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Author koryuPosted on September 6, 2012Categories Home

The warriors of the traditional Japanese martial arts dojo, Bujinkan Macedonia, for the sixth time are going on the spiritual journey called „The Path of Shugenja“.

This time, we will pass the mountain Mangovica, but the route will be a lot longer than the previous years` routes. The route`s width is 23 kilometers.

Shugendo is an ancient Japanese method which explores the relations between the human being and nature. Shugendo means „The Way of training and testing“, in other words it is an ascetic discipline whose goal is to achieve self-improvement through withdrawal on mountains, meditation under waterfalls and cold rivers, breathing exercises on hard to reach terrains, all to achieve incredible deeds through testing one`s physical and mental stamina. Those who practice this method are known as Shugenja, and the teaching is still practiced in Japan to this day.

As the founder of this teaching is considered En no Gyoja, who lived near Kyoto in the 7th century A.D. The other name this followers were known under was Yamabushi or Mountain Warriors. They walked the mountains on the Japanese islands visiting and protecting numerous temples. Some scholars believe that exactly these people, who joined the Chinese refugee 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: 23rd September, 2012 (Sunday)

Location: Lipac – Mangovica – Lipac

Program:
07.00 hours – departure from Skopje
08.00 hours – arrival and start of the march
Return – only God knows!

Equipment: Take everything you want. Everything is on your responsibility and conscience.

P.S. We may encounter wild animals, rain, storm and other unpredicted things. Everyone comes at his own risk.

* Before you apply, check the information on our web-site from the previous years.

Author koryuPosted on August 27, 2012Categories Home

Dear students, relatives and friends,

allow me to use the web-page of our
organization and to share with You some good news.

The dream came true.

We built the first traditional Japanese dojo in Macedonia, but also on the Balkans. We built it ourselves, from the foundation, without anyones` help, on our land and by our means. We built our dream, desired years ago, to have our dojo in which the trainings and the seminars will be organized as we please and as we wish them to be.

It wasn’t easy. I`ve put on mortgage everything I have. I am indebted for the next 20 years.
But that doesn’t matter anymore. Bad moments, suffering and sacrifice are just a way to achieve your goal. Now, when it is achieved, what remains is to look ahead. In the future.

The dojo is built in ecologically clean environment, 60 kilometers from Skopje. Materials are used which comply with the highest standards for construction. It consists of 100 m2 area for training on the ground floor (with tatami) and 100 m2 for accommodation on the first floor.
The yard around the dojo is completely tidied up, and around it a few auxiliary training areas are located.

In the Hombu Dojo of the organization „Taiyou e no Michi“, regular trainings will be held every weekend. All our members and friends are welcomed.

As you already know, the organization „Taiyou e no Michi“ is the founder of the dojos of Bujinkan Macedonia (in 1995) and Daito ryu Macedonia Koryu Dojo (in 2010).

These days a new web-site of ours will begin functioning at www.koryu.mk. All interested can follow the news there regarding the work of the Hombu.

The clubs in Skopje continue working on the same locations with the same hours.

If there are interested parties, the Hombu Dojo is ready to organize special training for athletes and contestants who want to improve their psychological and physical readiness in short time (during those days we will be working as a training camp).

The first official training in the Hombu will be on 1st of September, 2012.

Welcome to the first traditional dojo for traditional Japanese martial arts.
Welcome to the first koryu dojo in Macedonia.

Moving forward.
Gambatte!!!

Respectfully,

Shidoshi Igor Dovezenski

Note: since the building started, until the opening, exactly 13 months have passed.

Author koryuPosted on August 15, 2012Categories Home

The fourth in a row Summer Ninja Camp gathered on one place a record number of participants. In total twenty two, which is two participants higher than the last year, nine days trained and socialized in the valley under the mountain Lipac. For the first time, we had a participant from Spain and with that, this event became international.

During the camp, techniques from the school Togakure ryu Ninjutsu were practiced.
The morning started with a three kilometer run, and after the breakfast a training with bo and senban shuriken was held.
After the snack, the training for Goton Po started, and after the break followed the katas from Ninpo Taijutsu.
The day ended with special night techniques from Aruki Waza or Goton no Jutsu.

According to the reactions and statements of the older students, this year on the camp there was a particular emphasis on the psychological aspect of the combat. That is actually the main characteristic of the above mentioned ninjutsu school.

The training for power and agility (junan undo), was also on high level. In our dojo the condition of the participants always mattered.

The socializing, as every year was incredible, and that contributed to better the bonds between our members.

The last day, according the tradition of the camp, shidoshi Igor Dovezenski announced the theme for the next camp.
On the next camp techniques and katas from Kukishinden ryu Dakentaijutsu and Kukishinden Biken no Ho will be trained.

Author koryuPosted on August 2, 2012Categories Home

August is the only month of the year when the club Bujinkan Macedonia in Skopje does not work, but that’s when our Summer Ninja Camp start which is known widely.
For this camp there are over 20 participants from our dojo, and the event is going to be international because we will have a participant from Spain.

On 4th August, with start in 10.00 o’clock, the dojo will be officially opened which is build in the valley under the mountain Lipac, and will represent a Hombu (pivot) of the organization „Taiyou e no Michi“.

We invite all our participants and friends to join us on this historical event, because this is the first dojo in Macedonia which is built on private property and with private resources, without help from any government or non-government organization.

This property is built according to all ecological regulations for construction and according to all standards of construction for traditional Japanese dojo meant for perfecting the „Path“.

Author koryuPosted on July 30, 2012Categories Home

While the media in Macedonia was reporting about the fluctuations in the weather, caused by the hellish temperatures that seized our country, this weekend the warriors of Bujinkan Macedonia successfully held the seminar „Survival in nature“.

This year in total six members participated, three of them were veterans (with more than three Survival in nature seminars).

As every year, so as this one, the seminar started on Saturday in the morning hours. After the short condition training, the instructor Dovezenski held Goshijutsu training. Afterwards started the lessons for survival and shelter building, as well as the state of mind that the warrior must reach so he can handle the challenges on the field.

Around 14.00 hours, three of the members had their first crisis, caused by the hot sun, and more by the lack of water. The dehydration struck, and as it increased, the will power of the students decreased. The instructor Igor Dovezenski succeeded to help those who had an intention to give up and to get them „back into game“. The afternoon continued with bo shuriken training, and the evening end with the exercise „In Yo Kankaku“.

The night was calm, under the beautiful sky above Lipac, while the guards were changing every two hours.

On Sunday, the kenjutsu training started early in the morning, and continued with meditation under the rocks of the dried waterfall in S`mkneno. Afterwards, a short march was held from the place called Stari Lozja, where under one old oak the cross dedicated to St. Tripun is located. That place for the last two years is known for the traditional „languidness“ or the two-hour anticipation for the end of the seminar.

After the arrival at Stari Lozja, the temperature (which rose up above 45 degrees Celsius), started to take its toll. Two of the veterans started to feel breathing difficulties, disorientation, nausea and a fast heartbeat. The symptoms were constantly worsening, so they had to give up from the seminar.

The remaining four, including the instructor Igor Dovezenski, successfully finished the seminar and returned to the starting location.

Just for clarifications for those who had not participated in this event. During the two days it is allowed to drink only one and a half liter of water. For you to understand how little that is, imagine you for two days in an open space under the sun (above 40 degrees Celsius), everywhere around you rocks, no vegetation. You have constant activity and training, and you must not sit on your bottom, nor lie down. Liter and a half water you spend through your sweat during your first training, and that process continues for the remaining time. Every movement on that high temperature causes loss of body fluids, even the talking and the breathing make the water evaporate. On all that effort, you have only three hours of sleep during the two days, so, with that, the exhaustion becomes unbearable and causes a great confusion in the mind.

Congratulations on those who successfully finished the seminar, and to those who quit too, because the sole participation on this seminar is a great courage.

At the same time, the instructor Dovezenski announced that the next year will be the last for this traditional seminar.

Author koryuPosted on July 11, 2012Categories Home

Macedonia is known for the hellish summer temperatures caused by the so called „African heat waves“. It is hottest in the last days of July, when the temperature rises up above 45 degrees Celsius, and the sun radiation index is on maximum level. This is the perfect time for the warriors of Bujinkan Macedonia to test their physical and mental endurance.

We do this every year, and to be part of this event is a privilege reserved to a few members of our dojo.

For the brave, for the valiant… Two hellish days, far from civilization, without food and only liter and a half water, without additional clothing and hygienic means. Two days of training, meditation and raw survival.

Location: S`mkneno (26 km from the nearest town and hospital / desert alike conditions)

Date: 28 and 29 July, 2012
Departure: Saturday at 07.00
Return: only God knows

Read carefully!!!

Before the seminar, each participant should take care of any medical examinations required and get a written or oral permission from their physician about their physical and mental health and readiness to undertake a two day extreme strain without food and water, along with hard training sessions and only three hours of sleep. Every potential participant comes at their own responsibility about the eventual consequences on his health or life!

The event is open to everyone, and every citizen of the Republic of Macedonia above the age of 18 can attend.

Allowed equipment: sleeping bag, tent wing, military
uniform (worn, pants and shirt), one t-shirt, a cap, one pair of underpants (wide), one pair of socks, rope, a knife and a bottle of a liter and a half (empty).

Important: it is forbidden to carry food, water or anything else not mentioned above. Before we depart, there will be a checkup.

Most important: this seminar is only meant for tough guys and girls. The training conditions will be exceptionally hard with an iron discipline. Those that do not feel psycho-physically ready to `enter hell` –  we would ask you not to come to this seminar. Allowed drinking water for both days: 1.5 liters. Consider that the air temperature might rise above 45 degrees Celsius. It is forbidden to sit on your behind during the seminar (both days), or lying down on all four extremities. Only three hours of sleep, constant training for the remaining time.

It is forbidden to make excuses, whine or anything similar during the seminar.

P.S. The survival in nature doesn’t look as fun as on the satelite tv series. There are no cameras, no team who will support you, no doctors and no helicopters and comfortable hotels after the shooting. The real survival is completely different from the fancy series on TV.

Author koryuPosted on July 1, 2012Categories Home

On Friday, in the dojo of Bujinkan Macedonia in Skopje testing for student (kyu) degrees was held.

From mukyu (without a kyu) to 10th kyu transited the students Damjan D., Nina G., Kristijan J. and Darko P.

For 8th kyu passed Elena A. and Mihail D., while for 6th kyu the students Monika Sh. and Stefani G.

The 4th kyu was passed by Tina D., Katerina D., Filip A. and Todor A., and the 2nd kyu by Darko B., Blagica S. and Anton P., who gained the title „sempai“ (older students).

At the end of the testing all the students were not only pointed out their mistakes during the demonstration of the techniques, but the whole progress during the last six months. So, from now on adequate progress is expected of them which corresponds with the advice and the points given.
The next kyu testing is going to be in December. 

Author koryuPosted on June 11, 2012Categories Home

The heat wave that caught our country and the temperature above 34 degrees celsius in the shadows did not hesitated the warriors of Taiyou e no michi to give their best during the two-day seminar for Ono ha Itto ryu Kenjustu (Takeda den).

On this seminar, which every year is being attended in honor of sensei Certa, participation took 13 members of our dojo. During the two days, it was trained for six hours, and the remaining time was used for hanging out and conversations related to the traditional martial arts.

On Saturday, despite the repetition of the material, more time was devoted to the technique do uchi, while on Sunday we concentrated on the technique yokomen uchi.
For the Saturday`s dinner, as every year, beans with dry ribs were cooked in a kettle, on traditional Macedonian way. We were sleeping in bags under the stars of Lipac, more precise on the top of the hill Elenac. The awaking during the sunrise was incredible, and the gold reflection of the sun gave the river in the valley magical charm.

Having this seminar, helped instructor Dovezenski and his students to write another page of the history of the dojo.
To the end of the summer one outdoor seminar remains. 

Author koryuPosted on May 28, 2012Categories Home

Shidoshi ho Marjan Proshev and shidoshi ho Marko Opachikj, this Sunday held a seminar for the section of Bujinkan Macedonia in Gradsko. This is the last of the series of seminars that the younger instructors taught in this community, and the reason is the upcoming kyu-testing which will take place at the end of June.

This is the first testing in the section in Gradsko, and also the first testing that Proshev and Opachikj will lead. After the event, the leader of Bujinkan Macedonia, shidoshi Igor Dovezenski, officially is going to appoint the younger instructors responsible for the work of Bujinkan Macedonia – Gradsko (shibu dojo).

For the time being, shidoshi ho Proshev and shidoshi ho Opachikj are content with the work of this section and they expect the progress to continue, and that can only be achieved with hard and merciless training.

P.S. On this photo is one of the younger members of Bujinkan Macedonia – Gradsko Shibu Dojo, candidate for the test of 10th kyu.

Author koryuPosted on May 16, 2012Categories Home

The school of classical Japanese martial arts Taiyou e no Michi, beside the schools of Bujinkan, also nurtures other koryu arts, among them Ono ha Itto ryu Kenjutsu (Takeda den). We are members of the organization Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai, led by sensei Antonino Cherta, the only nonjapanese shihan for Daito ryu Aikijujutsu. Therefore, in his honor, every year we keep this traditional seminar named: „Kenjutsu under the stars of Lipac“.

The school Ono ha Itto ryu was mandatory for the members of the powerful samurai clan Takeda. The legendary warrior Sokaku Takeda, also known as the last samurai, had gotten a menkyo kaiden (license for acquired knowledge) for this kenjutsu ryu ha.

This is what we eagerly awaited for months. Two-day outdoor training, on the top of the legendary mountain Lipac. During the day, three trainings will be held, and the evening will be reserved for hanging out around the fire, followed by tasty beans and several beers.

Date: 09/10 June, 2012 (departure from Skopje at 07.00)

Location: under the stars of the mountain Lipac

Equipment: tent (those that have), sleeping bag, keiko gi, kyahani or tall socks (against the ticks), bokuto (you can take a spare one), food and water.

For additional information you can reach us by phone.

The seminar is open for everyone, beside the style or the art.

If you need equipment, freely contact us.

This event will be held no matter of the weather conditions.