Studying Japanese Martial Arts in Japan has been met with continuous challenges. Arriving here with many years of experience in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Judo in a certain way has benefitted to off-balance the stress of learning arts like Karate, Kendo, Jujutsu, Aikido, and Iaido. Through a lot of time, sweat, and repetition, there are moments where patterns of insight regarding principles are displayed or executed. An idea from Aikido or a movement in Judo is similar to a Kendo sensei’s lesson plan that sometimes comes across during classes. However, it does not happen often, and practicing just one Martial Arts discipline is a lifetime study. What has assisted my training has been my background knowledge. With it, I have connected basic foundations and concepts in one Martial Art to others while simultaneously seeing the key important details of evaluating effective and efficient techniques. Having reflected here on some of the positives in training—there is a great deal of time spent contemplating how to understand these different Budos, brainstorming strategies, and mentally reviewing sparring sessions on moments of missed timing and late applications. As mentioned, the challenges of studying many Budos.
The other day after a Kendo class, I was walking to my car, and a Japanese man gave me a small walking bow and head nod. It was a nice gesture as I noticed he was looking at me up and down as I carried my water bottle and Kendo equipment with both hands. In addition, my T-shirt was a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Rickson Gracie brand, my shorts were USA Judo, and over my shoulder was all my Kendo equipment as my left hand carried my Kendo shinai and Bokuto (wooden sword). The thought ran through my mind that I was a billboard of different Budos, yet American walking down a Tokyo street. My Aikido teacher, Ichiro Shishiya Sensei, 7th Dan Aikido & 5th Dan Toho Iaido, asked me initially, “Why do you want to practice different Budos because normal Japanese pick just one?” I replied that I wanted to learn as much about Budo as possible while living in Japan. Later in the lesson Shishya not only made my eyes tear (Read Blog: The Master’s Sword And A Second Chance Found In The Spirit Of Budo Made Me Cry On The Tatami For The First Time
http://www.tonypacenski.com/the-master-sword), but he was able to show me the power of the Japanese sword by introducing me to: Setsuninto and Katsuninken (Katsujinken).
Shishiya Sensei has told me there are two swords of Japanese Budo: one that kills (Setsunin-tō) and one that gives life (Katsuninken). His teacher was the famous Shoji Nishio Sensei, 8th dan Aikido & holder of high dan ranks in other Budos. In Nishio Sensei’s expression of Budo, almost everything he has left the Martial Arts community has been principles and applications of Katsuninken. With or without weapons, through Shishiya Sensei, I can experience how to perform techniques under the context of Katsuninken as an option. There is a choice. In an industry where people wish to learn how to fight, get a much secret self-defense knowledge, and deadly combative tactics, all of this relates to the Setsunin-tō. According to research (2020) Katsunin-ken, or the life-giving sword, is Yagyu Shinkage-ryu’s (a Kenjutsu system) most distinctive concept that focuses on using an opponent’s movement to defeat them. Unlike previous methods, this approach emphasizes forcing an opponent to move rather than overpowering them with strength or speed. This concept aligns with the martial art’s core principle of marobashi, which prioritizes adaptability to an opponent’s movements and actions for an advantage. Yagyu Shinkage-ryu is a popular martial art globally and has been refined by the Yagyu family since its creation, influencing other combat systems (Budo: The Art, Culture and Philosophy of the Samurai, 2020).
In Kendo, the study is how to develop oneself through the principles of the sword. With only 30 seconds to explain how my training in Japan has been going or what I learned, I must always express that the idea of the two swords of Japan. Setsuninto and Katsuninken can be interpreted in many ways in the Martial Arts, other industries, and personal studies. In pursuing what Katsuninken means, there is an analysis of Zen Buddhism, compassion, and finding ways to be more responsible and ethical in the practitioner’s expression of Martial Arts. If you are a serious instructor or practitioners of Budo and other Martial Arts disciplines, Setsuninto and Katsuninken (Katsujinken) must be part of your common knowledge. The Japanese sword symbolizes various principles and philosophies, and this writing highlighted the contrasting concepts of setsunin-tō and katsujinken that differentiate between using the sword for destructive or protective purposes. Complexity is a word that will encompass the many interpretations existing in examining how a sword is used for violence with the potential of killing or with the intent of an enlightened state to create a path, ideally for your enemy to live and become a friend.
Budo: The art, culture and philosophy of the samurai. (2020, August 14). The Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2020/06/06/lifestyle/budo-samurai/?fbclid=IwAR0xk8SPXFbXqVqnaKxWsvhI4HqFuBM3_Xhx7EnKgMQ19RrXlPh8je0A6fc
NEW INSTRUCTIONAL RELEASED!!!
We are excited to announce this first instructional for Luta Livre in a continuing series for Opening, Middle, and End Game Theory. By studying the material in volume one, you will be able to differentiate yourself from others through a much better understanding of one of the most challenging positions in all of the grappling, half guard passing!
Hello Friends and Luta Livre Enthusiasts,
My name is “little” Tony Pacenski, and I am a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt (FAIXA PRETA), Luta Livre Black Belt, and Judo Black Belt. Having spent over 25 years studying Brazilian and Japanese Martial Arts, and I can tell you that I have many tricks to share with you. I have had one objective since developing my instructional DVDs and Digital content: to teach specific topics of Grappling that everyone, regardless of ability, could understand and apply. This new Opening, Middle, and End Game Theory for Luta Livre has done just this. My instructionals have reached students internationally in Brazil, Peru, Japan, Canada, Australia, United States, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, France, Italy, Germany, England, Eastern European Counties, and South Africa! Due to international requests from friends and enthusiasts like you, I have started this Luta Livre project. It is time to learn new approaches to your grappling game, and we made it easy for you at TONYPACENSKI.COM and SOULFIGHT.NET. Thanks for visiting, and enjoy the instructional content set at a fantastic price!
See you on the mat,
Prof. “little” Tony Pacenski
Doctor of Education (EdD) Student
This Instructional Provides You:
Effective Drills To Improve Half Guard Passing Methods
How To Infuse A Strategy Of Commitment To Half Guard Passing
The Blue Print On Mixing Reference Points For Positional Dominance
How To Half Guard Pass With Crashing Pressure
Learn The Secrets Of Forcing The Common 3/4 Half Guard Positions
How To Overcome Resistances That Occur During The Basic, Intermediate & Advance Smash Half Guard Passing Styles
My $300 Detail Of Equalizing Any Opponent From Resisting The Half Guard Knee Cut Pass
The Strategies Of Half-Guard Passing When Opponents Runs Away From You Or Commit To Bridging Out
Develop A Half Guard Passing Game That Leads To The Front Mount And How To Make That Happen 8 Times Out of 10
How To Use Your Legs, Body Weight and Grips To Generate So Much Pressure That Bottom Fighter Can't Wait For Your To Pass His or Her Half Guard
TESTIMONIALS OF PROF. “little” TONY PACENSKI
THE OPENING, MIDDLE, AND END GAME THEORY- VOL.1 HALF GUARD PASSING
ONE PAYMENT OF
$29.99