Anshu Christa Jacobson – Real Budo
Photo – Ed Parker; Father of American Kenpo.
I found this quote by Ed Parker, and there is a lot of real meaning in it. Although I do not teach American / Ed Parker’s Kenpo, I do not want to close my mind off from the philosophical interpretations that we can learn from all of the Budo Masters.
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“There are no pure styles of karate. Purity comes only when pure knuckles meet pure flesh, no matter who delivers or receives.” – ED PARKER
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In the 7 Traditions of the Budo Ryu Ninjutsu Dojo, we teach Samurai Bujutsu and Traditional Ninjutsu. I feel if you read Mr. Ed Parkers Quote, you can place in any name of an art for the word “karate” and these words still hold true.
Too many like to read books, look for proof, when the essence of these arts are not on paper. The essence of these arts is in our hearts, our blood, our sweat and tears.
Anshu Christa Jacobson
headmistress of the Budo Ryu Ninjutsu Dojo
http://www.budoryuninjutsu.com/
Anshu Christa Jacobson – Budo
PHOTO / CALLIGRAPHY DONE BY ME 2010
“BUDO”
The Japanese word “Budo” consist of two characters.
“BU” – Although usually translated as “martial”, the original components of this character has the meaning “to stop the spear” with definite connotation of restoring peace. “BU” may also be interpreted as “valorous action” or “courageous living”.
“DO” (tao in chinese) means the way of the truth, the path to liberation or the path to enlightenment.
The two Kanji placed together “BUDO” is understood to many as martial arts or martial way,..but truly is felt as “The way of brave and enlightened activity.”
Budo has to grown with the times. This does not take rocket science to understand that you have to update the methods of how you approach combat. We live in a different time and just as we grow as a human race, the truth of Budo has to grow also. To make your school and effective method of training you can use the Godai (5 elemental principals) you can learn the deeper truth of the arts.
(1 – Chi / earth / foundation) Learn the traditional kata, understand the principals that the past masters have giving us, we cannot forget where we came from, and we have to honor the tradition, history and masters of the past.
(2 – Sui / Water / Adaptability) Train with Henka (variations) and see all of the many ways you can take that one strategy or principle and use it many ways. Explore the kata, see what you can find, this ultimately will lead you on your own journey of Budo.
(3 – Ka / Fire / Intensity) Train with Randori (chaos) this is a word that many use for sparring drills, grappling drills, nage waza drills. Anything thing that you can do to train against another live person that is trying to do the same thing to you, but you are not in a fixed position. This is how you find out how you can move freely in a real fight.
(4 – Fu / Wind / Freedom of Movment) Train in actual physical conditioning. Wind is a circular element, this represents the life time of training. Striking Bags / Bag Work, Calisthenics, Weight / Resistance training, Cardio Training, Impact / Bone Conditioning, Core conditioning. When you start you do not stop training. No matter who we are, no matter the rank that we achieve, if you stop working out, you will loose your physical conditioning, this is the element of wind, keep training over and over just like a circle it does not stop. Nothing is worse than to have to protect your family from danger and you cannot because you are not used to fighting with your heart rate raised!
(5 – Ku / Void / Connecting) This is the element of void, spiritual refinement, meditation, Kuji or whatever practice that you use to connect to the inner voice. This is very important to understand how to clear your mind and take all of the things that are listed above and connect them into one source,..your body. To do this you need mental clarity and peace. You need to know who you are with no ego, no sense of self. Just understood purpose.
I hope that this helps you all in your training.
Thanks for all of the support –
Anshu Christa Jacobson
Headmistress of the Budo Ryu Ninjutsu Dojo
Anshu Christa Jacobson – Virtues of the Ninja
THE TEN VIRTUES OF THE NINJA
*** Taken from the Bansenshukai (Koka Version) wriiten by Fujibayashi Yasutake in 1676 ***
Ninja are often viewed as ancient Japanese assassins and masters of stealth, although these are some of the skills that they possess, many of the ninja ryu aspired to maintain samurai ethical standards. Below are the 10 virtues of the Ninja taken from the Koka Bansenshukai written in 1676 by Fujibayashi Yasutake
* Loyalty
* Bravery
* Strategic Knowledge
* Diligence
* Trustworthiness
* Good Health
* Responsibility
* Ingenuity
* Knowledge of the Teachings of Buddha & Confucius
* Gifted Speech
I hope that you can add this to your knowledge of the arts.
Thanks for all of the support. Be Safe
Anshu Christa Jacobson
headmistress of the Budo Ryu Ninjutsu Dojo
Anshu Christa Jacobson – Secrets of Technique
PHOTO – SEIRYUEN GARDEN, NIJO CASTLE, JAPAN
“SECRETS OF TECHNIQUE”
The secrets of technique were said to have been passed to Ushiwakamaru (known as Minamoto Yoshitsune 1159-1189) by the mysterious Master Ki-ichi-hogen. These teachings have been widely employed by martial art instructors over the centuries and are still in use today.
Morihei Ueshiba (1888-1969), the founder of Aikido often quoted from this listwhen teaching and deomstratin Aikido technique.
* When your opponent comes, greet him at once.
*If he withdraws, immediately send him on his way.
* Where there is opposition, harmonize with it on teh spot.
* If there is a force of one, add nine to make ten.
* If there is a force of two, add eight to make ten.
* If there is a force of three, add seven to make ten.
UTILIZE THIS PRINCIPAL TO ACHIEVE HARMONIZATION
* There is nothing in the universe that cannot be harmonized
* Distinguish between truth and falsehood.
* Know how to discern the hidden.
* Great is larger than the Universe.
* Small enters the tiniest particle.
* Adjust to the vagaries of life and death
* Adapt to ceaseless change.
*remain unshaken regardless of the circumstances.
Thought I would share my notes on harmony with you, these are the principles that have been taught for centuries. I hope that you can read them and find something positive from it also. Thanks for all of the support you all.
Take Care, Be Safe and Good Luck in your Journey of Budo
Anshu Christa Jacobson
Headmistress of the Budo Ryu Ninjutsu Dojo.
Anshu Christa Jacobson – Principals of Budo
Photo – Bamboo Forest – Kyoto, Japan
“THE PRINCIPALS OF BUDO”
Three Essential Elements of Budo:
(1) The Timing of Heaven.
(2) The Utility of Earth.
(3) The Harmonization of human beings
– Bugei Koden
Anshu Christa Jacobson – Give your Students Everything
Photo – Antique Armor of Ninja in Ninja Museum, Japan.
“Why not give your students everything that you can?”
There are many different ninjutsu schools across the world, although some wants to discredit others, the facts are that we are all here, teaching martial arts on the same planet, even if they do not act like it.
One thing that really gets me is that there are schools that claim to teach ninjutsu, yet they only do taijutsu, they never really teach the weapons that much at all, they never teach stealth or any of the things that they “sell” with vintage footage, it is taijutsu. They don’t condition their students for a real fight either, no sparring, no grappling, no bag work. HAVE YOU SEEN PICTURES OF TAKAMATSUS HANDS AND FEET? (33rd grandmaster of the Togakure Ryu). They look like that because he practiced every day punching and kicking trees and other training objects to make his body withstand the force of a real fight!
These same people say that sparring is not needed because it is not a real street fight, so the kata is what they explore for the principals. This is true, Sparring is not a real street fight, but if you practice kata and get principals from that to apply to a street fight, than why can you not spar and take what you learn from that, and apply those principals and strategies to your martial training? Timing, Distancing, Offense, Defense, Counter Attacks, Learning how to train against a opponent that you do not know what they are going to do it is not a pre-set kata, I am sure that all of these things that we get from sparing can easily be placed into the real world of street fighting. You should train your body in all areas of combat, never tell yourself that you don’t need to spar, learn weapons tactics, ground fighting, impact or physical conditioning because by telling yourself that, that is ego, AND EGO WILL GET YOU DEAD!
Prepare yourself for anything that can happen, stop training for ego and train like your life depended on it! If you can learn anything from the past, I am sure that this lesson alone still rings strong.
Anshu Christa Jacobson – Zen
“Ability can take you to the top,
but it takes character to keep you there.”
Anshu Christa Jacobson – Same Root
PHOTO TAKEN FROM 2008 NINJA HACHIMON TRAINING CAMP
“ALL LIVING ENERGY STEMS FROM THE SAME ROOT”
Do you think you are any different from me? When was the last time that you went out into nature and just listened? If you listen close enough you can hear all the living things breathing together and you can fell all living things growing together.
WE ARE ALL LIVING TOGETHER EVEN THOUGH SOME DON’T ACT LIKE IT
We are all have the same roots, we are jut different branches of the same tree.
We need to learn to live in harmony with each other, not hate each other. Time is an illusion and so is death,….. the start of your life you did not choose, and more than likely the end of your life you will not choose either.
While you are here for this short time you need to make the best out of your life. This is why we train,…..
All the principles of heaven and earth are living inside you. Life itself is truth, and this will never change. Everything in heaven and earth breathes. Breath is the thread that ties creation together.
I wish you all well with your training. Take Care, Be Safe & Good Luck in your Journey of Budo.
Anshu Christa Jacobson
Anshu Christa Jacobson – Living your Life
How much of your life do you spend wishing you were somewhere else?
You only have one life, live it to be happy, never think that I wish I had that time back, if you think that, than you know that you did not spend the time wisely. Understand that true enlightenment is knowing that we are human, and in this physical nature we need to experience life as a human. We need to love and share our memories with others.
The way you live your life is your choice, however, No one wants to go to the grave forgotten, it is up to you how you perceive and fulfill your destiny.
– Anshu Christa Jacobson
Anshu Christa Jacobson – Principals of the Universe
All the principles of heaven and earth are living inside you. Life itself is truth, and this will never change. Everything in heaven and earth breathes. Breath is the thread that ties creation together.
– Morihei Ueshiba
Anshu Christa Jacobson – Mind
The mind can be compared to the ocean and the momentary mental events such as happiness, irritation, frustration and fantasy can be related to the waves that raise and fall on the surface.
Just as the waves can subside to reveal the stillness of the oceans depth, so to is it possible to calm the turbulence of the mind to reveal its natural clarity.
Anshu Christa Jacobson 