Shinmyoken Dojo: Martial Arts: Why We Train Outside

Friday, February 17, 2023

Martial Arts: Why We Train Outside

There is nothing like practicing the martial arts outside during the spring and summer months.

Sunlight, fresh air, and lots of space to practice and move around. In the fall, the beauty of falling leaves…

…in the middle of a New York winter?

Just what are we doing out here?

Regarding martial arts practice, there are always to side to be looking out for of considering- in the Japanese martial arts, this is the ura and omote.

The visible of the martial arts is easy to see, and this is what most people think of regarding martial arts- postures, strikes, locks, throws, and immobilizations.

Martial arts techniques, stuff that looks like martial arts.

Yet, there is an invisible side, martial concepts such as warrior heart, mindfulness, martial awareness, and an immovable spirit are also vital.

These are a bit harder to *see* and can only really be experienced. When the two come together, joined by the practitioner, that is the *martial arts*.

Training outside is part of this process.

To work on cultivating the warrior heart, and the immovable spirit- mushashin and fudoshin, by practicing out in the elements.

Yet, also being aware of the changing seasons- martial awareness. That point in the summer, when fall is still a few weeks away, but the first leaf has fallen.

Being able to notice these small details.

Those are some of the reasons why we practice outside.

The aim of the Shinmyoken dojo (school of the life giving sword) is to understand nature and the movement of being zero through taijutsu. The school exists to create and transmit this through the experience of isshi soden.

Located in Westchester New York, the Shinmyoken dojo is a martial arts training group founded in 2005 with the aim of coming together as martial arts friends to study the Japanese martial arts of Masaaki Hatsumi through the lessons of the Bujinkan dojo.

As friends (buyu) we come together to grow, learn, and share our individual potential in this wonderful martial art. In our group there is no beginner or advanced classes, as we all have the capacity to learn the martial arts in great stride.

No previous martial arts experience is needed, new members, and out of town or traveling Bujinkan buyu are always welcome.

The focus of the group is to make progress each week in learning the martial arts, developing skill, self-defense ability, and an understanding of how and why people move.

Training is supervised by Fred Feddeck who has been studying the Bujinkan dojo martial arts since 1993.

In 2003 he was honored to take the godan shinsha with the training group later forming as a vehicle to study what he has been taught and experienced in the Bujinkan dojo martial arts.

Joe Maurantonio, dai-shihan, is and continues to be his teacher and mentor.

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Training in budo taijutsu through our dojo is offered in three class formats.

The first is our weekly Saturday morning classes from 9-11 AM at a local park in Yonkers which is accessible by car, bus, and Metro North train.

Second is our regular weekly zoom class as a way to build on the physical practice-paired movements explored in our Saturday classes.

Third is our monthly discussion class exploring martial arts philosophy, history, tactics, and kuden.

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Membership in the dojo is open to those eighteen years of age or older and who can abide by the rules of the Bujinkan.

Those interested in joining the dojo will be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire as an introduction and meet with the head instructor before an invitation to watch a class will be extended, general martial arts questions and other training inquiries are also welcome.

Questions, comments, feedback, and inquiries may be emailed here: BujinkanShinmyoken@gmail.com.