This is a special edition dedicated to the IBDA Central American Tai Kai in Colombia. Many students tell their experiences of the training, views on budo, fun times and some secrets of mine that I was trying to hide. I also wrote an article for you. For the first time the Spanish version and English versions are side by side. Great job was done by a very happy Ricardo…. When you read the Budo Taijutsu Shinken Magazine you will know why.

So go get it now while you are thinking about it by either going to the http://www.ninjutsu.com  home page middle and use the Shinken Magazine download box, or if you are an IBDA member enter the Ninja Vault where you will see the direct link to get this without using the download box. Again, it is our FREE gift to you.

Happy Training,

Richard Van Donk, Shidoshi

Watch a new Ninja Movie by an IBDA Bujinkan student. The reviews have been great.

 One of my students, Rob Baard from Australia, made this action packed 20 minute Ninja movie to share with investors what he can do with full funding.

 There is lots of action and really comes alive deeply at about ½ way. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

Go here to view it:

 Trailer: 2 min http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLHwKkdieig

 20 minute movie download Link: http://hewillrise.com/prelude/

 Rob shot this as a prelude to his upcoming The Ninja movie to show investors and agents what he could do. I say he did an unbelievable job. You will not believe that he did this on a $300 budget!!! Looks like a $70,000 budget at least.

 Rob was here at my dojo for private sessions to work on his fight scenes and wisdom commentaries which you will see a great example of in this Prelude.

The movie itself will have much more wisdom in it to help inspire the young and old.

 I am on board for working on the film with him once it has been fully funded. If you know of anyone please let us know.

 Please find attached the link to the “Prelude To The Ninja” – the 20 minute short film which takes place prior the actual Ninja movie. The story leads right up to the start of the feature film which will done on the level of Dark Night: Batman / Bourne Identity.

 He is fully ready to film after funding occurs-scripts-legal-cast-sales team-distribution-tax incentives- etc.

I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

Lots of never before seen training videos will be posted in the next couple weeks on the blog and at ninjutsucom youtube channel.

 Happy training,

 Richard and Linda Van Donk, Shidoshi

P.S. In a few more days the Sandan course will go up $50 back to the normal price.

 Tel: 707-987-9322

www.Ninjutsu.com

www.BudoTaijutsu.com

I recently just got back from Cartagena, Colombia doing a small Tai Kai for the IBDA group down there. What a wonderful place – the several hundred year old walled city across from the beach was like stepping back in time with the cobblestone streets, horse drawn carriages, window box flowered balconies, center- fountained plazas, old buildings with extra huge doors, outdoor festive restaurants, and music is everywhere. I really loved it.

The Tai Kai training was exciting also as I always love to share with people so hungry to learn. But what was even more exciting for me personally and the host of the event was the honor of being granted special permission from Soke Masaaki Hatsumi to administer the Godan test (also known as the Sakki test or Shidoshi test) on his behalf outside of Japan.

Giving this Godan test in front of Soke in Japan for me has been such a high spiritual experience every time I have been honored to do so. With it comes a high responsibility as well since often the test determines whether a student is eligible to become a fully licensed teacher of the Bujinkan arts, called a Shidoshi.

Shidoshi,a word coined by Soke Hatsumi, has been translated as a teacher of the warrior ways of enlightenment. To me, Ninjutsu (and Budo Taijutsu) is a path of awareness that leads to the perfection of one’s nature and life.

Becoming a teacher of this warrior path is an important step in the evolution of a Budo practitioner’s life. With it comes much responsibility and the unexpected lessons from students become the norm in time. You must be ready for anything, both in yourself and others. This is one of the reasons that I took many months of my life writing the comprehensive Shidoshi Teachers Training Course. One of our main goals at IBDA, besides helping students better their lives through Budo training, is to get them to a teacher level. In the Bujinkan, as of this writing, Godan tests are normally only done in Japan by a Bujinkan Jugodan in front of Soke Hatsumi.

So to be trusted with the opportunity to administer this test outside of Japan was a special experience for me. I thank my teacher, Soke Masaaki Hatsumi for making this opportunity possible so that my student would have the chance to fulfill his dream of being a Shidoshi.

The student taking this test, Ricardo Zapata Luna, was most deserving of this opportunity of becoming a Godan and a  Shidoshi. Ricardo is very dedicated to the budo and his suport of Ninjutsu/ Budo Taijustu and was a Yondan for many years, having students nearing his own grade. He comes from a poor country with limited funds and has a large family to support. In his country - family is everything and is much different than I witness in the United States. We can learn from them.

It would not be possible for Ricardo to go to Japan and progressing in the art was very important to him.  When speaking with Soke Hatsumi about this matter Soke understood his situation and granted me special permission to give this test on my own to Ricardo.

After taking this test myself some 25 years ago I have witnessed this test at least 1,000 times or more and have given it many times myself. I must say that it is still unique each time, and that each person has a special experience or lesson that is just for them.

Because this was an auspicious moment for me, Ricardo, and the honor of  the Bujinkan tradition, we set up a very special experience for this test. We created a special Kamiza table with Soke’s and Takamatsu’s picture on it and lit a big candle and burnt some incense. The test was given with a brand new pure white shinai (that was never used) that I wrapped a special multi-colored purple cloth around it and tied it with a gold cord. Then before the test I did a ceremony before the Kamiza with the Shinai.

We had a great training that day and I really felt that he would pass on the first attempt, but he was thinking way too much. A friend was very nervous for him and he hugged them just before the test. Their concern was still on his mind when he sat down. I felt this change in him right away. Once you have given the test a few times you can usually tell right away if the student will pass or not. As I suspected his nervous energy made him try to roll out when I had a brief thought about cutting down. I let him settle himself and then gave a strong cut that cleared his mind very fast with a loud smack on the top of the head. I must say that while his body did not get out of the way he had started to move naturally out of the way. But the timing was off for him.

Because of the circumstances and the distance I traveled I gave him a 2nd chance. Soke often does this in Japan as well. On this cut he was well out of the way, feeling that he was just moved and he didn’t really know why. Many times this is a sign of a great test. In taking this test you must trust that your teacher and the art will take care of you even if it seems that danger is at your door. While this is not the place to deeply write about the Godan test I would like to say that it is meant to reset ones humanity…. to give a transmission from the teacher to the student in such a way that lightens the student’s life path.

Lesson: Holding onto the thoughts, fears and actions of others can not only destroy you mentally but in a real battle it can kill you. To be a teacher you must learn to clear your mind and trust your inner nature to take care of you in all life situations.

Congratulations go out to Shidoshi Ricardo Zapata, his family and students. Roberto earned his Nidan and Sebastian and Jose earned their Shodans. Way to go guys!!

At the Colombia Tai Kai we studied the Master Principles of Budo Taijutsu, Meditation Skills and Ninpo Life philosophy. Of course we all went out to celebrate and have a party at a Rock-N-Roll bar. They make the world’s largest margaritas…. or did they just look so big after 3 of them? Got to love it!

Learn more in the next issue of Shinken Magazine due out early next month.

Many, Many heartfelt thanks goes to Zaira Zapata for her very hard work in making such a wonderful event happen. THANK YOU ZAIRA!

A great time was had by everyone. I loved my Cartagena visit and look forward to returning one day.

Live on Purpose,

Richard Van Donk, Shidoshi KenTora
www.Ninjutsu.com
www.BudoTaijutsu.com

We followed the format of the very popular Nidan Level Course by filming all the wazas of the school in the IBDA Middletown dojo. Charles Benham from Colorado and Jamie Daiken from Canada came down to help me. For Sandan this was the 3 levels of Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijustu, Ten No Kata (Heaven Forms), Chi No Kata (Earth Forms) and the Shizen Shigoku No Kata (Ultimate Natural Forms) – 62 wazas in all.

Then Linda and I wrote a Comprehensive 356 Page Study Manual of all the aspects of the school and included the IBDA study method of the wazas as the actual Densho from Soke Hatsumi is often vague (on purpose as the way to learn the actual waza is direct from your Sensei). We included the Official Bujinkan waza as well plus the original Japanese translation (done by James Clum).

Then we had Ricardo Zapata extract step-by-step pictures from the actual dvd training of the wazas so you will have a written version, picture version and the video version of studying each waza.

And all of this is put into one very great looking Binder so that you  can take it anywhere to study. How cool is that?

This type of opportunity has never been offered before in the history of the art so I encourage you to take advantage of it.  Learn More here: http://sandancourse.ninjutsu.com/

We have sent the Course off to the production company and the expect it to be to us early in September.

For those that get it before it arrives (it will be shipped the day it comes in) will Save $50 of the original price.

Oh, I forgot this Ninjutsu Sandan level Training Course also has the Kukishinden Bojutsu wazas (sorry no pictures) and Soke Hatsumi’s RokushakuBojutsu dvd. His DVD is awesome so we will honor him here. Look very close in slow motion as he reveals enough secrets it will take you years to come close to what he is doing.

Again, All this is packaged into a beautiful Binder Course. It is never too early to work on your Budo Taijutsu or to have this Complete Course in your study library for instant reference. Never in the history of this ancient school has this much of the school been revealed in one place. Take advantage of this transmission of knowledge available to you while you can. Plus at this time you can also save while doing it.

Save $50!  Pre-Release Special – Only $197- http://sandancourse.ninjutsu.com/

The day it arrives the price goes up to AT LEAST $247- We are thinking that it really should be at least $297. 

Happy training,

Richard and Linda Van Donk, Shidoshi

You asked for it. We delivered it!

Over the last 5 years so many people like yourself have asked us at IBDA to bring the Bujinkan Ninjutsu teachings Online so that you could train in Ninjutsu anytime or anywhere.

Now you can at www.Ninjutsu.com\onlinecourse!

For one low price you can train for THREE YEARS with the ENTIRE Shodan “9th kyu to BlackBelt” training course ONLINE at www.Ninjutsu.com\onlinecourse . In the special members only section there are over 100 videos, the entire 285 manual and 4 audio mp3’s, plus bonuses for ONE LOW PRICE!

Plus you get access to the Ninja Vault and Study Forum where you can connect with other students and ask instructors to help you with your training. An invaluable training tool that is yours as a free bonus.

Get all this for 1 low price.

Want more Online course details? Click here: www.blackbeltcourse.com

We started with Shihan Richard Van Donk’s Ninjutsu Home Study Course because of its 18 year worldwide success (more teachings will follow).

Go to www.blackbeltcourse.com to see what high level blackbelts say about this course and to learn more about it. Study ONLINE with us!!

ATTENTION REGISTERED STUDENTS

If, you are a registered Ninjutsu BlackBelt student who has bought the Entire Shodan course (all courses are registered) from us you can ADD the online study for only $157. Saving over 50% off. This low price is a very limited offer so take advantage of it right away. This offer may come down or change at any time.

Bushindo Martial Arts University

www.Ninjutsu.com

www.BlackBeltCourse.com

As you can see I have just provided the first of many new downloads in the box to the left.

This is my free gift to you. This is a concise download of insights that I have gleamed from over 40 years of training with many great Grandmasters that I have had the good fortune to train with and to have received high master level certification from several of them. From this knowledge I have even brought many students to master level myself. Enjoy this brief report on some master keys to becoming a better martial artist.

I highly suggest that you go get it right away. Most of the free downloads will be in the Ninja Vault that is being transformed in the background to include Online Ninjutsu complete BlackBelt audio, video and manual Teachings. Plus much, much more with several membership levels. More on that in another post.

Here are a few excerpts from the “How to become a Better Martial Artist” – Part 1

Know why you are training-

Know what the training is giving you and never lose sight of it. It is a most valuable asset and other people, not understanding its value, will try to take it from you. And above all else “Know Yourself”.

Martial Arts are a way to perfect yourself -

A master looks for those students who want to study the way (Do in Japanese, Dao/Tao in China) of his art and not just the techniques of the art. He knows that the journey is the destination. The inner lessons perfect the outer lessons and the outer lessons perfect the inner lessons. Strengthen the body and you strengthen the mind. Strengthen the mind and you strengthen the body. It must get right on the inside before it gets right on the outside and true Budo is a way of living.

There are at least one dozen more of these waiting for you…. in Part 1.

Happy training,

Richard Van Donk, Shidoshi

Hi friends and students,

colchicines

I have a moment so I will update you on some lessons from Soke Hatsumi that I got on my last trip there last month while it is still fresh on my mind.

Here is a typed up short audio talk that Linda and I had on the 2009 Bujinkan theme.

Richard-

This year’s Bujinkan theme is no theme but really can mean all themes.
And to better share what that means it is the year of the rope because a rope can take any kind of shape or form and be used in lots of different contexts and it’s a way of connecting things.

So this year’s no theme is really about connecting everything we’ve ever done so far in the Bujinkan and Soke’s teachings all the way til now. His real purpose was just to share Takamatsu Sensei’s art with other people and to the world because he got such a great value from it. And because of that it has all grown. He has never once really thought about growing it, it just is what it is and he just keeps sharing what he loves.

This year is also the Year of the Ox. An ox is really big and strong, it has a lot of strength. And while you want those attributes in yourself as well you’re not going to get that ox to move by getting behind it and trying to push it or pull on it. Maybe try to ride it.

голова болит секс

But the best way to control that ox and its direction is by putting a ring in its nose and tying a rope to that ring. By that you can guide the ox all over. If necessary, if it’s not going where you want you can give it a little tug, but if it’s following along the rope can be very loose. And as long as it’s following along where you want it to go you don’t have to pull it tight or jerk it.

Linda -

He was saying you don’t use force because if you’ve ever worked with an animal that doesn’t want to do something force isn’t going to get you anywhere – if you pull they will pull back. Instead you need to gently lead them. And that’s what we need to be doing in our taijutsu.

голова болит секс

Take whatever falls into our hands and utilize it, no forcing it to be a certain way. And that’s the rope technique, being like a rope, taking whatever falls in to you and capturing it, binding it like a rope.

Richard- голова болит секс

And think of your opponent also as a rope, or the energy or the wave that goes through things as the rope. The rope (containing) as all space. To be able to be form and not form, study the inner, study the outer.

Hope you get some value of this and apply it in your training.

Remember the MAIN CONCEPT is
IT IS ALL CONNECTED!!

See you on the mat,

• download Helter Skelter

голова болит секс

Richard Van Donk

Check out  ShidoshiCourse.Ninjutsu.com

I went to Japan a month ago and we learned so much from Soke so I will attempt a few posts to you to give you some insights on what I we learned.

This year’s Bujinkan theme as you must know by now is no theme. Soke also spoke very much about the power of a rope and how that should be a part of our years theme.  Most people like myself would think of getting out a physical rope to train with. He spoke of it a more interesting way.

He was saying think of it this way. … a rope can take any kind of shape or form and can be used in lots of different contexts and it is generally used in a way of connecting things.

He really shared how everything in training and life is connected. We must look for and better understand those connections.

So this year’s no theme is also really about connecting everything we’ve ever done so far in the Bujinkan and Soke’s teachings all the way until now.

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In my next post I will share with you another cool aspect of this year’s theme. Think on the power of the rope and how everything is connected.

I have got to get back to writing the Shidoshi Course….. to many people are waiting for it.

See you on the mat,
Richard Van Donk, Shidoshi

Ps. For those of you that want to learn about this great Shidoshi Course I am working on check it out here
http://shidoshicourse.ninjutsu.com/

We just had a great IBDA Tai Kai online hytrin held in San Francisco, CA were we studied the Ten, Chi, Jin (Heaven, Earth and Man). I limited this special event to 40 people plus a few instructors to keep it more intimate as I was sharing some very deep and unique concepts of martail arts training, merging the inner arts and the outer arts in a way that I have never taught them publicly – only in private sessions.

I very much appreciate Judan’s Joel Everett and Dan Ordoins for their coming and teaching. Godans Carlito Flores and John Owsiak brought their full armour and did a fantastic 2 hour demo and teaching of the power of kamae and why you had to be more precise in all your actions. It helped everyone learn to be more grounded what a great way to learn Chi (Earth). Most Excellent session. Thank You Carlito and John.

James Clum and Brian Sumpter helped in the understanding of the kanji for each technique during the tai kai so we could train with the concept that name represented in the technique or waza. We all learned a lot from that. Plus they taught many of the Jin wazas on Sunday. Thanks Brian and James.

The Enlightened WarriorTm session called “The Secret Power” I shared Thursday night brought many insights on the inner arts of Ninjutsu and martial arts which included the possible history of these inner arts from India to Tibet to China to Japan. Many people said that the skills that they learned will change their lives – I know that they have changed mine over the years. It was popular enough that we did another session on Saturday night taking the teachings deeper. I really enjoyed sharing my own inner passions.

Although the main theme I presented was “It is all connected” we trained with the additional concepts of the power of the spine, moving from your center, building presence in yourself while maintaining kamae and being unified in all your actions to get extraordinary results in your taijutsu. Of course we had to play with swords as well. 

But the greatest insights were in learning to understand the power that that mind / conscious awareness has in the ability to be effective in both learning and application of a technique. I broke this down quite often and demonstrated how to feel another’s mind thoughts and body energy changes those while doing the techniques. For the upper dan levels I was sharing how to lock or unlock these connections in their opponents body. The higher level of this teaching is to be able to do this in the taijutsu flow of which I personally had the most fun doing.  The idea is to enjoy the process of learning. This is a feeling art, agreed?

Everyone had a great time.

Stay in the flow,

Richard Van Donk, Shidoshi

NEW RANK PROMOTIONS!

“Recently it has been suggested that I hold a teachers license in ‘Amatsu Medicine’ (Menkyo Kaiden) which is NOT correct.

I must bring this to your attention to clarify these issues and properly address this matter as I have great respect for Soke Masaaki Hatsumi and the Amatsu teachings.

It seems that many people are confused about what Amatsu is and who should be teaching it. Let’s start with the Menkyo Kaiden Requirements.

MENKYO KAIDEN REQUIREMENTS

First, you must know that Menkyo Kaiden (master teacher) level can only be given by Soke Hatsumi and up to this moment he has only granted this to 4 people who are doctors by profession. They are Christopher Roworth, Dennis Bartram, Billy Doolan and Peter King –all of whom  are senior Bujinkan judan. Of course I would love to be added to this list and it requires many, many years of study, teaching and practice from one of these 4 gentlemen. After that Soke would require that you be a fully licensed practicing doctor and again to be trained by one of these gentlemen before he will even think of granting this level, if at all. Each of these teachers have different learning requirements and levels to their Amatsu practitioner trainings.

Such as:  

·  Shoden (student practitioner)
·  Chuden (intermediate practitioner)
·  Okuden (advanced practitioner)

·  Menkyo (assistant teacher)

·  Menkyo Kaiden (master teacher) Only Given by Soke Hatsumi.

Personally I have been deeply studying the Amatsu history, medicinal theory, treatment therapies, and herbal remedies mostly with Dr. Chris Roworth who holds a Menkyo Kaiden from Soke Hatsumi. After much study over the years I have received 3 menkyo (license) completion certificates from Dr. Roworth early last year (I still have much to learn as this is really a lifetime of study).

A Menkyo certificate is much different from Menkyo Kaiden, which can only be granted by Soke Hatsumi. I understand that for many people the terms can be confusing. For example, your Kyu or Dan grade is a Menkyo certificate but that does not make you a Judan, unless it says so on the certificate.

AMATSU STUDY

Several years ago at Soke’s house I had the rare privilege of viewing over 50 books on the Amatsu Tatara Hichibuku Goshinjutsu teachings. Soke Hatsumi was gracious enough to let me hold and look through a notebook that Takamatsu Sensei personally wrote on herbs. Holding these teachings in my own hands was like holding a new baby and was truly magical for me and this somehow changed me inside.

I have been studying, practicing and teaching both the physical and inner healing arts for over 30 years in seminars, at the dojo and in private client sessions. I have qualified at various levels in many, many healing modalities. And since that day at Soke’s house I have been consumed with learning and using the Amatsu healing therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine. My  mentor in my Amatsu study is Dr. Chris Roworth (Menkyo Kaiden) who I have known for over 20 years, for many years as a friend and Bujinkan Budo brother.

Over the last few years Chris and I have been working on a self healing practice book and dvd project together that we called, for lack of a better term, Amatsu Self Treatment (working title) because it was based on the Amatsu healing practices that a qualified Amatsu practitioner would do on a patient. However, with our practice you do it on yourself instead of having it done to you. I personally feel that a self treatment, restorative system for the Bujinkan (and others) would be a very valuable asset.

When I went to Japan in the mid 1980’s I would do advanced Junan Taiso with Soke before and sometimes after training. Yet this is no longer done these days. I loved doing it so much, as it kept me healthy, that I made it  the first thing that people learn in 9^th kyu study with me and I put this basic Junan Taiso practice on my first 9^th kyu learning dvd. If you cannot take care of your body then how can you train?

Self Healing – Self Treatment Teaching at the Tai Kai

And now, 20+ years later I am ready to share an advanced method of those teachings with whoever wants to learn them. What Chris and I worked on together is an advanced Junan Taiso practice that includes striking and pressing energy release points, immune system activation, strategic self massage, organ massage and balancing, yogic style stretching, cranial flows and a better understanding of your body as it relates to taijutsu and better living.

To avoid any confusion I have renamed the above described advanced Junan Taiso Self Healing – Self Treatment sessions I will be teaching at my upcoming March Tai Kai it will be called the Bushindo Self-Rejuvenation System. Becuase someone questioned if I was teaching people to do Amatsu on other people at this event I am letting you know that I AM NOT! I am sharing a method of personal rejuvenation and healing that is based on all that I have learned and have now made into a daily self practice that I use personally.

If you would like to know more about Amatsu Medicine or to receive Amatsu treatments please visit www.amatsuryoho.com or contact one of these qualified Amatsu doctors.

I hope that this clears up any confusion.

See you on the mat, avodart

Richard Van Donk, Shidoshi