Newsletter
"The Source"
BUSHINDO
International Martial Arts™
"THE WAY TO ULTIMATE
TRUTH FOR THE WARRIOR WITH HEART"
by Shihan Richard J. Van Donk
We ask for your comments, support, and personal commitments
to making our training the very best anywhere in the world.
Martial
arts offers many things besides self defense techniques.
Very few people in society as a whole are looked up to
with respect anymore. Who is going to bring our society
back to a state of freedom, to remind people of the ideal
of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that our
forefathers fought so hard for? The Police? The Government?
Lawyers? Doctors? Scientists? A person who has received
a true certified Blackbelt in a martial art is still looked
up to in society as someone who has discipline, commitment,
and inner strength. They have proven their character and
are respected as a person who could be counted on if help
is needed. A blackbelt is held in awe for many things
other than being able to beat someone up.
I believe that all human beings have an innate desire
for freedom, contentment and a fulfilled heart. Teaching
our students to live a full life while being free mentally,
physically, and spiritually is our goal as instructors
of the American Bujinkan Dojos. I want my students and
friends, such as yourself, to never have to be in fear
- whether you find yourself faced with a challenging physical
encounter, on a stage giving a speech, or just plain looking
into the mirror of life, we want you to be prepared.
To
accomplish this we as instructors must provide and encourage
the proper education to help you to make this happen for
yourself and to implement it in our daily training. I
teach a science called Life Enhancement Technologies™
as a division of Uni-Dynamics Transformational Seminars
™ for my living, and I have created a system bridging
the martial arts (mainly the BudoTaijutsu / Ninjutsu of
Soke Hatsumi, combined with a little of the Decuerdas
Eskrima I inherited, some groundfighting, and Enshin Ryu
Iaido/Battojutsu of Soke Machida), with the Life Enhancement
Technologies. I have simplified these teachings into an
easy to learn and teach system: Bushindo International
Martial Arts™.
Through an International Board of Directors BIMA will
oversee the martial ranking of our Bujinkan Ninjutsu,
especially the Dan rankings of Budo Taijutsu (which all
come from Japan). For those who are interested we will
also offer a very nice certificate from BIMA. (For Ninjutsu
ranking this will only be in addition to, not in place
of, Soke Hatsumi's certificate)
Some of you know all too well that the Bujinkan as a whole
has a problem in relationship to its obscure ranking system.
Soke Hatsumi has left it up to each Shidoshi (5th Dan
and above) to set their own curriculum of study and standards
for grading of Budo Taijutsu. In the beginning all students
below 5th dan were under the guidance of a Shidoshi. This
has now seemed to have changed somewhat due to no organization
in the International Bujinkan. Although we (BIMA board
members) respect Soke and his decisions, we do not agree
that this has been in the best interest for the Bujinkan,
ourselves, or our students. A 6th kyu student who goes
to Japan for two weeks and comes home a Sandan (3rd Degree
Blackbelt) with a junior teaching liscense has hurt themselves
and the Bujinkan. These actions and ones like them have
created much confusion and misunderstanding among members
of the Bujinkan as well as other, more structured, martial
arts. Foundations are very important in taijutsu, your
checkbook, your relationships and especially in your life.
You deserve a great foundation that you can count on years
down the line (especially when Soke is no longer here
to teach). We will continue to set the standard to help
keep these traditions alive.
When
properly structured a ranking system is a great measurement
of ones accomplishments for hard work, determination and
discipline. When combined with a detailed study plan, ranks
help a person grow in ability, confidence, and knowledge
that will help them for the rest of their life. Without
such a complete system it is like a ship with no rudder,
or a car that only turns to the left. There is an ancient
proverb that says "If you don't change where you are
going you will end up where you are headed". Where
are we headed?
Developing the individual person, protecting others, standing
up for our freedoms, and building a great community of friends
helping each other to live more fully (as long as it is
not harming others in the process) is what we are about.
We will be growing and evolving as we go along. Bushindo™
is a master plan for martial artists and will contribute
to martial artists and non-martial artists around the world.
We can do this because it will be a team effort. We will
not change the martial arts we have been studying, we will
expand and add to them in new ways. You're going to be excited
about the changes!
We are committed to giving each person studying with us
the best knowledge, tools, teaching, and support you need
to become the best martial artist you can be. We look forward
to you joining our Masters Council someday, bringing to
it your new ideas and innovations. A teacher's goal should
be to help make his students even better than himself if
possible. I now have students that are 7- 10th dan. I am
happy and proud for them and their accomplishments.
Jan 1997 Shihan Richard Van Donk
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