Books & DVD "Ninpo: Wisdom for Life" by Masaaki Hatsumi - Editor Joe Maurantonio
| "Ninpo: Wisdom for Life" by Masaaki Hatsumi - Editor Joe Maurantonio |
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| Written by Joe Maurantonio |
| Saturday, 28 March 2009 08:00 |
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MASAAKI HATSUMI: A BIOGRAPHY Written By Joe Maurantonio The pain of his technique was different from any pain I had ever suffered before. I had only felt a cold, momentary pain, while with Sensei I was exposed to a hot, burning pain. It was as if something would explode, if my blood would be sucked up and I would die right away. He didn'tjust apply one GYAKU but four or five. I immediately knew this is what I was looking for. I asked to be his student. At that time, Takamatsu did not accept any new students, and yet, seeing something special in this young man he agreed to teach him. For Takamatsu the meeting was more like a reunion than a first meeting. In a poem to Hatsumi, Takamatsu wrote: "In the days of the Tenei era there was great master of Koppo. For over fifteen years Hatsumi trained under the supervision of Takamatsu and in 1972, with the death of his teacher, Hatsumi Sensei became the heir to the last and oldest ninja tradition existing. JOE MAURANTONIO: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY Joe Maurantonio was born on a hot New York summer day in the mid-1960's. Maurantonio became interested in the martial arts at a young age. He enjoyed watching martial arts movies and television shows that offered their viewers heroic ideals. Initially, Mr Maurantonio began training himself by watching martial arts classes, television, friends, relatives, and through reading books. He trained on his own and with friends that had achieved intermediate ranking in karate and judo. He became proficient in nunchaku, tonfa and shuriken through self-instruction. When he went to work with his father he would often watch classes in Tai Chi Chuan and Kung Fu. In the evenings he would practice the moves as he had watched them being corrected. When he joined high school, it was with the hopes of entering their karate program. Disappointed that the program had been cancelled, Mr Maurantonio found himself lucky to become friends with a practitioner of Kempo Karate. Together the two training in private. Mr Maurantonio and his instructor-friend eventually decided to join an eclectic dojo. After training there for a short time, the instructor was impressed with Mr Maurantonio's nunchaku skill and asked that he instruct several individuals in its use. It was at that dojo that Maurantonio met one of the most humble and sincere sempai he has ever trained under. To this day, he remembers his first sempai and the training they shared with great fondness. During his high school years, Mr Maurantonio travelled around visiting other dojo. He saw a variety of martial arts training and went to city/state libraries to research information on various styles. He also spent several hours a week reading about history and culture of Japan (and to a lessor degree, China and India). During a trip to Hawaii, Mr Maurantonio trained by the ocean, on the beaches and in the nearby woods. He found an interesting book by Andrew Adams called Ninja: The Invisible Assassins and read about two interesting martial arts instructors named Toshitsugu Takamatsu and Masaaki (Yoshiaki) Hatsumi. The book left him wanting much more... When he returned home, he found several other books on the subject of ninutsu and was very interested in a book called Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art by Stephen K. Hayes. The following year, Mr Maurantonio attended his freshman year at college. It was there that he met the person that would introduce him to Stephen K. Hayes, North America's leading authority on Ninjutsu. Enjoying the training and insights, Mr Maurantonio focused on learning the martial art that he felt was most appropriate for him. In 1986, over three years after being introduced to Bujinkan ninjutsu, Mr Maurantonio met Masaaki Hatsumi, 34th Soke of Togakure Ryu. It was also later that year that Mr Maurantonio worked on his first Japanese translation project. Around that time he was published several times in the then-popular Ninja magazine as well as several leisure newspapers. Mr Maurantonio passed the Godan Shinsa in 1991 and was awarded the title of Shidoshi (teacher of the warrior ways). He has travelled to Asia, Europe and throughout North America to pursue his martial arts training. Brief Related Credentials: • Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, Shidoshi [1991] KIHON PRESS: Kihon Press was founded by Joe Maurantonio in 1999 with the goal of sharing martial insight and lessons through the written word as well as video and DVD formats. Currently, Kihon Press is working hard at producing a second book title worthy of following its predessor. MUSHASHIN PRESS: Mushashin Press was founded by Joe Maurantonio in 1996 with the goal of sharing martial insight and lessons. In 1999, Mushashin Press became Kihon Press. Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE: PHILOSOPHY OF BUDO AND NINPO * Philosophy of Budo CHAPTER TWO: WORLD OF BUDO AND NINPO * The Densho Lives CHAPTER THREE: LIFE OF PERSEVERANCE * People Who Cannot Bear Life Do Not Live CHAPTER FOUR: MEN AND WOMEN * The Attributes of Women and Methods of Self Defense CHAPTER FIVE: NINJA DISCUSSION * The Concept of Zen Ken Ichijo Excerpts from Ninpo: Wisdom for Life CHAPTER ONE: PHILOSOPHY OF BUDO AND NINPO DO NOT NEGLECT SELF-TRAINING Modern budô students often forget to practice by themselves. I used to practice by myself. When there was no teacher, I found the secret teachings by my own desire. I used to go into the mountains and train with nature (trees, animals, etc.). I used to do uchikomi (striking skills), sakanage (throwing reversals), nagewaza (throwing techniques), sabaki (evading techniques), moguri (diving) and taihenjutsu (ground hitting skills) with trees. Similarly, I would train with animals. I would often read their intention, evade them, and practice nagewaza with the bigger animals. I learned to predict and to use the changes of nature. I did sumo with nature, also. In this way, I trained myself for my own benefit. CHAPTER TWO: WORLD OF BUDO AND NINPO SIMILARITY BETWEEN BUDÔ PERFORMANCES AND DRAMA SCENES Mass communication is thriving these days. Because of that, I have more opportunities to teach and supervise budô performances and stunts. I have done research and supervised such movies as Shinobi no Mono and 007. The trend of tate (formal fighting scenes) has changed from tradition to realism, and from realism to abstraction. It is not always easy to judge which is better. We must all understand that a tate performance must be made to fit a scene. The most formal of tate can be seen in Kabuki. CHAPTER THREE: LIFE OF PERSEVERANCE LESSONS WE LEARN FROM THE DEMONSTRATIONS OF UKE AND TORI The budô performance of uke (receiver) and tori (defender) is just like a couple (husband and wife). If one of them does not do well, the other will not do well either. I have many opportunities to be an intermediary for couples who will soon get married. I always say to the couple that the joy of married life comes from enduring while both are spiritually exposed. Then I usually present them with one of my budô secret writings. CHAPTER FOUR: MEN AND WOMEN * Fourteen Sections... CHAPTER FIVE: NINJA DISCUSSION * Thirty Sections...
To buy "Ninpo: Wisdom for Life" By Masaaki Hatsumi Editor Joe Maurantonio Contact: http://kihon.com/ninpo/
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There have been many books in which Hatsumi sensei is interviewed about or writes regarding the martial arts, but in "Ninpo: Wisdom for Life", the number of topics discussed is overwhelming! From diet to personal relationships, the Grandmaster reveals his unique thoughts and views on them all. In addition to philosophy, there are many references to and descriptions of techniques and methods of taijutsu and ninpo. Masaaki Hatsumi, founder of the International Bujinkan Hombu Dojo, shares with the reader his philosophy and insights into the martial arts and the world around us. From his teacher, Toshitsugu Takamatsu, Hatsumi Sensei received the title of Sôke (grandmaster) of Togakure ryu ninpô, Shinden Fudo ryu, Kukishinden ryu, Gyokko ryu and several other warrior traditions. This work was originally available only in Japanese and is now, for the first time ever, available in English. Authorized by Hatsumi himself, the color cover, five (5) chapters, and approx. 200 pages of writing will provide you insight and wisdom for life.
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