From https://www.rojodojo.com my Bujinkan video exploring五境五界詒変捌型 Gokyō Gokai Ihen Sabaki Gata with an in depth focus on the 六尺棒術 Rokushakubō Jutsu kata 虚空 koku. I think there is some confusion with this kata. The Japanese text has a description of the attacker’s role at the beginning. Somehow, some people in the Bujinkan have transposed this to the defender’s action, and changed the nature of the kata.
We started by showing how the attacker receives the chudan tsuki and counters. After everyone got that down, I showed the basic kata. Embrace 空 ku!
It is common when learning a new weapon kata to neglect basic taijutsu. Just trying to remember the order of the steps, strikes, and where to put your hands takes over your mind and taijutsu gets left behind. I think this is a fairly normal part of learning and not a problem. But the more advanced students who have an eye to see beyond the form, can break through this phase quickly.
I showed how the jodan uke arises from ku. Then the do uchi opens up the kukan with a whirl. And then the ashi barai is like an echo of this same emptiness.
I shared a henka that drops the hammer on the back of the uke’s head after the jodan uke. The kukan opens up like a vacuum, then your strike rushes into that. This works best with the rhythm of koku.
The rhythm of koku is similar to the rhythm found in the Gyokko Ryu kata of the same name. So we did that for a few minutes to catch this rhythm. When I saw everyone had found the groove, we transitioned back to the bo.
Every strike creates positive and negative pressure. Where you are striking, there is pressure. And an absence of pressure (or a 空 vacuum) where you are not. In a fight, these vacuums tend to be filled by either you or the opponent. Fill them with your bo.
Once you gain the advantage, or control this rhythm, don’t release it. Always be striking. This is how you may overcome a skilled swordsman. Do not allow him the ku (space, vacuum) to counter.
Of Note: Everything fades. 忍 Nin is eternal.
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