Realize your true warrior potential!

Learn the universal secrets of the warrior sage (tatsujin).
Sept. 10 – 12. Saint Charles , IL

Food and lodging included.
Call for details
(630) 416-1946

                          

It’s almost summer! That means the kids are out of school, great weather and vacations! This traditionally is a slow time for martial arts schools which is opposite of what one might believe. We might think that with the sun shining longer than it has been making us feel more energized we would find even more time to get to the dojo.

Traditionally though, this is the season for fun and doing new things. Is that a bad thing? No. But it can be a dis­traction from our goals that we have set for our training. It is easy to get caught up in the fun in the sun days of summer and put off going to the dojo until next week. This sounds ok until next week when work has you staying late and makes it impossible to get in that week either. The next thing you know it is time for the family vacation. All of the prepara­tion and recovery time that is associated with that great event not to mention the week or two you are actually out of town keeps you out of the dojo much longer than anticipated.

All of this distraction can lead to a month or more disruption in your training. That doesn’t sound like much but by being gone two or more weeks you have fallen out of the habit you have worked so hard to create. You now must start over from scratch and discipline your­self to set aside the time to train. This is where a lot of people fall off of the warrior path and end up never reaching their goal of black belt and beyond.

The Student Creed teaches us that the second secret to getting a black belt is self discipline. It is easy to lose track of our goals when life seems to get in the way. I have met many a great “warrior” on my journey down the warrior path that have left never to be seen again. These were not people that showed up occasionally and were there just for the social atmo­sphere. These were people that professed their love for the warrior arts and their life long commitment to the warrior ways. I must say that I miss these once kindred spirits.

Life will get in the way. That is one of the reasons our art is called Ninjutsu. The kanji for “Nin” translates as “tolerance” in Chinese and “perseverance” in Japanese. It is the secret to winning…never quitting. Many people have come to me and discussed their reasons for leaving the dojo. These usually include changes in job status, moving or even more often because they can’t find the time to train anymore. I usually laugh when I hear this last rea­son and ask how they can quit the art of not quitting. This may come across as a joke but it is really a question I hope they ask themselves because quitting things can become a trap that takes over our lives. Once we decide that we can stop things when they get tough that can create a dangerous habit that keeps us from being successful in life.

It is easy to fall out of a habit. Millions of people do it every year. A perfect example is when people make a New Year’s resolution to get in shape so they join a gym. Most people are highly motivated to work out for about a month creating a good habit. Then life happens. They get a cold or the weather turns really bad and they cannot make it to the gym for a week or two. This leads to many people never going to the gym again on a regular basis. Gym owners know this and that is how they can stay in business. They have hundreds of members that are never physically there working out but are contractually obli­gated to keep paying. This makes it possible for them to continue to sign up new people to train having twice as many members as the gym can physically support.

Another trend in summer happens to our youth stu­dents. Parents believe that they should let their chil­dren play as many sports as they can fit into their schedules. There is no problem with kids playing sports but when they are pulled out of a program that makes them a more positive person and prepares them for life, so that they can kick or hit a ball around, it is very sad. I have had many kids who excel at training and were pulled out of the dojo because their parents thought they were doing them a favor by making them more “well rounded”.

The benefits of martial arts for kids have been written about in many major magazines. Usually the physical aspects are praised but the martial art of Aiki Ninjutsu is even more beneficial because besides the physical pluses of martial arts we concentrate on personal development and leadership life skills. Qualities like mindfulness, focus, self discipline, confidence and high self esteem along with a positive empowered attitude is what every company would love to have in their employees. These are the necessary life skills that will make our children stand out when in the company of people with cookie cutter de­grees.

So I ask you to please enjoy the weather but don’t let yourself get distracted by the summer activities and keep on track to becoming the greatest person you can be by making sure you go to class all summer long!

Michael Jutoshi Eichenberg

Owner – Warrior’s Edge Martial Arts

Naperville, IL

                          

What is philosophy?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defnes “philosophy” as:  a: pursuit of wisdom b: an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs.

Philosophy is a crucial aspect of martial arts training. Without it, there is no foundation for strategy.  Without strategy, we would not have tactics and therefore an ineffective martial art.  Lucky for us this does not apply to the Jizaikan.

The next few newsletters will give you a general understanding of philosophy as strategy.  Yes, philosophy as strategy. A great idea written or orally transmitted is a philosophy and when applied to our life this philosophy becomes a strategy.

How do we begin?

The following philosophies/strategies are ones for you to contemplate.  Reading them all at one time back to back would probably not be best.  “Good things come to those who wait.”  “Patience is a virtue.”  That might sound cliché but it is true, so you should focus on them individually.  That is why I have spaced them out in monthly newsletters so that you can read and train on them without being tempted to move forward before giving enough time to working on each one.

I would suggest you read the philosophy in the morning and then spend the rest of your day meditating on its meaning and the application of the idea.  Think of how you can use this strategy in your life with a spouse, friend, sibling, child, employee, employer, and citizen.  You will gain a working knowledge of each philosophy that will make you more effective in all aspects of your life.  Through the cultivation of personal power, we will understand our role in the scheme of
totality, how we ft into the “big picture”.

Good luck and let’s get started!

“In the beginning”, the fnish line never seems that far away.

When we undertake a new journey we always have an optimistic, enthusiastic vision of the way events are supposed to transpire.  In the majority of cases we soon loose our optimism and enthusiasm. Sometimes it’s because we get distracted.  Other times it’s because we quickly learn that our idea of what is supposed to happen is not happening at all.  Once our focus shifts, it is extremely diffcult to refocus our attention.  In our feld of interest (martial arts), we sign up with a dream of being the best.  What happened?  Somewhere along the line we became distracted.

Maybe we stopped attending classes regularly, or maybe we just didn’t practice at home anymore.  No matter what caused us to shift focus, we must fnd a way to undo what has been done.  Find a way to develop a new enthusiasm.

As a strategy we must understand that this initial excitement is good and we have to make the decision to hold onto that enthusiasm.  Never loosing sight of why you started, who you started for (your self), what your original goal was, when you wanted to reach your goal, and where are you in your relationships and where should you be?

Whether it is martial arts, gymnastics, reading, cooking, or just taking a walk twice a week, maintain your enthusiasm and you will sure to be successful.

What might the combat application of this philosophy be as a battle strategy?

When you frst engage in a physical confict you will have a desire to survive. Maintain that desire, it doesn’t matter what technique you use or how good you look performing it. When push comes to shove, your survival is the only thing that matters.  Maintain your focus.  Do not allow yourself to be distracted by fear of injury or defeat, fatigue, or feelings of personal inadequacy.

What skills can I work on today?

Find some extra time today to work on your basic foot-work patterns.  If you do not know what some are, please feel free to refer to the Aiki Kihon DVD or Warrior Notebook #1.  It is always important to return to the beginning, not just mentally and spiritually, but physically as well.  Going back to the basics is not a demotion but a chance to fne tune your movement.  The second time you will have a new perspective on the movements.  This would be like reading a book again after a few years have past.  There will be a deeper signifcance, not that you weren’t intelligent the frst
time around.  Simply with time and development we have a new understanding on the “why”.

How do I apply this strategy to help improve my relationships?

Find the time to meditate on a specifc relationship.  Let’s frst look at a signifcant other such as a wife or lover.  Remember when you were intrigued by this new and exciting person?  What happened?  Are you taking them for granted because you think you know them?

One suggestion might be to role play with them and take them out on a frst date.  Trust me when I say things have changed since your actual frst date.  Your and their goals, dreams, and fantasies are different now.  Life is ever evolving so take the time to investigate this oh so interesting person over and over as if
they were a good book!

In a business setting, open up a dialogue with the boss, employees, or customers to see how their expectations have changed since your frst day.  All relationships are a living, breathing life of their own. Recapture that initial excitement you had when you took on the challenge of accepting this job, career, or position.

You used to be happy and thankful. Becoming complacent or even worse yet bitter and jaded is not going to help the company or you i.e. your bank account!

Thomas Jotoshi Maienza
Jizaikan Doshu

                          

We left early that Friday morning from Kansas City, driving eight hours to the annual shugyo being held this year in Naperville. Kalon and CJ were in the front seat, and I was thankfully stretched out in the back.

It was somewhere around the biggest cornfield in Iowa, on Highway 80, that a very official looking “Department of Transportation” truck blocking the Interstate, diverted us onto a narrow back country road.

Although pretty comical, it was kind of a cheap trick because upon finding our way back to the highway (via good fortune, gas-station directions, and 10 miles of “Deliverance” jokes) we discovered a two hour traffic jam ahead of us.

After some time had past, it seemed the wait had gotten the better of many of those on the waiting side, and they were beginning to cut-back across the median.

About forty five minutes into the traffic jam there was a family of about four or five older women and children, their Lincoln continental was stuck in the wet grassy median. They were about 100 feet ahead of us, and having ample time to observe them, I noticed that although we had moved 20-ft in 10-min no one ahead of us had gotten out to help. Strange it seemed, and yet sadly predicable, how unlikely it is for people to give up something as insignificant as their place-in-line to lend a hand to a stranger, not to mention put themselves in physical danger for one.

Reflecting on this silently as we crept ahead, I thought to myself – “What separates those who are willing to help from those who don’t.” The obvious answer – Attitude!  “Ok, so what attitude does the person who helps have – abundance, confidence, self-reliance, benevolence, protector.  Then the person who doesn’t help would likely have the opposite – scarcity, selfish, irresolute.

What about me….?”

As we moved a few car lengths closer I could feel the pressure, the urge, to take action. “Kalon” I said “You ready to get out and push?” I said with a chuckle, getting out of the car.

Kalon and I started pushing, ……..nothing! I’ll admit that I felt a little silly, the two of us busting our tails trying to push this massive car up a muddy hill, but a weird thing happened, the more we pushed the more people started pulling over and getting out of their cars to help. It was truly amazing… shugyo had started early!

To say life is a battlefield is more than just a metaphor – we struggle to succeed, struggle to overcome obstacles – including each other. Even without being particularly competitive or success-oriented, we all have a method by which we measure our personal success, judge which victories are truly meaningful to us, and decide at what price we want it.

We did eventually succeed in getting the car unstuck, and it’s a victory I think was worth more than I paid for it. I got a chance to reaffirm my faith in myself, and hopefully passed on something of value to my fellowman. And if you’re reading this… thank you, family in the red Lincoln continental.

“Wherever I go, everyone is a little bit safer because I am there.
Wherever I am, anyone in need has a friend.
Whenever I return home, everyone is happy I am there.”

David Dinius
Jizai Martial Arts
Kansas City, MO

                          

There are many different types of martial arts. There are some that focus solely on striking fast and hard and others that train just on throws and the grappling side of combat. There are some that are practiced primarily for exercise or competition and others that focus on dealing with real life self defense situations.

In our martial art, we focus on striking, throwing and joint locking/breaking, all for self-protection. This makes for a more prepared warrior student but it does have its drawbacks. One of those is how do we train in a way that is both preparing us for a possible real life attack and at the same time make sure that we are always safe. No one signs up at a martial art school hoping that they will get their arm hyper-extended, their knee or shoulder ripped out or even worse be paralyzed or killed.

The problem with doing a martial art that is very effective is that the techniques are made to destroy another human being. If these techniques are done correctly, at a realistic speed, then the joints or bones will break. This will lead to students not being able to train for weeks or months and scare other students away from training where there is a possibility for severe injury. The long term effect is that the dojo we all love would then have to close taking away the opportunity to learn these powerful techniques.

I have been in systems where the owners decided that they could no longer teach the really effective techniques because they were too dangerous for students to learn. That meant that the entire art suffered because it was losing the one thing that separated it from the other systems. This made me frustrated because I had been training with those same techniques for years and had never injured anyone.

Let’s look at what you can do as a training partner that will help keep your friends safe as you train in this incredible combat art that has been passed down for centuries.

1. Slow Down! The main reason people get injured is that they are going to fast. Speed and strength are used when technique breaks down whether due to lack of confidence, control or skill. To develop the skill necessary you need to feel when you have someone’s balance. This can only be accomplished at lower speeds. Once you have internalized these skills then the speed will come naturally. This is not only geared at Tori (defender) but also Uke (attacker). The Uke sets the speed of the technique. If you come in too fast and strong then the defender is going to have to match your speed which will lead to you getting injured.

2. Practice Your Ukemi! You are ultimately responsible for your own safety. If you practice your rolling and breakfalls then you will not be injured when you hit the ground. In our system, we practice a lot of Randori or “Free Response” sparring. When you attack someone, you have no idea what defense they are going to use, so you need to be prepared for anything that might happen. You need to be able to fall and roll out of all situations. I personally have been saved by my ukemi both in martial arts training and when slipping and falling. This is the one skill that everyone needs to spend more time on.

3. Get Rid of Your Ego / Need To Win! You need to practice your Musubi (Harmonious Interaction). When you are in the dojo in normal classes your job is to provide a realistic attack so that your training partner can learn and master a technique. You need to be a cooperative training partner and not try to counter or defeat them when they are learning. It is very easy to defeat what you know is coming. If your partner were not working on a specific technique your resistance would just lead to a different solution with the same outcome, your demise. As a warrior, you need to understand that the more you “die” in the dojo, the better the odds of you surviving on the street. If you are always winning, then you are probably not training correctly.

I have been training in martial arts for over 30 years and I can proudly say that I have never injured anyone. I have caused lots of pain but I have never damaged my training partners. If you learn to train safely, then you too can have a long and prosperous martial arts career. If you don’t then you will never make it to the really cool stuff that interested you in taking martial arts in the first place.

Michael Jutoshi Eichenberg
The Warrior’s Edge
Naperville, IL
Jizaikan Kancho

                          

How can we as warriors have successful lives? We are all part of the Jizai organization, and Jizai means continual pursuit of perfection. How can we begin to apply these same principles to our lives? Let’s take a look at the Aiki Kihon Happo and the principles that it represents.

Ikkyo is the frst of the Aiki Kihon Happo and the principle that it teaches us is to “Enter In”. Entering in means that we need to go forward with our lives, understanding that the past is exactly that, the past and there is nothing that we can do to change it. So many people allow past experiences to control them, they were hurt at some point and rather than facing the pain and the problem they try to bury it, with forms of avoidance. Most people know or soon learn that
emotions related to the challenge will resurface at a later time and perhaps, be even more diffcult to deal with.

People can also have something great happen in their lives and they pretty much do the same thing, continually re-living the experience never seeing what their life has become.

The present is the only place where we can truly live our lives, so check in and get on with living. Every moment in life is new and glorious, be present and experience all of the creator’s beautiful nature as it unfolds.  Trust your true nature to know what comes next. It is that truth that will make you free.

Nikyo, the second principal of the Aiki Kihon Happo teaches us to “set things up”. A simple way to put this is to have a plan.  Being present is really the only way to live and experience what this world has to offer.  Even with this knowledge the warrior must take time to plan for the future.

Success means different things to different people. The only way for one to be successful is to write out a personal defnition of success. Once we know what success looks like it is easier to write a step by step plan on how to get there. A good process to master is fnding others who have had a similar defnition of success. The key is this individual must already be successful in this area by your standards. Create a study of the steps that they took to get where they are now, this is likely to help you with your planning.

Sankyo is the third in this set; it teaches us the principle of “moving around the problem”. One of the things that we have learned from great military minds is that they plan for the future. They are also shrewd in their application of skills useful in addressing a variety of concealed problems. Take the time to fnd any potential pitfalls and make alternate plans that will enable you to successfully navigate around the problem and still attain your goal.

Yonkyo the fourth lesson in this set of teachings shows us the power of indifference. It might seem a little strange for us to need this quality. I agree, but let me explain. Indifference is active detachment. This is often mistaken as being, uncaring, however it is caring enough to let go and trust. To be a successful person, it takes a lot of hard work and smart planning. The problem with this is that when we put all levels of effort into our plans we end up becoming attached not only to our plan but also the outcome. Even though we have another way to achieve our goal we may unwittingly hesitate, thinking about all we lost at the last crossroads. The power of indifference allows us to keep moving forward.  By waiting too long, we might miss the opportunity that always presents itself. GO! You planned and prepared for what comes your way.

Gokkyo The ffth lesson teaches us to “strike during the technique”. We must understand that nothing is done in isolation. What I mean by that is when one thing happens it causes a chain reaction. A stone thrown into a lake causes a ripple affect that reaches to the far shore, even though the waves might become so small that it is undetectable to the human eye. Why is this important? This tells us that we must be aware of the things that are going on around us and even things that happen far away and seem inconsequential. It also tells us that we affect events as well.  Never forget you
have this ability.

Rokkyo This Sixth lesson teaches us to “lead”. Simply put this means to take responsibility. All true leaders understand that they control their own environment and anything that happens within that environment is what they put there. A person that has friends who are always getting into trouble not only allows those people to be in their life but has attracted them. Have you ever noticed that most people that are abused in relationships might get out of that relationship but soon fnd themselves in another abusive relationship? Once someone comes to grips with the knowledge
that they are the only one that controls their life then that person becomes truly powerful.

Nanakyo The seventh lesson that we can apply to our goal of becoming successful teaches us to be “skin-tight”. This means that we need to be in touch with our plan for becoming successful. Every morning take 5-10 minutes to review you goals, this will help you to be focused on the things that are important. We also want to review your goals right before bed this allows your subconscious mind to get into the action. You will wake with great ideas and fnd that circumstances start to lend themselves to helping you accomplish your goals.

Hachikyo the eighth and fnal principle from this series teaches us to “become the center”. Becoming the center says that we are in control but because of that we need to make sound decisions about not only the things that we do, but also the things that we think, and say. If I allow myself to think about negative things, then those negative thoughts directly affect what I bring into my life.

By thinking on negative things I bring those very things to me. So many people think I hate being fat so I am going to lose weight. The problem is that the subconscious mind does not understand negative.The only thing it knows is that you are using a lot of mental energy thinking about fat so it is going help and bring that into your life. Always think positive and this will help to keep the positive fow in your life. By the way cursing is negative thoughts taking fight through your mouth. Our training halls are supposed to be positive uplifting places, and that is why bad language is not allowed.

Ninpo Ikkan,
Michael Francis
Kage Dojo, Columbus, OH

Originally published Sept2007 Jizaikan newsletter

                          

An example of Jizaikan basic techniques. These are Kyu level techniques. Considered fundamental and not a demonstration of advanced intermediate or advanced techniques.

                          

See larger image Aiki Ninjutsu (The Two-Fold Path of the Warrior) (Paperback) By (author) Thomas Jotoshi Maienza, Michael Jutoshi Eichenberg New From: $24.99 In Stock Used from: $24.98 In Stock

This comprehensive book covers the history of the 12 systems that make up the curriculum for Aiki Ninjutsu. A must have for a serious student of the warrior tradition.

Topics Covered Include:
> Samurai/Ninja myths vs. reality
> Philosophy of Aiki Ninjutsu
> Discussion of the 36 secrets found in Aiki Ninjutsu
> Fundamental Techniques
> 4 Aspects of Winning
> 4 Aspects of Musubi
> Mental Focus secrets
> Deai
> Inner Balance
> Practical Meditation
> Understanding the Elements

And much, much more!

Expert from the book:

Japan’s violent history molded two of the world’s most fearsome warriors, the honorable and fearless samurai and the masterful and cunning ninja. These two warrior systems have been handed down for centuries independently, but now they have finally come together to form the most complete Japanese martial arts system ever assembled. Combining the mental training of honor and integrity mastered by the samurai warriors with the perseverance mentality of the ninja has created a martial art system known as Aiki Ninjutsu. This system takes the harmonious blending with as attacker’s energy or Ki and finishes the encounter with a bone breaking or pressure point attacking technique used by the legendary ninja warriors. Look behind the legends and lore and learn some of the secrets that have made these two warriors the most feared and respected in all of human history.

                          

Naturally, when I learned that this year’s Jizaikan Chicago shugyo involved training with Jotoshi Maienza and a Delta Force Instructor, Jarod and I absolutely could not resist signing up. As we understood it, we were going to be learning stealthy techniques to infiltrate, interrogate and assassinate someone planning a dastardly deed. This is the exciting stuff movies are made of, and training of this sort could drive me well on my way to a starring role in an Angelina Jolie comedic satire. Of course, I’d end up in a body cast by the end of the movie (as I surely will do in reality). Also, the shugyo was slated to include teachings from Jotoshi Maienza of the Ten Chi Jin scroll, climbing arts, and use of metsubushi (blinding powder). I was ecstatic to be able to learn these incredible things, and felt so fortunate to even have the opportunity to study with such exceptionally knowledgeable instructors.

Friday started out as any other weekday. I awoke early, typed a few reports for the hospital, and shuttled my 14-year-old son safely to school. That’s when my escape from reality began. With the help of my little 11-year-old ninja, Jarod and I finished loading my car and headed to Sensei Messner’s home. We had to finish a few odds and ends, but soon we were on our way to a fascinating weekend. The conversations of the 6+ hour drive were compelling, the music was pumping and energy was high. Unfortunately, too high and we missed a turn, which took us about an hour out of the way. No problem! Of course we hit Chicago rush-hour traffic, which set us back even more, but hey, what’re you gonna do? A true ninja adapts to any situation. We made the trip unscathed and still high on energy, in good spirits and psyched for the incredible weekend that lay ahead.

Since we were behind schedule, we unfortunately did miss out on the night concealment strategies. The other participants were deep into training, so we brought our belongings into the lodge, found some bunk beds, and headed out to the trail. As I was walking along, I noticed some odd figures alongside the gravel road. Those oddities turned out to be people, dressed in camouflage and black clothing, slinking along theroad, distorting their bodies so as not to be seen. Very stealthy! I felt embarrassed, as I had no idea how long I had walked and talked unknowingly amongst these people. The drill ended about the time we reached the leaders, but we were able to glean a bit of knowledge from simple observation and few more concluding pointers from Kancho Eichenberg.

The night concluded with getting to know people around the campfire and roasting marshmallows. Is there a Japanese word for Smores? I remember watching the people there (most of them had known each other for years), and thinking how special a group of people they were. It was like observing a family reunion. Everyone was so friendly, joyous, and full of life. But Jarod and I were tired from a long day and left for bed.

I awoke Saturday morning early and headed for the shower…the cold shower. The insanely cold shower! The oh-my-goodness-my-goose bumps-have-goose bumps shower. But WOW did that wake me up! It turns out the pipes were switched. Ya. I could have had a warm shower. Oh well. Always glean positive from a negative situation…I saved utilities! After a satisfying breakfast, we headed out to the training field for some intense training from the Ten Chi Jin scroll, which was incredible. We acquired a vast amount of knowledge from the Ten Chi Jin scroll, Jarod broke his bokken, and I swear I broke my butt.

Around noon, we took lunch, which included a very delicious shredded BBQ chicken sandwich, hot dog and chips. Jarod befriended a couple of delightful boys from Chicago, and I had the privilege of sharing a table with Kancho Eichenberg and his wife, Michelle; Jeff Gregorec, the Delta Force Instructor; Sensei Messner; and a couple other Chicago students. The conversations were intriguing, and I was honored to have the opportunity to get to know each of them.

Mid afternoon…time to play like the Special Forces do. We learned how to move as a unit through the woods, which included navigating dense shrubbery, and crossing paths and open spaces as stealthily as possible. Our training also included hand signals required to move a unit without verbal communication.

We quickly decided our roles, which were Jim (a Chicago student) as point, Jarod and Sensei taking left and right, and myself watching the back. We broke off the main path and deep into the shrubs and poison ivy (and boy, did Jarod ever suffer from poison ivy in the few days post shugyo). At first, I found myself making so much noise, rustling through the shrubbery and cracking branches. I sounded like an elephant. It became easier to become stealthy as our time went on, or at least as stealthy as I can be.

We then spent some time surveying the camp, familiarizing ourselves with the layout and trails. Then off to the lodge, where we learned how to secure a building, attempting to enter as stealthily as possible regardless of the way the door opens. After learning this, we took a brisk walk down to some cabins, where we attempted to put this knowledge into effect. Also, we had to calculate the best way to get to the cabins undetected. Finally, we were shown how to ‘take out’ guards as quietly as possible, which included sneaking up behind, covering their mouth and nose, and some nasty spinal stuff.

After another satisfying meal (spaghetti, salad and bread), we were ready for our evening mission! We combined with another unit and were given our instructions. We were to find two sentries, gather information on where the target would be and when, and then ‘taking them out,’ of course. After this, our mission was to find a camera with a picture of the target, which was located in one of the cabins. We would then have the who, where and when needed to accomplish our mission.

After a brief meeting, we headed on our way to objective #1, boldly down a path to save time. Mistake. We were compromised almost immediately. Fortunately, we were given another chance. Off into the woods we went. We made our way through the dense shrubbery to the lodge, snapping small twigs (much quieter than earlier in the day), getting snagged on prickly bushes, and eaten by bugs. Our leaders decided to split our unit up to go around the lodge, then meet up at a ‘certain location’ at a preset time.

Sensei, Jim, Jarod and I traversed through the woods and made it to the lodge. Jarod and I stayed as look outs, while Sensei and Jim went about our first mission…interrogating the sentries, then ‘kill’ them. This happened very quickly. Unfortunately, I was not able to see our incredibly stealthy assassinators in action. They were fast, they were oh so quiet. The sentries said they never heard them coming. WHAM! The sentries suddenly found themselves flying backwards on the ground. The information was gathered and both sentries were quickly eliminated. The four of us then continued our plan to rendezvous with the rest of our unit. Unfortunately, the other team had yet to arrive. After waiting a few minutes, we came to the conclusion that the team must have went on to objective #2, which was securing the cabins and gathering intel on who the target was. We decided to proceed with the mission and head to the place the target would be, and wait. One problem…we forgot to exchange cell phone numbers.

In actuality, we had no idea what happened to the other team, where they were, if they had proceeded to the next objective. Sensei, Jarod and I sat and listened to two men speaking, one of whom was our target, while Jim proceeded to objective #2 to find the other team. We must have sat for an hour. It was a very memorable hour though. I sat pondering the night. Here I was, a single 34-year-old mother, at-home transcriptionist, for a weekend living the life of a commando. What a wild concept. What a crazy concept. What an out-of-the-box concept. I remember feeling so fortunate to be a part of an organization like the Jizaikan. A place that can bring such adventure and knowledge to an absolutely ordinary woman. Would I ever use these things I had learned in real life? Perhaps. I can always sneak up on my teenagers now!

I did learn some invaluable lessons on the value of our role in society, working together to achieve a desirable outcome, trusting leadership, building friendships, and that I can accomplish grueling tasks even when at the point of complete exhaustion. I remember listening to the locusts and tree frogs, feeling the crisp September evening air, and being thrilled my life had led me to this fairytale destination. Oh, snap! Back to reality! Dang it! Another team sniped the target! Game over.

Saturday, September 5th was coming to an end. What a day. Oh my goodness, I could hardly believe I made it through it. Our extraordinary day ended after a bit more time spent at the campfire, then the exhaustion was too much to bear. Jarod and I went back to our bunks, laid down, and were OUT COLD! Sunday included more training from the Ten Chi Jin taught by Jotoshi Maienza, climbing tactics, and metsubushi eggs. Using the metsubushi eggs was a blast! The first egg Sensei threw at me went right in my mouth. I had a gasping, oh beep look on my face. Baby powder down the esophagus. Not good. I gagged and coughed…ewe! Training with the metsubushi was so exciting, and we all were subsequently baby-powder fresh and soft! We then worked on climbing tactics, including running up trees (of course Jarod was on pins and needles waiting for this and has used it quite a bit since), and scaling walls.

We then were the honored audience for an absolutely incredible and amazing black belt test cemented by Karri Rahkonen. This test had its own inherent lesson, that I and the other Budo Kai students need to step it up! We concluded our time at the Girl Scout camp by exercising some community service and cleaned the lodge. We said our farewells to our fellow martial friends, and headed out.

The trip back was not as energetic, but still enjoyable. We rolled into Mansfield around midnight. The knowledge I attained through this shugyo could have taken a lifetime to learn; from the Aiki-Ninjutsu techniques, the brief Special Forces training, and most importantly, the life lessons learned and friendships made. This was an unforgettable experience that I count myself very privileged to have taken part of. I’m very grateful for all of the people who took the incredible amount of time needed to put the shugyo together; the leadership, the cooks, the planners…they are all truly heroes. Thank You!

Author – Sandy Lykins
Budo Kai dojo