Today I got an e-mail from Mr Tom Lang, who is the author of The Stick And Cane In Close Combat: Jointlocks, Takedowns and Surprise Attacks, that really made my day. I see that his own book got really nice reviews on Amazon. I guess I did something right for once . Here is what he wrote…

Mats: I recently acquired your DVD on the hanbo. It is by far the best available. I have made a special study of hanbo and cane techniques for the past 10 years and have collected more than 150 books and DVDs on these techniques, so I believe I can make that statement with confidence. Congratulations!

Tom Lang
Author of The Stick and Cane in Close Combat (Unique Publications)

The Stick Fighting DVD can be found here, it is also available as and iPod version for download here.

Happy training!

TACHI KUMIUCHI – SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION for only 549.00 SEK
3-Set DVD + Bonus CD only valid until the end of April!

We had Duncan Stewart here in Stockholm for a seminar in the beginning of April this year. We filmed all the trainings and will release them on three separate DVDs, each one is 2 hours long, total of 6 hours of very good stuff. They will be available for order separately at BUDOSHOP.SE from May 1′st. But we are offering a special offer for a limited edition only available for a very short time, please read below!

The price is 549.00 SEK (it is around 56.00 EUR or 75.00 USD), this will save you 168.00 SEK. We will even throw in 30 min extra material that we couldn’t squeeze in. This bonus CD will not be available again, only the DVD’s will be sold separately for 239.00 SEK each from May 1′st.

You can order this now, but it will be shipped in the end of April, if you order more from the shop we might wait and ship everything at once. All our videos is NTSC and region free! We have a flat shipping rate to the whole world for only 49.00 SEK (free shipping with in Sweden). For those of you who pre-ordered and already paid this at the seminar will get the limited edition set.

Click here to buy it from BUDOSHOP.SE (Note we only accept SEK via PayPal!)

Here is some information about each DVD…

the first DVD theme is Kihon Happo. This DVD is from the extra training on Friday. Duncan taught Kihon Happo and basics, but also more advanced, unarmed or weapons, and Tachi Kumiuchi.

the second and third DVDs theme is Tachi Kumiuchi and the concept of Rokkon Shoujou, the theme of this year. Taijutsu, unarmed fighting against one or multiple attackers, with or without weapons, mainly the Tachi sword.

the bonus cd is from the end of Sunday training. We couldn’t omit anything from what we filmed in the editing process, and still wanted to give you everything we captured. It will be in the format of H264 movie you can play on your computer or phone.

If you don’t know who Duncan is I advise you to ask anyone who has been to Japan the past several years. He is often used as uke by Hatsumi Soke and the Shihan. There is videos on YouTube you can watch, also read his own blog which is very good and insightful.

In September 2009 Bujinkan Kaigōzan dōjō SSIF in Stockholm, Sweden hosted a seminar with Dean Rostohar, Shihan from Bujinkan Croatia.

First I would like to say thanks to Dean Rostohar for coming to us once again, this was the 4′th time we had him over here. Also special thanks to Davor, Hana and Ivica who travelled by car all the way from Croatia just to come here to train and assist their own teacher! Also big thanks to René coming from the Netherlands and Jukka coming from Finland. Also thanks to Tony for helping with transportation and stuff, and Johan for taking pictures and filming the seminar. Finally also thanks to the participants from Kaigozan Dojo, To Nan dojo, Solstaden Karlstad, Eskilstuna Bujinkan, Örebro Kampsportsförening and Berserk MMA.

This was a very good seminar where Dean taught and showed us many, many good and useful techniques and examples from his personal experience. First I felt quite ashamed that I couldn’t get more people interested enough to show up on the seminar. Then I felt pity for the fools that missed the chance to get really good training, what did you do this weekend that was so important? Seriously, I don’t want to hear all bad excuses, let’s leave it at that I’m sure you can convince me you had good reasons .

As always Dean teach from his big heart, you who have been to his trainings know what I mean. The first day he did techniques based on the first technique Ichimonji from Kihon happo kata. But it was different than what he showed before, more realistic and useful. Although he never said that the basics is bad to know or practice, but the basics is basics to teach students a foundation to build up on. When you know the basics well you combine each basic movement to the situation, and it comes alive. You do what you have to do to benefit from the situation. He showed many different taijutsu techniques this weekend.

In the afternoon training Dean and his students from Croatia showed many interesting techniques and team tactics how to work in a group, everything from quickly climbing up over a wall, or in to a window. How to take out a guard and many other examples how to work as a team.

The second day Davor started by showing and teaching his excellent taihenjutsu skills, he did some of the best taihenjutsu moves I have ever seen. He was rolling smoothly and silently like a cat moves, very nice! Then Dean taught more taijutsu techniques from Kihon-happo. Then later on he showed us how to train up the sensitivity, and then he moved on to some sword techniques. Finally he showed and explained to us how to train while blindfolded.

The KGZ BUDO SHOP have many DVD’s with Dean Rostohar. This seminar DVD will be available for order in October 2009, shortly after there will be three more DVD’s with Dean released at KGZ BUDO SHOP. Here is a direct link to the Shinken Kata videos… https://www.budoshop.se/store/videos/dvd-bujinkan-budo-taijutsu/shinken-kata

Happy training!
Mats Hjelm (seminar organizer, dojo-cho at Kaigozan Dojo)

- Mats seminar pictures

Please feel free to leave comments. It might take a while before the comments is approved because all comments is moderated to stop all spam, and hate comments.

I just uploaded a new video on YouTube, please check it out, give comments and ratings .

This is from the forth coming Ten Chi Jin Ryaku no Maki DVD coming sometime this summer. I’m not sure if exactly this segment will be on the DVD (it is a little too long I think?), I will decide this later when I have all the material filmed and edited.

TCJRNM Sanshin no Kata (warm-up drill)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A63TvGQAYg

/Mats

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
(Happy new year!)

This year is Heisei 21 and 牛年 ushi-doshi, the year of the buffalo, cow or ox in the zodiac calendar and the element of earth. Buddha invited the animals to participate in a race. The prize was a coveted position on the Chinese Zodiac calendar. The first 12 animals to cross the river would appear on the Chinese Zodiac calendar in the order in which they completed the race …. the rat used his brain rather than his brawn. It hitched a ride on what it perceived was the mightiest swimmer. Just before the buffalo reached the shore, the rat jumped off the buffalo’s back and crossed the finish line before the buffalo, putting the rat in first place, and the buffalo the second place, followed by the tiger…

The cow is is also associated with the deity 虛空藏菩薩 Kōkūzō Bosatsu (Ākāśagarbha in Sanskrit). Kokuzo (also written Kokuuzou, Kokuuzoo) symbolizes the “vast and boundless” Buddha wisdom that permeates the universe. Believers pray to Kokuzo to grant them wisdom on their quest toward enlightenment. People also pray to Kokuzo to improve their memory, technical skills, and artistic talents, for Kokuzo is revered not only as the deity of wisdom, but as a protector of craftspeople and artisans.

About this years Bujinkan theme… I don’t know so much other than what has been stated on websites (here, here, here and here), apparently there is no particular theme for techniques concerned (the philosophy you can read on the links above). However I heard there will be more sword as this is a thing we in general need to practice more, sword is also my favourite weapon .

I will be off to Japan tomorrow, and will probably make a few blog posts on my web site… http://kesshi.com about the trainings and stuff.

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Web Site Updates

I’ve been working on a a new seminar list, completely new code. I’d like to call it Bujinkan Seminar List v2.0 beta, check it out (webmasters check the page source).
http://kesshi.com/seminars/bujinkan.php

I also set up two new rss feeds. I’d like to keep updated with everything new so I merged all kinds of blogs and forums I’d like to keep an eye on in one single feed. There is two different ones, first one is in English, the second one is in Swedish.
http://feedproxy.google.com/SuperfeedEN
http://feedproxy.google.com/SuperfeedSE

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Hankyou 2008 – Christmas seminar DVD

Instructors: Paul Waserbrot, Mats Hjelm, Steven Helling, Daniel Bodin, Fredrik Markgren, Arvid Karlsson, Jens Lindstrand, Richard Maier, William Ustav

Theme: Reflections of this years Bujinkan theme, Togakure-ryu ninpo taijutsu

Many instructors from Sweden went to Japan to train with Hatsumi Soke and the Shihan. Many of these instructors came to share their knowledge and feelings from their training trips.

Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden December 2008

Format: DVD/R- which plays on all computers using and ordinary DVDRom. It also plays on most DVD players (check your manual!).

100 Minutes playing time top quality, available in NTSC only.

Language: The instructions is in Swedish!

Click here if you want to buy it!

I will be away for training in Japan and back January 20′th when I will be able to ship all orders right away.

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Upcoming seminars

2009-01-16/2009-01-18 – Helsinki, Finland
Shihan Moti Nativ Seminar, with Shihan Moti Nativ
For more information (price & schedule) please contact nagareru@hotmail.com More info… http://shinden.fi

2009-01-24/2009-01-25 – Stockholm, Sweden
Seminar with Sheila Haddad, with Sheila Haddad & Thomas Franzén
Bujinkan To Nan Dojo invites you to a Sheila Haddad Seminar 2009! Sheila returns once again to give one of her popular seminars with focus on women in Budo. Men are of cource welcome to train as well. Most welcome. More info… http://www.budogruppen.nu/

2009-02-07/2009-02-08 – Stockholm, Sweden
Keiko seminar intro to this years theme, with Mats Hjelm
Introduction to this years theme. Mats is planning his annual January trip this year also. More info… http://www.kaigozan.se/seminars/

2009-03-14/2009-03-15 – Stockholm, Sweden
Keiko seminar with Holger Kunzmann, with Holger Kunzmann, Shihan
Shihan Holger Kunzmann from Germany will be in Japan during February, after this trip he will come here to share what was being taught there. More info… http://kaigozan.se/seminars/

2009-03-20/2009-03-22 – Helsinki, Finland
Shihan Arnaud Couserque seminar, with Shihan Arnaud Couserque
For more information (price & schedule) please contact nagareru@hotmail.com More info… http://shinden.fi

2009-04-18/2009-04-19 – Stockholm, Sweden
Seminar with Pedro Fleitas, with Pedro Fleitas
Bujinkan To Nan Dojo invite you all to a great happening. Pedro Fleitas will be giving a seminar in Stockholm, Sweden. Mostly welcome. More info… http://www.budogruppen.nu/

2009-04-18/2009-04-19 – Szeged, Hungary
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (Chuden kata), with Mats Hjelm
Chuden kata techniques from the schools of Bujinkan. For more info see the web site More info… http://szeged.bujinkan.hu/

2009-05-01/2009-05-03 – Stockholm, Sweden
International Bujinkan TAIKAI 2009 (Kaigousuru), with Many instructors from the whole world
To date the following instructors is coming… Duncan Stewart, Shihan (Japan). Juan Manuel Serrano, Shihan (Spain). Lauri Jokinen, Shihan (Finland). Mariette vd Vliet, Shihan (Holland). Mats Hjelm, Shihan (Sweden). Morten B. Østenstad, Shihan (Norway). See the web site for latest info! More info… http://www.taikai.se