Last Saturday I traveled to Elverta to train with Paul Masse at the Bujinkan Life Dojo run by Dan Ordoins. Paul's taijutsu was graceful, light, painful at times, and always effective. Some of the ideas he shared with us included the idea of jutta hampa, or only doing a technique half-way and then changing and the idea of yo yuu, or abundance in our taijutsu. These two concepts dovetail nicely, as by moving freely, letting things go as you move, and increasing potential you create an abundance not only in your movement but in the "dance" of uke and tori. He also spoke on something that Soke has taught: that techniques should be learned and then abandoned, as holding on to a technique in midst of conflict will likely get you injured or killed. This is something that Dale Seago has said in class many times and has been reiterated by many martial artists and soldiers and warriors throughout history. I think it was Yagyu Munenori who wrote that if you are thinking about one place on your body, then that is where your mind has stopped and thus you have no capacity to have mushin, or no mind. Instead, you must simply flow, moving in a natural way. This way, your opponent will not know where you are moving, as you will not "know" where you are moving, and you can begin to play with the space and your opponent's perceptions.
Paul also shared some of his paintings, ceramic work, and did some calligraphy for us. It was excellent to see the different aspects of Paul's art in this way. Maybe this is another aspect of one's utsuwa, capacity, on which Soke has been speaking. Watching Paul paint reminded me a little of how one should enter conflict: decisively and without hesitation and stuttered movement; instead, like painting, you move through the space gracefully, without stopping until...well, until you are done.
