Fuji-San 2016

I encourage all Bujinkan practitioners, as I am doing myself, to dedicate this year to improving your structure. The Japanese have a saying, “Hone ga arimasuka?” Its a question that translates to, “Does that person have bone?” You hear it in the dojo from the seniors referring to students who’s basics or structure may not be as well founded or as strong as it should be. We see it all the time in Japan. Gaijin trying to imitate Soke’s movements, but with no structure to draw from. Sure if your uke just stands there and falls over for you then you will look as good as the Boss. However, if your partner has structure and you don’t, then you are not going to be able to imitate Soke at all. In fact, you will get frustrated and start putting power into the technique just to make it work. Usually, this is when Soke says that the true Shihan does not rely on power to make a technique work. What I believe he is really saying is that a true Shihan has practiced the basics for 20-30 years, never stopping, and brings a strong structure to the technique, thereby needing little or no power to make the technique work.
As with Fuji-san, build (and maintain through daily practice) a strong Taijutsu base, a strong structure from which you can grow and reach to the heavens in this art. When you do that, the senior Japanese will say, “Hone ga arimasu yo!”

Check out our member website for the latest in training from the senior-most Japanese Dai-Shihan, myself and other recognized seniors from around the world. Nagato Sensei and Noguchi Sensei are now giving me huge support for the website and we will be releasing a ton of their video training sessions over the course of the year. We just released video of both of these Dai-Shihan on our website last week that was captured during train last October. See for yourself why we are considered the very best Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and Shinken Taijutsu reference website in the world.

-Strength Through Proper Training

-Phillip Legare