Author: koryu

Author koryuPosted on October 17, 2011Categories Uncategorized

The seminar titled `The strenght of Yari – tactics and strategy`, which yesterday took place on the hill Orljak, opened new prospects for the students who attended the event.

Namely, while last year they enjoyed exploring the efficiency and power of the spear, this time they were completely convinced of it`s efficiency and supremacy against an opponent armed with a different weapon.

The seminar began with a lecture and a training about the basic techniques of striking and blocking with a katana (sword) and with yari (spear). Then it carried on to a practice of different battle scenarios (katas) which included spear against sword and spear against spear.
At the end, formational combat techniques were practiced, and same as last year, the students of Bujinkan Macedonia enjoyed the variety of tactics and strategy of this way of combat.

Regarding the weather conditions, during the day they were constantly changing from sunny to cloudy and vice versa, but the temperature at some times was extremely low while the north wind was trying to diminish the will of the attendees unsuccesfully. After the end, some of them asked this seminar, next year to be a two-day seminar.

Author koryuPosted on October 6, 2011Categories Uncategorized

After last year`s `The strength of Yari` seminar, this year we decided to have another one with a similar theme. The difference will be in that we won`t be learning any kata this year, but techniques concerning defense from swords, spears as well as formation fighting. Toward that end, we will practice on specially prepared practice dummies, in order to feel the spirit from the past as well as to gain a more realistic picture of spear combat.

`The school of Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu uses the following weapons: Yari (spear), Ono (war axe), O Tsuchi (warhammer), Tachi (sword) and Naginata. The legend says that one night, a demon (Tengu) came to the founder of the art in a dream and taught him the secrets of Yari combat. These techniques are even today considered the biggest secret of the school.`

On the 16th of october, the instructor Igor Dovezenski will hold the 10th outdoor seminar this year.
This outdoor seminars in the Bujinkan Macedonia dojo are it`s trademark and regularly held from the very founding of the Taiyou e no Michi organization.
We believe that training in an urban and closed environment can never get us close to feeling the battle conditions on the battlefields, so we regularly hold outdoor seminars and try to get a glimpse of the spirit of the past.

Any member of the Bujinkan Macedonia / Taiyou e no Michi can take part on this seminar.

Required equipment: bokken and yari

Theme: The strength of Yari

Date: 16.10.2011 (Sunday)

Location: Slepo Kolo

Schedule:

08.00 hours – departure from Skopje

09.00 hours – arrival

10.00 -16.00 hours –
theory and practice

17.00 hours – return to Skopje

Author koryuPosted on September 26, 2011Categories Uncategorized

All of the eleven attendants that were announced to this year`s `Path of Shugenja` seminar succeeded in finishing the 50 kilometer route in twelve and a half hours.

This event began at 08.00 in the morning, when the members of Bujinkan Macedonia headed towards their goal – the location `Kamena Svadba` in the Kuklica village.
As every year, we visited every sacred place on the way, each of them radiating with their energy around, creating a positive effect on us.
Around 15.00, we arrived at our goal, followed by a half-hour rest and continuing back towards our starting point.
Around 20.30 hours, we returned beneath Lipac, from where we started.
During the day, we passed through the villages Beljakovce, Konyuh, Shopsko Rudare, Vak`v, Kuklica and Dimonce, by which we made a big circle around out intended route.
The biggest impression on us made the village Kuklica, which is indeed big with so many sections that are rich in various beautiful landscapes. Some of it`s parts are so mysterious and hidden from civilization, that we were literally able to see places that have been left untouched by human hand for years.
The attendants showed real strength of spirit, even though they were intentionally provoked and tested by the leader of Bujinkan Macedonia, shidoshi Igor Dovezenski.

Once again, it was proven that the Path of Shugenja seminar is one of the hardest, but at the same time most attractive seminars in organization of our dojo.

Author koryuPosted on September 18, 2011Categories Uncategorized

Traditionally, every year on the last week in September, the warriors of Bujinkan Macedonia hold The Path of Shugenja seminar.

This year we chose a route from the summit of the Mountain Lipac to the locality Kamena Svadba located in the village Kuklica (and back).

Shugendo is an ancient japanese method which explores the relations between man and nature. Translated, Shugendo means `The path of training and testing`, in other words it`s an ascetic discipline which aims to achieve self perfection through retreat on mountains, meditation under waterfalls and cold rivers, breathing practices on inaccessible terrain, that leads to achieving astonishing accomplishments through testing one`s body and mental strenghts. Those who practice this method are known by the name Shugenja, and this discipline is studied in Japan even today.

The founder of this teaching is considered to be En no Gyoja, who lived nearby Kyoto in the 7th century A.D. The other name this followers are known is Yamabushi or Mountain Warriors. They crossed the ridgelines on the Japanese islands visiting and protecting the numerous temples. Some scholars believe that this people, united with the deserter Chinese generals after the fall of the Dinasty Tang, are the founders of the art Ninjutsu.

Date: 25th September, 2011 (Sunday)

Location: Lipac – Kuklica – Lipac

Program:
07.00 hours – departure from Skopje
08.00 hours – arrival and the start of march
Returning home – only God knows!

Equipment: Take whatever you like. Everything is on your responsibility and conscience.

P.S. Encounter with wild animals, rain, storm and other unforseen things are not excluded.

* Before you make an entry, please check the information of the previous years on our web-site.

Author koryuPosted on September 12, 2011Categories Uncategorized

This weekend in the capitol of Macedonia, there was a seminar for Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu and Ono ha Itto Ryu Kenjutsu (Takeda Den) teached by the only non-Japanese shihan of these two traditional Japanese schools, Antonino Certa from Italy.

The seminar was organized by the the branch of the European organization Daito Kai in Macedonia, `Koryu Dojo` which together with the dojo `Bujinkan Macedonia` forms the only organization that teaches classical Japanese martial schools in our country – Taiyou e no Michi.

In agreement with sensei Certa, we decided this event to be closed to the public and it can be attended only by members of our organization and the one we plan on doing next year will be open to anyone that wills to learn more of these arts.

Sensei Certa arrived in Macedonia as early as Thursday morning, and immediately began training with his personal student and representative for Macedonia, Igor Dovezenski. The next day, their training sessions continued at the summit of mount Lipac, nearby the place where the Hombu dojo of Taiyou e no Michi is currently built. On Saturday, we began with the official part of the seminar, on which we
 
studied different techniques from  the levels Ikkajo, Nikkajo and Sankkajo from the Hiden Mokuroku, while the afternoon hours were dedicated to suburi, kihon and kata from Ono ha Itto Ryu Kenjutsu.
That same schedule was followed during the Sunday, when the official part of the seminar was over.

During the five days of sensei Certa`s stay in Macedonia, he had the chance to get acquainted to the Macedonian culture and tradition, which we can freely say left him speechless. He also visited a few Macedonian villages and cities, where he enjoyed the traditional Macedonian kitchen, and even more enjoyable were his visits of our beautiful shrines and hole places.

About the quality of sensei Certa`s teachings, there isn`t really anything to say. As usual, at the highest level, supported by his selfless effort to transmit as much as he can from these two traditional Japanese schools.