Monday, June 4th
Woke up at 0600 hours, feeling the effects of jetlag. I felt like it was the afternoon, not six in the morning! I walked out the front of the lobby into their little courtyard and found they had put out a pot of fresh coffee, cups and such. The coffee tasted very good. It was so quiet around there! I saw people walking around and picked up “ohio gozaimasu” (good morning). Everybody was very pleasant and calm, always quick to smile. The old man of the inn was out sweeping the front patio and his wife was busy doing her morning duties. There was a son, probably in his early 20’s, who was also doing various duties. He was short and small in frame, with long straight hair. He was very nice, with a great smile, and he kept checking the coffee pot to make sure there was plenty in it.
By 0800, I had showered, got on my dogi training uniform and was ready to hit the dojo for my first day of Japan training. I hopped on my bike and Alex showed me the way.
Sharaishi Sensei
After stopping at a convenience store for some breakfast, which consisted of cold chicken nuggets, cinnamon bread and vitamin water, Alex showed me where the Hombu (main) dojo was. He had other plans, so I waited outside the dojo while he rode off. It was only 0830 hours and I knew I was early. So, I finished my breakfast and admired the surroundings, which was simply a back road by the railroad tracks. It was nothing fancy, not what you would think the home dojo of such a revered grandmaster would be. This morning would be Sharaishi Sensei, a long time student of my Soke (grandmaster). I was very excited to meet him.
Not long after I arrived, the door to the dojo opened and a small Japanese man came out. He looked at me, smiled and, in broken English, invited me to come inside. I walked in and was amazed at the inside of the dojo. It was exactly how all those photographs depicted - small, with dark wood walls covered in a multitude of training weapons, artifacts, pictures and such. The sea foam green tatami mats covered the entire training area. The room had the smell of old school martial arts training. It wasn’t the sanitized, air conditioned, brightly lit dojo environment commonly found in so many schools back home. It just felt good to be standing in that room.
The Japanese man introduced himself as Sharaishi and warmly welcomed me to come in and sit with him. He was in his dogi uniform and had several pieces of Japanese armor laying out on the wood floor in front of the tatami covered training area. He was making repairs to the pieces and lacing them onto a helmet. He commented that “sensei asked Sharaishi to fix armor, so Sharaishi fix armor.” I found his use of English to be interesting. He spoke in a kind of manner that reminded me of the character Yoda from the Star Wars movies.
We sat and talked about our lives. He told me about his two children, who are now grown. He said he was over sixty years old, which stunned me when compared to how youthful and healthy he appeared. He said he retired as an engineer, but now does consulting work for the same firm.
He asked many questions about me, my background, how long I had been training and so on. He was very interested in my law enforcement and military background and inquired as to why I didn’t stay in those occupations. When I told him how I gave up that life to be more involved in raising my family, he complimented me and said that was a very important decision.
People started arriving a little before 0900 hours. They filtered in, removed their shoes, and began changing into their dogi and tabi. Then, they scattered around to different parts of the training area to stretch, roll about, and have quiet conversations.
Sharaishi sensei stopped working on the armor, putting the pieces in a back room. He put on his black obi belt, welcomed everybody and jumped right into some techniques. There was no warm up, no usual rolling around beforehand.
He used me as uke quite often. I really enjoyed being his “attacker” and feeling the grace and power of his technique.
At about 0930 hours, he stopped us and had us do the standard Bujinkan bowing in. We all lined up facing the front wall, which was adorned with training weapons, pictures and artifacts. Atop this wall was a long shelf which displayed many different symbolic relics. This was the shamiza, the shrine, of the dojo. Sharaishi sensei led the bow in and hand clap ritual. Then, he turned and bowed to us. We bowed in return and the class formally began.
This year, the Bujinkan theme was from the Kukishinden school of jutaijutsu, or grappling. The emphasis was moving as if you and your attacker were in armor. Shariaishi sensei showed us his version of the first technique, called Seion, which involved you and your partner in a mutual lapel and arm grab called Kumi Uchi. What he emphasized was the raising of the uke’s elbows to bring his balance up, then a right kick to their left knee. As they react to the kick to their knee, you step out with your right foot and step in behind their knee with your left foot. Then, you step out with the right again and place your left foot in front of their right foot. Finally, you drop on your right knee and throw them. In a sense, you are walking around the base of your uke, while breaking their support balance so that, in the end, they topple over you with little effort.
Sharaishi sensei said some wonder things. Some quotes were, “not hit - shock with touch” and “best balance, best opportunity”. He also spoke at great length about the power of smiling. He said a smile relaxes you and gives your opponent nothing. Then, when you attack, they are shocked. But, even then, still smile.
He taught us his version of the basic technique called Omote Gyaku from our Kihon Happo. He showed a version I had never seen before, but perfectly illustrated the many things he had been teaching us. It involved more use of the space around the uke, instead of focusing on the body of the uke. In the end, the balance in the uke was completely taken and they fell or were thrown very easily.
Overall, this first class was a great introduction to what was going to come in the days ahead. I left there feeling I was in the right place at the right time. I had not met Soke or any of the other shihan yet, but I felt their presence already.
I had no idea how much more the experience of being there was going to impact me.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Japan Trip Day 1 - The Landing
Saturday, June 2nd
I left USA soil and landed at Narita Airport in Japan on Sunday, June 3rd, at approximately 1530hrs. Although only 11 hours later, the time shift going halfway around the world put me into the next day and I could feel the difference in my body. Jetlag was already setting in, but my adrenaline and excitement kept me going.
I got through customs quickly and found a currency exchange to change my US dollars into Japanese yen. I was told the rates were cheaper doing it in Japan after landing (instead of doing it in the US beforehand) and he was right. By 1530 hours, I had my luggage and money and was waiting for Alex and the rest of the team to arrive and escort me to our lodging.
Alex and team met me at 1800. We took several different trains, which was quite an adventure. You purchase tickets at machines similar to ATM terminals. You walk up to the gate, stick your ticket into it and, if there’s a balance left on it, it will spit out the other side for you to grab as you go through. It’s a pretty efficient system to get from train to train in a hurry and I soon discovered why. Trains ran regularly, one right after another, and they moved fast. People were running and walking hurriedly to get to each train. It was quite a time going from confined sitting and standing of the long plane flight, to running up and down stairs, from train to train.
Eventually, we arrived at the Azusa by 2000 hours, which was the inn we were staying at. This little place was a family owned establishment, consisting of two levels of rooms. The light green paint on the building made it easy to see, especially with the huge billboard sign out front which reads “Azusa”.
My room was tiny, with a single futon mattress bed, a small refrigerator, microwave, TV and table. A rear door to my room led to a washroom and bathroom that was shared by John, who had the room next to mine. If I had to share a washroom and toilet, I was glad it was with somebody I knew.
Out front are several bicycles, all made of the same style. Each had a basket on the front handlebars, too. I was told these are for us to use. So, we decided to ride to a small restaurant Alex knew about.
As we rode down the street, I noticed there was very little room on the sides of the narrow streets. Cars of all types whizzed by at unnerving closeness. Luckily, some areas had sidewalks. But, we also had to squeeze alongside cars when sidewalks weren’t available. It was no wonder they didn’t have accidents. I guess when you live in that environment, you are adapted to it.
We arrived at the restaurant, a small and simple looking establishment. None of the signs were in Romanji Kanji (English letters), only the standard kanji. Thankfully, Alex knew this place and had a basic knowledge of Japanese language. So, we walked in and sat on the floor at one of the tables in the back room. We shared the room with a group of mixed guys and girls, all appearing to be in their early 20’s. We enjoyed beer and dinner and, after several rounds, found ourselves attempting conversation with the group next to us. The girls could speak a little English, so we had a great time asking questions and making jokes. At one point, one of the guys in the group appeared agitated. I found out he was the husband to one of the girls who was talking to me and he was jealous. I tried to include him in the conversation and told them my friends and I were married. This seemed to calm down the man and, even though he was less cordial than the others, didn’t cause any trouble.
We left the restaurant and rode our bikes back to the Azusa. Considering all the beer we consumed, it was any wonder we made it back safely.
I went to my room, set out my things to make it feel more like "home", then laid my exhausted body down on the lumpy futon mattress and tried to suppress my anxiety in order to fall asleep.
I left USA soil and landed at Narita Airport in Japan on Sunday, June 3rd, at approximately 1530hrs. Although only 11 hours later, the time shift going halfway around the world put me into the next day and I could feel the difference in my body. Jetlag was already setting in, but my adrenaline and excitement kept me going.
I got through customs quickly and found a currency exchange to change my US dollars into Japanese yen. I was told the rates were cheaper doing it in Japan after landing (instead of doing it in the US beforehand) and he was right. By 1530 hours, I had my luggage and money and was waiting for Alex and the rest of the team to arrive and escort me to our lodging.
Alex and team met me at 1800. We took several different trains, which was quite an adventure. You purchase tickets at machines similar to ATM terminals. You walk up to the gate, stick your ticket into it and, if there’s a balance left on it, it will spit out the other side for you to grab as you go through. It’s a pretty efficient system to get from train to train in a hurry and I soon discovered why. Trains ran regularly, one right after another, and they moved fast. People were running and walking hurriedly to get to each train. It was quite a time going from confined sitting and standing of the long plane flight, to running up and down stairs, from train to train.
Eventually, we arrived at the Azusa by 2000 hours, which was the inn we were staying at. This little place was a family owned establishment, consisting of two levels of rooms. The light green paint on the building made it easy to see, especially with the huge billboard sign out front which reads “Azusa”.
My room was tiny, with a single futon mattress bed, a small refrigerator, microwave, TV and table. A rear door to my room led to a washroom and bathroom that was shared by John, who had the room next to mine. If I had to share a washroom and toilet, I was glad it was with somebody I knew.
Out front are several bicycles, all made of the same style. Each had a basket on the front handlebars, too. I was told these are for us to use. So, we decided to ride to a small restaurant Alex knew about.
As we rode down the street, I noticed there was very little room on the sides of the narrow streets. Cars of all types whizzed by at unnerving closeness. Luckily, some areas had sidewalks. But, we also had to squeeze alongside cars when sidewalks weren’t available. It was no wonder they didn’t have accidents. I guess when you live in that environment, you are adapted to it.
We arrived at the restaurant, a small and simple looking establishment. None of the signs were in Romanji Kanji (English letters), only the standard kanji. Thankfully, Alex knew this place and had a basic knowledge of Japanese language. So, we walked in and sat on the floor at one of the tables in the back room. We shared the room with a group of mixed guys and girls, all appearing to be in their early 20’s. We enjoyed beer and dinner and, after several rounds, found ourselves attempting conversation with the group next to us. The girls could speak a little English, so we had a great time asking questions and making jokes. At one point, one of the guys in the group appeared agitated. I found out he was the husband to one of the girls who was talking to me and he was jealous. I tried to include him in the conversation and told them my friends and I were married. This seemed to calm down the man and, even though he was less cordial than the others, didn’t cause any trouble.
We left the restaurant and rode our bikes back to the Azusa. Considering all the beer we consumed, it was any wonder we made it back safely.
I went to my room, set out my things to make it feel more like "home", then laid my exhausted body down on the lumpy futon mattress and tried to suppress my anxiety in order to fall asleep.
Let the games begin...
Hello friends! First off, let me say "THANK YOU" to all who have expressed their support, concern and encouragement during my down time of healing. So much has happened since June and I have been struggling to come up with words to express it all on this blog. A whirlwind would seem like a light analogy compared to what my life has been like. But, I made it through in one piece!
I don't want to write about my family life on a journal which is devoted to my budo life, but family is at the center of everything I am. It affects every aspect of my life, including my budo life. In June, not only did I make the trip to Japan to finally meet and train with my Soke and the Japanese Shihan, I also accepted a new employment position with a major retailer. I had decided to go back to my old career of loss prevention investigations, something I was doing before my wife and I decided to have another child. This new position was a senior management position and offered a nice salary package, so I decided to accept it. What I didn't know at the time was the effect such a decision would have on my family.
This new position required so much of my time, plus long distances of commute, that my family suffered greatly from my absence. My children struggled in school and my wife, who is also a high school English teacher, was facing extreme hardships in balancing her career with being a solo parent. In addition, I no longer had the time to spend on the other important centerpiece to my life - my budo training.
So, after 8 months of struggle, I made the decision to resign from that employer and go back to the occupation I had previously - one which allowed me to work the same schedule as the school schedule. Being back with my family again has put so much balance back in my life.
And, as an added plus, I now have time to go back to budo teaching and training. So, I emailed my Intel folks and let them know the good news. They welcomed me back with open arms!
Last Tuesday, I joined them for the weekly class and had a great time training with them again! We even had a new guy who had started just before my return. I kept the class light, mostly just to see what they had been doing and how our bodies moved. I was satisfied with how my body felt and enjoyed the adrenaline of light randori free play techniques. I felt no pain in my abdomen and my energy level was strong. It was a great night and a good kick off to coming back to my budo life.
So, tonight, one week since, I am excited to start the Intel class again. I have many ideas for the class, in particular a focus on fitness and conditioning. That was paramount in my recovery, so I want to give it a prominent place in my teaching and training. In addition, I want to focus on the foundation of our training, through drills and exercises. Good basics cannot be downplayed and I think this also needs to be given its due position as a center piece to the class.
As I promised, I will post segments from my Japan trip journal. I have been writing them down in a text file on my laptop. I will copy each day's notes on this blog so that you have a chance to read it. Keep in mind, however, that I started writing many things in the early days of my trip, but soon lost interest in writing. There was just so much to experience that writing seemed to get in the way. But, I will post what I have anyway.
I'm glad to be back.
I don't want to write about my family life on a journal which is devoted to my budo life, but family is at the center of everything I am. It affects every aspect of my life, including my budo life. In June, not only did I make the trip to Japan to finally meet and train with my Soke and the Japanese Shihan, I also accepted a new employment position with a major retailer. I had decided to go back to my old career of loss prevention investigations, something I was doing before my wife and I decided to have another child. This new position was a senior management position and offered a nice salary package, so I decided to accept it. What I didn't know at the time was the effect such a decision would have on my family.
This new position required so much of my time, plus long distances of commute, that my family suffered greatly from my absence. My children struggled in school and my wife, who is also a high school English teacher, was facing extreme hardships in balancing her career with being a solo parent. In addition, I no longer had the time to spend on the other important centerpiece to my life - my budo training.
So, after 8 months of struggle, I made the decision to resign from that employer and go back to the occupation I had previously - one which allowed me to work the same schedule as the school schedule. Being back with my family again has put so much balance back in my life.
And, as an added plus, I now have time to go back to budo teaching and training. So, I emailed my Intel folks and let them know the good news. They welcomed me back with open arms!
Last Tuesday, I joined them for the weekly class and had a great time training with them again! We even had a new guy who had started just before my return. I kept the class light, mostly just to see what they had been doing and how our bodies moved. I was satisfied with how my body felt and enjoyed the adrenaline of light randori free play techniques. I felt no pain in my abdomen and my energy level was strong. It was a great night and a good kick off to coming back to my budo life.
So, tonight, one week since, I am excited to start the Intel class again. I have many ideas for the class, in particular a focus on fitness and conditioning. That was paramount in my recovery, so I want to give it a prominent place in my teaching and training. In addition, I want to focus on the foundation of our training, through drills and exercises. Good basics cannot be downplayed and I think this also needs to be given its due position as a center piece to the class.
As I promised, I will post segments from my Japan trip journal. I have been writing them down in a text file on my laptop. I will copy each day's notes on this blog so that you have a chance to read it. Keep in mind, however, that I started writing many things in the early days of my trip, but soon lost interest in writing. There was just so much to experience that writing seemed to get in the way. But, I will post what I have anyway.
I'm glad to be back.
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