your
eyes. The days grow shorter, daylight too disappears before our eyes.

This is the season of the Ghost technique.

I find our true worth rests with our friends. My closest friend is Ernie
Rothrock a martial artists who resides outside of Pittsburgh, Penna. We all
walk many paths, his represent an incredible number of studies. I've been
fortunate that he is my instructor as well as my friend. As students go I'm
certainly one of the least he's trained. But as a friend he has shown me
depths I would have never found without his guidance.

One of the most fascinating concepts which I've been exposed to from our
friendship is that of the Ghost technique. The ability to disappear in plain
sight of your enemies. This can become true magic.

Now it didn't happen because he took me aside and drilled me in the secrets.
In fact, I did it the old fashioned way (a la 'Five Fingers of Death').
Several decades ago he trusted me with a copy of an advanced manual for his
senior students. The 'Fire Dragon Martial Arts Advanced Training Manuel',
and therein was a page describing Ghost Techniques.

I was training in a variety of Chinese Forms from many differing systems in
order to obtain an overview of the Chinese Martial Arts. This was in addition
to my Yang Tai Chi Chaun studies with him. We did discuss some of the
concepts of that manual, but as with many texts, it went on my self and sat
for quite a few years.

I came to understand the basic concept of the Ghost Technique. In my words,
you are using the focused awareness of your attacker to his or her
disadvantage. The attacker attacks you where they know you are. Unless
highly trained themselves, that focused knowledge can work against them if
you shift away from where they 'know' you are so you aren't there.

No, its not magic, in fact I'm sure most of you have studies which parallel
that training. In Japanese terminology it's the use of Tai Sabaki (body
shifting) to evade the attacker.

Well one evening after I had moved to New Hampshire I was moved to review
Ernie's manual. I started working through the techniques descriptions in my
head, and decided that I should give this a try the next class. I decided on
what I would try ( and it wasn't exactly as his manual described), and the
next class I had a student attack me with a punch. He attacked, I moved and
shifted and before he stopped moving I was standing 15 feet behind him. The
rest of the group was falling down laughing from the expression on his face
asking 'where did he go?', for as far as he was concerned I had disappeared,
right in front of him.

Focused awareness is an interesting thing. Trevor Legett in his fascinating
study "Zen and the Ways", describes the concept of Isshin (focused awareness)
and Zanshin (wider awareness). [Forgive my very short description.] The
perfect martial artists (IMVHO) would have both at the same time. Isshin
focusing on the immediate task, and Zanshin to focus on the wider picture,
too.

The funny thing, most attackers aren't that well trained, and their focus on
you as the object of the attack, can be used with Ghost Techniques against
them.

Once I understood Ernie's concept, I began to find examples everywhere. When
I had a course in wrestling in college, I had learned to pull a whizzer, and
spin out and away from someone riding me. A ghost technique.

Tris Sutrisno, in one of our early training sessions, used a technique
against a punch (or a grab) of just moving slightly back, to be a hair away
from the foucs of the opponents attack (a somewhat similar concept is
contained within Ernie Rothrocks form "Lung Lek Kuen - Supple Dragon"). They
attack where you are, but as you are no longer there, they shift slightly
forward into the space you created, and that creates an opening to be
utilized. Heck I forgot, the same concept is found within the opening
section of the Yang 2 person set demonstrated by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming in his
2nd volume of Advanced Tai Chi. There, against an attack, you simply step
back creating a void that pulls the attacker into the opening, creating the
opening for your counter attack.

An attacker rushes you. Your response is to step aside and counter with an
Isshinryu squat kick into their abdomen. They rush where you are, you
sidestep out of their awareness, the ghost technique, and you respond by
kicking into their entry into that void.

Of course, these are but several basic choices available to the Ghost.

Take the turning potential in kata, such as Chinto, Kusanku or Seipai to name
a few, and use that turning to evade, control or set up the opponent. That
is the beginning of advanced ghost techniques.
I can give some other hints.

You might consider how the application of the evasions of Aikido techniques
represent the Ghost. Correct entry into the Heaven and Earth Flow against an
attack is among the highest levels of Ghost Technique.

If you have M. Nakayama's Best Karate Series Volume 3, Kumite I, check out
page 114 for penetrating tai sabaki.

Of course the highest level I personally experienced, was when Tris Sutrisno
disappeared before my eyes when I was trying to strike him. His response was
to stand on my shoulders, before I finished moving forward, jump off with a
flip side technique to my face and land with a grin. Personally that was one
of the true scary moments I've faced in my life, for I had no idea how he got
up there, and None of his Black Belts in attendance watching the whole thing,
understood how he did it either. Full disappearance before everybody. [I'm
sure I'll live to regret mentioning this again, most likely giving Ernie some
idea of trying something else new on me. Would that I could disappear myself
when needed.]

In many senses this might be among the highest level of our arts. It makes
more sense not to be there when attacked, than to be the toughest monkey on
the block.

I don't think I've ever asked Ernie where the term Ghost Technique came from.
I've often wondered whether it was related to the Ninjutsu techniques of
Tengu Ashi (Demon Steps) where at least the concepts of the names sound
similar to me.

I don't think I'll be any more open about these techniques at this time.
Certainly I wouldn't give out Ernie's own as that is his right. And my own
studies, well I'm getting older, slower and creaking. I've got to keep
something up my sleeve, at least for now.

What I will do is close with a similar concept from "The Sword & the Mind,
translated with an introduction and notes by Hirotaki Sati. This comes from
the Heiho Kaiden Sho (Family Transmitted ook on Swordsmanship) from the
1500's and the 1600's of Japan. There in there is a section of scrolls titled
"The Goblin's Selection: Eight in All". Pae 43.

"Tehiki (also know as Eiibo): Entrapment

When parrying appears to be leading nowhere, feign sudden withdrawal by
lowering your fists. The moment the opponent takes the bait and strikes at
your fists, quickly reverse the positions of your feet, forward and backward,
jerk your fists to the right to dodge the coming blow, and strike to his
fists."

Yet another vision of the Goblin or Ghost.

To close from Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are Dead"

"Rosen…..Guilder….. Well, now you see me and now you ………….."

Prior blog posts on this subject:

 https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2008/10/ghost-techniques-for-season.html

 

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2009/11/conversation-with-ghost.html

 

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2012/10/some-thoughts-on-ghost-techniques.html

 

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2015/10/just-step-back-simplest-of-ghost.html

Become the Ghost

 

Every year at Halloween we have some special training, based on very serious black belt studies.  It is how to disappear before an attacker. Not by magic, but based on the principle most attackers believe they know where you are, and because they know where you are, they aren’t really looking at you. So you move to where they are not looking and disappear before their eyes.

 

In ancient Japanese legends there are stories that Goblins taught these techniques to ancient warriors. They are called ‘Tengu Ashi’ which translates into ‘Goblin Steps’ or translated into more modern English “Ghost Techniques”.

 

While today Okinawa is part of Japan, not so in the distant past, yet part of karate is based on the same principles.

 

As I mentioned this is a very serious Black Belt study, but we are going to look at the first steps tonight.

 

Ghost Techniques or How Not To Be There.

 

For this practice each attack the attacker steps forward with their right foot and throws a right punch at your center line.

 

1.     The first Ghost Technique involves stepping back from an attack.

 

Right foot steps back with a crescent step, avoiding the strike.

 

2.     The second Ghost Technique involves side stepping from an attack.

 

Step to the left side with your left foot, Slide your right foot over and parry with your right hand sweeping right, your left hand held at your solar plexus.

 

Or

 

Step to the right side with your right foot. Slide your left foot over and parry with your left hand sweeping left, your right hand held at your solar plexus.

 

3.     The third Ghost Technique involves stepping away with a surprise technique and walking away.

 

Step with the left foot ot 45 degrees left (away from the strike), spin counter-clockwise with your right foot, then walk away on the diagonal line.

Of course if there is time, you can practice doing this to the right, using mirror image of the first technique.

 

4.     The final Ghost Technique involved stepping forward outside the attack, then stepping forward with the other foot and spinning so you are behind the attacker.

a.     Then you can Moon Walk away from them, and avoid conflict.

b.     Or if tightly done, end up behind them to counter their attack from the superior position.

 

Step forward with the left foot (as close to their strike as possible), then crescent step forward with your right foot (placing it behind their position), spin clockwise with your  left foot to end up behind their back.

 

This  can be done paired, to work on the movement and to work towards increasing speed, After the spin movement, both people slap hands together. It almost becomes a duel to see who can do it faster, Using the slap to strike their body instead of their hands where both are using the same speed,

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Season of the Ghost

 

First you see him (or her) then you don't as the Ghost disappears before your
eyes. The days grow shorter, daylight too disappears before our eyes.

This is the season of the Ghost technique.

I find our true worth rests with our friends. My closest friend is Ernie
Rothrock a martial artists who resides outside of Pittsburgh, Penna. We all
walk many paths, his represent an incredible number of studies. I've been
fortunate that he is my instructor as well as my friend. As students go I'm
certainly one of the least he's trained. But as a friend he has shown me
depths I would have never found without his guidance.

One of the most fascinating concepts which I've been exposed to from our
friendship is that of the Ghost technique. The ability to disappear in plain
sight of your enemies. This can become true magic.

Now it didn't happen because he took me aside and drilled me in the secrets.
In fact, I did it the old fashioned way (a la 'Five Fingers of Death').
Several decades ago he trusted me with a copy of an advanced manual for his
senior students. The 'Fire Dragon Martial Arts Advanced Training Manuel',
and therein was a page describing Ghost Techniques.

I was training in a variety of Chinese Forms from many differing systems in
order to obtain an overview of the Chinese Martial Arts. This was in addition
to my Yang Tai Chi Chaun studies with him. We did discuss some of the
concepts of that manual, but as with many texts, it went on my self and sat
for quite a few years.

I came to understand the basic concept of the Ghost Technique. In my words,
you are using the focused awareness of your attacker to his or her
disadvantage. The attacker attacks you where they know you are. Unless
highly trained themselves, that focused knowledge can work against them if
you shift away from where they 'know' you are so you aren't there.

No, its not magic, in fact I'm sure most of you have studies which parallel
that training. In Japanese terminology it's the use of Tai Sabaki (body
shifting) to evade the attacker.

Well one evening after I had moved to New Hampshire I was moved to review
Ernie's manual. I started working through the techniques descriptions in my
head, and decided that I should give this a try the next class. I decided on
what I would try ( and it wasn't exactly as his manual described), and the
next class I had a student attack me with a punch. He attacked, I moved and
shifted and before he stopped moving I was standing 15 feet behind him. The
rest of the group was falling down laughing from the expression on his face
asking 'where did he go?', for as far as he was concerned I had disappeared,
right in front of him.

Focused awareness is an interesting thing. Trevor Legett in his fascinating
study "Zen and the Ways", describes the concept of Isshin (focused awareness)
and Zanshin (wider awareness). [Forgive my very short description.] The
perfect martial artists (IMVHO) would have both at the same time. Isshin
focusing on the immediate task, and Zanshin to focus on the wider picture,
too.

The funny thing, most attackers aren't that well trained, and their focus on
you as the object of the attack, can be used with Ghost Techniques against
them.

Once I understood Ernie's concept, I began to find examples everywhere. When
I had a course in wrestling in college, I had learned to pull a whizzer, and
spin out and away from someone riding me. A ghost technique.

Tris Sutrisno, in one of our early training sessions, used a technique
against a punch (or a grab) of just moving slightly back, to be a hair away
from the foucs of the opponents attack (a somewhat similar concept is
contained within Ernie Rothrocks form "Lung Lek Kuen - Supple Dragon"). They
attack where you are, but as you are no longer there, they shift slightly
forward into the space you created, and that creates an opening to be
utilized. Heck I forgot, the same concept is found within the opening
section of the Yang 2 person set demonstrated by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming in his
2nd volume of Advanced Tai Chi. There, against an attack, you simply step
back creating a void that pulls the attacker into the opening, creating the
opening for your counter attack.

An attacker rushes you. Your response is to step aside and counter with an
Isshinryu squat kick into their abdomen. They rush where you are, you
sidestep out of their awareness, the ghost technique, and you respond by
kicking into their entry into that void.

Of course, these are but several basic choices available to the Ghost.

Take the turning potential in kata, such as Chinto, Kusanku or Seipai to name
a few, and use that turning to evade, control or set up the opponent. That
is the beginning of advanced ghost techniques.
I can give some other hints.

You might consider how the application of the evasions of Aikido techniques
represent the Ghost. Correct entry into the Heaven and Earth Flow against an
attack is among the highest levels of Ghost Technique.

If you have M. Nakayama's Best Karate Series Volume 3, Kumite I, check out
page 114 for penetrating tai sabaki.

Of course the highest level I personally experienced, was when Tris Sutrisno
disappeared before my eyes when I was trying to strike him. His response was
to stand on my shoulders, before I finished moving forward, jump off with a
flip side technique to my face and land with a grin. Personally that was one
of the true scary moments I've faced in my life, for I had no idea how he got
up there, and None of his Black Belts in attendance watching the whole thing,
understood how he did it either. Full disappearance before everybody. [I'm
sure I'll live to regret mentioning this again, most likely giving Ernie some
idea of trying something else new on me. Would that I could disappear myself
when needed.]

In many senses this might be among the highest level of our arts. It makes
more sense not to be there when attacked, than to be the toughest monkey on
the block.

I don't think I've ever asked Ernie where the term Ghost Technique came from.
I've often wondered whether it was related to the Ninjutsu techniques of
Tengu Ashi (Demon Steps) where at least the concepts of the names sound
similar to me.

I don't think I'll be any more open about these techniques at this time.
Certainly I wouldn't give out Ernie's own as that is his right. And my own
studies, well I'm getting older, slower and creaking. I've got to keep
something up my sleeve, at least for now.

What I will do is close with a similar concept from "The Sword & the Mind,
translated with an introduction and notes by Hirotaki Sati. This comes from
the Heiho Kaiden Sho (Family Transmitted ook on Swordsmanship) from the
1500's and the 1600's of Japan. There in there is a section of scrolls titled
"The Goblin's Selection: Eight in All". Pae 43.

"Tehiki (also know as Eiibo): Entrapment

When parrying appears to be leading nowhere, feign sudden withdrawal by
lowering your fists. The moment the opponent takes the bait and strikes at
your fists, quickly reverse the positions of your feet, forward and backward,
jerk your fists to the right to dodge the coming blow, and strike to his
fists."

Yet another vision of the Goblin or Ghost.

To close from Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are Dead"

"Rosen…..Guilder….. Well, now you see me and now you ………….."

Prior blog posts on this subject:

 https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2008/10/ghost-techniques-for-season.html

 

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2009/11/conversation-with-ghost.html

 

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2012/10/some-thoughts-on-ghost-techniques.html

 

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2015/10/just-step-back-simplest-of-ghost.html

 

 

Ghost techniques annual training

 

A Ghost Moon on April 25,2054

With the world becoming more unstable and the chance of facing random attack more credible, perhaps is it time to suggest an older training I offered my students that should be considered.

One time when I initially began training with Ernest Rothrock he gave me a copy of his students Advanced training manual. Of course it contained many things I had never trained in. One of them was most interesting, it was called the Ghost Techniques, again something I had never heard of anywhere.

I asked Ernest about them. He explained they came from his training with Dennis Decker, his first instructor, and he was not sure where they came from. The manual was given to students when they passed the equivalent of his school's Black Belt test, it was to provide them a glimpse of what their training could become. He also mentioned that none of his students ever expressed an interest in the Ghost Techniques.

The descriptions were brief. But the idea entered my head and those techniques became a personal study for me.

I worked out what they could mean to me, further research led to other clues. From Dennis Decker's background they might have come to his grandfather's time in China. Likewise they might have come from a Nijiutsu group he once associated with. I did discover a book on Japanese sword technique that reportedly came from a Tengu (demon) who shared his sword techniques with a Japanese sword group. Among them were the Tengu Ashi or Demon Steps of evasion when fighting with a sword.

Regardless of their origin I felt they were a very serious study  for my adults. Then I simplified them a bit and developed a fun training  for the youth Halloween class. I only covered them once a year for fun with the youth. That did not mean I did not consider them a serious study.

I believe that in today's changing world they are still needed.

They were methods to elude an attacker. To move away from their attack, using the reality that many times they know where you are and attack without true focus, allowing you to not be there when the attack is delivered. Of course, using the Eye must See All Sides and the Ear must listen in All Directions is necessary too.

The Ghost Technique Training

Every year at Halloween we have some special training, based on very serious black belt studies.  It is how to disappear before an attacker. Not by magic, but based on the principle most attackers believe they know where you are, and because they know where you are, they aren’t really looking at you. So you move to where they are not looking and disappear before their eyes.

In ancient Japanese legends there are stories that Goblins taught these techniques to ancient warriors. They are called ‘Tengu Ashi’ which translates into ‘Goblin Steps’ or translated into more modern English “Ghost Techniques”.

While today Okinawa is part of Japan, not so in the distant past, yet part of karate is based on the same principles.

As I mentioned this is a very serious Black Belt study, but we are going to look at the first steps tonight.

Ghost Techniques or How Not To Be There.

For this practice each attack the attacker steps forward with their right foot and throws a right punch at your center line.

⦁    The first Ghost Technique involves stepping back from an attack.

Right foot steps back with a crescent step, avoiding the strike.

⦁    The second Ghost Technique involves side stepping from an attack.

Step to the left side with your left foot, Slide your right foot over and parry with your right hand sweeping right, your left hand held at your solar plexus.

Or

Step to the right side with your right foot. Slide your left foot over and parry with your left hand sweeping left, your right hand held at your solar plexus.

⦁    The third Ghost Technique involves stepping away with a surprise technique and walking away.

Step with the left foot ot 45 degrees left (away from the strike), spin counter-clockwise with your right foot, then walk away on the diagonal line.
Of course if there is time, you can practice doing this to the right, using mirror image of the first technique.

⦁    The final Ghost Technique involved stepping forward outside the attack, then stepping forward with the other foot and spinning so you are behind the attacker.
⦁    Then you can Moon Walk away from them, and avoid conflict.
⦁    Or if tightly done, end up behind them to counter their attack from the superior position.

Step forward with the left foot (as close to their strike as possible), then crescent step forward with your right foot (placing it behind their position), spin clockwise with your  left foot to end up behind their back.

This  can be done paired, to work on the movement and to work towards increasing speed, After the spin movement, both people slap hands together. It almost becomes a duel to see who can do it faster, Using the slap to strike their body instead of their hands where both are using the same speed.

Ghost Techniques for the Season

This time of year with my seasonal Ghost Technique seminar for the children I teach always brings focus to one of the more subtle aspects of the arts. The art of not being there. 

The concept of Ghost Techniques was shared from Ernest Rothrock's teachings. It's based on a combination of movement and the opponent's perceptual lack of awareness. 

While sounding exotic, it actually is something experienced many different ways. 

Some examples:

The boxer using slips, bobs and weaves, to dodge around the opponents strikes. This works because the opponent is striking where they KNOW the boxer is, and not being there is used to their advantage. 

Before one says boxing isn't karate, Mutsu's 1933 work Karate Kempo extensive section on karate applications begins with just those techniques, methods to slip, and dodge strikes. 

 One of my original Isshinryu instructors, Charles Murray, had worked this into a fine art. He would keep a 3 foot circle around him and whenever anyone touched it would either slide back so their attacks would not be on target, or conversely explode when they touched the circle to flow over and through them. 

 Charles taught me another Ghost technique, how to use a drop side kick against an attack, yet another Ghostly variation. 

 Those two examples are where aware opponents knowing they're fighting each other, use this special spatial awareness to their advantage. 

 In my Tai Chi studies sometimes you simply step back to create a void to draw the opponent inside. This can be shades of a great Japanese Samuari flic "Sleepy Eyes of Death", where the sword technique made an opening the opponents would strike into because they knew he was open, only to die. Of course this is always easier in the movies. 

 A far different example is from the teachings I experienced with Tristan Sutrisno. 

 One time he disappeared from my strike to end up standing on my shoulders. When you're on the receiving end you really do belive in ghosts. 

 His aikido drills would as frequently shift to remove himself from an attack, and in his Siliat Tjimande he would ground himself, dropping beneath the opponents attack to strike from below. 

 More specifically the Ghost techniques of Ernest Rothrock (a very small subset of his instruction) consist of specific movement drills to disappear from an attack, to shift so you end up behind your opponent.

The opening study is against rigid attacks to learn the shifting patterns, but then extension against more random attack follows. 

A more modern terminology would be the use of body shifting and movement to evade an attack and to in turn use that movement to place yourself in a more advantageous position. 

But if you're opponent knows where you are, and really believes they'll strike you there, it is possible to disappear before their eyes, and………… 

So as the moon darkens, thoughts of the ghost drift by as Halloween approaches. May you always not be there when necessary.

Conversation with a Ghost

A long, long time ago when I lived in a different land one of my friends Ernest Rothrock shared with me one of his advanced students training manuals. Within that manual was a description of a training series of Ghost Techniques. In turn it was 5 years before I began to work out what they may have been following those notes and discovered a new twist in my martial studies.

I do not know their genesis, but the idea of the Ghost Technique is interesting, how to move so when your attackers attack reaches were you were standing, you are somewhere else.

They were just a series of movements to shift around an attacker such as you wanted to be directly behind them when their attack was complete, to completely disappear from their sight, or more directly, become a Ghost. The underlying principle was very simple you were to use Magic to disappear.

Magic of the mundane sort, not of Harry Potter’s studies.

I came to realize that Magic was not just for Ghost Techniques, but was the true basis of martial study. The Magician misdirects your attention so you watch one hand and not see the other hand move.

Okinawan Karate in its essence was an art of self defense, how to disrupt an unexpected attacker. It was not crafted to just work in a ring against an aware opponent, too often what Karate is focusing on today, the better ring fighter, or the street fighter wading into the street fight, instead of ways to break an opponent so no fighting is ever required.

Let me simplify this a great deal. Suppose I teach my students an art with one technique, now to break the nose of any attacker 100% of the time. Nobody would attack you if they knew you would be breaking their nose because of that attack. The attacker attacks those they can dominate to destroy. If they start doing so and their nose is immediately broken, it was because of Magic, their awareness did not include the ability that their prey was the hunter. They start the attack and their nose breaks by magic, no matter how that magic is performed.

In actuality my instructors have always been Magicians. As a brown belt sparring with Charles Murray I was never able to touch him once no matter how I attacked, he was always ¼” out of my range, but at any time he could walk all over me. A year after I made my black belt I visited Florida and Charles and I took the time to work out together and my first move nailed his nose, in that case Magic allowed me to do what he knew I couldn’t do – one time. Of course after my Magic was another story. Magic is the only way to describe Tristan Sutrisno ending up standing atop my shoulders before I finished trying to punch him.

The secret is not just training and skill, though the magic doesn’t work without those components, the secret is the way of misdirection, exactly as the stage magician does to the audience.

A person who attacks, does so because they know where you are and are so sure of that knowledge very frequently their attack shifts to an ‘automatic’ attack, not relying on their senses to target properly. Understanding that allows one to shift, move, etc. so you’re not there. It might be as simple as just shifting back a bit so their focused attack just hits air. It may be a movement shift to move outside of their attack laterally. It may be movement patterns in any direction to evade, entangle or counter an attack.

When you think about it a block itself is magic, you’re removing their attack from it’s intended target.

This brings to mind what is the focus of our Karate when we understand the use of magic in all situations?

Our kata studies have thousands of applications and we spend years learning the raw movements and then crafting how they fit many different attacks. That is the shape of how our karate can be used. But that is training, is that the purpose we should be choosing.

There are so many ranges of what an attack may be. Someone beating up another person leaves one set of focus to respond. Someone attacking use when we don’t expected leaves another.

But Okinawa through many instructors and words as in the Bubishi, would suggest we work to use our senses, or eyes and ears, to not be caught unawares. If that is the case and our awareness shows the attack unfolding is the correct response to sing Tennessee Ernie Fords words from ‘Sixteen Tons’. “If you see me coming better step aside, a lot of men didn’t and a lot of men died. One fist of Iron, another of Steel, if the right one don’t get you then the left one will!” Certainly one aspect of our studies leads us to wish that we respond thus.

Perhaps the crafted skill we develop can be better used to evade, to disappear intelligently and avoid the attack and fighting.

Personally I consider fighting the lowest level of our abilities. I concede there is logic in demolishing or destroying an attack under many circumstances. The difference is being unable to do so and thus having to fight derides the skills we work to develop. As a person I do not have a right to ‘punish’ an attacker, even though I do have the right to demolish their attack (which has many levels of meaning all appropriate situationally).

I think it is far better to become a ghost, whenever possible.

The first time I tried using one of Rothrock Laoshi’s Ghost techniques, when my student finished striking I was standing 10 feet behind him watching with amusement his astonishment that I was no longer before him.

In many cases, especially with our newest students, lower level Ghost techniques studies make a great deal of sense, how to learn to evade an attack, how to use their attack focus to allow them to retreat at a direction their attacker isn’t watching. How to not be there.

I’m not going to give a step by step look at my studies, just a suggestion how to use the magic. I find it very useful to look into your eyes, show a grin on my face and suggest “Come on Karate boy hit me, come on really, really hit me…… got it in you?”

And then disappear!

For the record, I’m an aging, slowing, decrepit karate-ka and I know you’re all younger, faster and better looking………………..come on Karate-boy..

*********************************************************************************
My next post will discuss several basic ghost technique studies for training the newest youth students.

Memories of a lesson or two (or three or more).

 

 

Before I begin this is definitely not the answer for every type of attack. More a discussion about first steps, with much more to follow. Yet everyone must begin somewhere.

 

Consider how much useless talk involves decrying kata applications against useless standard attacks (not realistic). Ignoring the reality that such standard attacks are but the tool to begin instruction with. Critically necessary, but to be moved past, when the basic skils have been acquired. And more advanced attacking patterns to become the next step in skill acquisition.

 

I seem to eventually recall most of what I have seen, and oft times much later put it into context. These events occurred over many years before I realized they were interrelated.

 

1Today I recalled my third trip to visit Tristan Sutrisno and much of what he showed that day. (Most of which were always one time lessons, so remember of it becomes vapor-ware.

 

That would be in 1980 in a room in an apartment building that was his dojo. What he was explaining was that most people attack automatically ‘knowing where you are standing’, that means the focus of their attack is known to them from where they saw you standing.

 

He was showing a simple defense I had never seen before. Facing a stepping punching attack, he just swayed slightly back, the punch did not connect and he readily struck back.

 

A little later when facing another stepping punching attack he shifted slightly to face the left (across the punch) then his left open hand flowed up to descend atop the striking punch. While that occurred his right ascending top of the wrist strike hit into the wrist of the attacking punch. The descending palm strike and the ascending bent wrist struck simultaneously into the attackers wrist causing it to bend (leaving it powerless. Then his top right bent wrist struck into the side of the attackers ribs, causing him to bend forward from that strike.  That was followed by the right hand grabbing the flesh of the attackers right side to  twist him forward with a counter-clockwise motion to then allow the left fist to strike into the back of his head.

 

At the time I just saw two techniques which worked, I did not understand what was behind them. I kept them for myself, I did not teach them.

 

 

On my first visit to Tristan I observed his students doing their aikido drill for karate-ka. I observed 12 of them, After that I practiced them for life (that was all the instruction I received) they were taught at green belt and brown belt level for his students.

I time I came to realize they were using evasion to move away from the attack, and then used aikido to maneuver the attacker as one worked the spaces an attack offered by the attack (to either side of the attack). Only at black belt would they learn their most unique bunkai which often used the principles of those aikido drills.

 

 

2About 1980 Ernest Rothrock shared with me his black belt students manual. I saw the descriptions what he called his Ghost Techniques. I worked out how to do them from his descriptions. I did not realize the similarity to what Tristan had showed. I taught them to my black belts, and had fun with the first two with the kids on Halloween.

 

 

3Around 1989 I attended a clinic Sherman Harrill was doing in Rhode Island one Saturday. For one study when the attacker was stepping in and striking, he responded by just stepping back with the left foot, causing the attackers strike to fall short. Then simply by releasing his knees, he was able to strike into the opponent without stepping forward.

 

 

At that time I did not realize all of them were using similar operating principles.

 

 

Also about 1989 I had made friends with Joe Swift several years before and at that time he convinced me to allow him to purchase several reprints of 1930’s Japanese books, Of course they were in Japanese (which I did not read), He considered them priceless (though the purchase price for me was about $100.00 each.

 

One was Mutsu’s 1933 - ‘Karate Kempo’ and the other Nakasone’s  1938 - ‘Karate Do Taiken’. I could not read them but the pictures made much sense to me.

 

Kaarte Do Taiken has later been translated into English by Mario McKenna.

 

Karate Kempo was planned to be translated by Joe, that is still to occur but Joe took pity on me and did translate the initial section showing uses of karate techniques for evasion, (pleases see the appropriate blog entry below.

 

 

Now I have found it normally takes me at least 5 years (and often more) to realize the relevance of material within the book. In this case it was many years more.

 

But I just realized that each of the examples I have described (and quite a bit more) All worked around the principles of subtle evasion.

 

And at times knowing something takes some time.

 

 

 

 

Mutso’s Karate Kempo contains much about use of evasion for karate.

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2021/10/become-ghost.html

 

 

On Ernest Rothrocks Ghost Techniques

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/search?q=ghost+techniques