The Basics Before the Basics

By Wade Goodner -- 6th Dan Bujinkan Raiken Dojo Jonesboro, Georgia USA

I apologize that these explanations of such important concepts are brief, but the true understanding of these basics lies in movement so words cannot do them justice. I feel it's best to say too little than too much.

Many people simply think of the basics as the Sanshin no Kata and the Kihon Happo. While these are the basic techniques and kata we study, most miss the key points of these basics: Kamae, Yoko Aruki/correct footwork/distancing, and correct timing. These points I call "the basics before the basics." After seeing many students of this art and their instructors for over a decade and a half I've only started to see students who are really beginning to understand these concepts which make the Kihon Happo special and powerful. I remember a Doron Navon seminar I attended back in the early 90's. After the seminar Doron made the statement that no one knew how to punch. I was appalled to hear such a statement after I had been training in this art for over 6 years. During my latest trip to Japan earlier this year, Nagato-Sensei made the same comment. I asked him if he would elaborate. He said that, first off, everyone's distance is wrong. And, secondly, no one has correctly practiced actual hitting in a real way. Well, needless to say, correct hitting was thrown to the top of my training list when I returned home. After working on correct punching and taijutsu for a few months I began to notice more the importance of the ancient Sanshin no Kata.

The Sanshin no Kata are the ancient forms of the basics. Takamatsu-Sensei created this new collection of basics called the Kihon Happo, which covers all the basics of the martial arts. These ancient basics along with the Kihon Happo helped me to better understand what I was missing in my taijutsu. First of all: Kamae.

Kamae is much more that just a posture or a starting position in the performance of a waza. Physically, when in kamae, you are ready for anything. Your body is lined up in a way so that the least number of kyusho, weak points, are exposed and you have the most number of weapons ready for use between you and the opponent. Even the names of some of the kamae give this impression: Ichimonji (the figure 1, or the first kamae), Juumonji (the figure 10) In Japanese the number 10 gives a sense of completion or "having all the bases covered." There are no openings. Seigan no Kamae (correct eye posture) or having the correct perspective. I think Jack Hoban said it best, "Kamae is like a road map." When you get caught up in the fight and it becomes chaotic and you get lost, get in kamae and suddenly you know which way to go. Your body is lined up for the most powerful attack possible as well as being in the best defensive posture at the same time. I've seen many black belts who perform the Kihon Happo and leave so many suki, openings. All because they don't keep themselves in kamae when they move. I feel that Sensei sees all these openings from kamae (having the correct perspective) and moves in on them safely, powerfully, and correctly. Sensei's video series of the basics is called martial arts of distance. The kamae starts you at the correct distance to your opponent. You will win from here. Unfortunately, this is only the beginning. We have to move from here and change, adapt. Taihenjutsu. This is where footwork takes over and where the majority of us lose.

The basic footwork in the Kihon Happo is yoko aruki (walking sideways). Many simply see this form of walking as a kata or a stealth walking technique when in actuality it is the foundation of correct taijutsu. The densho of Kotoh Ryu Koppojutsu, one of the nine schools in the Bujinkan system shows Left Seigan no Kamae as a variation of Right Seigan no Kamae. The variation is that the rear right leg is forward of the front left foot. This kamae looks and feels awkward and confusing, but once you realize that it is simply a snap-shot of someone walking forward from Seigan no Kamae using yoko aruki suddenly it begins to make sense. I define yoko aruki not as sideways walking but as "kamae in motion." By walking in this way, we keep all the protection and body alignment that kamae gives us throughout every single step of our application of the Kihon Happo. Essentially, it is the legwork that makes the Kihon Happo effective not the motions of the hand or upper body, which is what most people focus on.

Also in Kotoh Ryu Koppojutsu there is the concept of kurai dori (getting the distance). This refers to, in one aspect, understanding the correct distance from which to strike the opponent or receive the opponent's attack. There are two parts to effectively understanding kurai dori. First is knowing the length of the weapon which you are attacking or defending with. This may be your sword, boh, arm or leg. The length of these weapons are already known. Train with each weapon long and hard so as to become very comfortable with the reach of each one. Once you know the reach of each learn to utilize the correct footwork to put each weapon into play in the correct way. Remember to use Seigan no Kamae for correctness, hence the meaning "correct eye."

The final basic I would like to touch on is timing. This is actually one of the hardest and most elusive basic to get an understanding on. There are a few exercises and training drills that help us better get the feeling of correct timing, but true mastery can only come from experience and many many hours of training. Correct timing allows you to strike your opponent at the precise moment he is weakest. This may be when he reaches the full extension of his attack, or when he shifts his weight onto one leg or the other, or the moment he loses confidence in his attack and decides to retreat. In my opinion, the best way to achieve the correct timing is to become one with the attacker and the attack. The first step in doing this is to get in touch with the attacker, literally. This the meaning of uke-ing (receiving) the attack. Sensei stated once that to uke an attack is not to avoid or deflect it but rather to suck it in and stick it to you. You want to become like a black hole. Once your body is in contact with his you can sense his movements, changes, feelings, energies, etc. Sensei then went on further to say that you need to be in touch with him before you touch him -- before he attacks. This, of course, is very advanced but nevertheless a basic on another level of training.

These basics are to be constantly built upon and changed. Once you feel that you fully understand something, vary it. Through the variations you will see a new aspect of the same basic. New doors will open which will lead you down a new training path and eventually lead you back to the basics again with a new perspective and new questions. Then the cycle starts all over again. Just remember to keep the basics in mind whatever aspect you are training on. Without them, your technique is dead. "It's not about winning or losing. It's about living."