I am sending all the best wishes from Germany to my Ginrei friends! I hope everbody is doing fine and you guysare happy. The closing of 2010 brings me to a state of reminiscing...
Looking back over 2 years of living in Budapest, its not understated to say that the Ginrei Dojo is the major reason why I miss Hungary nowadays. It was a coincidence (more or less) that I ran into the dojo of David Holt. It was may first contact with martial arts in general, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. In a way I was probably expecting huge muscle people who are smashing each others heads into dust while screaming red-faced and furiously. But then I got caught up by the simple and pure reality of ninjutsu.
It is so hard to describe or explain the true character and soul of ninjutsu. Thats why I recommend a real training rather than reading articles. This will bring you a lot closer to a essential principle of ninjutsu: the principle of feeling and awareness of your surrounding. I dont want to emphasize the philosphy of ninjutsu because people like Pavle already did a very good job in doing so. At this point I want to share what Ninjutsu and the dojo did for me.
I remember myself being in dangerous situations before I started ninjutsu. In these situations my body started to tense up and my mind went wild. Furthermore there was a very strong feeling inside me that told me not to walk away, no matter how silly and/or serious the situation was. Being inflexible in my mind and having no knowledge about how to use my body effectively, left me sometimes in pretty dumb and shitty situations.
After two years of training ninjutsu I've still been in some dangerous situations but with major differences now. Ninjutsu doesnt teach you mere highly effective and dangerous techniques which enable you to defend yourself effectively, it also lifts your mind to a higher level. Ninjutsu fills you with a high amount of inner strength, calmness, self-confidence and happiness.
The ability of surviving fights empowered me of simply walking away before they even start - with a smile on my face!
David Holt is an amazingly skilled and unique teacher whose mere intention isn't to transmit only the techniques and principles but the true heart of this wonderful art. And happiness therefore is automatically included :)
I want to thank the whole Ginrei Dojo for showing me the happiness of a big martial arts family! It really was a honor and pleasure to train with you guys and I hope we can continue to do so in the next summer/ and or starcamp. And of course I want to thank you Dave! Not only for sharing your useful skills but especially for making me a happier person who is nowadays more in control of his life than before. Thank you for being a good friend Dave!
I miss all of you crazy people and cant wait to see you again!
Üdv
Siegfried
It is always great to have serious and good people like you coming. It is sad you have to live so far away now but you will always be a part of us, Your welcomed here any time my friend. See you at the camps and it was my pleasure to see you become so good, my job is to make you better. Your job was to LIVE it, We did our jobs! Take care buddy
VálaszTörlésHey Sigfried!!! It was really great having you in our trainings and we are always happy to see you!!! It makes me trully happy having people who feel what Dave teaches with their hearts and not just come and learn to “kick ass”. It is sad, but true - not so many people understand what is really behind ninjutsu, yet it is so simple and natural and comes form honesty and good intentions.
VálaszTörlésAnd the “philosohical” part is nothing more than just a different level of what I said above – and it is what’s behind that’s important and not the words themselves – and this exactly what you wrote! To be happy, control your life and enjoy it:)
I am also happy that I met Dave In on my path and to be honest it also happened with me in a similar way – I didn’t search too much and I didn’t evaluate and compare martial arts – I just came to training:))))) And up to this day I am so happy it happened this way! Thank you Dave!!!
I also would like to add this quote of Hatsumi – just to show how much close it is what he says about the essence of this art and trainings:
“At your trainings I felt as though I am training in a garden amongst flowers and not in a training hall. When I made a mistake you said “This is my fault, I didn’t teach you that”” – words of Dr. Hatsumi to Takamatsu Sensei
Sigfried, I wish you all the best of luck with your studies, work and everything else that you are going to do and that you are planning to do! I believe that there are many things behind everything that happens in our lives – and it is not by chance that all of us met:)
Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
good to hear form you S! your post reminds me of the poem Papasan gave us about the so called "winner", who always fought every confrontation, and "won" and his friend who always avoided these things
VálaszTörlésin your case if someone gives you a hard time I guess you firstly gave the person a "last warning", if he doesn't take it, then, well... :)))
hope to see you next sc, and have a really great and successful next year!