इत्सुत्सू-नो-KATA

The ITSUTSU-NO-KATA has five forms that are meant to evoke the movements of the UNIVERSE or the natural motions of GREAT NATURE and it is likely that this s more 'esoteric' from of JUDO created by the late Dr. Jigoro Kano may well have been increased and expanded and also each form named by him, but his 1938 death prevented this and that is why only five are known-BUT-very few persons know them or do them, let along, understand them-THESE NATURAL & EFFICIENT MOTIONS can be seen in various martial arts systems and in occult rituals and rites and related things, if one observes carefully when possible or undertakes a study and practice. One can glimpse TIDAL & WATER MOTIONS somewhat in these techniques done by two persons,and I suspect that Dr. Kano developed these after learning about and seeing AIKIDO before he died(I am not sure, but I think he actually met OSENSEI UESHIBA and had some aikido taught at the Kodokan and sent one or two judoka to study Aikido(TOMIKI being one of them).

थे फिगुरे 'एइघ्त'(८) पत्तेर्ण इन मर्तिअल आर्ट्स

Martial Artists use many motions and patterns in their basics and in their forms, which are often grouped as 'kata' to use one Japanese word most familiar to practitioners now in vogue...and often described by the competitive minded as 'useless' or by those who demand 'practical self-defense' and street or military tactics....all well and good.....in some instances.....but on an esoteric level, THE FIGURE EIGHT or INFINITY SIGN(when on its side) is an example of a universal pattern found in GREAT NATURE & THE UNIVERSE and in several martial arts, such as ARNIS DI MANO,etc.... Many examples of this 'SACRED GEOMETRY' can be given and also demonstrated to some extent....The more effective blocks, parries, deflections, strikes,kicks,etc. tend to follow the more natural curves, motions, pathways,etc. which can be termed, 'FLOW'...... To discover and understand such, you have only to look at certain things to obtain an insight......many patterns and forms tend to repeat themselves, endlessly or make a particular direction.....which can be found in many esoteric symbols, which will not be discussed here beyond the 'figure-eight'... Here is an exercise that one can do and perhaps find out something, if only about themselves..... Go to a laundrymat or mart and watch the dryers spin around, especially if they are paired,up and down, ones across a wall and if nearly all of them are in motion.... what do you observe? Most of you will tend to find the motions very monotonous and repetitive and this is what GREAT NATURE often does: repeats endless patters and motions....on and on...etc.....unless something re-directs the 'force',the 'motion' etc....or the 'flow'... Endless chains of flow occur, called KADENA or CADENA...in some arnis systems..but this is not what I want bring up fully...instead....watch the clothes in these dryers spinning about and watch the patterns made by the various clothes, many colored, many white, many of all shades,etc...as they spin....CLOCKWISE....you will not find a 'machine' going counter clockwise, will you? So you can see how this 'wheel' applies to you and life in general...but you may, as you gaze intently at these dryers in motion, see patterns, and apparent variations in speeds, due to weight of the loads,etc..... Here, you can, if you know how, begin to see patterns of possible flow and use THE POWER OF IMAGINATION & THE POWER OF SUGGESTION for yourself ad you gaze...... Most persons ignore these spins for more 'practical' reasons: drying clothes or chit-chat and not for possible reference to martial arts or other phases of life...... More on this topic and the various figures that one might consider....another time.

गो विथ थे FLOW

Over the years, I have criticized those who who say or advocate,'GO WITH THE FLOW' when the directions of the FLOW are not specified or understood and THE PATH has to be accepted before anyone can do anything or know the aims or goals or where one will end up.....a great risk....without knowledge but only belief as a guide.... When it comes to martial arts, you cannot expect 'enlightenment' to occur in BUSHIDO, for example, or any particular martial arts, such as aikido, karate,etc. without practicing the essential movements and basics.........as many frequently attempt to do.... 'GO WITH THE FLOW' might just as well be stated as 'GO WITH THE GLOW'! No amount of concepts and diagrams will make you an ice skater, a gymnast, an acrobat or a martial artist because techniques must be learned first....and these are sometimes rudimentary basics...which can and do evolve into patters and forms...which are often neglected and disdained for 'FREE STYLE' or anything goes....but free style is something that one achieves only after an intense discipline and not from haphazard attempts and efforts....usually with a guide or mentor or teacher...etc. whatever title one chooses to select for this....but one can, from one's varied experiences over the years discern some things, especially from GREAT NATURE.....certain patterns and 'flows & glows' and motions that exist.........these can be used to perfect martial arts and other things....

THE SENSE OF SMELL

Few martial artists understand or utilize the SENSE OF SMELL except in certain instances and occasions,yet this important sense is not to be neglected if you wish to be a martial artist and know the 'esoteric' foundations of such. Unfortunately, few contemporary persons in 'civilization' as it exists today know what this entails because more persons tend to dull this important sense and have had absolutely no real training in it, despite the prevalence of various perfumes, incenses, aroma therapy items and the like because many only mask and remove their specific odors and scents and those of the natural world around them in various ways. Let us take what might be a 'socially important' odor: BAD BREATH. Bad breath can be an important weapon if developed but few will do this in an age of innumerable mouth washes, gargles, 'breath-savers', etc. and we tend to avoid the clues that anyone's oral breath could or can give use, such as, what they just ate. The same would be true if one was in the forest and came upon a pile of excrement. Some might know the difference between rabbit manure, dog manure, bird droppings,etc. and possibly human waste in woodland/forest areas if they should come upon it, but would they know other things about it, possibly derived, depending on how long it was on the ground, what the creature, whether man or beast or bird, had eaten? I think not. Most of us would tend to rely merely on the sense of sight. NOW CONSIDER THIS, suppose you are in a forest or a city and there is not light and it is dark, pitch-dark, and you cannot see and you do not hear anything around you but suppose a strange scent, a bad odor,etc. aroused you, what would you know from this? Could you detect the smell of a an animal, a snake, a man or a woman, or whatever? NOW, believe it or not, but every person has his own unique smell, some of it cultural to be sure. For example, people who chew and eat garlic and some types of herbs and spices will have such a scent around them which is detectable. Smokers, of course, heavy ones, exude a strong tobacco odor that non-smokers can sense immediately in their presence and they reek to high heaven as their clothes tend to become saturated with the odor. Alcoholics and drunks have a certain small about them-of alcohol and beer,etc. BUT there is more, US Citizens,socalled 'Americans" smell like MILK to many Asians, that is, as if they were made of milk. ASIANS usually don't use or drink much milk except incertain exceptions, like ice cream. Dairy products like cheese may be imited. Yak butter and carabao cheese,etc, are items not in the usual American diet, of course. Nevertheless, when you embrace people try to 'breathe in' their specific scent, even if they stink. You might be surprised at what you really learn about them and yourself.

THE ALLURE OF MARTIAL ARTS

Once one is over the fascination and glamour of the martial arts, whatever they are, one can then begin real work and study of them. Clearing the mind of fantastic notions, theories,ideas, and attempts to accomplish marvelous,extraordinary and stupendous feats abandoned, one can perhaps learn and perceive what martial arts are really all about. The commercial trappings that seem to surround these ancient and modern martial arts,wherever found, distract many from the true and real path but cannot always be avoided but have to be recognized CONSCIOUSLY for what they are in any case.

SEEING & OBSERVING

Many people have seen various martial arts feats,performances, tournaments, demonstrations, exhibitions, or lessons and classes involving martial arts, BUT HAVE THEY EVER OBSERVED SUCH? oBSERVATION IS NOT SIMPLY SEEING SUCH. True observation requires you be there, that you OBSERVE and are AWARE,not passively letting things flow in front of you. Yes, people have seen much,especially via media and confuse that with actuality/reality and believe they 'know all about' whatever it is being presented,etc. This is why when all the people watching such things, as martial arts, leqave the scene, they cannot do anything they have witnessed! This is because they have not observed, at least to the degree necessary to take away certain impressions and influences based on a truly conscious presence. FOR THOSE WHO ARE AWAKE, this is why the old masters never allowed people to merely attend or witness or 'observe' their methods and practices except on rare exceptions, like when defending themselves or others. In today's electronic universe, everything is hanging out, ready like hanging grapes to pick off U-TUBE and elsewhere or DVD's books,etc. which is good if you can grab things that way and really make them your own. Whenever I go anywhere I try to come away with something that others will leave behind, because,as has been said, 'their cups are full when they arrive'! Whatever masters, instructors, experts,etc. I have been fortunate to meet, to know, to befriend, I have always been privileged to obtain something from them,whether tangible or intangible, and without OBLIGATING MYSELF as much as possible,that is, owing them great debts of gratitude,etc. If they want to show me personally something, I do not refuse,let alone attempt to do what so many others do(show them my ways,unless they really insist and ask). In this way, I had many valuable lessons and am still learning,not teaching. If you understand this, then perhaps you will b egin to really observe while others merely see and watch and applaud,etc.

THE MANNER OF DYING

HOW you die is as important as when you die or where you die, if not more so. That everyone and everything dies is a truism everyone seems to accept. The goal of many is to live a long life and to die peacefully, but few really achieve this, and many end up in a drugged stupor surrounded by strangers and not family or friends. Their machine(s) are kept alive as long as possible by 'scientific' apparatus and other methodologies. Eventually all the systems shut down and someone tries to determine the time of actual death,etc. Then the body is given some procedures to either bury or burn it and then comes various rites and rituals, ceremonies and so forth for either remembrance(s), accolades and tribute and testimonies, or to whisk the 'soul' onits way to Heaven or Hell, Paradise, or Eternal Slumber and so forth. This happens only in countries where such can take place,but the truth is that many people simply die in the streets or wilds and GREAT NATURE consumes them. In fact, GREAT NATURE and THE GREAT UNIVERSE absorb all the released energies of life which GREAT NATURE & THE GREAT UNIVERSE utilize in many ways, mostly hidden, obscure, etc. to us! What has any of this to do with MARTIAL ARTS? Martial arts in their esoteric aspects are designed to prepare us for death as well as to assist GREAT NATURE in absorbing energies released when we kill or destroy,as martial artists,who lhave great responsibilties in this regard.