Warrior Arts Revolution April 2023 : simplebooklet.com

MASTER BOHDI SANDERS’ JOURNEY TOWARRIORHOOD Master Bohdi Sandershas always beeninspired by the warriorarchitype. He grew up inrural Mississippi on afarm and ranch. Duringthe summer, he workeddriving a tractor, ridinghorses to check on thecows, bailing hay, andclearing stumps for newfarm land. In his freetime, he fished, hunted,and spent many hourson the lake. He alsoplayed football andbaseball. Martial artswas something that heknew little about.Master Bohdi’s father was a man’s man; he would not take anydisrespect from anyone. He was tough and could do almost anythinghe set his mind to. His dad was an avid hunter, could hit a target 60-70 yards away with his 44 magnum, and was not a man to tanglewith. He taught Bohdi to fight at an early age and then, when Bohdiwas a little older, told him something that would change his outlookon life. He said, “If I ever hear of you running away from a fight, youwill get a worse beating when you get home than you would have ifyou lost the fight to the other boy.” From that day on, Bohdi wasdetermined to never run away from a fight, even when he was bulliedby someone much older and bigger.

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Master Bohdi has stated that he no longer adheres to thatphilosophy, saying, “I will walk away from almost all conflicts ifpossible. But he did learn a lot from adhering to that philosophyearly on. He said that he learned that the fear of being beat up wasmuch worse than actually getting beat up. He also learned thatwhen you stand up to a bully, even if you lose the fight, the bullyingwill stop and your self-confidence will increase. As his confidence in his fighting abilities grew, he found himselfstreet fighting and developed a reputation for being a good, toughfighter. He would take up for other boys who were being bullied,especially his younger brother, and even fought their fight for themmany times, at the same time, he was able to hone his fighting skillsin real life situations in the streets. Master Bohdi stated that he hadlittle to no discipline and ended up sending more than one boy tothe hospital for bullying his brother. Master Bohdi’s fathertaught him not onlyhow to fight, but healso taught him to livewith honor andintegrity. Bohdi statedthat he was veryblessed to have grownup with not only afather that taught himwhat it meant to be areal man, but with agreat extended familyas well. He spent a lotof time with hisgrandfather and greatgrandfather, andlearned much aboutcharacter, honor,integrity, and doing theright thing from eachof them.

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The character traits that Master Bohdi learned from these menformed the foundation of his philosophy that he would laterintegrate into his martial arts and warrior philosophy teachings.It wasn’t until he took a break from his schoolwork in college that hefirst set foot in a martial arts dojo. He stated that he had no ideawhat to expect and did not even really understand what karatereally was, but he was interested in finding out. Luckily, he walkedinto a traditional Shotokan Karate dojo run by very good, legitimateinstructors, Bob and Nikki Allen. After that, he has been hooked onmartial arts and martial arts philosophy ever since.“From that point on, I started studying not only martial artsphilosophy, but philosophy in general. Anything which was basedon wisdom and life philosophy, I was interested in studying. Thatlove of philosophy is still with me today and has turned into a careerfor me as I share my martial arts and warrior philosophy daily, aswell as in my books,” Master Sanders stated.After moving to a very small town in southwest Colorado, MasterBohdi was doing a lot of deer and elk hunting, especially with a bow.This is where he met Shihan Bill Jackson. “We hit it off almostimmediately and were shooting together and talking when I foundout he had also been a Shotokan Karate instructor, but no longertaught. I was able to convince Shihan Jackson to train me one-on-one at his place in the San Juan Mountains between Dolores andTelluride, Colorado. This ended up being one of the best decisions inmy martial arts career. I trained with Shihan Jackson from my 1stDan through my 5th Dan, greatly improving my martial arts skills, aswell as my bow hunting and survival skills. He also taught me a lotabout prepping and mountain survival. When he died, I lost a greatfriend and a cherished instructor,” Master Sanders stated.

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He continued, “Shihan Jackson had left the world of organizedmartial arts years before I met him, as he was very frustrated withthe direction of the martial arts. He felt that the martial arts had lostits focus on self-defense and warrior skills and had become toocommercialized. It was his teachings that helped guide me to myown philosophy of the martial arts. His view on the real purpose ofthe martial arts greatly influenced me and can still be seen in mywritings today.” Not too long after Shihan Jackson’s death, Master Bohdi startedhand writing two large journals, one for each of his sons for theirgraduation. He wanted to teach his sons to be true warriors – wisemen who would live with character, honor, and integrity. At this time,He was also teaching both of his boys Shotokan Karate. One day, he decided to actually take the wisdom that he waswriting for his boys, clean it up, and put it into a book format. He sentit off to four publishers and was offered two book deals. That bookwas titled “Warrior Wisdom.” Warrior Wisdom, won a national bookaward and was a hit in the martial arts world.

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He stated, “That was the start of my writing career which hasexpanded to 16 books including my #1 bestsellers, Modern Bushidoand Men of the Code, as well as several others which climbed intothe top 10 on Amazon. Since that time, my books have won multiplenational and international book awards. I now have tens ofthousands of loyal readers and have been inducted into martialarts halls of fame for my teachings on martial arts and warriorphilosophy.”Master Bohdi had a small dojo with 65 students in Missouri duringthe late 90s, but after moving back to Colorado, he did not start anew dojo, deciding instead to simply teach his sons privately and toconcentrate on teaching martial arts through his writing. He stated,“In my writings, I coined the terms: “Warrior Wisdom,” “The WarriorLifestyle,” and “Warrior Philosophy.” My goal in writing my books wasto bring back traditional warrior philosophy and values to themartial arts world, a goal which would eventually bring me manyhardcore fans and a handful haters. I love my fans and I don’t mindmy haters. The way I look at it is, if you hate me, but you readeverything I write, you are just a confused fan.”It was through Bohdi’s writing career that he met his friend, mentor,and world renowned martial artist, Sifu Al Dacascos. Master Bohdicontinued, “Sifu Al and I worked together on a writing project andalso trained together. Sifu Al is hands down the best martial artist Ihave ever worked with and I am so honored to have trained withhim and to call him a true friend. He increased my martial arts skillsand we spent hours discussing martial arts philosophy. Sifu Al alsohonored me with the honorary title of Hanshi, a Japanese termwhich means teacher of teachers. Sifu Al is an honorable martialartist and is a great example of what a true martial artist shouldbe.”

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When Master Bohdi’s haters tried to defame him and damage hisreputation, Sifu Al came to his defense and published the truthabout Bohdi and his martial arts skills. He published the followingresponse:“I want to set the record straight. I went to visit Bohdi Sanders inLoveland, Colorado to discuss and finish my book called “Legacy” inSeptember of 2015. I had many reasons in doing so. First, he has severalbooks on martial artphilosophy that are bestsellers and even acouple that hit #1 onAmazon. I wanted tomeet the man that wasgoing to publish mybook one-on-one andmake sure that he was acredible and legitimatemartial artist, capable ofunderstanding andkeeping up with mypresentation of martialarts. And he was exactlythat.We talked philosophy, about life, and trained a lot. Talking the talk is notlike walking the walk. After going through the mechanical andtechnical aspects of Escrima and some new techniques that weworked on, done by the numbers, which is normal when learningsomething new, he was able to be creative and fluid with precision,power, speed, and accuracy, which are the primary goals. In the lastphases of creativity and fluidity, nothing is staged; it is where you wantto be. Traditionally, a hard stylist, Sanders was able to transition from one tothe other and his flow was as good as any of the hundreds of top blackbelts that I've had the privilege to train and work out with.

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There are no delusions when it comes to his martial arts skills. BohdiSanders is as good as any of the top black belts I have worked with.There was no staging when it came to the tagging (sparring orfighting) and training we did. There is also no staging when your lifeis on the line and Sanders is a man that understands this.During my time training with Sanders, his previous training wasobvious to me. After training with him, I had no doubts about his rankor previous training. He has precision, power, speed, and accuracy. Icould plainly see the muscle memory in his blocks, counters, andmovements. I saw his 5th Dan certificate and it is legitimate. I saw theway he lives and he lives exactly what he teaches in his books. Wetrained every day we were together and his wife took both photos andvideos of our training, and none of it was staged.” Sifu Al DacascosWhen asked about Sifu Al’s support, Master Bohdi stated, “While I amproud of my martial arts achievements, my awards, and the beltranks that I earned, when a martial artist of Sifu Al Dacascos’ statuestates, ‘There are no delusions when it comes to his martial arts skills.Bohdi Sanders is as good as any of the top black belts I have workedwith…his previous training was obvious to me. After training with him, Ihad no doubts about his rank or previous training.I could plainly seethe muscle memory in his blocks, counters, and movements. I saw his5th Dan certificate and it is legitimate. I saw the way he lives and helives exactly what he teaches in his books,’ let me tell you, THAT is agreat honor, as Sifu Al has worked with some of the greatest martialartists in both the U.S. and Germany.”Master Bohdi continued, “Throughout my 39 years of martial artstraining and meeting many different martial artists, I can tell you thatthere is an enormous difference between a so-called martial artistand a true martial artist. I have met many martial arts wannabes, andseveral true martial artists. Without even seeing someone train, youcan tell a true martial artist from a wannabe simply by how he liveshis life outside of the dojo, how he conducts himself with others, andwhat I call “the warrior gaze.” The warrior gaze is a certain look in awarrior’s eyes; it is hard to describe, but when you see it, you knowthat this guy is not someone to be toyed with.”

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Master Bohdi has worked with some of the best martial artists in theworld in writing his 2-book series, Secrets of the Martial Arts Masters,including GM Fumio Demura, Sifu Al Dacascos, Chuck Norris, DougMarcaida, Adrian Paul, Richard Norton, Eric Lee, Frank Dux, MaliaDacascos Bernal, Colonel Phil Torres, and many others. It was duringthe writing of this series in which Master Bohdi was challenged witha brain tumor which required an immediate emergency surgery. “I was honored to have the support of Sifu Al, GM Fumio Demura,and Chuck and Gena Norris during this time period. Gena wrote meoften to check on me and to tell me that she and Chuck werepraying for me and my recovery. Fumio Demura surprised me witha late night phone call to see how I was recovering after I returnedhome. And of course, my dear friend, Sifu Al Dacascos called meoften to check on me,” Master Bohdi recalled.Master Bohdi stated that he was even working on finishing Secretsof the Martial Arts Masters while he was in the intensive care unit fora week. That is real dedication! He said that his purpose in writingSecrets of the Martial Arts Masters was, “To present true martial artsand warrior values. That is why I enlisted the help of so many oldschool martial arts masters, many who have passed away since Ipublished Secrets of the Martial Arts Masters. I wanted to get their wisdom down on paper before it was too late. Ithink that this book series has a plethora of martial arts and warriorwisdom.”When asked about what he considers to be a true warrior, MasterBohdi stated, “I look at being a warrior in a different way than manyother people do. To me, being a warrior does not mean simplybeing in the military or working in law enforcement. Thewarriorlifestyle involves much more than the ability to fight and defendyourself and those you love. It involves developing your character,living a life of honor and integrity, defending those who can’t defendthemselves, taking care of the elderly and your family; in short, itinvolves service to others along with perfecting your character.

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Many people seem to get hung up on the literal definition of theterm “warrior.” The literal definition, which can be found in mostdictionaries, defines the term “warrior” as someone who is trained orexperienced in warfare, which a true martial artist should be. Afterall, the martial arts are actually supposed to be the art of war. Theywere never meant to be a business or a sport, but that is anotherdiscussion entirely.My definition of a true warrior is someone who has the ability andwill to fight to protect himself, his friends, his family, and his ideals,and at the same time, seeks the perfection of his own characterthrough a life lived with honor, integrity, and an unflinchingdedication to what is right according to his own code of ethics. Theability to fight is only a small part of this definition. The true warriorhas to develop more than his martial arts skills. The qualities of thetrue warrior go much deeper than that.Warriors should exhibit the best qualities among men. The truewarrior makes a firm decision to try to perfect his character and tolive by a strict code of ethics. His word is his honor. His duty staysfresh on his mind. He lives life a little more seriously than most, butat the same time, lives life to its fullest. He sees through the veil ofappearances covering most parts of this world, but does so withoutlooking down on those who are less perceptive.Family and friends are important to him, and they know that theycan always count on him for protection and help in their times ofneed. He bases his decisions on his code of ethics and heinstinctively knows right from wrong, and chooses right. He knowsthat, at times, there is a difference between what is right and whatis legal, and what is wrong and what is illegal. As Lao Tzu taught,“Highly evolved people have their own conscience as pure law.” The true warrior is able to hold his head high with honor because heknows that he lives his life to the best of his ability, with honor andintegrity. His code is ingrained in his spirit and is a part of his being. Warriors walk alone much of the time, as they prefer solitude to thecompany of lesser men. The warrior is a man who shoots forexcellence in everything he does. These are the things whichmakes someone a true warrior and the development of these traitsleads to what I call the warrior lifestyle. This is how I aspire to live mylife.”

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Master Bohdi stated that he has sacrificed a lot during his 39 yearsof martial arts training, but that his training has given him a lot inreturn. “It has taken a toll on my body, but strengthened my mindand spirit. It has enabled me to meet some amazing people andhelp thousands through my writings and my books. Like most otherlong-term martial artists, I have my injuries, my surgeries, mycrooked fingers, and my physical challenges to overcome as I age,but the memories are priceless.Looking back, my martial arts journey to warriorhood has been anamazing ride. I have met many of the greatest martial artists of ourtime and some of my personal heroes, and I have been honoredbeyond my wildest dreams. I have walked down the red carpet tobe inducted into the martial arts hall of fame. I have receivedthousands of emails and letters from fans throughout the worldtelling me how my books and teachings have changed their lives.

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I have done my best to always stand for what is right and toencourage others to do the same. When all is said and done, that iswhat my books are about – doing what’s right and living your lifeaccording to one’s code of honor. That is something that we sobadly need in today’s world.Master Bohdi finished by stating, “My martial arts journey has beenvery interesting. I never would have thought I would be considered amartial arts master or that people throughout the world would bereading my books and my articles. There have been many ups anddowns, but each step of the way, I took what I learned from both thepeople that I respect and from my haters.I have been honored in way that I never could have imaged. I havealso been attacked in ways that I never imagined, but at the sametime, I have taken those attacks, learned from them, and used themto become better and to be more thoughtful about my self-defense. I also turned the experience of those attacks into mynewest book, The Art of Inner Peace, which has won more awardsthan any of my previous books. That is what one should do with hisor her challenges – learn from them and then use them to becomemore successful and to help others.Looking back, I would have never written The Art of Inner Peace if myhaters had not attacked my character and reputation like they did.In the end, even my haters attempts to hurt me, helped me findgreater success on my journey to warriorhood. People around theworld are calling The Art of Inner Peace a life-changing work. Andwhen everything is said and done, helping people and improvingtheir lives is the ultimate reward for every warrior and is the greatestreward from the journey to warriorhood.”

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The Most BasicSurvival Skills. By Sensei Benjamin Wynand Fourieof Lotus Academy South AfricaBeing warriors in the modern world we are surrounded by images and videoclips of martial arts practitioners that fight their way out of trouble. This is theimage that we and the rest of the world are presented with. Along with thismartial arts schools are popping up all over the place that teach great combatand self defence.It is strange how we all think of getting ready to defend ourselves with the skillswe have learnt but the methods of “escape and evade” never make it tomainstream media.The most basic of survival skills is that of “escape and evade.” The self defenceprinciple is: “To be where the trouble is not.” This could mean steering clear ofany situation that might look hazardous to your health, or moving away fromtrouble while remaining unseen. Let’s have a quick look at some basics.

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First is using your senses. This begins with your ears. Line of sight could beobstructed, or it might be dark with low visibility, so first listen for trouble. Thenlook for obvious signs in the direction your ears identify a ruckus to be. Finallyuse your nose to smell the air for signs of burning or chemicals. Note:Depending on your level of training and situational awareness this order youuse your senses in might change but this is the basic way.If you identify danger, then you either need to evade or escape.Evasion begins with concealing your presence, hiding or moving in theopposite direction of the suspected area. If you need to move forward to reachyour destination then it could mean “Lateral”, “Diagonal” or “Half Circular”movement until you can safely continue on your way.Escaping is the difficult one. If you need to escape, then you would have beencaught up in the situation and need to employ special skills to escape. For thisyou will need training in hiding, basic camouflage, sneaking and differentmethods of stealth walking and running. Keep in mind that the methods foroutdoor and urban movements will differ.

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Now for some basic rules. Here I will list the “7 S’s of Camouflage” as a guide onthings for you to keep in mind as you move to escape and evade.Silhouette – The human shape is very easy to recognise. Do your best to hide itor conceal the shape by using materials in your immediate area.Shine – Where there is light anything shiny you carry on you will give you away.Shadow – Depending on the light you are moving in you will cast a shadow.Always be aware of changing back light and know that the shadow you castcan rapidly change as a result.Shape – Here you need to do your best to match the environment you are in.Any shape that does not suit the immediate environment will stand out.Shade or Colour – Notice the colours in your immediate environment. Anycolour that you have on you that does not match the shade of colour in yourenvironment will stand out.Sound – Remember that your ears are the first thing you use when detectingtrouble, the same is true when someone is looking for you, they pay carefulattention to any noises.Speed – There will be times that you need to move fast or slow. Moving too fastwill make a lot of noise and moving too slow will result in you being caught.Timing in speed of movement depending on your immediate situation iscrucial.

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Kaze-Ho BugeiWarrior path with Chris Scarbrough Article by Drew ThorntonSeldom are the days we can speak of traditions of old and how they play-out inmodern days. However, today is different. Today we will be exploring the role ofa man who has dedicated his life to to pursuit of refinement through andancient tradition known as Ninjutsu. I am pleased to introduce Mr. ChrisScarbrough for this article, a man I have researched and had firsthandexperience with. Ninjutsu is a loaded term, with many traditions maneuveringfor relevance in this often misunderstood community. However, what capturedmy attention decades ago was Mr. Scarbrough’s ability to extract himself fromthe politics of the community, and focus solely upon his ability to deliver aviable, accurate, and most importantly, relevant and usable version of this artto the community he serves. Having began his training in the Bujinkan in 1988,Mr. Scarbrough focused heavily upon the accurate practice of Soke Hatsumi’sBujinkan.

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Later on in Mr. Scarbrough’s life, he was able to apply these Bujinkan teachingsin the capacity of a local law enforcement tactics instructor in south Texas,along with other entities such as the MHMR, the women’s crisis center, theUnited States Air-force security forces and as a guest instructor for theweapons of opportunity curriculum of the United States Marine Corps. MCMAPprogram. In this time, he was not only able to impart the teachings of Ninpo tothese organizations, but he was also able to learn from them as well, includingunderstandings of what modern threats citizens these days were more likely toface. It was durning this period, that Mr. Scarbrough shifted his focus to adegree that focused on preparing students for the rough-and-tumblescenarios more likely to be faced in modern times, all while honoring thetimeless traditions that where a part of his base as a Ninpo Taijutsupractitioner. These observations prompted Mr. Scarbrough to begin developinga comprehensive self defense system that would allow these ancientteachings to be used within a modern context.After 20 years of research and development, and integrating select elementsof Shinkage Ryu Hyoho Kenjutsu principles he learned by way of his mentor inYamanashi, what emerged was a system that Mr. Scarbrough had namedKaze-Ho Bugei. A modern self protection system based off of his 30 years ofNinpo Taijutsu training in Hatsumi-Ha/Takamatsu-Den Bujinkan training.

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Michio Takase Sensei, a descendant of Renshinkan and grandson of MaedaSensei, after years of secrecy in the school of Toshimi Matsuda despite hisstatus as a special student of Takeda, in 2017 he decided to spread the secretsalso to students outside of Japan. This conversation was held on Feb 20th,2023, between Michio Takase and his student Raven Cain. Raven Cain- Thank you for joining me in this conversation. First, I want to askyou how did you get involved in martial arts?Michio Takase-.Ever since I was a child, I always watched karate, kickboxing,and professional wrestling on TV. I think that's what got me startedRaven Cain- How has Daito Ryu affected you in your life? Michio Takase-. Yes. Daitoryu has become my life.Raven Cain- How does Daito Ryu Aiki Jujitsu differ from jujitsu? Michio Takase-. AikiJujutsu is to synchronize with each part of the opponent'sbody. Jiu-jitsu. Attack vital points to destroy enemies.Raven Cain- What is the mission of the Renshinkan? Michio Takase-. To leave behind the world the successors of Takeda-Matsuda-Maeda Daitoryu, who influenced many Japanese martial arts.Raven Cain- You have opened up Daito Ryu to foreigners; what made youdecide to open it up to the rest of the world? Michio Takase-. I thought foreigners couldn't understand my Daitoryu. BecauseI need Japanese. Because Renshinkan has its own martial arts words. However,since I started Facebook, I have seen many excellent foreigners. I thought Ishould teach them my legitimate Daitoryu.

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Raven Cain- How do you feel about the younger generation of Daito Ryustudents testing themselves in the world of MMA?Michio Takase-. I also have experience in MMA and kickboxing, so I think it'sgreat. I think it is important for young people to have many such experiences.Raven Cain- What advice would you give to the younger generation comingup?Michio Takase-. I want young people to pass on old martial arts to futuregenerations.Raven Cain- Is there any advice that you would like to give to your students,both young and old?Michio Takase-. Learn martial arts while thinking, but don't think when youactually use it.Also, study the history of martial arts and learn practical self-defensetechniques. Anyway, I hope that people of all ages will enjoy it.Raven Cain- Thank you, Sensei; you are a true inspiration. Thank you for beingmy teacher and sharing this conversation with meMichio Takase-.Yes Arigato Gaza Imasu

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INTERVIEW WITH AMODERN SAMURAITo serve and protect, a bodyguard storyIs it Just physical, or do you need to have wits and brains too?"Yes it is very hard training with both fitness, weapon skills and abilities to plan foreverything the could happen or go wrong... this is why a protection profession gets paidby his or her skills and abilities but more on experience on the job"Could you say you were trained for this mindset from young?Personally yes it helps to grow up with a fighting mindset but it will also need to improvewith the right training and of course experience We caught up with Josh Wulfe, current CPO (close quarter protection officer),or thebetter known term bodyguard, to find out just how close the parallels are to ancientSamurai Retainers. As a recognised member of Shiroh Ha, he gave us some answers to questions about hisjob as a professional, working for a large well known company. We were surprised tohear that indeed the modern day Bodyguard has many close similarities to ancientSamurai.Is it something you knew you wanted to be?No. I had no idea that my natural skills would help to direct me to a professional industryof protection operators. But if you're of a mindset for war, no other job will satisfy you.

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Modern samurai don't ride horses, even ifyou can, are vehicles important to yourjob?Very much so, as it is one of the highestlevels of danger when you and yourclients are in transit. This requires you toknow all vehicles and vehicle abilities aswell as your own limits. The vehicle becomes an importantweapon. And horses are one of manyanimals that you may find yourselfneeding to be comfortable on as younever know what your client wants to doin the future. A CPO must be prepared for anything.Dress code, is that a thing? How do CPO'sdress?Dress code is always professional andsmart... that said it all depends on yourclients needs. If you're protecting a very importantbusiness man it is obvious that a suit willfit but if the VIP is on holiday it will bemore to a smart casual look. It's simple,your job is to provide protection for yourVIP but be a part of the furnishings, ashadow with the ability to become a oneman tactical team. Some VIP's prefer you to stand out as aDecoy and others like to go about theirbusiness without be seen or attractingattention.Guns, martial arts, hand to hand combat, tell us a bit about the specialist training andhow fit you need to be?Yes your fitness is essential to your life and your ability to save your VIP's life. Guns are animportant part of your business as you will use and need to be able to use any weaponsyou are developing with. A good example is the 2 basic gun types you will work withpistol, carbine, a good knowledge of the design and functional aspects will help. Combatis another challenge as you never know what you may get and what skills you willEncounter. It is important to know a variety of martial arts and combat skills such as KravMaga. Generally in the industry of close protection you will be given a variety of so-calledmartial arts or combat skills not relating to general martial arts but more relating to quickclean combat. The importance of planning oversight all other martial arts skills and gunskills as proper planning means no problems

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What is the perfect mindset for aSamurai?In my experience over the years I findthat your experience and planningleads to a quiet and fruitful careerrather than trying to hit things hit on allthe time remember if you plan correctlyit never goes wrong and if it never goeswrong you're war mindset is perfect forhaving a long career. In my experience the enemy is alwaysmore prepared and always has moreArsenal with more numbers this is whythe modern warrior must try his utmostbest to avoid a combat situationYou embody a modern samurai (theword samurai means to serve, to becalm, and to handle any situation forthe feudal lord), mainly they wereprotectors.A natural-born protector is more than aman with a gun that can kill he is honorbound to his client in secrecy and touphold his clients honour in all aspectsfor example his client is drunk andneeds to go home to not embarrasshimself

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Future of Martial ArtsWhat makes me qualified to write about the future of martial arts? Let meintroduce myself. I hold the rank of 8th Dan in Mi Yama Ryu Kempo Jujutsuand a 6th Dan in the Chuck Norris System. I’m also passionate about Boxing,Wrestling, BJJ, Judo, Karate and Krav. I began my training in the martial artsat 8 years old and today at 56 I usually train 5 days a week. At the moment, Ienjoy going to other schools and observing other instructors teach. I helptrain young black belts to become better instructors. I teach small classesand private lessons several days a week. I have been able to train withmartial artist from around the world. I thought I would interview people Iadmire and know to have successful schools. These schools are from smalltowns in the USA to Norway and ranging from 150 to 800 students. I focusedon 3 people out of the many that I have spoken with. I want you tounderstand that these school owners have some things in common thathave helped their success. Now remember I am not some guy selling mysystem or training to you. I am a lifelong martial artist who wants as manypeople as possible to love martial arts like so many of us do. I also want youto be a successful school owner.By Allen Olds8th Dan in Mi Yama Ryu Kempo Jujutsu and a 6thDan in the Chuck Norris System

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Kenneth Fjeld owns AESIRAcademy in Krokstadelva, Norway.It means Home of the Viking Gods.He has 150 plus students. He holdsa 5th Dan in the Chuck NorrisSystem, a 2nd Dan in Krav Magaand is a Guru in Pambuam, a blackbelt in Shotokan karate and aBrown belt in BJJ. His entire familyparticipates in running theacademy. He runs a very familyoriented school. What got himinterested in the Martial Arts?When he was 12 he was a verysickly child and spent a lot of timein bed. He loved to watch ChuckNorris movies and T.V. Shows. Hewas told by doctors he would notbe able to do sports again. Heproved them wrong. He got his firstblack belt in Shotokan Karate.Shortly after this his eyes wereopened to realistic fighting.

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He attempted to help a man who had been attacked and ended up in a fightwith multiple men. Needless to say he got pounded. He had onlyparticipated in controlled sparring. He felt like a fake and that he hadwasted his time. I told him I know many martial artists with a similarexperience. He sought out more training to gain necessary skills. He seeks topromote students that are well rounded, able to fight standing up or on theground. He has incorporated a blend of styles and techniques like Karate,Krav, BJJ and Pambuam. His focus is on teaching students to defendthemselves first. He still does forms for those who want a traditional blackbelt. That is not until he has ensured that if they ever had to use martial artsto defend themselves or another, they can. Kenneth has just completed anovel sharing true values of martial arts through an exciting story. It can befollowed through Kickstarter.com.Next is Aaron Reis, he owns ACE “FusionMartial Arts”, in Saint George, Utah U.S.A.He has 2 locations and has reached 800students. His is a 8th Dan Hopkido/ TangSoo Do under Ron Pohnel and JoeyEscobar and a 4th Dan in BJJ under FabioSantos. He also practices Kajukenbo. Hisentire family is involved in running theschools. His oldest son runs his secondlocation and his other children work at hismain school. His wife Jennifer runsan awesome women's only BJJ class. Shehas over 100 women in her classes alone.Aaron used to travel for an organization toevaluate and train instructors for a nationalchain of franchise schools.

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Aaron says he saw the writing on the wall about 15 years ago and decided topursue Brazilian Jiu Jitsu full time. He now trains his students in Muay Thai,Boxing, Karate and BJJ. He trains several MMA fighters in his school. He hasa different approach to teaching forms and basics. He basically spends 80percent of the time training his students to be skilled at fighting, learningstandup and groundwork. Then once they have gotten to an advanced belthe only has them do 4 katas. 2 weapon kata and 2 traditional types of kata.He likes to get them interested in the traditional stances andtechniques after ensuring they have practical skills. Needless to say, hismethods are very successful.The 3rd Black belt I interviewed is GM Ken Gallacher of the Chuck NorrisSystem. He was directly appointed by GM Chuck Norris. Mr. Gallacheractually began his martial arts training in Kung Fu under Jimmy H. Woo.He later met Mr. Norris through a friend and began training with him. Hereceived his 1st black belt in 1977 under Chuck Norrris. I started to train withMr. Gallacher around 1979 so I got to see first hand how he has worked topromote martial arts. Back then we trained on concrete with cheap carpetlaid on top of it. We practiced everything from basics to fighting. Wegrappled, swept each other, kickboxed on concrete with basically nothingon our hands and nobody had headgear to be used. We did wear those oldterrible groin protectors. If you got hurt, well suck it up, it is called Karate asyou know. Mr. Gallacher was true old school karate. He related to me thatMr. Norris was in Brazil when he met the Gracies and Mr. Gallacher said thathe was really impressed with them. Mr. Norris brought the Gracies and theMachados to U.F.A.F. black belt convention. It is an international trainingconvention for U.F.A.F black belts. He believed that they were going torevolutionize the martial arts. U.F.A.F. stands for United Fighting ArtsFederation.

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The origins came from Tang Soo Do but Mr. Norris wanted us to blendeverything; Karate, Brazilian Jujitsu, Judo, Jujutsu, Boxing and Krav andcombine them into a realistic martial art. Ken helped make that happen. Hehelps run an organization with thousands of black belts and students worldwide. His opinion on the future of martial arts is positive. He hopes that thehistory and tradition of martial arts will never go away and will continue toevolve. He thinks instructors today have so many more tools to be used toteach with. He believes that martial arts teaches tools for life; self discipline,physical fitness, proper social norms and how to treat each other. He said Mr.Norris always taught us to develop character. I am a firm believer in this.I want to combine what I learned from these accomplished and successfulschool owners, plus what I have learned over the years. Here are some ideas.Train your black belts to be quality instructors. Bring in other quality blackbelts to ensure your students are up to a standard. Train your students to begood training partners. Focus on quality, it is important to not just know thetechnique but the actual application. All of them told me this in differentways. Kenneth said be true to yourself, teach what you know. Aaron saidearn a legitimate black belt, master something before you go to the next.Also, learn from an actual instructor and not some internet video. In a worldwhere a lot of people want an easy way, don't be afraid to make studentsmeet standards. It is a world full of soft people, hard things can still betaught. Don't be afraid for your students to feel the pain a bit. Here is a truthbomb that all of us that are older have seen take place. In the “old days” itwas very hard to make it to the rank of black belt. The 1960s, 70s, 80s lots ofpeople started and very few finished. Instructors were not afraid to tell youthat you needed to train harder. Nobody really cared if you quit. Then in thelate 90s and 2000s we saw the “Mcdojo” start to pop up everywhere. Youknow “karate in a box”. Where it used to be 5 to 7 years or more for a blackbelt in karate, businesses were offering 18 months to black belt. Things likeeye gouges and groin strikes or rear leg sweeps and heavier contact sparingwere removed. Too easy to be sued. The commercialization of martial artsturned the tide to where business became more important than the qualityof instruction or the student. We all joked that when we weregoing throughthe ranks we had never seen a test where someone did not bleed, cry or getinjured, or some combination of all three. Now I am not saying that I miss those days, but Kenneth and Aaron bothsaid in today's world you need to train people to defend themselves.Kenneth told me he was people driven, he wants to be loyal to his mentorsbut has a responsibility to prepare his students. Aaron also said be peopledriven, make your school a community or family where they know theirsuccess is apriority to you. Mr. Gallacher told me he believes instructors need tocontinually be learning and updating what they teach. Remember to trainyour black belts to be the future of martial arts. It was interesting listeningto these Black Belts who do not know each other yet still had similar ideas.

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In closing, we need to keep the traditional values of respect, honor, integrity,and discipline. Lets not forget these character traits while applying realisticapplications and becoming more street wise. Mixed training is the futureand it is evolving. It is not a bad thing to make money teaching what youlove, but don't sell yourself out. Remember, as a martial arts instructor youare an example, whether you want to be or not. You need to decide whatkind of example you want to be while building a strong foundation ofknowledge for your students. Become a Brotherhood/Sisterhood in anextended family atmosphere for lifelong friendships. I consider all of theseblack belts as my friends. They are genuinely kind, fun and intelligent. If wecan adhere to these principles, the future looks promising for martial artistsof all styles.

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Warrior against the oddsBy Sensei Benjamin Wynand Fourieof Lotus Academy South AfricaInterview with Herme Visser “Kierie”Life does not always give us the best start, but we play with the cards thatwe have been dealt. In this interview you will hear from a person that wentup against the odds and played the cards life dealt him as a warrior. He hasproven that the way of the warrior is in facing any situation and overcomingit through discipline with the will and way of life that only warriors know.From dealing with a physical disability to becoming a martial arts student,champion and his intense time in law enforcement it is quite an interestingjourney that he has been on.This is not just an interview with a random stranger, I am from the samehometown as Herme and have seen his development first hand.Please enjoy this interview with Herme Visser, a good friend and warriorbrother.

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Ben: Herme, please tell us more about yourself.Herme: I am Herme Visser, Born in Bloemfontein in the Free State, SouthAfrica, I am 41 years old, tall but not that handsome, or so I think. I am 1.94m(6.4 feet) and weigh 138 kg (304lb).I am self employed and love all aspects of life. I am married to my best friendand have an awesome 20 year old redhead stepson who I love as my own.We have a brown Dachshund called Peanut, live in our own house and welove what we do and do what we love. Our motto in life is “WA GO KEN SAN- NEVER GIVE UP”I was a Police Officer and Forensic Expert (Criminalistic Expert) for 13 years.Here I learnt many lessons and loved it until circumstances changed and Iwas forced to make a career change.My life is about overcoming the odds not only physically but psychologicallyas well. Training eased my mind and placed me in a state of relaxed focusgiving me the confidence to compete. I wanted to show everyone thatnothing is impossible.Every person has their own battles to fight in life. The time has come for meto tell my story. I hope to inspire others to do the same and teach those whoare unsure or scared that anything is possible. I am currently working on anautobiography where I will share the details of my unique life journey.

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Ben: Where did your love for martial arts come from?Herme: I was born with a clubfoot deformity (talipes equinovarus) at birthand doctors told my parents that I will never be able to walk. After many upsand downs, seeing different specialists and a boat load of patience I finallystarted showing signs of walking at age 4. The moment I realized that Icould do something that everyone said I would never be able to do changedmy life forever.I improved in my own way and at age 5 started my Martial Arts Career inGoju Ryu Karate. It strengthened me mentally and physically. Over time Iimproved and understood the martial concepts better. I fell in love with it,and I have been at it for 36 years.Ben: How did martial arts change your life?Herme: Because of being differently abled, I had to endure a lot of bullyingand name calling. My junior years were very difficult, with life beating medown every day.During this time, I slowly began to understand what Martial Arts wasteaching me. The pain, the heartache and the difficulties was all part of life’slesson in order to make one stronger. Looking back, everything I am today isbecause of the discipline, mindset and the calmness that Martial Arts taughtme.I have practiced eight different martial disciplines, and each has its ownteaching and unique lessons to learn. But in it all I found one single truth,you are the only you, no one else can be you and you can be no one elseexcept yourself.

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Ben: What martial art styles do you practice?Herme: I started with Goju Ryu Karate where Icurrently hold a Yondan (4th dan). This is also mybase and traditional martial arts. I also hold a sandanin Tenshinkan, Shotokan and Shoto Ryu Karate. Ihave a shodan in Aikido and practice Chinese Tai Chifor balance and calmness.I also believed in testing my skills outside of aregulated system and started with bare knucklefighting after school. I then went over to MixedMartial Arts in 2009 and turned Pro. During thisperiod I was actively competing in white collarboxing events and turned ProAM in 2012. I also holda Shodan in Kickboxing which I now coach andreferee in contact, points and continuous fightingstyles.In 2013 I furthered my skill in MMA and started MuayThai at Dragon Muay Thai and still practice in the artof eight limbs. MMA and Rio Grappling gave me theopportunity to learn BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) and I amstill practicing this and coaching it at my own dojo.I am currently learning and practicing Krav Maga. Iam fully skilled in Goshin Jutsu and “Close QuarterCombat” system.Ben: Where did the nickname “Kierie” come from?Herme: When I first entered the MMA arena, I hadmany nicknames and decided to use what is uniqueto me, my leg. Because of an underdeveloped calfand deformed muscle mass my thin leg made it looklike a traditional African weapon called a “Knop-Kierie”.The English announcer at the MMA event could notpronounce the Afrikaans word but managed topronounce "Kierie" and from then on the namestuck. “Kierie” is now well known by spectators,friends, foes, coaches and family. It is so well knownin the circles I move in that the motorcyclecommunity also knows me as “Kierie”, with peoplenot even knowing my real name.

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Ben: Have you ever competed in any tournaments?Herme: My first ever tournament was in the town of Harrismith in the FreeState in South Africa. Everyone was on edge and was so concerned aboutmy leg not holding up. I won the kata and kumite divisions, this was my firstbig achievement.In 1996 I was chosen as a reserve for the Free State development team. Thenumber 2 got hurt and I needed to compete in his place. I was awarded asilver in Kata and Kumite and made the Junior South African team toparticipate in Cape Town, South Africa. I remember feeling overwhelmed as Iknew my parents did not have the money for the Championship and thetour. The community came together and gathered money I needed. I wonmy first South African Championship in the junior division and received mySpringbok South African national junior team colors.In my matric year of 1999. I became the South African Cadette Championand represented South Africa in the “All African championship” andthereafter was invited to my first World Championship in Japan where I wonthe Kumite and received my first World Champion title. I dedicated this tomy father who passed away in the same year. My senior year in high schoowas filled with huge highs and lows. I defended my title 3 more times,thereafter on the 4th title defence I had to forfeit as I was not financially abledue to my mother passing away.After my school years I went into my first few bare knuckle fights and wonthe “Underground Battle” in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. During the sametime, I looked into bodyguarding and became a VIP bodyguard thereafter.My first MMA fight was in 2010, in Johannesburg, Standard Bank Arena,South Africa where I won via a choke hold submission. I clearly rememberthat 1 minute 11 seconds, it felt like an eternity. After my first fight I realisedthat MMA was on a completely different level to anything I had previouslydone. I needed to up my skills, my endurance and adjust the way I wasfighting. I started by broadening my style base and fighting intensity.I made my first PRO MMA debut at EFC in 2013. Misfortune struck and Ibroke my foot with a kick that connected on my opponent's elbow. As aresult, I lost my EFC contract due to injury time out.But wait, I am not done yet! Here is my next goal. As I now fall under theveteran group, I am too old to box or compete in the MMA octagon, but Iwant to win the gold or a World title in another style in this age group. ThenI will know that I have competed at all levels against the best and came outon top.

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Ben: How have you used the martial arts in real world situationsHerme: Since the age of 17 I was working in event and entertainmentsecurity. You get to learn a lot about yourself and what your physicalcapabilities and limitations are, especially with drunk and disorderly people,but that was not the tip of the iceberg.During my time in the South African Police service, I had to use my skills tothe most extreme extent. This was the second time that I would be in for arude awakening. In 2003, I was confronted with the biggest fight of my life. Iwas working undercover for the South African Narcotics Bureau. I cannotelaborate too much for security reasons, but I had to not only fight tosurvive, but had to take out (till today) the fiercest opponent I have everfaced.The nature of this confrontation was so extreme that I had to go to Europeto have a mandatory “Cool down Period” after this situation escalated andtranspired. This fight caused me 6 fractured ribs, a broken thumb, brokennose, cracked jaw and partially dislocated shoulder. My opponent was worsefor wear and will be unable to have a normal life going forward. All egoaside, I can say that your average Joe will not understand what a real violentattack is like from a trained opponent. After all my training I could notbelieve the difference when needing to fight for your life.The reality in a situation like this is survival of the fittest, the toughestperson will persevere and there is nothing glorious about it. This was nofight for recognition but a fight not to be uncovered.Martial Arts in the real world is not for fighting, not for showcase, not evenfor self defence. Martial arts in the real world, is a way of life, a way ofunderstanding, a way of command, a way of introspection, but mostly a wayof assessing every situation.

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Ben: How has the idea of the modern Samurai influenced your personal life?Herme: The Samurai. One of the oldest traditions, character and discipline.The area I first became aware of my favourite two weapons, the BO and theKATANA.The influence - In an ever-changing world, you have to be yourself andbelieve in yourself. You need to learn, teach and show respect, discipline andhonour. What you give is what you get and in this the rule is to always behumble. Protect your ruler, protect your family, protect your friends andprotect yourself.Never talk about the death of someone, always talk about how they lived.These aspects are included in the Dojo Kun and have a huge part in allaspects of my life.Ben: Do you currently run a school and where can we find you?Herme: I do. I have Claremont Martial Arts and Fitness Academy inClaremont Pretoria. I am affiliated with Sansei Goju Ryu and SARMAF andform part of MASA and SASCOC in South Africa. We are also a WorldInstitution. We are on Facebook, Google, Instagram and TikTokcmafpretoria@gmail.com or my cell and on WhatsApp +27 76 502 6303Ben: Thank you, and all the best for the future.

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Thank you Herme for sharing your story with us. You set a great example ofwhat all warriors should strive to be. Warriors are real people with real lifeexperience in a variety of situations.From this interview it is clear that martial arts fall into different categories ofuse and each needs to be experienced to be clearly understood. Thedifference in methods is so vast that there needs to be a transition toprepare yourself for each. Example: The transition from traditional styletournament martial arts to modern martial arts like MMA, then the transitionfrom a controlled modern martial art like MMA to a real world street fight foryour life.The only thing we can do is train with this reality in the back of our mindsand be well prepared for the worst case scenario but at the same time praythat we are never faced with a situation where we need to use our skills tothe extreme.

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What is Mi Yama Ryu?Mi Yama Ryu Kempo JuJutsu & Krav Maga is the school of the 3 mountains.It was originally developed by the genius of Shinana Antonio Pereira. He wasa sniper for the marines and learned the military hand to hand art known asCombato, you may also know it as Defendo. When the Shinan came backfrom the war he began teaching Combato commercially. That lead to apublic demonstration of the skills. After watching the demonstration, AJapanese gentleman invited him to further his training in Japan. This lead tohim being trained at the Kodokan and the Aikikai. When he came home as ablack belt in Judo and Aikido he was shocked to see that the traditionaltechniques where not suitable for the rough and tumble people of theBronx. He began modifying the techniques combining Kempo, Jujutsu andthe military art of Combato (similar to Krav Maga) to form what is nowknown as Mi Yama Ryu. Keeping true to the Shinans mission my teacherKenneth Winthrop the 5th person ever promoted to black belt in the MiYama Ryu system modified the name to Mi Yama Ryu Kempo juJutsu andlatter we added Krav Maga. The methods of Kempo JuJutsu and Krav Magamake up the 3 mountains of our training in keeping with the originalconcept.You are the Soke Dai of the MiYama Ryu Kempo JuJutsu system, how dosethat work with your Way of the Raven Philosophy?I guess if I was to really break it down the Miyama Ryu I teach is defined bythe principles in Way of the Raven and that is what makes my MiYama Ryudifferent from everyone else. Way of the Raven is about the essence of thetechniques, something deeper where you find the principles of what isbeing taught. The MiYama Ryu is the system and Way of the Raven is thedeeper philosophy. I see you also teach Daito Ryu Aiki JuJutsu. Yes that isalso correct. Daito Ryu is the base to our Jujutsu including MiYama Ryu. It isthe traditional aspects of the art that we do not change. We practice thetraditional kata of the Daito Ryu and seek the essence of the technique.I see you also teach Daito Ryu Aiki JuJutsu.Yes that is also correct. Daito Ryu is the base to our Jujutsu includingMiYama Ryu. It is the traditional aspects of the art that we do not change.We practice the traditional kata of the Daito Ryu and seek the essence ofthe technique.

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How dose Miyama Ryu fit with Daito Ryu?Miyama Ryu would look at the traditional kata and find a modern approach.For example a change in the environment from the Dojo to the parking lot.This is what Miyama Ryu did back in the 60’s and we continue that traditiontoday. We do not change the kata rather we look for the empirical truthinside of it and learn to flow with the principles.What is the Warrior Arts Revolution & why did you start it?The reason I founded WAR is to get away from all the politics that haveflooded the martial arts world. I wanted to associate with true warriors anddo so without the B.S. that is so prevalent in martial arts. I wanted tocelebrate our differences without contention and I wanted to learn fromeveryone. I wanted to have a open space for honest discovery. This is why Ifounded WAR. No politics, no grudges, no arguing just training andsupporting every member.How can people join WAR?First off they should contact me through RavenSelfDefense.com and start aconversation with me. I would want to see who the person is and if they area good fit for WAR. We don’t just take anyone as it is not a money makingagency. We do this for the love of the arts not for the money. That being saidwe are looking for like minded individuals who want to be apart of ourgroup.Once I get to know you and I feel you will be a good fit Ill call thegroup together and we all meet you and then put it to a vote. Like I saidWAR is an elite group and joining take more then just sending in cash tojoin.Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.It is my pleasure.

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Kata: Bunkai verses Oyoby Soke Kenneth Winthrope10th Dan Mi Yama Ryu Kempo JuJutsuKata is found in almost all martialarts, it consists of aconglomeration oftechniques found within thatsystem of a martial art. Its mainpurpose is to give thepractitioner a way to practice andperfect their technique withouthaving a trainingpartner. Bunkai is the analysis ofthe techniques, Oyo is theapplication of selfdefense found within thetechniques.When one looks at the variousmartial arts for example, ShorinRyu, Shotokan,Goju Ryu, Shito Ryu, Wado Ryu,Judo, JuJutsu, Kempo, Kendo etc.you will seethey all have various katas.When you study any martial art that has Kata or forms, you will be wellserved to understand the context of the movements found within the kata.Our focus here is to teach the applications useful for self defense. The katawas created for this purpose. Many of the above styles have many katas, as the student progresses theknowledge that is gained is what progresses them to higher rank levels. Ilike to use the concept that Master Choki Motobu of Okawanian Kempofame utilized. He taught one kata Naihanchi Shodan, he taught it with all thepractical self defense applications it presented. It took years before thekempo student could understand its true meaning. In Mi Yama Ryu Kempo JuJutsu we also teach katas. As time goes on andyou develop your skills you will see the many Oyo within the katas. Therewill be a time when you will have to demonstrate your own Oyo for thekatas. This may require years of training until you see the “light”

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Kata: Hidden techniques are there any?by Soke Kenneth Winthrope10th Dan Mi Yama Ryu Kempo JuJutsu1) will be done under the eyes of the Shihan.2) Some styles will only certain Bunkai after the student reaches the BlackBelt level. This BunkaiWell that is an interesting question that I will put torest right now. Hidden or secret techniques within katas, now that dependson what you mean by hidden techniques*. What may be hidden is thatwhich you do not see, some are openly taught in your style, some are not.There are various reasons for that to occur, let's look at some.3) Some styles only teach some Bunkai and leave out others, that does notmean they are not there, they just were not taught.4) Some styles teach certain Bunkai at various levels of training. The Shihanmay feel that if you are not ready to learn those techniques, he or she willdecide what and when they will teach a technique.5) Some styles will include other movements between kata sections.6) Some styles will teach the most basic Bunkai and encourage the studentto discover their own OYO, this Has nothing to do with kata, but these aretraining tools and the movements are mnemonic points to remember theactual technique.7) You can define a technique within a kata and seek the skill to findadditional applications to make them work.So to answer the question”Are there hidden techniques”? I will leave that upto you as to what you define as a hidden or secret to mean.*In GM Ed Parkers book “ Secrets of Chinese Karate”Page 172 this paragraph says it all.“There are many reasons for this: one, of course is not to reveal anytechnique that may be unknown to those of other systems; another is towithhold information from a student until his true character is known sothat the deadlier aspects of the particular system practiced will not fall intothe wrong hands. Often the master will never reveal all he knows, so as notto be defeated by a disloyal student. Therefore on the surface it is verydeceptive, but in the hands of an experienced man, hidden with in therelativelyharmless motions are, blinding techniques, emasculation techniques,crippling techniques and even killing techniques.

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BAJUTSUM U S A S H I S H I B A T ABajutsu, loosely the riding skills ofJapanese Samurai stretching backto ancient times. Bajobugei is translated as martial arts onhorseback. bajo (ba ) horse (jo: ) ontop/above bugei martial art, militaryarts, or arts of war. (Bu ) meanswarrior or military. (Gei ) meansart, craft or technique. Not a lot isknown about the mounted martialarts, but these secrets can befound amongst the shugendo wayof thinking, and amongst manysamurai military documents.Although its origin is closelyconnected with the horse archersyabusame, bajutsu is a separatemartial art, and there are anumber of traditional schools suchas the Ogasawara, Ootsubo, andShimoda.By Nikki WulfeSoke of Musashi Shibata Ryu Heiho Shiroh-Ha Bajutsu oyobi Hoyojutsu

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However, the comparative scarcity of horses in Japan meant that bajutsu wasalways an elite art, limited access to high-ranking samurai. Despite this, manymodern historians ignore the number of farm horses that were ridden and used fordaily tasks, farmers and merchants also carried short swords (wakazashi) to protectthemselves.The comparative peace of the Tokugawa era from 1600 years has led to a reductionin military practice. Bajutsu became reduced to a more ceremonial role. By thebeginning of the 20th century the Japanese Federation of Bajutsu was founded inTokyo.Japanese horses have played an important role in the country's history and culture,especially during war. The book "Budogeijutsu Hiden Zue Shohen" () by Masatomi Omori and Utagawa Kuniyoshi from 1855 provides valuableinformation about the significance of these horses in battle.One of the key principles of this work is that the horse and rider must work inharmony to be effective in battle. The book outlines various techniques andstrategies for training horses, including how to make them respond to the rider'scommands quickly and accurately. This was particularly important in situationswhere the warrior needed to make sudden changes in direction, speed, or evendismount.One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the illustrations by UtagawaKuniyoshi, which showcase the beauty and grace of the horses in battle. Theseillustrations are not only visually stunning but also provide a glimpse into thetechniques and tactics used by warriors on horseback.

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The Takeda clan was a powerful military family during the Warring States period infeudal Japan. They were known for their mastery of the art of horsemanship,including the technique of Kuragatami. It was a crucial component of Takeda clan'smartial prowess, allowing them to move quickly and efficiently in battle.One of the key principles of Takeda clan's Kuragatami was that the horse and ridermust be able to trust and rely on each other. This was achieved through intensivetraining and a close bond between horse and rider. The Takeda clan was known fortheir ability to ride their horses at incredible speeds, making them difficult targets fortheir enemies.In addition to mounted archery, the Takeda clan also used Kuragatami in other formsof combat, such as hand-to-hand fighting and spear fighting. The technique was sointegral to their military tactics that it became a symbol of the Takeda clan's martialprowess.In Musashi Shibata style of horsemanship, we try to reach an advanced state of thisconnection. We become the centre point, we become still, we observe and breath asthe horse breathes.As we become in synch with the horses rhythm and vibration.This is a sincerity of feel with the horse, and connection to all things. This is zen, this isku, connection of horse and rider.Also teaching the horse to strike on command and use its body to protect its handlermakes for formidable battle companion.

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A lot of people say only samurai rode horses, only samurai carried swords. This isnot true. Many well trained horses can be found amongst the farming community.Farm horses were gentle and obedient, and could engage in a range of tasks,which require stealth and quiet.Skilled shinobi would be able to mimic a travelling farmer and a common disguisewas as a horse trainer or horse merchant. Such a clever animal could not besnorting and ready for battle but instead be quiet and also in disguise.More example of non Samurai Horses, are the 1739 to 1820 many woodblock printsand other research showing 17th century stunt riders performing in the Osakucircus.In wartime these same hidden Shinobi Horseman could actively participate asscouts. The Hojo Godaiki describes scouts being used in campaign of 1575.The ancient techniques of mounted scouting has not changed much forintelligence gathering but has adapted into modern warfare.Having served as a trainer for mounted rangers in the military, obedience andtraining remain key, weapons and armour have changed, however long distancesand stealth for intelligence gathering and the key skills have not changed in theneutralizing of targets.As a modern day equestrian riot police trainer again the core skills remain thesame.

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TakagariAncient Falconry, Intelligence gathering and its modern equivalentBy Marco WulfeHanshi in Musashi Shibata Ryu Heiho Ahiroh Bajutsuoyobi HoyojutsuIn Japan, records indicate that falconry from Continental Asia began in thefourth century. From the outset, the central Court and local lords bothenjoyed hawking In the 13th century, hawking became popular among the rising samurai class as well as among court nobles (kuge). At that time,the practice of hawking was a means of resolving struggles over landownership among lords Tokugawa Ieyasu enjoyed falconry very much himself, and used it as a symbol of his authority, and of his plans for thecountry, transforming the violence of his conquest into a peacetime systemof laws.

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In the age of warring states 1467-1603 theruling daimyo used intelligence gatheringoperatives, now known as Ninja or Shinobi.Takeda Shingenwas known to takeorphaned boysand abandonedgirls to his nephewto be trained to infiltrate, gatherinformation andspread falseinformationuesugi kenshin was known for training operatives that would climb and hide under the eaves of castles to monitor the daily activities within.Oda nobunaga however spent a large amount ofgold hiring people from families of Takasho orfalconers for intelligence gathering.During war time a falconer was able tointercept carrier pigeons to deny the enemythe ability to communicate, advanced trainedfalconers were able to train their birds to strikebut not kill the pigeons, so that not only couldthe message be intercepted, but it could alsoeasily be edited and the bird allowed tocomplete its flight sharing incorrectinformation

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Outside of Battle it was quitecommon to see falconerswondering the country side,hunting for their hawks. his gavethem the unique ability to easily move between domains, able totalk freely with locals and theirappearance was never trulyquestioned. The mere presence of ahawk on the arm or shoulder was enough to give them free passageallowing almost unrestricted accessto information gatheringIn the modern day information has become the most dangerous of weapons. Its trade gathering and usage has become one of the mostvaluable commodities. The most common usage is called social engineering. the ability to move within town squares and listen as well as spreadinformation has been made all the more easier with social media such astwitter, facebook and instagram.

Warrior Arts Revolution April 2023

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