Bujinkan Bojutsu: 裏裾落 Ura Suso Otoshi

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From https://www.rojodojo.com my Bujinkan 六尺棒術 Rokushakubō Jutsu video exploring 裏裾落 Ura Suso Otoshi. The full video at Rojodojo shares the "crazy wisdom" of 詒変 ihen and bursts open the intervals in training to shield your body with Bojutsu strikes .

Good bojutsu uses 詒変捌型 Ihen Sabaki Gata. I began to study this in depth after I trained with Hatsumi Sensei while he shared notes of his own training with Takamatsu.

In depth focus on the 六尺棒術 Rokushakubō Jutsu kata 裏裾落 Ura Suso Otoshi.

I explained to my students that I embarked on this latest round of bojutsu study after my trip to Japan last December. While I was there I witnessed Hatsumi Sensei do some things with the bo that I had never seen before. Anyone who has trained with Sensei would expect that of course. But even the Japanese Shihan were commenting on it. I could see the looks of awe on their faces.

Nagato Sensei turned to some of us and said, “Sensei has been reviewing his training notes from Takamatsu Sensei and he is remembering new things that he studied.” I wrote about this moment I experienced in Japan here: 詒変の棒 Ihen No Bo: My Bo Stands Against the Wind

Soke told us about this ihen sabaki as if we could comprehend through his words. I confess I did not know the bo like this. I resolved to return home to study the real bojutsu that I had been missing all these years.

Tonight’s class gave me some new insight into ihen. Sometimes when we do henka, we take the obvious or tried and true approach. We may find ourselves in familiar situations and utterly in control of ourselves and our uke. For someone who has trained many years and reached a high level of proficiency, this was always the goal.

But to grow, learn or move into the mysterious, incomprehensible world of ihen, we must let go of that skill. Be out of control. React in ways you were never taught.

I am writing this for someone who is at this level. It is maybe unwise for anyone below Godan to try. But there is such a thing as crazy wisdom that has no use for rank or skill. This is shizen.

For me this was my class tonight.

Of Note: The spirit of Darwin claimed a tiny helpless victim tonight.

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