Bujinkan Macedonia in Life Magazine

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The
megapopular macedonian monthly „Life Magazine“, in it’s january
edition dedicated three pages to the School for classical japanese
martial arts Bujinkan Macedonia (Taiyou e no Michi).

The
event that made this posible was our traditional Women self-defense
workshop, which stirs a great amount of media attention.

Beside
the great presentation of the Bujinkan Dojo organization and soke
Masaaki Hatsumi, the members of our Dojo, Tina Dokovska and Zoran
Todorovski, demonstrated two woman self-defense techniques for the
public.

According
to the informations we got from the magazine’s editors, this theme
caused a great interest and as a result, further collaboration
between our club and „Life Magazine“ is discussed.

The
title of the article „Macedonian women study techniques of the
Japanese women-warriors“ stands on the front page of the magazine,
while in the text, besides the presentation of our club, there is a
short explanation about the nine schools of the Bujinkan Dojo, as well
as the techniques of the women-warriors – The Kunoichi.

Report for 2009

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29122009002719Shurikeni_Bo.jpgAnother year is behind us. It was dedicated to our spiritual growth through Saino Kon Ki. We strived to discover what that means through the study and practice of the school of Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu.
As well as the last one, this year we organized two international seminars, of which one was with the world-renowned shihan Sveneric Bogsater. The instructor of Bujinkan Macedonia, Igor Dovezenski, held seven outdoor seminars, as well as many sunday trainings. We are especially happy with the great number of attendants to our traditional „Survival“ and „The path of Shugenja“ seminars. This year, for the first time, we had guests from outside our country visiting those seminars which we see as a great accomplishment. Also, members of our Dojo attended three international Bujinkan seminars and three seminars held by other Japanese traditional martial arts (koryu) schools. 

Currently our Hombu dojo has 41 regular students.
But we don’t stop there. We aren’t fooling ourselves that it’s better to have a few good than many bad students. That is a loser’s justification. Bad students are indeed rare in our art, but we strive to make good people out of them too. We believe that bad teachers  that lose their students because they have nothing to teach them, are a bigger issue. Those seek afterwards followers who shall blindly seek their guidance and cherish their „pretty“ words. We do not produce blind followers – we create warriors (leaders).
This year we had one failure as well. Our dojo located in Bitola ceased working, or more accurately – never began to do so. In the future we should be more careful with whom we give our trust to. Contrary to that, we opened another Dojo in Skopje, which gave great results. The standards for opening a new Dojo will be far more strict from now on. The same strict standards that were set by the Hombu of Bujinkan Macedonia will be applied.
During 2009 we held two grade testings. Our Dojo is among those that pay special attention to the testing standard. For a shodan, the requirements are a minimum of five years of training without missin more than two classes a month (and we have about 14 a month). That means – a lot of effort and a sincere approach to the art. 
Among othe things, we held out traditional woman self-defense workshop,28122009174516DSC01257.JPGwhich
attracted a great deal of attention from the media here, by which we successfully presented our art and organization to the Macedonian public. We tried to present soke Masaaki Hatsumi in the grandest possible light.
We built our own Ninjutsu Training Center, in which we held a Ninja Camp. Our center, on our property. What took place their is impossible to describe in this little time and space. 24/7 Koryu Bujutsu and Ninjutsu. Incredible!
A few more statistical pieces of information about our work this year. From the 1st of January 2009, until today, our web page was visited  by over 12.000 people, among which the most regular visitors are from Germany, USA, Serbia and Croatia (sorted by number of visits). Of course, that isn’t really a large number, which one can „brag“ with – but considering that we don’t do any other type of self-marketing, the number isn’t that bad.
In 2010 we expect even better results. As always. Ninpo Ikkan!

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Yesterday, in the Hombu Dojo of Bujinkan Macedonia we held a testing for student degrees.
The 9th kyu test was passed by Tina D. Katerina D., Goran B., Goran M.,  28122009174505DSC01254.JPGDragan M. and Anton P., while the test for 7th kyu was passed by Maja I., Igor S. and Miron C. For 5th kyu, the test was taken and successfully passed by the students Bojana G., Zoran T., Darko B. and Blagica S. Rightfully, the 3rd kyu degree was earned by Marjan P. and Marko O.
For their efforts, dedication and regular attendance and love for the art and school, certificates were given to the students Marjan P., Marko O., Darko B., Maja I. and Anton P. This year, our gratitude certificates for help and aid in advancing the Bujinkan Ninjutsu un Macedonia were given to Marjan P. and Darko B. (all the names awe written in short in out of respect and in order to keep their privacy).

Rokkon Shojo - the theme for 2010

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As you may already know, soke Masaaki Hatsumi announced the theme for 2010, which is: Rokkon Shojo (purification of the six senses). This is a shugendo doctrine, which the older students of Bujinkan Macedonia have been studying for the last three years (see lower in our website).

Concerning the armed combat techniques (Buki Waza), during the year of the tiger (2010) our attention should be pointed towards the Tachi, a sword slightly longer than the katana which is carried with the blade facing downwards.

Because this is a new theme for us all, and it is possible for it to undergo some changes during the year (as soke often does), our focus in 2010 will be the school of Koto Ryu Koppojutsu (“Knocking down the Tiger School”). As for the Tachi, we shall fully accomplish the training with it, as we have a good amount of experience practicing it. For us, the first real experience with Rokkon Shojo will be gained during the seminar with the shihan Sveneric Bogsater in april, who is going to transfer to us a part of his knowledge regarding this theme.

The program for 2010 of Bujinkan Macedonia is already written on our website.

********************************************************

During the holidays, The martial arts School Taiyou e no Michi – Bujinkan Macedonia isn’t going to work only on the 1st and the 6th of january, while regular training sessions will be held for the rest.
To all our members and friends, we wish you all the best in the new 2010. Merry Christmas!

Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu! 

Successfully held woman self-defense workshop

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06122009142330DSC_1519.jpgUnder the guidance of the instructor Igor Dovezenski and with the assistance of senior students, Marjan Proshev and Bojana Grunevska, today we held a woman self-defense workshop, organized by the Ninjutsu Union Bujinkan Macedonia.

Besides the female members of our club, we had additional attendees, who never had an opportunity to train martial arts of any kind. After the workshop was over, they all agreed that the techniques they learned here are completely useful an efficient.

The workshop began by studying the psychology
 06122009142308DSC_1505.jpgof the male attacker, as well as the means and places at which it is most probable for an attack to happen over girls and women in whole. Afterwards we moved on to training techniques through different scenarios, like hand-to-hand attack, grappling as well as tries of ground submission in attempt of rape. The girls had an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the body positions which allow an easy defense and also, those that „close“ the opportunities of action.

It was wonderful to teach such a group, which was
 06122009142316DSC_1514.jpgstrongly willing to learn the ways and techniques of self-defense. Even though the training was physically hard and tiresome, physically and  mentally, the attendants showed great determination and talent by which they easily mastered all the techniques shown. During the entire training session, they were smiling and happy with what they learned, which of course, a great motivation for us to continue working and organizing Workshops dedicated to self-defense of the members of the gentler sex, who today showed that with little effort, if needed, they can become the stronger sex.   

Women self-defense workshop

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23112009163815Kate.jpgBujinkan Macedonia and The Martial Arts school Taiyou e no Michi, announces the traditional
Women self-defense workshop
With the title:
The weaker gender – stronger gender

In this workshop, dedicated to female self-defense you will get practical answers to the following questions:

What if… ?
-He insults me?
-He hits me?
-He kicks me?
-He grapples me?
-He knocks me down to the ground?

This workshop is dedicated and adapted to those that belong to the gentler sex and have no experience in martial arts. Also, we invite everyone interested to join us, regardless of their level of knowledge.

Datum: 06 December, 2009

Time: 11.00 to 15.00

Additional information: 077 976 906 or e-mail:

daito_macedonia@yahoo.com

Successfully finished BuYu Kai seminar

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Another successfully finished seminar organized by Bujinkan Macedonia. This time held by our friend from the Czech Republic, Filip Bartos.

Even though we had about 30 attendees announced to come for the seminar (most of which from the neighboring countries), at the last moment16112009015238Bartos_4.jpg they cancelled their attendance as a result of the surfacing and spreading of the swine flu in our country.  Nevertheless, that didn’t change the determination to come of the fifteen students of Bujinkan Macedonia to study the school Shinden Fudo Ryu Jutaijutsu. During the two days, we went through all the kata from the three levels of this Ryu Ha: Shoden, Chuden and Okuden. 
The Master Filip Bartos unselfishly shared his knowledge with our students, who with great16112009015230Bartos_3.jpg passion practiced the near sixty kata of this old school, which is rich with throwing techniques (nage waza).

As always, the socializing was wonderful, the spirits in the dojo cheerful – and during the free time, we didn’t miss to pay a visit to Skopje’s restaurants and coffee shops, renowned for their great food and ambient.
Thanks to all who were there.

BuYu Kai seminar with Filip Bartos

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Bujinkan Macedonia announces:

BuYu Kai seminar with our old friend shihan Filip Bartos

Theme: Shinden Fudo Ryu Jutaijutsu and Kenjutsu
The seminar is open for everybody regardless on what level is your knowledge. This is the chance to learn more about one of the oldest art in Japan which was a mistery even for the Japanese.

Date: 14 and 15 november, 2009 year
Price: 50 euro (for the instructors with more than 5 students the seminar tax is free)

Timetable:

            saturday                                                            sunday

    10.00 – 13.00 training                                       10.00 – 13.00 training

    13.00 – 15.00 break                                          13.00 – 15.00 break

    15.00 – 18.00 training                                       15.00 – 18.00 training

Place: dojo Taiyou e no Michi – Skopje – Macedonia
Equipement: hanbo, boken,tanto (only wooden are allowed)
For those who will be the first to make application, we will provide home stay or stay in the dojo / or you can make reservation at one of the hotels in Skopje: http://www.skopjehotels.com.mk
You want a cheap (but great) youth hostel? http://art-hostel.com.mk/
Book on time and do not forget to take with you sleeping bags.

If you have any questions, please make contact with us.
Come and feel the traditional macedonian hospitality.
Welcome to Macedonia – the cradle of civilization.

Participation in the seminar in Budva with Steffen Fröhlich

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Bujinkan Macedonia’s instructor, Igor Dovezenski participated in a seminar in Budva, led by the shihan Steffen Fröhlich from Germany.

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The theme of the seminar was Saino Kon Ki and the great master tried to explain it’s meaning through techniques and kata from Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu and Koto Ryu Koppojutsu. We trained in the open. On the first day, the weather was great, while the second was followed by windy weather and heavy rains. All of this contributed to better understanding of the ninjutsu teachings, as well as the nature of the elements water (sui) and fire (ka).

During the training, the shihan often asked Dovezenski to demonstrate kata and techniques from Gyokko and
Koto Ryu, which  13102009015011Stefen_budva_2.jpgwas a great honor and show of trust. Master Fröhlich invited the leader of Bujinkan Macedonia to a mutual visit of the Hombu Dojo in Japan, where Dovezenski is going to take the godan (5th dan) test, which of course tells a lot about the mutual trust and respect between them. It was also discussed about the mutual plans in 2010 and the shihan stated his support for the work of Bujinkan Macedonia and emphasised that we can always count on his help of any kind.

Three days passed quick and in constant company of master Steffen Fröhlich and his student Steffen Shultz, one of Germany’s most promising young masters. It was discussed about their five day stay in Macedonia (2008), during which we evoked the nice mutual moments and memories from our country.

As usual, the organiser of the seminar in Budva, put some great effort for everything to go in orderly fashion. Congratulations.  

In the end, it remains to thank the great master Fröhlich and hid student Shultz, for the great time with them and for their always inspirational teaching of the art.

The way of Shugenja (how far are the human limits)

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How far can human limits go?
During yesterday’s seminar, we discovered the answer.
In 15 hours and 40 minutes we passed almost 80 kilometres, under the motto: Move and burn or stop and die!

The seminar started with 11 people, who in 8:10 hours in the morning began the spiritual journey from the starting point at the base of the mountain Lipac.Shugendo2.jpg Moving over the peaks of hills, in short time passed the village of Strezovce and started entering the village of Makresh. Unfortunately, in that moment two of the attendees decided to quit the seminar.  The nine that remained continued the journey and showed really strong willpower and dedication to endure to the end. We moved along the dried riverbed of the river Petroshnica, to later move on west towards the hill Peros. Using a compass and an old topographic card, the road took us through the village of Dobracha, afterwards through the village of Bajlovce from where we climbed on the hill Visoka (764 m), in order to continue moving over the hilltops surrounding the area. We kept moving west, entering a dense pine forest followed by an oak forest, which led us too the southern base of Tatichev Kamen in the village of Kokino. That was our last destination before our journey back to Lipac. Until here, after around 30 km passed over hard terrain with a killer fast tempo of movement, a few of the attendeesShugendo_1.jpg started getting leg cramps. Sensei Igor Dovezenski used Hichibuku Goshinjutsu in a few occasions during the seminar and succeeded in restoring the walking ability of these people. Their strong wish and dedication to achieve the goal did their part as well. We all climbed at the plateau of the ancient megalithic observatory

The way of shugenja, or rather the return from it, continued through a different route. The leader of Bujinkan Macedonia allowed a vote: they will return using the path to come here or a much easier but a lot longer road. The attendees chose the second option. The march went on with the same killer tempo as before. We returned by passing the villages of Kokino, Stepance, Puzhaljka, Dragomance, Staro Nagorichane and finally, around 20.30 hours, we arrived at the village of Mlado Nagorichane. Here,Shugendo3.jpg the situation  became critical for most of the attendees. Because of the full-day walking, they had wounds on their feet, trouble with their knees and muscles, and one of them even had mild disorientation and hallucination. To finish this journey we had to walk exactly 15 km more – our vehicles were left at the starting point and those were our only means of transport to Skopje. Because of the injuries that most of the people suffered, we agreed that only those that could will continue the journey and the rest will remain on the road until we return for them with our vehicles.

Thus, at 20:40 hours, the journey was continued by four warriors from Bujinkan Macedonia: sensei Igor Dovezenski, Goran Bogdanovski, Carl Campeau and the young Anton Perchinkov, who dragging his legs succeeded in passing 5 more kilometres, to afterwards remain waiting for us to reach the vehicles and come back for him. The last ten kilometres were horrible. Bogdanovski had problems with his right knee, Dovezenski had a bleeding foot, they literally dragged their feet along the dusty road, while Campeau explained that he found out how will he move when he’s 80 years old. During this, with improvised spears (jo staff with a knife bound on top of it), we had to defend ourselves a couple of times from shepherd dogs. The Shugendo seminar turned itself into a test of our survival skills. The last kilometre, we didn’t really move to finish the seminar, but to reach our vehicles and go back for our comrades, who in bad condition, hurt extremities and fever, were left to wait on the road. At 23:50, we reached the goal.

In the end, we were all happy that the seminar was a success.
We congratulated each other, and reminisced the moment when in Kokino (on the top of Tatichev Kamen), we held each others hand in a circle and obliged to an everlasting friendship. In good or bad.

Until now, when we had contact with people who trained Gendai Budo (modern martial arts), we had situations when we had to explain what exactly is Koryu Bujutsu (ancient martial arts) and why we train the nine school of Bujinkan Dojo. From now on, we are not going to explain or trying to prove anything. Anyone who wants to know, may come to the next Shugendo seminar.

The way of Shugenja

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On the 27th of September 2009, Bujinkan Macedonia members will hold the traditional spiritual journey in nature called The way of Shugenja. This year, for the first time, our students had an opportunity to choose one of the four suggested routes, they chose the route from the base of Lipac to Kokino. The total distance we will cross during the shugenjo’s way is unknown, which of course, contributes for more enjoyment, but also more alertness and carefulness. We will visit the passing churches and monasteries, as well as the rest of the passing holly places, where through meditation and prayer we will refill our lost energy. We will use only old topographic maps and compass as helpful tools.
Shugenjo is an ancient Japanese method of exploring the relations between man and nature. Literally translated, Shugenjo means “Way of training andShugendo_Lipac.jpg testing”, in other words it is an ascetic discipline which has a goal to achieve self-improvement through living in mountain, meditating under cold river waterfalls, breading exercises in remote unreachable terrains, until reaching unbelievable feats through testing of one’s body and mind’s endurance. Those practicing this method are known by the name Shugenja, and the teaching is practiced in Japan to this day.
The founder of this teaching is considered to be En no Gyoja who lived near Kyoto in the 7th century A.D. Another name, by which the followers of this teaching were known, is Yamabushi or Mountain Warriors. They roamed the mountain tops of the Japanese islands, visiting and protecting the many temples.
These people, together with the deserting Chinese generals after the fall of the Tang dynasty, are considered to be the founders of the art of Ninjutsu.

Subject: Shugenjo’s Way / Spiritual journey

Day: September the 27th 2009 (Sunday)

Place: Lipac – Kokino

Schedule:
07:00 hours – leaving from Skopje
08:00 hours – arriving and starting the march
??.?? – going back

Equipment: Take everything you have, the heavier the better (and safer).

P.S. There is a possibility of encountering wild animals, rain and bad weather conditions, as well as other unforeseeable things.
*Before you enroll search our web-site for some information about the seminar from previous years.