Martial Arts | Jinenkan Dojo, New York

Jinenkan Dojo Workshop Previews

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:23:09 +0000

Jinenkan Dojo Training Previews

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:19:16 +0000

Japan Training Videos, 2010

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:13:23 +0000

Nure Ochiba, A Wet Leaf

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:02:35 +0000

I got off the train from Kashiwa and rode one of the clunker bicycles back to the Dojo. Actually, they’re not really clunkers, in fact they’re respected machines that provide transportation to students who visit the Dojo from all over the world. We actually like them alot. They are old-lady bikes, pretty rusted up with baskets and squeeky brakes. But we all like them.

As I rolled into the parking lot of the Honbu Dojo, I saw Sensei outside sweeping the lot with take-bouki, a bamboo broom. Chad was helping him with another broom and was excited about how well it worked. He made some comments about how this type of broom could not be found at Home Depot.

Sensei explained that he was sweeping the parking lot because we’d be training outdoors and he wished it to be clean for keiko. He didn’t want me to help as he was enjoying the work. Possibly because there was no other brooms to be had.

The ground was wet with leaves. Sensei took a moment to explain an interesting cultural lesson that, according to him, is uniquely Japanese called “Nure Ochiba.”

Standing holding the broom in one hand, Sensei pointed to the ground and looked at me saying “Nure Ochiba means wet leaves, it is like an older man in Japan. They become a wet leaf once they stop working. Their wife tries to sweep them out of the house to do something. They do not want to leave.” Sensei then bushed a wet leaf on the ground and of course it didn’t move. It stuck to the wet ground no matter how many times he swept.

He went on to explain how important it is to grow old and keep starting new things. To get out of the house and find activity, to fill your life with new excitement, not just sit around. Women apparently get aggravated with this type of laziness and it ends in divorce according to Sensei. Many men get divorced and their wife leave them Sensei explained, the men live a life only to be a wet leaf. “I am always busy, doing new things to enjoy my life. This makes my wife very happy. I am like a leaf in the wind, not stuck to the ground.”

Tameshigiri Contest

admin — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 05:05:44 +0000

Mario Riccobon, Winner of the Tameshigiri Contest. 6.26.2010

There are few things more enjoyable to me than cutting targets with swords. I’ll go on a limb and say say that I speak on behalf of quite a few of the students at our Dojo. But when the fun is met with a challenge to compete with your Buyu (martial friend), well it just takes on a new life.

I decided to host a small cutting contest at the Jinenkan Kouseigougi Dojo just prior to my leave for Japan. A small group of top students, together on a Saturday afternoon to give it their best and be held to the fire. The reward for the finest cuts was a nice Paul Chen Tanto. There was a warm up for about forty five minutes, then the challenge.

So here are the rules. You get one chance to make two set of cuts. You begin with one single wrap roll of tatami mat straw, soaked for 24 hours prior. The goal is to successfully achieve as many clean cuts as possible prior to hitting the peg that holds the roll upright… Hit the peg and you’re disqualified. Each clean cut is one point. No scallops, no blossoms. Clean angles with now blowouts. Your mat droops over, no adjusting.

Upon finishing the first set, you immediately turn one hundred eighty degrees to another mat roll on a stand and attempt any sequence of cuts your wish. The only stipulation is that you must cut a piece from the roll cleanly and then cut that falling piece before it hits the ground. Not so easy. You don’t get any points unless contact is made. A clean second cut is five points. If you skim it, half a point. You get idea. One shot.

When the competition was done, everyone was cheering for Mario Riccobon, who successfully made seven clean cuts on the first mat and then nailed a kiri age to dou on the falling piece. In other words, he cut up a forty five degree angle and then horizontally across as it was falling. Mario told me that was the first time he’d ever done that cut successfully. Way to go Mario.

What a fun afternoon event, one that I know will get more popular as time goes on.
Hope to see you on the mat…. or at least cutting a few. Adam

Mario DeMol, Jinenkan Belgian Dojo Cho Workshop Review

admin — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:07:17 +0000

“This is why I study what I study.” My hakama was ripped to shreds on Friday and my dogi was torn today. As we approached the final hour of training under the senior European student of Unsui Sensei’s, the thought occurred to me that – this is it. As Mario DeMol was was clearly detailing each step of the next kata, I peered around at what was in my Dojo. It was a blissful feeling that only a martial artist could understand. You could squeegee puddles of sweat on the floor – there was not a dry spot. Students from all over the US, drenched and attentively absorbing Mario Sensei’s lesson. Some had shredded knees from ground training and there were a few pulled muscles that would be tended to later. Joints were taped together, a few heads were bloodied up and everyone was panting for air in the butter-thick humidity of true keiko. In a sense it was horribly perfect.

Mario became a Dojo Cho (Instructor) under Unsui Sensei back when Sensei lived in Baltimore, prior to him moving back to Japan. That weekend, he conducted his first test as an instructor with students from our Dojo. Since that point forward, Mario Sensei has held an important place among the leadership at our Dojo in New York.

Friday evening began the first session of training at the Dojo with the study of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu Tai no Kata. These are thoroughly brutal techniques for throwing your training opponent to their end. But first, basics. Thorough training on striking, blocking, rolling and shikkou. The fundamentals of this Jujutsu tradition. There are no points or tapping, it is true combat with in every sense.

The following afternoon was spent training the Togakure Ryu Bikenjutsu, the sword techniques of the Togakure lineage, in Central Park. What a spectacle it must have been, to be on the pitching mound at one of the many ball fields in the park, only to peer over at 30 people swinging swords and screaming at each other. Well, I suppose there are more bizarre things to see in Central Park on a beautiful spring afternoon. Students from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts were among the attendees training alongside our New York members.

Our final day was spent studying the Koto Ryu Shoden Kata (Omote and Ura). The Dojo was crowded and hot…before we bowed in. Mario Sensei chose to warm the group up with several hundred cuts with suburito (heavy wood training sword), going through karatakewari, kihontoho and Raiko no Ken. Following this, we progressed in the Jinen Ryu Iai, Shiho Giri. For many students, this was new material. Shiho giri is a ritualistic set of sword cutting in four directions. Each particular movement is extremely specific, from the drawing of the weapon to the finishing bow. The name implies the feeling of cutting down the demons in all directions and the technique is a formality often demonstrated upon the opening of a new home or Dojo. It’s not a Kata that is Ryu-ha specific, but according to Unsui Sensei, it’s important for us all to be studying right now.

The last three hours were to be the most grueling. The Koto Ryu is a system of close quarter fist fighting, meant to break the bones and structural integrity of your opponent’s body. I know, it sounds brutal. Well…it is. Mario Sensei’s highly polished understanding of these techniques only magnified the effectiveness of each move and the pain that was creeping into the Dojo from the sun. Hit and hit hard. Complain about the heat over a cool drink following training. You tear the muscle here, you break the temple here, break the rib here, the elbow will be damaged here, drop them with their neck this way.

It was one of those times where things get so good, you feel sad when it’s over and you feel bloody relieved that it’s over. The Dojo was pristine when we bowed in and within minutes the distinct flavor of keikogi sweat and Japanese incense could be tasted in the hot air. As always, Mario DeMol’s teaching pushed everyone to their limits and then a bit further.

Welcome to the Jinenkan Dojo

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:42:43 +0000

Located in Mahopac, New York, the Jinenkan Dojo is an authentic martial arts training facility dedicated to the preservation of the classical Japanese warrior craft. The opportunities available to people of all ages and abilities at the Jinenkan Dojo are countless. Our Dojo continues to serve not only families and individuals, but also public and private schools, community groups, police departments and businesses within Putnam County, New York and beyond.

Please take your time and enjoy our informative website. Then if you have any questions regarding membership or wish to join, please feel free to contact us.

Shibu Dojo

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:11:35 +0000

Our students are from all over the world. Learn about our training group leaders and find out if there is a Jinenkan Shibu Dojo in our area.

JINENKAN RI KOUSEIGOGI SHIBU DOJO
Peter Milano, Shibu-Cho
Newport, RI 02840

Phone: 1.914.621.7668
Email: info@jinenkanri.com

Mr. Peter Milano has been a student of Adam Mitchell since he was ten years old, spending more than half his life studying traditional Japanese martial arts. During this time, Peter has traveled extensively to Japan to study directly under Manaka Unsui Sensei. He is a student of Japanese language and a trusted representative of the Jinenkan by both Adam Mitchell Sensei and Unsui Sensei.

In 2009, Peter moved from his home in Brewster, New York to Newport, Rhode Island with the one goal of offering Jissen Kobudo Jinenkan to traditional Japanese martial art enthusiast in the Ocean State. Currently, Peter teaches regular classes twice a week in Taijutsu, Kenjutsu and Weapons. He continues yearly travel to Japan and works closely with the students of the Jinenkan all over the world.

JINENKAN VA KOUSEIGOGI SHIBU DOJO
Marshall Brown, Shibu-Cho
Rockwood Plaza Shopping Center
3531 Courthouse Road
Richmond, Virginia 23236

Phone: 1.804.525.6132
Email: info@richmondtactical.com

Mr. Marshall Brown is the head instructor of Richmond Tactical-Bugei in Richmond, VA. He has been involved with Martial Arts for most of his life, dedicating the past 14 years to the classical schools of Japan. He continues his path now as a student, and Shibu-Cho of the Koseigogi Shibu Dojo. Marshall feels very strong that people should always strive to have the attitude of a student, to never stop their progression in growing as a martial artist and as a person in life. It is his wish that all who train with him carry on this philosophy throughout their training and their life! Marshall is a former United States Marine and has graduated some of the top schools for firearms and protection training. He has worked for protection services out of DC on numerous details.

Adam Mitchell, Jinenkan Dojo Cho

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:11:17 +0000

Personal student of Unsui Sensei and head of the Jinenkan Kouseigogi Dojo in New York, Adam Mitchell has dedicated his life to the study and preservation of traditional Japanese martial arts. Mr. Mitchell is the only Jinenkan Dojo Cho (Certified Instructor) in the state of New York and has achieved the rank of Yon Dan (4th Degree Black Belt) under Manaka Unsui Sensei.

Mr. Mitchell has been teaching martial arts for over ten years professionally, teaching thousands of students at his Dojo as well as training students all over the world in workshops and seminars. He continually teaches programs in school districts, community programs and with law enforcement agencies. As well, Mr. Mitchell travels yearly to Japan to train with his Sensei, Manaka Unsui.

He is a husband and proud father of three small children and resides in Mahopac, New York.

Martial Arts Credentials:

Yon Dan (4th Degree) Jissen Kobudo Jinenkan
San Dan (3rd Degree) Kodokan Judo (USTJF)

Master Tactical Instructor, CDT Training 2001-Present
Last Resort Tactical Instructor – 2007

Manaka Unsui, Jinenkan Kancho

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:10:32 +0000

Unsui Sensei has over 50 years of experience in the Japanese arts of kobudo, having started training at the age of 14 as the first student of Masaaki Hatsumi Sensei. Unsui Sensei holds certificates of mastery (menkyo kaiden) in several martial schools and has formal training in many others. In 1996, Unsui Sensei founded the Jissen Kobudo Jinenkan.

For many years Unsui Sensei has made regular trips to the United States to conduct training seminars and to directly instruct his students. From April 2001 to May 2004 Manaka Sensei lived and trained in Baltimore, Maryland. His goal in this move from Japan was to allow martial artists in the United States and Europe easier access to him and to raise the level of training in these areas. With his goals achieved, he returned to Japan in June 2004. He continues his tradition of annual seminars in the U.S. and Europe.