Shinmyoken Dojo

Westchester | New York

Email Contact: BujinkanShinmyoken@gmail.com 

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Martial Arts: Always Keep Moving!

At first it had the appearance of being an easy enough exercise.

Stand in the center of the dojo, and a training partner was going to attack with a combination of punches and kicks.

All one had to do was get out of the way of each attack and not be hit.

No counters, locks, strikes, or takedown back- just footwork, kamae, and ukemi to keep you safe.

Practicing for a few minutes getting his vs. not getting hit was pretty good, as only a few blows landed when the distance and timing wasn’t moved properly with.

Valuable insights.

Round two.

This time one was surrounded by a few more training partners, similar punches and kicks, with only the ability to move and avoid getting hit.

One quickly realizes how important footwork and kihon are as strikes come from multiple angles at the same time.

Getting hit more vs. not.

Valuable lessons.

Final level of the drill.

Standing in the center of the dojo, surrounded by training partners.

Again strikes with no counter, only this time one was not allowed to move.

What?

Without moving there is no way to avoid any of the attacks.

The moment before starting the drill, a question:

Understand?

This third part of the drill was an illustrated question.

Just how important moving is regarding self-defense.

Just by moving what opens up, and when one moves with taijutsu and martial arts footwork how much more opens up.

No matter what, always keep moving.

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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.

Shinmyoken Dojo

Westchester | New York

Email Contact: BujinkanShinmyoken@gmail.com