The warriors from the traditional Japanese martial arts dojo, Bujinkan Macedonia, this year for the last time are going to have the spiritual journey called „The Path of Shugenja“.
After seven years since the first march, shidoshi Igor Dovezenski decided it is time this event too to go in the „history“, and to join the other feats that Bujinkan Macedonia is known for.
What is this event about?
Twenty days before this event, instructor Dovezenski lays out a geographic map of Macedonia on the ground, and then with his eyes tied shut points to a specific location. Then with a ruler he draws the direction from the start to the finish point. Afterwards, the participants of the seminar follow that route regardless of the terrain conditions. In average, the route that is walked is about 50 kilometers, and the record was set in 2009, when the members of Bujinkan Macedonia walked 80 kilometers in 15 hours and 40 minutes.
Shugendo is an ancient Japanese method that explores the relations between man and nature. Shugendo means „Path through training and testing“, more precise it is an ascetic discipline that has a goal to achieve self-improvement by withdrawal in mountains, meditation under waterfalls and cold rivers, breathing exercises on unreachable terrain, everything to achieving incredible feats through testing the physical and mental endurance. Those who practice this method, are known under the name of Shugenja, and the teaching is practiced even today in Japan.
As the founder of the teaching is considered En no Gyoja, who lived near Kyoto during the 7th century a.d. The other name that these followers were known for, is Yamabushi or Mountain Warriors. They cruised the
mountain ridges of the Japanese islands visiting and protecting the many shrines. Some scholars believe that exactly these people, joined with the fleeing Chinese generals after the fall of the Tang dynasty, are considered to be the founders of the art Ninjutsu.
Theme: The Path of Shugenja / Spiritual journey
Date: 29th September, 2013 (Sunday)
Location: Lipac – Sekulica (Skala*) – Lipac
Program:
07.00 hours – departure from Skopje
08.00 hours – arrival and beginning of the march
Return – only God knows!
Equipment: Take everything you like. Everything is on Your responsibility and conscience.
P.S. Encounters with wild animals, rain, storm and other unforeseen things are not excluded. Everyone comes at their own risk. Before you apply, check the information on our web-site from the previous years.
* on the lower photo is the farthest point of the journey, the place called Skala.