I just discovered Doug Wilson's blog, Henka. It's very good, but first a few words on Doug:
A couple of months ago, I attended a seminar in Sacramento led by Doug, and it was terrific. Doug balanced talking about the philosophy behind much of this year's theme (kimon and kukitaisho) with the kinetic training aspect very well, and was very helpful in explaining the nuts and bolts of a movement, or in other words, the "why" of "how." Especially impressive was how Doug responded to a question toward the end of the seminar: Doug's reply to the question was "I'm not sure. Let me think about that." And then he thought about it. And then later, after he had worked with the question, he came back with an accurate and thoughtful reply. For the most part, I don't trust teachers that know everything--chances are they are only good actors. As an ex-English teacher, I can honestly say that there were plenty of questions I couldn't answer off the top of my head, questions that I would either have to think a lot about or research.
In any case, Doug's blog, Henka, is direct from Japan--where Doug resides--and is fully Soke-Approved. Doug's writing is very honest, and in his "about" section he mentions that "Some may find the content to be too direct or controversial. It is not meant to be, it is the truth provided in a “zero” way to those people who are interested in hearing it." I suspect the only people to be wary of his writing are those who feel threatened by it. Soke has spoken about the importance of knowing your weaknesses better than your strenngths, and I suspect that some folks take this to only refer to taijutsu. In fact, I believe that he was referring to something of which taijutsu is only part: a person's life. And finally this leads to the idea of humility. How can we honestly face our weaknesses and flaws if we are too proud (and thus threatened) to perceive them? Doug's writing is honest, accurate, and insightful, and I very much recommend his blog to any and all interested in not just Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, but in martial arts in general and those who are more than happy to read about something outside their usual interest-zone in order to learn a little and hunt for new metaphors.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Japan trip, 2007
I try and make it over to Japan annually to visit and train in my martial art as I believe it to be very important to get a “feel’ for what’s being practiced in the Hombu dojo by Soke and the resident Shihan. Not only does one get excellent instruction (available stateside as well), one is able to train from 2 to 6 hours a day if one chooses (a little harder to obtain).
This year’s theme, Kukishinden Ryu, was in full effect in the dojos, and feeling how different instructors play with the principles of this ryuha was a great lesson . Each teacher was by different means precise, brutal, graceful, and, most of all, playful. There was a freedom this year that I didn’t catch last year (not saying it wasn’t there, but only that I didn’t catch it). For example, last year I came away with a notebook full of step-by-step techniques, and this year, while I definitely still have some of those, I have many more…beginnings. Entries that read something like: “Uke does a right punch, tori evades with a uke nagashi, uke does a left punch, tori evade with an uke nagashi and begins a mushadori, then do something natural other than the mushadori.”
It was a really incredible time. On my last day there, I saw a friend from Sweden with whom I trained last year, so that was good fortune, and in Someya sensei’s class, I got to try on a full yoroi (Japanese armor). Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera, but hopefully one fellow practitioner who took a picture will email me a copy.
Besides training, I took a couple of days off to see some friends in Tokyo, and we climbed Mount Takao, ate at Mishima in Kichijoji, a kick-ass izakaya in Shimokitazawa, went to an antique fair near Omiya, and once, I got lost in Noda, late at night on my bike, I almost got bit by some animal resembling something between a raccoon and a ferret.
I left happy, a little tired, and already looking forward to going back.
This year’s theme, Kukishinden Ryu, was in full effect in the dojos, and feeling how different instructors play with the principles of this ryuha was a great lesson . Each teacher was by different means precise, brutal, graceful, and, most of all, playful. There was a freedom this year that I didn’t catch last year (not saying it wasn’t there, but only that I didn’t catch it). For example, last year I came away with a notebook full of step-by-step techniques, and this year, while I definitely still have some of those, I have many more…beginnings. Entries that read something like: “Uke does a right punch, tori evades with a uke nagashi, uke does a left punch, tori evade with an uke nagashi and begins a mushadori, then do something natural other than the mushadori.”
It was a really incredible time. On my last day there, I saw a friend from Sweden with whom I trained last year, so that was good fortune, and in Someya sensei’s class, I got to try on a full yoroi (Japanese armor). Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera, but hopefully one fellow practitioner who took a picture will email me a copy.
Besides training, I took a couple of days off to see some friends in Tokyo, and we climbed Mount Takao, ate at Mishima in Kichijoji, a kick-ass izakaya in Shimokitazawa, went to an antique fair near Omiya, and once, I got lost in Noda, late at night on my bike, I almost got bit by some animal resembling something between a raccoon and a ferret.
I left happy, a little tired, and already looking forward to going back.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Backroom Live on April 28!
Hey y'all,
I am pleased as punch to announce that I'll be reading on the 28th at one of my favorite bars in its secret back room. Hurray!
Press release is as follows:
Back Room Live ! Every last Saturday ! Of Each Month ! Beginning this Next Last Saturday ! With Trevor Calvert and Beatrix Chan reading poetry, Alicia Bleuer reading prose and Lukas Champagne reading one the other or a bit of both. We'll look forward to seeing you at McNallys Irish Pup This Last Saturday April 28th at 7pm and/or the many more to come!
LIFE LONG PRESS ! OAKLAND ! APRIL 2007
So that's,
Sat. April 28th at 7pm
McNally's Irish Pub
5352 College Ave
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 654-9463
Minutes from the Rockrige BART Station
and on the 51 bus line
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
An explanation of sorts...
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Saturn’s gravity
Open your
mouth so
the spirit
can enter.
Today we
weep our
deluge, our
greeting
To each
celestial
body.
On Saturn
methane rains
upon its turning
gasses. Saturn
is old and cold
and melancholy.
Its rings engulf
us when we sleep.
Gravity keeps
our hands
so this poem
might flee
its terrible
spinning
demiurge.
mouth so
the spirit
can enter.
Today we
weep our
deluge, our
greeting
To each
celestial
body.
On Saturn
methane rains
upon its turning
gasses. Saturn
is old and cold
and melancholy.
Its rings engulf
us when we sleep.
Gravity keeps
our hands
so this poem
might flee
its terrible
spinning
demiurge.
Monday, February 05, 2007
revelation!
Have you ever been given a riddle of some sort, and it proves usolvable, and when you finally discover the answer, you realize the only reason you could not solve it was for its deceptive simplicity? This often occurs with me, and last Saturday, it did so again: I was in my first "Intro to Archives" class and during the introduction we were asked to discuss why we were interested in Library Science and Archives. I didn't give it a lot of thought, as my interest seemed fairly evident: I like books, librarians are often fascinating people, I am a generalist at heart, etc.; however, riding BART back home, just standing there trying to keep my balance without touching what-I-always-consider-gross-hand-rails, my mind had a chance to settle down a bit and offer up what I think may be the real answer: comic books.
Since I was seven, I have collected comic books without pause. I have sorted them, protected them with protective sleeves and back-boards, organized them in long white comic book boxes, and have figured my way through countless cross-overs, alternate universes, identity switcheroos, and the ever-ephermeral creative teams for any given title. I have very much enjoyed the organizational principle so vital to my collecting. It is this very simple, but long-lived, passion that, I think, ultimately fueled the engine carrying me to Library Science.
And, it appears, I am not the only one. Check out BadLibrarianship. Tres fantastique.
Since I was seven, I have collected comic books without pause. I have sorted them, protected them with protective sleeves and back-boards, organized them in long white comic book boxes, and have figured my way through countless cross-overs, alternate universes, identity switcheroos, and the ever-ephermeral creative teams for any given title. I have very much enjoyed the organizational principle so vital to my collecting. It is this very simple, but long-lived, passion that, I think, ultimately fueled the engine carrying me to Library Science.
And, it appears, I am not the only one. Check out BadLibrarianship. Tres fantastique.
Monday, December 04, 2006
re:ignition
Dude! My friend and tattoo artist, Dave Moore of True Love Tattoo told me he was in a band, so of course I went to listen to them, and they are rad! They sound really tight and remind me a little of the good ol' days of Soundgarden. Who knew Dave, who is a really soft-spoken guy, had such a set of pipes on him?!
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