Fist Destroyer

We warmed up with 手解 tehodoki. I shared some more advanced approaches using the lessons from Hatsumi Sensei that I am able to share.

I began class with a continuation of our study of 破術九法 hajutsu kyūhō with 拳砕 ken kudaki. Crushing or destroying the fist. This is not a block… you attack the opponent’s attack directly.

This has a rhythm to it, pounding the same spot with a variety of fists. I showed long middle and short range variations. When you do it well, you crush the entire opponent along with his fist.

Next, I used a Gyokko Ryū training drill that connects this with the tehodoki of our warmup. This requires a coordinated attack to get the rhythm. It usually takes a few tries to be in synch with your partner, but the study is worth it.

I demonstrated how to bounce off the strikes into further strikes. A scooping 起転拳 kiten ken leads into boshi. But the hidden lesson is the control of the center space.

After that, I demonstrated the 裏三心 ura sanshin method. If you haven’t studied ura sanshin in your Bujinkan training, you should get on it. I feel like it is a big piece of the taijutsu puzzle that resolves some of the critiques of the Bujinkan. I also showed how to hide a knife within this movement.

I finished with 変化砕 henka kudaki. This got to the heart of these kudaki. You are not just crushing their attack, whether it is a fist or a kick. You crush the entirety of the opponent. When I approach it this way, my adversaries are broken and the fight has gone out.

Of Note: guest from São Paulo