Mats blog

Sorry about the title but I promised Dean that this would be the title for this blog. It is an internal joke that might not be apprpriate for this blog, but please feel free to ask me or Dean in person :-D.

Last week we had a Shinken Kata seminar in Stockholm with Dean Rostohar from Croatia. Where he taught unarmed defence against one or more unarmed opponents, opponents with knife or pistol. He mainly taught how to use knife and pistol in a real fight situation (Shinken kata). Also a couple of tactical manouvers how to take out a guard, or arresting someone, protecting someone else and much more.

The feeling of the techniques felt very real, one 9th dan participant told me that Dean sure have a lot of experience compared to what he have seen from other military combat instructors. I agree, Dean certainly knows what he is talking about when it comes down to Shinken kata. I personally have not so much experience with what the police or military teach, I know they teach Krav Maga (KM from here) to police and military now. That might be good, I don't know? What Dean taught was not KM, but Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu! He claims that what he teach and practice all comes from Hatsumi Soke and Bujinkan, and yes I have to agree.

I have seen Hatsumi Soke many times teach techniques and principles the same way as Dean taught at this seminar. Hatsumi Soke is teaching many people in many layers at the same time. So for example if you are into "real fighting" (in Bujinkan we just call it Shinken kata) and have experience you can learn a lot. It is not like KM, it is way more. Like Dean expressed many times during the seminar you should practice from the worst possible condition. One example he showed was that his pistol was under his sweatshirt and jacket and not so easy to draw quickly. It was quite obvious that he had trained a lot on this when he draw the pistol.

Techniques is not so important as to train the mind for real fighting. You should also prepare your mind for worst possible outcome so that you will not be surprised. In Bujinkan we call this banpen fuugyou (10 000 changes no surprise).

There is quite a few police, military, bodyguards, security guards that is practicing in Bujinkan, and Dean is one of the best in my opinion. I highly recommend you to attend one of his Shinken kata seminars if you can. He will be back here in Stockholm in September 2008, make sure you don't miss it.

Take a look at Kaigozan Dojo's photo album of pictures from this seminar, CLICK HERE!

This seminar was also recorded and will be released on DVD, CLICK HERE for more information.

A big thanks to Dean from all of us, for coming here and so happily share your knowledge. You are a really good guy :-)

/Mats