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Aikido

Budo is a compound of the word bu, meaning war or martial; and do, meaning path or way. Specifically, do is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga (meaning the 'path' to enlightenment).The term refers to the idea of formulating propositions, subjecting them to philosophical critique and then following a 'path' to realize them- Do signifies a 'way of life'. Do in the Japanese context, is experiential term, experiential in the sense that practice (the way of life) is the norm to verify the validity of the discipline cultivated through a given art form.

Wikipedia - Budo

Nanbudo has been in my life since autumn 2004. The practice of this martial art has meant a lot to me. It was really hard to say goodbye to my dear DO Nanbudo klub in Ljubljana when leaving for Finland. Nanbudo šola - ossu!

Here in Jyväskylä, a wide range of martial arts is practiced. I have even seen they practice medieval swordfighting, the art I have also practiced before Nanbudo. But there is no Nanbudo in Jyväskylä at all. The only existing club in Finland is in Turku, exactly 305 km away. Would one travel 4 hours south just to attend a training? Well, I might be that crazy, however, neither my scholarship nor my mind would survive the trips very well.

The intensive 3 times per week practice of Nanbudo has remained in my heart and soul. Okay, it was nice to rest during the summer, but then I have started to miss my trainings. I have felt so stiff and rusty. Of course I could practice Nanbudo alone, at least some techniques, yet this would not be the same. Proper traditional Japanese martial arts are not sport only: there is much more and that much more is what I really like.

The creation of Nanbudo has been inspired with other traditional Japanese arts. Among these, Aikido has been quite crucial. Aikido is in general more widely spread. If one moves from one country to another, the one can find a club easier; in Jyväskylä are even two clubs, no matter how small the town is. Already in Ljubljana I have decided I would try to continue martial art studies. When I came to Finland, first month was slightly hectic; I did not find time to attend any practice. The courses have started without me and at one point I have even given my hopes up...

Last week, things have changed. It was very simple - I just wrote a couple of letters in Finnish. Then, I was allowed to join the Aikido beginners course. The club is small and nice, they have their own dojo. The trainings are two times per week, my first couple of trainings has just passed. Also, the trainings are conducted in Finnish; that means double training for me as I insist in speaking only Finnish, too.

I did not realize how much I had actually missed dojo... until I have stepped on tatami again. It is hard to articulate my affection to Japanese martial arts; the feeling goes beyond words. I cannot even say, how this love has happened. I guess it has always been present, yet I did not pay much attention to it - until Nanbudo. The absence of practice has increased my longing and the will to bow in dojo again. Now I just have to keep up the active spirit. However, it seems I am really and seriously interested in some Japanese martial arts. Thus, I have also realized I might be a budo-person...

Aikido

SHE GOES METALCAMP

No big words from me today, I guess. More inner events and such blah-blah; but I have not been writing for a while. First of all, I have been feeling like young Werther these days. Emo, caught in some kind of sweet despair and so on. The second thing is that I am about to copy an idea from Aelfsciene and Nárëlaimë. One announcement there is. I am going to Metalcamp this year. And with the purchase of this ticket, I have also supported one young Slovenian hardcore band.

My last two summers were dedicated to Nanbudo. Thus meaning I attended traditional summer seminar in Playa d'Aro, Spain. Serious trainings on the beach twice a day. Now you can imagine an international bunch of people practising martial art in kimonos among all those holiday-on-the-beach-lying people. Well, I guess Nanbudo was there first. Our founder Yoshinao Nanbu Doshu had started the seminar on that beach long before the place has got so commercial. Oh, I had a dream about Spain just tonight... well, yes, I will miss the seminar. This is how things have turned out. Yet I have wished to see our Metalcamp, too.

I should be thinking about my future; and yep, I am thinking about it a lot. Though I am such a person of the past... now I am writing in general. I would miss things and crave for the past. Dwell on it. Hei, even my two latest plays speak about character's past and dealing with it. And I have had one flash these days. Even if I miss some particular things... they have been long gone already. Illusions are what I miss.

Okay, enough of this abstract writing. Speaking of the past again, yesterday, we had a very nice trip with Aelfsciene. We went to see castle Kamen (Stain - Stone - Kivi) near Begunje. A few years ago, I remember we Tolkenians practised medieval sword fighting there, hehe... The place is really picturesque. The weather was nice as well - and, as you can see, we had some fun with taking photos.

TOO HOT FOR TEARS

Too hot it is. I am used to train Nanbudo in hot weather, though. During the seminar in Spain, for instance. Yet there is fresh breeze on the beach, and after the training, one puts kimono down - and goes to swim.

Today in dojo, there was water pouring down my cheeks as crazy. At one point, I did not know eithere there are tears or sweat running down my face.

I guess it was both.

NANBUDO NATURE

Last week, the club organized NANBUDO SEMINAR IN THE NATURE. For the third year the place was Rakov Škocjan. Our dojo became tall green grass on the bank of river Rak. I was happy to attend the seminar and to enjoy the trainings outdoors. The place was again so magical. Fairytale landscape. There really is very special energy. All things I like the most together at one spot: waters and forests. However, here are a few photos I have managed to take. They might not seem special to you; yet these images mean a lot to me.

Birches, dear birches

Mirror-water

Old Lady

RAINY ROSE

I took a picture of this rainy rose today. The weather has turned cold after those splendid sunny days. Some time has passed since my last post... and I feel I need to write something. No deep thoughts, just a few egotistic words to keep Cinnamon Book alive.

Past days were busy. During last weekend, International Nanbudo Seminar in Ljubljana occurred. The founder of our martial art Joshinao Nanbu Doshu came to teach us. It was good. The practice was fine and sweaty. Also, I was a bit sorry since I did not take part in an exam this year; nevertheless I am very happy with my progress. But yes, good training can indeed save the day.

Now it feels like more empty days are starting. I guess I will rest a bit. And I will treat my dear self with some special chocolates... mhm.

TODAY IN DOJO

Something that meant a lot to me happened today. Alright, you can say I am boasting or overdoing or whatever you wish. Yet such small events can bring me so much happiness. Moments, that can make heavy day slightly lighter. Nanbudo training.

At the beginning of each training, we always start our practice with formal greeting. The ritual I so like; with traditional samurai spirit. Let me provide here more accurate description. We students and Sensei (teacher) line up, facing each other. Sensei sits at the front of the dojo. To Sensei's left, facing the middle of the dojo, are black belts, arranged from highest to lowest, with highest sitting closest to Sensei. If there is many black belts, the rest sit on Sensei's right hand side, in the same formation. The Kyus (school grades) sit facing Sensei below the black belts, lined across the dojo. They sit with the highest kyus (1., 2., 3.) on Sensei's left, going down in grades. During formal greeting, we repeat three Principles of Nanbudo (see below).

However, today there was only one black belt at the beginning and he was our Sensei; Fukushidoin since he has 1st Dan. Greeting is always done so, that chosen higher belt assists Sensei at the ritual. There are exact commands the assistant gives. Usually these commands are given by the highest black belt after the Sensei, or by the highest Kyu. The language is of course Japanese.

Moto no ichi - the assistant orders the group to line up

Seiza - sensei sits, the assistant sits, then assistant commands others to sit by saying Ossu!

Seikoza - we put right hand into the left, tips of the thumbs touching

Sensei leads our reciting of Nanbudo Mittsu no Chikara. Sensei also announces the end of meditation.

Fukushidoin ni rei - the assistant commands greeting to the Sensei (today he was Fukushidoin)

Otogai ni rei - the assistant commands greeting to all of us (''bow to the others'')

Kiritsu - the assistant commands the group to stand up

Today, I was given the honour to assist Sensei at the opening greeting. Duty I have never done before; it was very first time for me, deshi, 3rd kyu, green belt. Very good experience I so enjoyed. And yes, I did the assistance properly.

Nanbudo Mittsu no Chikara:

Chikara da (force, moč)
Yuki da (courage, pogum)
Shinnen da (conviction, prepričanje)

NANBUDO WEEKEND

Last weekend I had two good days. There was this International Christmas Seminar with Doshu Nanbu in Zagreb, Croatia. Seminar for the martial art I practice. NANBUDO seminar. Some Nanbudoists from our club drove to Zagreb with our sensei (he is also an excellent driver). First, some brief info for all of those who are not familiar with these kind of seminars. When an international Nanbudo seminar is going on in some country, Nanbudoists from all over the world gather there to practice techniques under the guidance of the founder Yoshinao Nanbu Doshu. Brief sightseeing, meeting people and most important: intensive practice. Learning directly from our main source.

Change is the only constant in the world. Doshu continues the development of his art, he changes and develops the techniques; thus seminars are very good opportunities to learn about those changes. For me, it is really interesting to observe this flow. Seminars differ in length too; there are weekend seminars as well as those which can last even for two weeks. Like the most important Nanbudo seminar in Playa d'Aro, Spain. Just imagine (just remember)... trainings on the sandy shore... twice a day...under the sun...

My first Zagreb seminar happened last year. And I have very good memories from it. Kind of special ones; I need to be more honest here. When I entered the seminar-dojo this year, I noticed how places one visits only every now and then can keep memories. The spirit of the past as it would stay in Zagreb seminar-dojo. As nothing would change from last year. Same feeling in the place. As some sweet shadows. As beloved ghost. Then, the training started... and those shadows vanished in the air.

This time intensive training helped me a lot to free my mind. For those two days at least. And this was the purpose: go, practice, sweat, do not think about the rest. Like the shit in life and all that. Huh, last year I was there in Zagreb with white belt, now I wear green. There is also something I started to think about. Okay, true, Nanbudo has changed my life. Severely in many ways. Yet... my spiritual development... khm, I really wish I would be more mature. As my belt has changed rapidly, my spirit should... or at least I wish it would change more than it has so far. I was also thinking a lot about my impatience. Sometimes during trainings I just want to rush too much. Why, I do not even know. I should gain more patience. I should be more precise.

Nevertheless these four seminar trainings with Doshu have given me some push. Like more energy and will I have been lacking these days, at least considering the practice. Heh, my life still sucks, but in DOJO I must try to keep my mind free as much as possible. I have to move myself... by all means.

KATA FEELING

Thinking of a martial art Nanbudo I practice, I have to work a lot on my very lousy lazy hip-movements. Among other things. I also have to work on my lousy lazy concentration. And those push ups. I am not any good when it comes to doing push ups, they are just driving me crazy. Sometimes my energy is rather destructive than creative. Lazy I can be as well; by all means lazy. But there are also some moments of enlightenment while training. The photo here shows Yoshinao Nanbu Doshu, the NANBUDO founder (thus Doshu, red belt). Great person. Anyway, for some time I have been thinking about a KATA. Perhaps you have heard about katas in karate. Nanbudo itself has roots in one karate style (Sankukai), but let's focus just on kata here. Some theory from Doshu's book. Kata is a sequence of techniques, imaginary combat against several opponents. You might also check out one more philosophic ARTICLE on kata in general.

Nanbudo has several kata-groups. I will introduce Advanced Katas only. Nanbu Shodan, the image of spring, Nanbu Nidan, the image of summer, Nanbu Sandan, the image of autumn, Nanbu Yondan, the image of winter and, finally, Nanbu Godan, the image of all four seasons. Briefly explained, all second words resemble numerals, from first to fifth. Much more I prefer the connection to nature. Four seasons. It seems our senseis (sensei is a black belt, a master, a teacher) have chosen timing for each so far practiced advanced kata just perfectly. Within the mild sense of spring arising, we have started to learn Nanbu Shodan. When spring has faded gently into summer, we were thaught Nanbu Nidan. Now, when leafless forests are whispering their memories to cold autumn winds, we have started to study Nanbu Sandan.

Kata is difficult to explain; you have to feel it to perform it, writes Doshu. In Japanese, kata is a form. Dealing with Japanese theatre style kabuki, I was surprised when discovering kabuki has katas too. Of course, but kabuki has dance forms. Still I dare to say theatre and Nanbudo have things in common. I feel kata as... a monologue. The actor is on stage alone, just she/he performing. The actor has to evoke emotional storms within her/his self. The actor's imagination has to create reality. To perform, actor has to feel first. The monologue can also be severe fight against one's own self. Within all, constant happiness of creativity.

The feeling of kata. The power of imagination. Imaginary combat becomes real combat. To feel the invisible hand you grasp. To feel the weight of the invisible body you throw. To feel how thick if the invisible opponent's forehead when concluding the first part of Nanbu Sandan. And so on. If done properly, kata featuers such a beauty, such a perfection. Martial art is an art indeed. Well, I would say a real kata feeling truly reaches beyond words... and there are years infront of me to find out this real kata feeling. I have to fight my lazyness and destructivity indeed.

DOING IT RIGHT

The photo shows how a Nanbudoist, the one who trains Nanbudo, should not wear her/his Nanbudo Gi, the kimono. Thus meaning the white T-shirt, which can be clearly seen, being longer than the upper part, clumsily hanging out.

Just behold it. So clumsy. Careless. Ugly. Not the right way of wearing a Nanbudo Gi. The T-shirt should be put under the pants to be hidden properly.

Since I am criticising myself here on the photo, I could be even more mean. The photo has been taken this July on the beach of Playa d'Aro, Spain, during the main Nanbudo seminar. Well, I actually have a green belt now... but all that does not really matter here. It is something else I want to write about. I managed to do a row of quite nasty mistakes there in Spain. Thus bearing in mind not only the T-shirt, but some other, perhaps even more ugly stuff. So, thoughts have emerged. Doing it right, doing it wrong. I guess one's life is restricted with lots and lots on rules. Almost every second, one has to be more than aware of her/his actions. And so, there happens this constant am-I-doing-it-right? feeling. This constant fear. When one comes to the point of realising, she/he was actually doing things wrong, though she/he has been thinking things had been done totally right... well, this is shitty.

Once I was told there is no rule for an emerge of a good relationship. Things should happen naturally. However... still one has to do something, that the good relationship appears, right? Not just stand still in silence. Stand in silence and smile, that would be slightly better.

One has to interact. One has to communicate. And then - how to interact and communicate? Mistakes can be done far too easily, without even being aware one is actually doing a huge mistake.

The road to Hell is made out of pure good purposes. Far too often.

Mistakes are more than willing to show their effects. Nasty consequences and all.

Within one's trying hard, there is always this doing-it-right doubt. After a bunch of punches and kicks (meaning this symbolically, not as those real Nanbudo punches and kicks), one starts to lose the sisu.

Punches and kicks have to be, though. How else one could learn doing it right? After being hit badly a couple of times, one should be able to realise the defence is not-done-right.

Is it better to try hard doing-it-right, despite the risk of a painful punch or a painful kick, despite the risk of failing, despite the risk of doing-it-wrong... ? Or is it better to sit, think what should be right... and not try anything, nothing at all?

From several reasons I feel much better if I wear the T-shirt under my Gi. Now, after wearing it wrong, being told that I had done it wrong (as well as seeing this photo), well now at least I have learned how to wear it properly. How to do it right. And it feels great!

Still, it is much more easy to put a T-shirt under the pants than try to fix some other, more serious mistakes...