An international seminar of Biken jutsu – the secret technics of the sword has been held in the organisation of Bujinkan Seishin Dojo Zagreb. Seminar was held by Dean Rostohar Shihan, Kagyo Happo Biken and Shibu Cho Bujinkan Croatia on the 20/21.11.2004. in the training hall OŠ"S. S. Kranjčević".
Dean Rostohar Shihan is training and perfecting the use of japanese sword for 25 years, studying and training many styles and ways. Ninja Ken or Ninja-To, or Katana is the basic weapon of Ninja warriors, and requires proper training and complete understanding of this weapon, so that we would become one with our weapon, in this case a sword (Ken Tai Ichi Yo). By travelling and training, and holding many seminars and trainings, Shihan Rostohar saw that many Bujinkan practitioners don't understand the proper use and principles of this weapon, so he decided to teach Ken jutsu no Kiso (basics), Kotsu (principles) and Shiki (awareness), with a special emphasis on the proper way how to cut with a sword (Kiri no kata).
Through this seminar, the technics and principles from basic, to also the advanced technics that every practitioner of Ken jutsu has to know in order to overcome this art, have been taught. The first day of the seminar was based on introduction to the basics. Ethics (Reigi), the kinds of swords and their parts, the relationship toward this weapon, dealing with the sword, traditional greetings (Rei Ho), the ways how to carry a sword (Tai To), the proper grip of the sword (Te no uchi), stances (Kamae), taking the proper distance (Maai), unlocking the sword (Koi kuchi kiri), the proper cuttings (Kiri kata), the proper stabbings with the sword (Tsuki kiri kata), the directions of cutting (Happo Kiri), shaking of the sword (Chiburi no kata), returning the sword back to the scabbard (Notto), and principles (Ken no kotsu) have been taught.
A demostration of Tameshi Kiri (cutting with the sword) was also shown, where many could see and try how important it is to know how to use the sword properly, in order to cut properly with it, because every wrong and imperfect movement leads to wrong cutting what is manifested as an incorrect cut on the surface that is being cut. The proper cut has to be completely strait and in harmony with the proper direction and angle of the cutting and the blade (Hasuji). Shihan Rostohar has highly emphasized a great concetration (Shuchu) to every performed movement with the sword, to the feeling (Kimochi), and to the proper inner stance with the use of the sword (Kokoro no kamae).
The second day of the seminar was dedicated to the practical part of everything that has been done on the first day. The seminar participants have trained various cuttings from different stances (Ken kamae kiri no kata), the fast drawing of the sword from the scabbard (Saya) and a simultaneous cutting with the sword (Batto jutsu) and cutting with one motion (Itto Kiri). At the end of the seminar the participants have trained some of the technics with the sword (Shinken Gata), where Shihan Rostohar and Shidoshi Gašparović showed combat technics with live blades.
This seminar was very important and educational for all who wanted to learn the proper way of using the sword, regardless to the knowledge and experiance. Seminar participants declared that the seminar was very instructive, and that they will look to the trainings of using the sword differently. More then 50 participants from 4 countries participated the seminar.
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