Here is a list of some of the themes that we may be
training, discussing and exploring -

The Physical-Moral Lifestyle

Injury Prevention (Ukemi)

Economy of Energy

NOT needing to use Strength or Speed

Storing and Releasing Natural Energy

Looking past Styles and Looking FOR Universal Principles

The Body’s Weapons

Foundation Movements and Techniques (Kihon)

Distancing Angling, Timing and Space

Illusionary Movement (Kyojitsu)

De-Escalating Violence (instead of Escalating it)

Invisible Striking

Maintaining and Disrupting Balance (Kamae)

Dr. Humphrey’s Natural Law Based Life/Living Value Theories

Technique Variations (Henka)

Defending Others (including the attacker)

Immobilizations

Training with Insight

Overcoming Conflict Stress and Increasing Awareness (STRIKE)

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The Tokyo Budokan (Martial Arts Training Hall) in Ayase, Japan
where we train twice a week with Hatsumi Sensei when we visit every year.

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And, Weapons Training

Spear-Lance (Yari)

Halberd (Naginata)

6 and 3ft. Staves (Bo and Hanbo)

Knives

Flexibles (Ropes, Cords and Chains)

Throwing Blades (Shuriken)

Long and Short Swords

And, More.

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Teaching the Lance/Spear at Tom Brown's Tracker School
in the Pine Barrens Camp in Ocean County, NJ.

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DEFINING WARRIORSHIP

I have always had a harder time describing Warriorship to non-martial artists. The same thing happens when I say I worked for a survival school (which I no longer say, I say I worked for a native skills school.) I sometimes forget I have a slightly different take on the definition of Warriorship. To myself, I feel that Warriorship is a higher calling beyond that of mere fighting alone.

Lately, one of the things on my mind has been the thought that although martial arts themselves may be able to stand alone and on their own and for their own sake (obviously, because the Ultimate Fighting Championships, Pryde Fighting, Boxing, and other sport martial arts do exist without question,) Warriorship, (which may or may not contain the skills of martial arts) may not just be able to exist on its own without the vital element of the Life/Living Value Theories

DR. ROBERT L. HUMPHREY'S
www.LifeValues.com

researched by Dr. Robert L. Humphrey. Warriorship may not merely be fighting, it may also not merely be about being tougher, stronger, faster but may be instead about protecting and defending life...maybe all life...maybe even the enemy’s. I feel Warriorship may represent one of the four Life Balancing roles that exemplify the greatness of human existence.

I once heard a saying from a friend that goes -

"Religion is for those who are afraid of going to Hell.

Spirituality is for those who have already been there."

I feel this saying may sum up a lot about the importance of life experience and how our perspectives change, grow and evolve along with all of those uncomfortable times if we are strong enough to endure those hardships. On such a foundation may have been the birth of the Bujinkan a millennium ago. Tom Brown, Jr. of the Tracker School was also fond of saying that Ninjutsu (the Bujinkan) is the closest he’s seen to the Apache Scout lifestyle. Both having been born from enduring the greatest of all hardships, the losses of the lives of loved ones. Are there any greater lessons in the human condition?

In conclusion, at Jack Hoban’s Year In Review Seminar in November of 2002, Jack had quickly mentioned a fascinating metaphor for Warriorship that I would like to paraphrase and share with you.

"What is the source of the characteristics that are facts of our human existence? Like Motherhood? Where does that essential human characteristic that nurtures children come from? Who knows? But it seems to be a fundamental of the human condition. And, if we should find a mother that doesn’t have that characteristic, it seems twice as bad. To kill a child is horrible, but what if it’s a mother that kills a child? Something about that is much worse; our feeling about it is much worse because the human race relies on certain human characteristics for its existence. Motherhood is one of them.

I believe that WARRIORSHIP is another. Warriorship: the art of protecting and defending life. Where does it come from? Who knows? But it’s required. There are always these times in human events when Warriors are needed. For example I always say there’s 10 different kinds of people. When there is trouble, gunfire or whatever, one person runs away, eight people stand around in shock, and one knucklehead runs straight for it. Can’t help himself! Is this a good thing?! Not for him! But, God bless him. Thank God there is one. But why does he do it? Because he has to, that’s why.

Some people just have that Warrior characteristic. And let me tell you, it’s not that great of a thing. As we all train here, on our weekend off, “normal people” right now are home watching football. Why are we here? From New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina? Why? What’s wrong with us?

When you talk to people who want to do martial arts, they usually say its because it’s going to make them tough or strong or they want to get over some kind of weakness or they want to be powerful or something like that.…

That is not the purpose of the martial arts. The purpose of the martial arts, in my opinion, is to gain the skills necessary to complement your warrior characteristics.

I say, if you’re unlucky enough to be the person, that when gunfire erupts and you can’t help yourself, but you run toward it, then you might as well learn some martial arts (Laughter), you know, just for your own good!"

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Hatsumi Sensei says "Hello!" to my wife and I
at a gathering at the Hombu Dojo.

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Some of my goals with our training, education and practice are to challenge, inspire and have fun.

If it sounds like Warriorship is a calling that you may feel too then I am more than happy to share what I know with you. Hope to see you there. As Hatsumi Sensei would say, "Keep Going!"

MAY EVERYONE AROUND YOU FEEL AND BE SAFER
BECAUSE YOU ARE THERE.

Joe Lau, RN