James Williams Sensei of Nami-ryu Aiki Heiho demonstrates opponent unbalancing exercises using high-level edged weapons engagement principles.
A great deal of classical Samurai military art is very subtle and hidden. It is designed to be so. There are no big flashy movements. Deception is fundamental and this starts with movement.
Learning to move in a “classical” manner requires a lot of work and reprogramming. No pushing, or “kicking the floor” as Kuroda Sensei would say, when you move either starting or stopping.
Energy flow (ki no nagare), emptiness (mushin), floating body (ukimi), and reflectiveness (mizu no kokoro) are skills for martial potency as well as daily life.
Kenjutsu is the foundation of everything, including jujutsu/aikijujutsu, tantojutsu, etc. The time spent learning these fundamentals is critical to attaining a high level of skill and ability that can then be drawn into effect during a critical combative engagement. This programming displaces prior fear-based fight/flight/freeze impulses.
Aggression is rooted in fear. Like every other mental or spiritual affliction, it has serious drawbacks for the free expression of initiative and leadership in the face of lethal force encounters. Training in this way creates a fundamental shift in consciousness that becomes a transferable skill to every other aspect of life. This is how “technique” becomes “strategy” and why our art is not just ‘jutsu' (術) but ‘heiho' (兵法).
Consider how these tools can empower your skillset in modern practical applications, such as pistolcraft, emotional release, or entrepreneurship.
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Kuden: “As we reprogram our movement from the fear-based fight/flight we need a feedback loop that lets us know if we are on the right path or not. Consequence is the gift that lets us know if we are in harmony or not. Posture with no tension, extreme relaxation, pressure on the floor when starting or stopping.”
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