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Andragogue Or Pedagogue? (part 2)
Andragogy is a pedagogy adapted to adults. (1)
It primarily deals with education. This article is the follow-up of our previous article on the subject, published two weeks ago. (2)
In this second part, we will cover the last three items of the andragogy system developed by Knowles. (3)
Japan is a hierarchical cultural society, and andragogy is not the best system for their culture. Westerners…
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Do You Believe In Andragogy Or Pedagogy? (part 1)
A few months ago, Sebastian from Brazil came to train in Paris for a week. We had fun on the mats and outside and discussed a lot. Pedagogy in the dōjō was one topic. At one point, Sebastian coined “Andragogy” or “pedagogy for adults.” I didn’t know the term. After reading about it, I would like to share my thoughts here. (1)
When you create a new dōjō from scratch as a young teacher, beginner…
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True Bujin Trains Reversible Thinking. Are You?
A critical aspect of Budō is to accept the change offered by Nature. We keep adapting our certitudes to new realities. This evolution requires hard work and humility.
As a young teacher, I was sure I knew all the correct answers. And I was critical of the other high-rank teachers. It was more “ego” than “knowledge” with a pinch of immaturity. We all go down the same rabbit hole. The main goal on…
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Kawaru: Are You Giving A Chance To Change?
This morning, I read a post by my friend Alexander Ivanov, a Wudang instructor from Sofia, Bulgaria. The following sentence made me think and enticed me to write about change.
“To blindly go where everyone walks is the same as ignoring a new experience for the familiar.”
In other words, following the same behaviour as others does not get you anywhere. Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same…
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Master One To Master All
At the end of the class, Nagato sensei said, “if you master one thing, you can master anything”.
It reminded me of how Musashi became a fantastic painter after mastering the art of the sword. (1) In his famous book “Gorin no Sho”, he writes, “When I apply the principle of strategy to the ways of different arts and crafts, I no longer require a teacher in any domain.” (2)
This universal mastery…
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Encounter With A Polisher
The Japanese Dai Shihan show how to polish our movements; I call them “polishers” for that reason.
My younger son Amaury is 27 years old, and this is his first Japan trip. Entering Nagato sensei’s class, he had the time of his life as he was his uke for the course. Being the son of the polar bear, it was obvious that Nagato sensei would use him as uke. I should have told him in advance, but…
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Kannin: Keep Going!
Theme for 2023 is Kannin, keep going!
With my brother-in-arms Pedro, and a few others, we had the chance to share lunch with Sensei. During this time, he said, “this year, the important is Kannin, keep going.” (1)
There are several meanings to Kannin. Kannin refers to a period in Japanese history at the beginning of the 11th century (1017-1021). (2)
Then during the Heian Jidai, it became a generic term referring to the officials…
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Change Is A Chance
Before the pandemic, I used to go and train in Japan every four months. It has been four years since my last trip in May 2019! Needless to say that I was dying to come back.
COVID has changed a lot of things in many aspects all over the world, in Europe and the Americas. So I was expecting to see the same here in Japan. And it is the case; change is everywhere in Japan. It might be a detail, but…
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Is Magic, Really Magic?
Is Magic, Really Magic?
Last Friday, we continued the study of the Tenchijin. We trained some basic Gyaku waza movements. After two years of pandemics, our dōjō is still trying to survive. Our training group is so small that it feels like beginning a new dōjō. We might rename the Kuma dōjō the dōjō of the phoenix!
I teach beginners, intermediates, and advanced all at once. Teaching various levels is difficult as each…
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Jūjiro Or The Indirect Fight
Jūjiro Or The Indirect Fight
In the Kukishin ryū, there is one central concept that many don’t know, and it is called “Jūjiro”. (1) With the pandemic, everyone experiences difficult times, and it seems that many of us should be reminded of some basic concepts. Jūjiro is one of them.
Bujinkan practitioners often do not understand or never heard of what is Jūjiro.
Let me refresh your memories about the Kukishin Ryū. When…
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Is 2022 A Dive Into The Abyss?
Is 2022 A Dive Into The Abyss?
Happy Shinnen to all! This 新年 (shinnen) is the Japanese for “New Year”. (1) This became a particular date only when humans began counting time. But this cosmic event has been going on for more than 4.5 billion years.
So if humans put so much weight on this date, I guess it is to get a new start every 365 days. In the Bujinkan, this fresh start always coincided with a new study theme. Sōke…
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Everything Is Possible
After many years you understand that whatever the odds, everything is possible as long as you don’t give up. If you can think outside the box, everything is possible. If you only follow the rules, you become the source of your limits. Thinking outside the box in Budō demands that you already have a deep understanding of the basics. The Kukishin Biken Jutsu details everything in three sets of…
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Can We Excel, Or Not?
Can We Excel, Or Not?
Studying martial arts is training to become the best budōka possible. But can you reach excellence?
The quest for excellence fuels the Budō passion, but excellence is a utopia, is it possible? But is it possible to get it even if you are not a divine being? I don’t think so.
I recently wrote a text on learning and the need to never stop learning. These days many ask what we can do when a…
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Never Stop Learning!
What makes humans different from monkeys? The brain. At least if you use it.
I do not think that people are using their neurons anymore, letting social media feel for them. This is sad, but it does not surprise me. We use our brains less than before. Is this “evolution” or “involution”? (1)
So why is the evolution of our society forcing us to use it less and less? When I listen to people aged…
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Asobi, Enjoy!
Stone with Shintō kami in the garden in honor to Hatsumi Sensei, by Pedro Fleitas, Dai Shihan, Canary Island
On Change
Changes can be positive or negative, but that doesn’t matter. I generally enjoy changes when they happen in my life. I believe that each accepted change improves who we are. This is a chance to evolve. During those times of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have the opportunity to…
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Is Your Life So Difficult?
Is Your Life So Difficult?
Do you find your life so difficult during the pandemic? Not if you get the proper attitude. The other day I read, “When life gives you lemons, add tequila,” and I loved it. (1) I loved it for two reasons. First, it is funny, and second, this exemplifies the attitude you develop through the study of Budō. Let me explain.
Whoever you are, life is never easy. Whether you are young or old, male or…
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Trust me, I’m a Ninja!
Trust me, I’m a Ninja!
In “Advanced Stick Fighting, Hatsumi Sensei speaks of Shinnyō, “thusness.” (1) (2) Known as Tathātā in Sanskrit, it defines “merely the way things are, the truth of all things.” (3)
This is also the real definition of “Shizen.” Due to limited time, teachers do not explain the depth of Shizen to their students. Shizen is not only “natural,” it is what “is in its natural state when there is no…
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