BIMONTHLY MAGAZINE OF MARTIAL ARTS APR/2014 - Nº 02

Martial Science

ANTONY CUMMINS

In Search of The Ninja

GM PABLO RODARTE

The Ghost Hand

KAJUKENBOBOB GÓMEZ

THE RIGHT WAY PROVIDES SPEED AND STRENGTH

ANGEL MONTES

INTERVIEWANDREW DASZ

SHINJIMATZU KICKIBOXINGSGM. CHARLES A. DIXON

www.cienciamarcial.com

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Presents

4 - Publisher’ s Message

8 - Martial arts movies

10 - GRAND MASTER PABLO RODARTE: THE GHOST HAND.

20- teachings of the budha

22 - the interview with ANDREW DASZ

26 - Wushu/technique

31 - IN THE SEARCH OF THE NINJA ANTONY CUMMINS/ANTONIO F. RIOJA

38- kajukenbo/technique

40- sHINJIMATZU KICKBOXING/TECHNIQUE

44-THE RIGHT WAY PROVIDES SPEED AND STRENGHT /ANGEL MONTES OCA

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10- GRAND MASTER PABLO RODARTE

31- IN THE SEARCH OF THE NINJA

PUBLISHER´S MESSAGEIt was a regular day; it was in no way different from the other days I’ve had. I started my lesson right at 5:00 in the evening. Soon after the natural routi-ne, I began the technical training I was supposed to teach on that session. As it commonly happens in every teacher’s lesson, I started to spot some of my students’ technical mistakes at first glance. So, I immediately started to correct them. But to my sur-prise; when I approached one of the practitioners to make some mistake correction, he turned an ali-bi-ike and tried to blame his partner, the walls, the ground and even the inconveniences of the pitch.It was then that I felt myself obliged to stop my les-son and make them a report on the Buddhist I had heard a long time ago.

Let’s suppose that someone had lost something and suddenly that something falls in a hole, the person introduces the hand in the hole at once, but unfor-tunately, doesn’t get to the bottom. Immediately, he says “the hole is too deep”, he gets about ten more people try, but no one of them reaches its paths; so, they all say “The hole is too deep”, they will certain-ly wait for 100 hundred more people, but no one gets to state “my arm is too short”.

Of course, the practitioner noticed his mistake and rectified it; he begged for forgiveness and has beco-me someone special on his performances. But, we frequently find many who blame others for their mistakes; they spot their partners’ errors but don’t see theirs. There lies the importance of knowing oneself, being on the right alert and attention (It is not only about physical fitness).

A quote on the Buddhist’s goes hereby on this res-pect:

“He, who strengthens himself, remains vigilant, is simple, thoughtful, self-controlled, shows uprightness and is capable to keep increasing alert through his en-deavor, diligence, discipline and self-control is a wise man. Let him make an island in himself that no flood

can submerge. The ignorant is indulgent; the wise man watches over attention as his greater treasure”.

The only way to control our mind and spot our mistakes is to watch over attention. We can control, move, stop, or balance our extremities, our bodies and mind; nobody can walk our steps, as no one can enter the gate we have to go through by our-selves.

Our setting is the opponent, he is in ourselves. We must face our inner beings and try to comprehend our humane weaknesses; we must be respectful towards our relationships, possessions and wonder about the results of indulgence in our lives. When we are deeply honest to ourselves we realize that our selfishness brings us to failure; to accept such truth is really painful, but warmth becomes neces-sary to melt ice; the warmest it is, the faster it melts. Wisdom is built in the same way; the harder our observation is, the sooner we´ll get to the truth. If we become wise men, our ego is minimized to a mere nothing; then, the rivalry is finished.

Finally, I wish these reflections have fulfilled the objective of learning the moral hidden within these paragraphs; I’ll be satisfy if it is so, if it doesn’t I beg you for forgiveness.

-------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Paraphrasing the Venerable Ajan Chah.

(2) Dhammapada, Chapter 2, verse 24, 25, 26.(3) Grand Master Han Shan

Translation: Daryanis Tamayo Fuente.

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PUBLISHER/EDITOR -IN-CHIEFHenry Binerfa C.

CONTRIBUTORSGM. Pablo RodarteAntony CumminsAntonio F. Rioja

Andrew DaszShihan Allen Woodman

Les KiersnoswkiBob Goméz

Angel Montes de OcaYin Zhi Shakya

Leonardo MartinezRoberto De Lima

TRANSLATIONSYisel Viamontes

Alcides CervantesDaryanis Tamayo Fuente.

The direction of the magazine does not hold responsible itself with the opinions

of the collaborators.

The publicity included inside the pages of the magazine is only and exclusive

responsibility of the advertisers.

Many of the techniques of the martial arts can be dangerous, please training them only under the guide of a professor

or expert. REDACCIONCIENCIAMARCIAL@SHINKAIDORYU.ORG

www.cienciamarcial.com

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March 15th.....New YorkApril 12th.....Indiana

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September 6th.......GeorgiaOctober 4th.........Seattle, Washington

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ginal Since “1976“!

www.usnmat.net937-678-4435 or 808-778-8768

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Protector 2(Tony Jaa Boss Suchart is the influential owner of a major elephant camp. When he was mur-dered in his own home – the killer delivered three fatal blows on his body – all evidence points to Kham (Tony Jaa), who was present at the crime scene and was seen with the victim the moment before he died. Kham is forced to run as the police launch a pursuit. Meanwhile, the twin nieces of Boss Suchart (Jija Yanin Wismitanan and Teerada Kitti-siriprasert) are out for revenge. But luck is on Kham’s side when he runs into Sergeant Mark (Mum Jokmok), an Interpol agent sent to Thailand on a secret mission.

As Kham is hunted by several parties, he’s also desperately searching for Khon, his el-ephant, whose disappearance is involved with Boss Suchart’s death. In another twist, Kham is drawn into an underground fight-ing ring run by LC (RZA), a crime lord who’s obsessed with collecting top-class martial artists from around the world. LC’s fighters are branded only by numbers, such as the lethal, beautiful Twenty (Ratha Pho-ngam) and the diabolical NO.2 (Marrese Crump). These fighters are ordered to defeat and capture Kham for a special mission that LC has in mind.

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THE RAID 2: BERANDAL

The Raid 2: Berandal, the sequel to The Raid, is written and directed by Welsh born filmmaker Gareth Evans who also directed the first film. Starring Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Alex Abad, Oka Antara, Tio Pakusadewo, Julie Estelle, Cecep Arif Rahman, Cok Sim-bara, Yayan Ruhian, Matsuda Ryuhei, Endo Kenichi, and Kitamura Kazuki, the film fea-tures our lead character Rama (Uwais) go-ing undercover and infiltrating the ranks of a ruthless Jakarta crime syndicate in order to protect his family and uncover the corruption in his own police force. The film premieres at Sundance, and Sony Pictures Classics will release March 28th.

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Grand Master Pablo Rodarte

Por: Henry Binerfa C.Fotografía: Blanca Paola Rodarte. Cecy Monarrez

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The Ghost Hand

Grand Master Pablo Rodarte

Martial Science is proud to introduce the Grand Master Pablo Rodarte, best known as La Mano Fantasma in southern United States. His various physical achievements and rapid hand movements made him win this title. He has worked as Kenpo Karate and Kick Boxing instructor and founder of Shinjimatzu, with more than 50 years of expertise on the field of martial arts. Pablo Rodarte has won many awards and acknowledgements such as: Martial Arts Hall of Fame ‘Hall of Heroes’ in the year 2012 given in the U.S.A. as the Grand International Master of the Year. In the present year, he was handed the award Living Legend, in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

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Rodarte, finished his professional studies and got a degree as a Bachelor in Public Administration, then he started to personally train his brother Ricardo and led him conquered the World’s Professional Kick-Boxing Title, under the eastern style and fighting rules in the most prestigious World Professional Association (World Kick-Boxing Association).

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GRAND MASTER PABLO RODARTE’S LIFE AND WORK

Born on February 1st 1959, Pablo Rodarte was raised by his father who started to train him on martial arts at the age of four. His father Pablo Rodarte was a member of the Mexican Navy and knew the techniques of Jiu-Jitsu and Boxing. In respect to his father’s teachings, the Grand Master Rodarte literally expressed:

-“Since my early age, he had my do a lot of exercise. He first had me to roll in, to standstill, and then, the basic punches. It went like this for many years and it turned a routine, but it was highly educative”.

Later, Rodarte continued to study with SGM Enrique Nuñez and SGM Charles A. Dixon. As a youngster, he attended a military school in Penthatlon, where he became the chief of the sports section. It served as a starting point for him to introduce the training of Kenpo Karate and Kick Boxing, at the same time; he trained an excellent group of competitors and practitioners of such disciplines within the Military Police Body and the Assail Body, which he later led as his commander-in-chief.

In1976, he founded his first academy, just a few blocks from the frontier of El Paso, Texas. As it was located on the border area of Fort Bliss, it became a temptation to the servicemen who commonly passed by the academy and entered to the gymn, for the advertisements outside deeply called their attention. In most cases, their visit ended up in challenging the young Master to fight and with the impetuosity of his younth, Rodarte pleasantly accepted their challenge.He learnt this combat art with utmost effort and energy.Most visitors were Japanesse, Dutch and Afro-americans whose teachings helped Pablo Rodarte to build his legacy.Slightly, he won a prominent name amongst Masters; his prestige turned him a legend.

To the question, what did you learn from those combats? Rodarte replied:

-“They shaped my character, taught me on the armor and knowledge of other disciplines and figting systems and built the arsenal to become a better fighter in the future”.

At 18th, he was a well-known instructor, for he was highly competent.Besides, his presentations expressed his high-quality professional level, which made the spectators focused on learning and honoring martial arts.

Some months later, he was named representative of the WKA. That’s how Rodarte became a pioneer in opening this sports line all across Mexico. He trained and certified a great number of masters,

On the photo, GM Pablo Rodarteas 1st Ser-geant and commander-in-chief of the Assail

Body of PDMU, in a standstill position in CD. Juárez, Chihuahua. México

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who on his side became pillars of Professional Kick-Boxing in México.

KENPO AND PABLO RODARTE A MAGICAL UNION

Speculating about the significance of Kenpo on his life, he uttered:

-“it was not only my father’s leadership that encouraged and taught me the paths to Kenpo. Kenpo Karate was a blessing to my life. At early age it showed me what my mission was; the daily training in the old school was fulled of punches, and enforced obedience that ended up with the truly fulfilled objective of educating better fighters, not only on the tatami, but also, life warriors, best

sons, fathers and citizens. Day after day, one realizes that under these ruling bases, everything we do is Kempo, the struggle for achievinga supreme excellenceof personal and social traitsgoes on”.

A BRIEF DEFINITION OF SHINJIMATZU KENPO

To get to know a litter more about ShinjimatzuKenpo, we attentively listened to the Grand Master Rodarte’s explanation:

-“It is simple; ShinjimatzuKenpo in a competition is a sport.

In practice, the defensive movenments are carried out as real as possible and in a life-and-death situation; it is lethal.

Once the fight for survival has started there will be neither mercy nor stablished rules.The fight will end up with significant consequences. However, the smartest decision is to avoid fighting by all means”.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF KENPO

“There is a great variety of styles under the category of Kenpo. Currently, many masters do not consider the historical traditions to develop their theories. Some others reconstruct or preserve the traditions of their predecissors and keep strictly tied to their teachings.They make contemporary and modern forms of martial arts coexist, ofen including cross-fertilization between the old and new systems.Thus, they significantly contribute to modern the method. Martial arts are very generous as to let other thinkers to originate.Definitely, some will enrich the system, others will spoil it.But, it is all about the constant improvement we search for in life and arts. Besides, instructors can teach the same techniques to their practicioners, but they will look diferent for a single reason; the performance, interpretation and development of the same technique depends on the practicioner’s authenticity and style, even of the same system”.

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EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION IN SHINJIMATZU KENPO

I had heard about the Grand Master’s Rodarte social and educative work from many practicioners, but we wanted him to tell us how he could manage transforming those students who were once lost in darkness. This was his response:

In general terms, I can tell you that once they enter the gate to my school to start training, their whishes and expectations will turn mine. It is important to know what they do, and their real purpose for learning martial arts. Besides, their character and talents need to be considered to start developing their hablities; encouraging self-discipline and strengthening their bodies, but above all their minds.They should be compeled to continue educating their personalities through intelligence studies, because they can not go through life hitting and hurting people. A few of them, would like to become figthers and less will achieve this goal. So, most of them will become educative citizens who learn to be productive, physically and spiritually healthy through the practice of martial arts. As you see, martial arts are for all and can magically generate better men and women; this is what makes the training of Shinjimatzu Kenpo successful. Also, my respectfulness towards my students’ intellect influences their professional achievements.In many occasions, they become my teachers and I learn from their knowledge and talents”.

THE TRAINING SESSIONS AT DOJO SHINJIMATZU

“The training programs vary depending on the system, the kind of persons, personnel or season. “I can sincererly tell you that I am a very

intense person who lives each day as if it were the last day of his life, who deeply lo-ves and respects every living creature and

who lives, eats and dreams Shinjimatzu Kenpo”.

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But, the lessons in general take from one to two hours training.They depart from the basic rituals to demonstrate repecfulness, such as: salutations, meditation and faith, then it

continuous with the warm up exercises, free style fighting techniques, self-defense with or without opponents, and with training devices. Lately, we develop general strengthening exercises to relax, meditate and salute. It all depends on the type of lesson, for it may be: Kenpo, MuayThai Kick-Boxing, Mix Martial Arts, Boxeo, Armed Combat, and from many other systems taught within the Shinjimatzu University of Martial Arts curriculum”.“The training sessions for professional figthers are harder and very demanding. They take from 6 to7 well-schedulled training hours daily for six days a week. Apart from their physic-athletic preparation, they devote several hours a week to scientific study adn to watch their opponents’ training sessions. A program for psychological preparation for success is also included”.

MY GRATEFULNESS TO MARTIAL ARTS AND LIFE

“I am rather grateful to God for this gift he provided me with. I am thankful for the moral values, audacity, self-sacrifice, discipline, but above all, for having learnt important issues of a warrior, such as: composure and courage, which my mother taught me as the last teaching on the eve of death.I am deeply indebted to my father who taught me the do’s and don’ts and the respect for the masters. I am specialy thankful to my master Enrique Nuñez, he showed me the paths of Martial Arts, as a son rather than as a practicioner. My thanks to my master Charles Dixon, for his high-quality spirit and military discipline; He made me trust on leadership, on the importance of service, loyalty and honor.I am greatful to Pentathlon, the Military Sports Institution that taught me to love my nation, to respect manhood, to permanently work and to be productive. I owed this ideological arsenal to this University. Finally, I would like to thank all my students for they gave me the chance to better up my mission day by day. To my wife and daugthers for their patience, understanding

and support; they have been on my side my whole life and steady wore their uniforms with pride and dignity.So, I must be grateful to Martial Arts and to life, which I live at top. I try to give the best of myself, and I hope that, my teachings serve a legacy to the coming generations. Shinjimasu, my birth association &Shinjimatzuwill always be and mean the same. Trust and be faithful to God.

My secret lies on living and endlessly loving everything I do and I exercise the gift God gave me with knowledge and passion”.

THE TRAINING SESSIONS OF LA MANO FANTASMA

-“I was born gifted and I improve it everyday. I believe I still have that magical talent that amazes my students andmakes them train with enthusiasm.Mymovements are natural and spontaneous.The formulation of self-defense situations develops sophisticated skillson this art without disminishing its effectiveness and lethal power.One of the most common forms to develop speed is working with leagues, but I keep this hability because I do hand work about 4 hours daily. It allows me to be strong, quick, fast and to maintain a high capacity of reaction. If you work hard, you learn to interpret you partner’s body, to infer his intentions, to feel his energy, but to tell you the truth; they can all be fast if they understand how to achieve this in a real situation. I mean: when the opponent’s action is interrupted and his intention nullified for some seconds, it permits us to quicken our attack or defense, so that our movements look highly superior. It can only be achieved with long daily training hours and in combat.If one thinks that it can be accomplished throuhgroutinary training and pushing training devices, he will only achieve an insufficient formation which will fail at the opponent’s superiority. I dare saying that in such case, the opponent will create confussion on his partner and do his will.So, it will end in victory for the opponent; each of the training phases has its particular purpose, practitioners need to find out how their bodies respond best and the right hands and feet position to lead then go freely and with logical sequence”.

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Teachings of the Budha

A number of disciples went to the Buddha and said, “Sir, there are living here in Savatthi many wandering hermits and scholars who indulge in constant dispute, some saying that the world is infinite and eternal and others that it is finite and not eternal, some saying that the soul dies with the body and others that it lives on forever, and so forth. What, Sir, would you say concerning them?”

The Buddha answered, “Once upon a time there was a certain raja who called to his servant and said, ‘Come, good fellow, go and gather together in one place all the men of Savatthi who were born blind... and show them an elephant.’ ‘Very good, sire,’ replied the servant, and he did as he was told. He said to the blind men assembled there, ‘Here is an elephant,’ and to one man he presented the head of the elephant, to another its ears, to another a tusk, to another the trunk, the foot, back, tail, and tuft of the tail, saying to each one that that was the elephant.

“When the blind men had felt the elephant, the raja went to each of them and said to each, ‘Well, blind man, have you seen the elephant? Tell me, what sort of thing is an elephant?’

“Thereupon the men who were presented with the head answered, ‘Sire, an elephant is like a pot.’ And the men who had observed the ear replied, ‘An elephant is like a winnowing

The Blind Men and the Elephant

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basket.’ Those who had been presented with a tusk said it was a ploughshare. Those who knew only the trunk said it was a plough; others said the body was a grainery; the foot, a pillar; the back, a mortar; the tail, a pestle, the tuft of the tail, a brush.

“Then they began to quarrel, shouting, ‘Yes it is!’ ‘No, it is not!’ ‘An elephant is not that!’ ‘Yes, it’s like that!’ and so on, till they came to blows over the matter.

“Brethren, the raja was delighted with the scene.

“Just so are these preachers and scholars holding various views blind and unseeing.... In their ignorance they are by nature quarrelsome, wrangling, and disputatious, each maintaining reality is thus and thus.”

Then the Exalted One rendered this meaning by uttering this verse of uplift,

O how they cling and wrangle, some who claim

For preacher and monk the honored name! For, quarreling, each to his view they cling. Such folk see only one side of a thing.

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How you start witH martial arts?

I started in 1987, with Tae Kwon Do (ITF) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Why you feel attraction for this kind of disciplines?

First because I watched a movie of Chuck Norris on TV, and there never feel attracted by other sports.Then when I started martial arts my life change.

you are a Kung Fu expert, wHat is your especiality?

I don’t like when the people talk about expert or big master, or super master…We are first human, then we are students for the rest of the life (if doing something you like on the deep way), and finally we maybe are instructors, teach someone how to do step by step to reach new levels of conception about martial arts, combat, self knowledge, etc.

Im studie for many years Ving Tsun Kung Fu, around the world (Argentina, Brasil, USA, Hong Kong).

I love the Ving Tsun training, is simple and complete at the same time, but also spend time doing some boxing, MMA, etc…

ANDREW DASZ

INTE

RVI

EW

THE

By: Henry BinerfaPhotos: Jasmine Vin-cent, Daniel Bastidas, and Clayton Kwok

Technique is the same in every martial art, maybe the real different is the concept behind the techniques.

I think like Ving Tsun guy, but at the same time I don’t like keep blind for other situations and realities.

and How you start witH acting and action sequences. always you tHinK about tHis or just For casuality FinisH at tHis industry?

I think every my life I think about to by an actor and do fight choreographies for movies…

I was a fan of Bruce Lee from 1989 to 1993, always try to collate every kind of information about him and action movies from Hong Kong.

I think everything is about process and levels of evolution, I born in one country what is a little difficult to do this kind of thinks and for this reason in 1997 I move to Brasil to studie Ving Tsun more intensive, later move to Madrid (Spain), to start to work in like actor and fight

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choreographer, I did some cool stuff there, but don’t feel satisfied and decided move to Hong Kong. Is like the funny history: Where is my cheese?

You was in Outcast (western production) and The Fist of the Dragon (asian production), tell us the different between this kind of jobs.

Outcast is a big production with well-know actors, directors, stunts, and everything you need for a high level film.

Was a honor work there. Always is possible learn something on the set.

I love stay on set, keep looking what the different departments doing during the shootings, and of course I love more when the camera is in front. I think for this reason Im actor.

But about action I prefer Hong Kong style movies or chinese productions.

There spend more time on fights, with more details, complicated movements, crazy camera angles, etc…

Maybe I need learn lot of thing from the Hong Kong community, for this reason I living here.

And in other way I prefer Western productions, if we talk about catering, payment, contract, forgetter china or hong kong industry, there you just work or the love to the art after you became well-know artist.

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some new project coming tHis 2014?

I did a casting for Jackie Chan and Mel Gibson movie, they show interested in my twin brother Steven Dasz and me, but for some reason never call me again. Communication between asian and western is the worst…

In September we start again the production of Lady Blood Fight (before call Lady Blood Sport) with Bey Logan and a great team, also a director who did The Kiss of the Dragon with Jet Li.

Also in Hong Kong I start to teach in the first ShootBoxing Gym outside Japan, with some Fight Choreography Courses for actors and martial artist.

And finally for the last months of this year

maybe I go to Buenos Aires, Argentina for a Seminar of Ving Tsun.

Thanks Andrew for your time, please give us your contact or web sites in Internet.

SKYPE andrewdaszPhone: (+852) 9425 8276 - Hong Kong

http://www.imdb.me/andrewdaszhttp://www.facebook.com/andrewdasz

http://www.alivenotdead.com/AndrewDasz

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WUSHU

Sifu Leonardo Martínez Instructor: Roberto De LimaPhotos: Adriana Ibañez

School: The Shade of the Dragon

1-cha bu

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5-cha bu

4-pu bu

2-du li bu

3-pu bu

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6-pam ma bu

7-pam ma bu

8-xie bu - du li bu

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9-Guard Eagle Claw split front.

10-Guard position toad.

WU

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Sha

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the D

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Sifu Leonardo Martínez Instructor: Roberto De LimaPhotos: Adriana Ibañez

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Antony Cummins is a historian and author of several books on the subject of the Shinobi no Jutsu. He graduated from the University of Manchester, England, Ancient History and Archaeology Master also. Right now, he has become a very important person in the world of Ninjutsu. His work has generated controversy, but also provided light in the confused and manipulated history of Ninjutsu.

In Search of The Ninja

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Antony CumminsAntonio F. Rioja

English translation:Yisel VIamontes

Photos courtesy of:Antonio Angel Fernandez Rioja,

Antony CumminsGabriel Rossa

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When Antony Cummins asked me to write an article for this magazine, I felt overwhelmed

by the task:

Where to start?

I can only say as Bujutsu practitioner and lover of the Shinobijutsu is that the task that Anthony has decided to face is very difficult, arduous and at times thankless mission. But thanks to his work, many people like me are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel that will take us to the true essence of the way of the Shinobi.

Antony Cummins has become a character of maxi-mum relevance in the world of ninjutsu in recent years, thanks to a systematic work based on the analysis of the historical source. He is respected by some and hated by others, but his work leaves no one indifferent.

With a degree in ancient history and a master’s de-

gree in archaeology, Antony Cummis decided to start a great deal of research to provide the figure of the shinobi with a really historic entity, far from the myths, falsehoods or commercial interests.

For this reason, he created the Historical Ninjutsu Team, a team composed by Yoshie Minami, Mieko Koizumi and Jyuho Yamato. They began to trans-late and to investigate in depth the classical ma-nuals on Ninjutsu, like the Shoninki, the Shinobi Hidden or the Bansenshukai, along with countless manuals and Japanese classical documents of war as the Gunpo Joyosu, the Chronicle of Guerra Tai-heiki, the Ogiden up to delve into the classic texts Chinese as the art of war, the six secret teachings, Ts´ao-lu Ching-luch just to name a few.

Through this systematic investigation and the fre-quent travel of Cummins to Japan great myths and “truths” about the ninjutsu are beginning to be in evidence: the ninja assassin, the ninja versus samu-rai as a counterculture, the ninja who is dressed in

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black uniforms and the worst of all and that more harm has been done to the figure of the ninja; the ninjutsu as a martial art.

Antony Cummins has been shaping his work that has been published in the form of different books as: Shinobi soldiers I and II, The Secret Traditions of the Shinobi, The True Ninja Traditions,In search of the Ninja , Iga ab Koka Ninja Skills, The True Path of the Ninja until you reach what I think is his masterpiece so far that it is the full translation of the Bansenshukai (The Book of the Ninja).

A huge collection of books that brings us closer to all readers . They show the reality, the culture and the way of life of these mysterious characters.

Little by little these books will be seeing the light in Spanish, so that all Hispanic speakers can enjoy of its teachings, a job that a few (including myself) we have started to carry out already.

The best way to present the work of Antony is to read an extract from his work, so I include in this article a part of one of the first chapters of the book that I have translated “In Search of the Ninja”.

WHAT IS A NINJA?

Shinobi are also called Suppa or Rappa. These are people who hide themselves and infiltrate an enemy position and observe and listen to the status of the enemy and then bring this information back to their allies. For these shinobi, there are various teachings and they are called; the “tradition for a moonlit ni-ght”, the “tradition for a night with a hazy moon” and the “tradition for a moonless night”. In the area of Koshu they were called Suppa and in Bando (Kan-to) they were known as Rappa. These days they are known as Iga no mono or Koka no mono and they are well trained in the arts of the shinobi.

The writings of Arisawa Nagasada1689

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To discover the historical truth behind the ninja, the first step must be an identification of what the ninja actually were in their correct historical con-text. This task is mistakenly considered easy but which is in fact an impossible network of; dead ends, fabrications (both historical and modern), geographical differences, terminology and an evo-lution of skills which change with the political cli-mate.

Due to the above, often the word ninja comes with two main suffixes, “ninja assassins” and “ninja spies” both of which have a claim to correctness, yet fall short of the reality. Ninja were used as assas-sins, but evidence for this is drastically lacking and consists of a minor portion of their role, also, ninja were spies, however, secret agents have existed all over the world and yet ninja remain the most, enig-matic, remote and most complex.

In truth the term assassin and spy do not do the

ninja justice nor do they describe the arts of shino-bi no jutsu, the way of the ninja.

A ninja or shinobi no mono is a label for a person with a specific set of skills (with no regard to their level of capacity) and alternatively, it is a person who is carrying out those same skills for a short duration of time. These skills include the arts of; spying and performing as an undercover agent, the ability to scout within an extremely close proximity to the enemy, even to the level of scouting inside of enemy castles and defensive positions or even fur-ther, temporarily acting as a member of an enemy force to gain information before returning to their own side. To add to this a ninja was; a person in-volved in the making and the usage of explosives in a clandestine military capacity, including arson, also, someone who can use the skills of breaking and entering to gain entrance to a fortified house-hold, whereupon they would steal; conversational information, documentation, valuables or would commit murder upon the residents and set fire to the buildings. Further to this, a shinobi was a person who acted as a guide in no-man’s-land for squads of men or others who wished to make their way, normally under the cover of darkness, to the enemy side and join in combat or raids. Alongside this, they acted as messengers and utilised secret codes via; horns, drums, symbols and the written letter to transport information. In short, the ninja was a, spy-scout-arsonist-thief -killer .

To help form a solid and true idea of the ninja – from the beginning of your investigation - the fo-llowing quote has been taken from the 1656 Bukyo Zensho military manual and outlines the requires and uses of the ninja.

THOSE WHO SHOULD BE CHOSEN AS NINJA

1. Those who look stupid but are resourceful and talented in speech or are witty.

2. Those who are capable and act quickly and who are stout [and can endure]. Also those who do not succumb to illness.

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3. Those who are brave and open-minded and tho-se who know what much about certain districts and of people all over country with the addition of being eloquent. ITEMS YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF IN ORDER NOT TO ALLOW A SPY OR SHINOBI TO INFIL-TRATE YOUR POSITION. 1. Strictly guard the gates and checkpoints and arrange for signal fires and signal flag and also “duel section” tallies , Identifying marks and passwords.

2. Examine; merchant travellers or travelling monks who are training or collecting for their home tem-ple.

3. If any of your allies have relatives within enemy, they should declare this immediately.

4. If you receive an offer [from someone in the enemy] to spy for you, then you should report this immediately.

5. Understanding the difference between truth and untruth .

This year Antony Cummins has received authori-zation from the Natori family to reopen the NATO-RI RYU. This has been a huge success in Cummins career, because it is a great honor for a Westerner to reopen this school of Shinobi jutsu.

But this point should be clarified to avoid falling into a misunderstood. Natori NO Ryu is a martial arts school, in fact these are externally in the hands of all those who are integrated into the project.

Natori-ryu is actually a school of Gungaku; this means: Military Studies. First and foremost that you must understand is that Natori-ryu is not a school of martial arts; that is to say: it is not a Samurai fighting school. Gungaku is about military strategy, tactics and other arts of war..

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But for me, the great creation of Antony Cummins has been spreading the idea of ICHIGUN ICHIMI, a spirit of harmony and sharing to create a great community of lovers of the Shinobi.

Ichigun Ichimi, is a Japanese term which is not common in the “Ninja world”, however this phrase is something that every Club or organization Ninja in the world should and would need to know (es-pecially those who have interest in the lineage of Koka). The ancient Ninja of Koka and Iga would trade secret votes and information with each other; This is the promise of Ichigun Ichimi (a district, a Clan).

Natori Masazumi, in its manual Ninja, the “Shoninki”, tells us:

Later, the people from Koka, next to Iga, followed this path of ninjutsu and having made the oath of Ichigun Ichimi, the friendship oath of “one district and one band,” joining the people together. They went out expansively to various provinces to utilize their skills. Thus, being universally recognized as the premier shinobi, they exchanged a firm written form of oath, which says “If I come to where you are, you should show me everything of your province, and if you come to where I am, I will show you everything about my province.”

Natori Masazumi (1681)

This fragment sumarize perfectly the philosophy of ICHIMI ICHIGUN, study, investigate and share.

From these pages I encourage you all to read and discover all the work of Antony Cummins.

Author:Antonio Angel Fernandez Rioja

Antony Cummins

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KAJUKENBO

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-Bob Gómez.-Ryan Bumagat.

Special thanks toSoke James Neiman for the use of his dojo:

Shugyo Aikido Dojo.

Photographer, Stanley Fontillas

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To accomplish an optimal training level in any sports discipline and particularly in martial arts, a sportsman must achieve a harmonic balance of certain forms and aspects of such discipline. My objective focused on explaining from theory and practice some of the most important ones:

(I). - Physical preparation: Itis the stage of the training phase devoted to keep and develop the necessary physical capacities to carry out the spe-cific actions of each discipline effectively, such as: strength, resistance, speed, movability and coordi-nation. These qualities permit the athlete to bear up the amount and intensity of the training sessions, and help to avoid injure.

(II). - Psychological preparation: this stage of the preparation phase involves the practitioner’s motivations, reasons for training systematically and the effort to be submitted. It includes the prac-titioner’s attitude towards wearisome during the training sessions, the frustrations when facing a new and harder exercise and how to react either for victory or defeat; specifically, how to behave versus an opponent physically and technically superior, not to give up, but to be convinced that winning is possible.

(III). - Tactic preparation: It is closely related to strategy and basically consists on how to employ the technique. e.g.: a front kick is simply a front kick and a straight punch is not more than that; However, they involve actions or means of more or less magnitude depending on the opponent´s size. A tall opponent will require a large-scale ac-tion; serving a larger purpose, meanwhile a shorter opponent will require a small-scale action for the same purpose. A smart fighter does not move in the same way versus different gifted opponents;

e.g.: a beginner may have faster movements while and older practitioner might be slower but stron-ger; what works for an opponent might not work for the other. The setting is absolutely different.

(IV). - Technical Preparation: To many sports’ trainers, it is the most important stage of the tra-ining period. It may be define as ¨the manner in which the technical details of any movement are carried out to reduce energy and time consuming to its minimum, achieving more effectiveness in such movements¨.

Examples:

Two weeks ago I was practicing with afriend of mine

The Right Way Provides Speed and Strength.

By: Angel Montes de Oca

Translation: Daryanis Tamayo

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who recently started to be trained in martial arts in my private dojo, in my house. We were training Us-hiro Geri/TuitChagui, kick-back, as we kicked the kicker; I noticedthat whenever I kicked, the impact´s strength made him go backward, at least one step; sometimes two steps backward. He is about six feet tall and 200 pounds; I am five feet and for inches and I only weight 160 pounds; such difference was not fa-vorable for him. Whenever he kicked, I Inevitably felt a strong impact on my buckler; however, he did not make me go backwards: potentially, he should dou-ble his hitting strength, but he could not. What was happening? Were his technical levels or movements adequate? Was he spreading his energy with his se-micircular unnecessary movements?Was he opening his arms and moving them in different directions? Perhaps all these errors were limiting him to display all his potential to kick strongly according with his body weight. The best way to carry out the actions of any combat discipline is not to depend on muscu-lar strength, speed or any other physical condition; above all, we must consider that they will lower at some age.

It is an amazing experience to see Judo practitio-ner’s of nearly 60 years who are still able to almost perfectly project a younger person who doubles their size and weight. After many years devoted to trai-ning and improving the basic movements of this art, they have developed the capacity to perceive, feel and even create any weakness in their opponent´s posture balance with a light push or pulling them ahead with a delicate cycling movement, but in the right direc-tion (Kuzushi/disbalance). From that moment on, without stopping the movement of the body which is declining already, it is a matter of, closing the dis-tance to eliminate all the space between him and the opponent, to transmit the energy of the movement in a more effective way and lower the center of gravity of his body, adding a live supporting point to the sys-tem he created with his actions.

And all the work done! It means, with a minimum strength but with and almost perfect use of the bio-mechanical principles of the human body, with mi-nimum speed, slow, but with a high sense of time and a great perception of the right moment, the ac

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Pasos Téc. mae geri

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tion can be carried out. All this applied science is called sports technique. Obviously, the technical pre-paration teaches and improves all that, and helps to better up the specific actions of all disciplines.

For more than 25 years devoted to martial arts, first as acompetitor and as a trainer after retired; I have learned that when strength, speed, and resistan-ce of a martial artist get to its limits, the adequa-te technique can be a mean to an aim. The right way or technique makes it possible to eliminate unnecessary movements that cause waste of time and energy; it can also improve balance, which is an important element in producing a strong kick, and thus coordinating a set of technical elements to create combinations. It should be considered that the sum of small errors might bring about lack of effectiveness of actions and such errors should also be eliminated one by one.

I would like to share a set of exercises that I deve-loped as a Tae Kwon Do trainer in Cuba, my birth nation. There is also a brief analysis of the most common errors they tend to overcome.I am sure that most trainers have noticed those errors in their students, mainly in beginners. Practicing the-se exercises will contribute to the development of the habits known as: muscular memory, the prac-titioner will need this, so as to, improve his kicking technique; specifically, Mae Geri / Ap Chagui/ or front kick, the one my trainer called ¨the mother of all kicks¨

COMMON ERRORS # 1

(1). – Not to elevate the knee up to the objecti-ve which is intended to be kicked. We frequently see practitioners that make all their efforts to have their feet reach the punching shovel, consequently; they elevate the leg almost extended.

HOW IS THE TECHNIQUE AFFECTED WITH THIS ERROR?

When kicking, the knee represents the same func-tion of the hole of a gun; when shooting the bullet will follow the same direction that it was previously

focused on, it means that, it is no possible to kick at any height if the knee did not reach such level previously.

The movement must begin on the hip and should be transmitted to the foot. To achieve this goal, the hip must be shot, so that it “pulls the knee ahead” reaching the necessary height to kick, the knee will guide the foot. This action must focus on the hip and not on the foot.

COMMON ERROR # 2

Not to Project the hip forward (towards the objec-tive) while kicking.

We frequently find students with very long and strong legs, adequate balance, and an apparently acceptable fitness in their movements; but the effi-ciency and potential of their kicking is not enough or are in accordance with their corporal develo-pment. Perhaps, it is necessary to check out, how this student is moving the hip.

HOW IS THE TECHNIQUE AFFECTED WITH THIS ERROR?

The hip muscles are short, thick and they are among the strongest muscles of the human body.

EXERCISE 1

The exercise consists of kicking from the position presented in picture 1a on the photo sequence hereby presented, such position will not allow the practitioner to start the movement neither by the foot nor by the knee, but it will oblige him to push the knee with the hip, so that he can move the foot from the ground. After the kic-king, the leg must return to its original position (see the photo sequence 1a-1c).

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Besides, they are located around the human body gravity center. In mostcases, it turns almost impos-sible to reach the maximum potential of our kicks, without projecting the hip to the objective.

COMMON ERROR 3

Not to hook the leg immediately after kicking.In my opinion, this is the most commonly seen error in most kicks. Once the action is finished, it can be noticed that many martial artists take the leg to the ground absolutely extended. It provokes loss of balance and the control of the body; it also makes them vulnerable to any counterattack.

HOW IS THE TECHNIQUE AFFECTED WITH THIS ERROR?

Most kicks pull the leg away from the gravity center of the body; when it is hooked and returned to its original position, it makes possible to recover the balance of the body and to continue with another attack, no matter whether the first attack was suc-

EXERCISE 2

This exercise constitutes a variant of the exercise presented above. What varies here is the initial position and using the frontal leg for kicking (see picture 3ª-3c)

Measuring the length of the practitioner’s leg and adding about 6 to 8cm/4 to 5 inches, will result in the right space to place the object to be kicked, it could be a shovel to be hold by a trainer or a fellow.It could also be a ball tied to a thread, or any other thing, which might come to the reader´s mind. Placing the objective fa-rer than the distance the practitioner can cover by the length of his leg, will oblige him to push forward with his hip so that he reaches it. Re-peating this exercise will develop the habit to use the hip and improves the power of is front kick.

1A

Exercise 1

1b

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2A 3A

Exercise 2 Exercise 3

2b 3b

2c3c

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cessful or not; it also helps combined martial arts competitors not to have their legs trapped.

It necessary to consider the height, strength or speed of our kicks when trying to hit the opponent; if it succeeds or not, we should always try to keep control of the leg, to achieve that, it is required to hook the leg after kicking and to recover our balan-ce to continue with the next action.

VERY IMPORTANT:

Before beginning to try on these exercises, a pro-gram for physical conditioning focused on impro-ving movability, and strengthening the muscles of the legs and the abdomen must be planned; it will avoid injures and will help to achieve more bene-fits of this kind of training. It is advisable to carry out the training sessions at least twice a week for a period of five or six weeks to get to the expected results.

Do not attempt to practice any of these exercises on the floor, cement, wood or any hard surface to avoid traumas on the ligaments or other internal structures of the body anatomy.

EXERCISE 3

To develop this exercise, a partner to hold the kicking coat will be needed. It consists on hitting the objective by kicking from the new position, as shown in the photo sequence (see 5a -5c).

To avoid hardly hitting the knee against the ground when returning it to its original posi-tion, after kicking, the practitioner must take it back to his body´s gravity center, keeping it un-der control. The leg must be gently taken to the ground, it shouldn’t be pull nor hit against the ground. Once this habit is developed, it will be easier to keep the balance to attack again, either in a competition or in a situation involving sa-ving one´s life. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angel Montes de Oca Pernas, graduated in the Higher Teachers´ Training Collage of Sports and Physical Education of Holguín, Cuba. Developed studies about sporting massage and worked as instructor at “Dajan Instutute of Massage Stu-dies” in Las Vegas, United States; devoted more than 25 years to practicing, competing and tea-ching martial Arts. Holds the degrees of: Black Belt, 2th Dan en Tae Kwon Do; degree “IKKYU” on the system “Juno Kage Ryu” de Kempo Chino/Okinawa.

E-mail: angel_2671@live.com

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