The sixth in a row Summer Ninja Camp ended

Author koryuPosted on Categories Home

The biggest yearly traditional event, known as the „Summer Ninja Camp“, where the members of Bujinkan Macedonia for whole nine days train continuously and study traditional Japanese martial arts – ended.

One day after the departure of the students and subsiding of the emotions, we can freely say that this camp was one of the most intensive and most successful so far.
The participants of the camp, had the opportunity to enjoy training jujutsu techniques for getting free from various grabs of the body, as well as mastering the combat with katana and wakizashi. 
Regarding the training for strengthening the body, this year the exercises were really demanding, so the students’ stamina increased even more.
The free time, that we barely had, was used for swimming and training in the nearby river, as well as visiting different cultural and historical monuments near the Hombu Dojo of the Organization „Taiyou e no Michi“.
The late evening hours were planned for the night ninja actions, something that our dojo is well known for.
As always, the food was organic and healthy, arranged in such way to ensure enough calorie and nutrient intake needed for the hard training, and for that always local and fresh products gathered directly from the garden surrounding our dojo were used.
The last night, even though is always reserved for having fun around the campfire, as every year was slightly sad because of the farewell of the members until the start of September, when the first class is planned in the dojo in Skopje.

Summer Ninja Camp VI

Author koryuPosted on Categories Home

The countdown begun. In five days starts the sixth in a row Summer Ninja Camp organized by the dojo for classical Japanese martial arts – Bujinkan Macedonia.


As every year, the camp is being held for the period from 4th to 12th August, in the hombu dojo of the organization Taiyou e no Michi, and is located in the valley under the mountain Lipac. 

While some of our members use August as the only month for rest from the demanding training, others give priority to the Summer Ninja Camp of Bujinkan Macedonia. So, the training continues with even greater speed, „enforced“ with unbelievably good fun and socializing.

This event is open for all, regardless of the style or the degree in any martial art. This is a chance to get acquainted with our work closely and to get to know the members of Bujinkan Macedonia. 

Several days remain for applying. 

Additional information here: http://hombu.koryu.mk/article/show/483

„Life in the Wilderness“ seminar held

Author koryuPosted on Categories Home

With the start of the event „Life in the Wilderness“, we began writing a new page in the history of Bujinkan Macedonia regarding the outdoor seminars. As previously announced, we plan on having this event in the next seven years, where the members of the dojo can learn how to live in a community and in harmony with nature, according to the scenario for natural disasters or a situation that requires us to retreat far from the civilization or into the wild.
Every year, this seminar is going to be held on a different location that will provide the study of techniques for living in the wild in different conditions. So, this year the event was held in such conditions that enabled us to feel the cruelty, as well as the boons that the mountain offers, as for the next year techniques for living in community – alongside river are already planned to be taught. But let us come back to the seminar that was held this weekend.
Early in the morning, after the arrival at the location near the peak of the mountain Lipac, the participants of the seminar begun building a camp. Instructor Igor Dovezenski immediately started teaching the techniques for survival for a larger group of people, as well as organizing the life in the wild for a longer period of time.
For all those not familiar with, shidoshi Dovezenski had organized over 300 outdoor seminars so far, and his experience on this field is really vast. Many of the techniques for survival in the wilderness were learned from his grandfather, who was a participant in the Second World War and had been decorated for his service, such as the liberation of the city Skopje. During the war and after it, he was a scout in a tank squad and the techniques for survival in nature helped him to overcome many dangerous situations.
During the Saturday, shidoshi Dovezenski successfuly transmitted all of the techniques planned for the first day of the seminar and everything was going according to plan, but during the night, at 03:50 hours sharp, a natural disaster stroke as it wanted to check the efficiency of the techniques that were taught during daytime. 
Almost instantly, clouds covered the stars and from every side of the mountain thunders started striking, and lightnings dreadfully glistered all around. A torrential rain accompanied with a strong wind were getting the already wet clothing stick even more to the participants’ bodies and lowered their body temperature. In those conditions, when it was clear that the camp won’t have any chance to survive the storm, the instructor Dovezenski ordered immediate evacuation from the location and a search for a new shelter that would provide a better protection. Without delay we started descending to the lower areas of the mountain. Due to the darkness and the impassable terrain, the members of Bujinkan Macedonia had a hard time passing through the dense vegetation, but after fifty minutes, they successfully found an old ruin from the 18th century that kept a part of its porch that offered a protection from the rain. After the arrival, the instructor Dovezenski stated that as of that moment an „army discipline“ starts that is necessary so everyone can go home safe and sound. Afterwards, he ordered all members to take off the wet clothes, and following that a fire was lit to warm and dry the clothing. Despite the high precipitation, the instructors’ experience had shown to be priceless because the fire was lit as soon as possible, and with that the possibility to warm the bodies. Couple of hours later, the clothes were already dry, and with that the second day the seminar continued as scheduled.
We transfer to you small pieces of the participants’ impressions, that in full were published on our Forum:
Zoran Todorovski – A big rain drop woke me up as it hit me on my eye cap. As if it wanted to warn us that this night won’t be as common as any other. I turned around me, everywhere lightnings and thunders. In those moments for a brief second my eyes met with Sensei Dovezenski. He was already awake. Our looks spoke the same thing. That we have to leave the location immediately.
– Get up, put your boots on and take with you only the necessities, we are going out of here! Common, common, GET UP, sensei was yelling. It was 03:50. At the same time it started raining and a wind was blowing with unseen intensity. A hell storm started raging. We formed a line, several flashlights were turned on and we departed to look for a shelter. We dove into the darkness. All of us were determined to do that. In the front was Sensei. We left. Eight people were caught directly in the center of the storm, and as if the lightnings and the thunders were tightening the circle around us and were striking closer and closer! As if some monster was getting closer to us, roaring at us.
Marko Opachikj – This was a seminar that drove to the light all the effort that Sensei had invested in us the past years, especially on the „survivals“ (winter and summer). The moment came when all those exercises and techniques had to be put to use, to survive. Of course, everything was carried out successfully. I didn’t have a doubt the morning when the storm caught us that we will find some kind of shelter. I had a complete trust in Sensei, where he guided us and that it was only matter of time when we would be safe. 
We learned that Teacher doesn’t mean only showing a technique in the dojo, but much more. A Teacher is the one that always puts your well being first, who with certainty will guide you through the whole voyage and not even for a second doubt in what he does. Who will point out where you are wrong and where you have to improve yourself. Who have an enormous knowledge of lot of areas and who selflessly passes to the students. Who must not show any weakness and emotion in front of them, and is full with feelings for every one of us.
Taki Gakovski – For the first time I kept guard. For the first 30 minutes I felt fear, thinking that any moment something could attack me. But I got used to it later and everything was OK again. The last half an hour, I was really tired, I even started hallucinating. The sky that was filled with stars was shortly covered with many clouds. I just got to go to sleep, and briefly afterwards they woke me up and a new adventure started. An evacuation was on its way, and with that the true survival. We quickly left the camp and started searching for some abandoned house. A strong rain was falling, accompanied by lightnings and thunders. They were our enemies that we ran away from to save our lives. After the long walk through the mud, we found a shelter.
Vladimir Antovski – A beautiful seminar filled with wonderful lectures and amazing people. As I am writing this, I have flashbacks from the two previous days and I still can’t believe how many things happened to us and what we went through for such a short time. 
The night was so mystical and full of surprise. We had a quick evacuation because we were faced with a huge storm, followed by thunders. In those moments everything that is hidden deep in each of us came to the surface and faced us with the truth about who we actually are. 
They say, disasters bring people together. That is true, and at the same time so sad. I am happy that in Bujinkan Macedonia, we are close before the disaster and after it. 
While we were naked, in our underpants, we were drying our clothes, laughing at the situation and we knew that together we are much stronger and could pass anything.
Sanja Simonova – After a night well slept, I can conclude that „Life in the Wild“ was one exceptionally important experience, filled with lectures that will remain ingrained forever in me. All that Sensei presented was very useful and detailed. To begin with, the equipment that needs to carried in those circumstances, that way you build a camp and how important is the decisiveness when something unpredictable happens. 
All we talked about and did during the first day, we’ve put in practice during the second due to the storm. Is there a greater school than when something happens to you when you least expect it? When you have to face yourself and there is no running away from that, except to survive?
I followed a great deal of what Sensei taught us with astonishment and fascination. The people that surround you on the seminar are your family and each for anyone would do anything. Whoever asks you to do anything, it’s an honor to help him, even though you might be on the verge of your mental or physical capacity. The trust we have in the Teacher is infinite and I hope that we could return at least half of what he does. I will never forget the order „LINE“ when we stepped into that old house and how we organized ourselves afterwards.
I thank all of you for everything. Even now I know that I will impatiently await the next „Life in the Wild“, and I will try not to miss out any outdoor seminars until then.  

„Life in the Wilderness“ - a two-day outdoor seminar

Author koryuPosted on Categories Home

After seven years of consecutive organization of the legendary seminar „Survival in Nature“, the instructor of Bujinkan Macedonia, Igor Dovezenski, created the new project called „Life in the Wilderness“.

With this new seminar, the leader of the Organization for teaching classical Japanese martial systems – „Taiyou e no Michi“, isn’t trying to find a suitable replacement for the previous one, but to open a new chapter in the history of the dojo, that he hopes, as the previous one, would last at least the next seven years.

The two-day seminar called „Life in the Wilderness“, is an event where the members of the Organization are going to study techniques for living in a community in the wild, or far from civilization. We emphasize „techniques of living“, not surviving, because the latter means continuous living until getting out of the state of emergency.

„Life in the wilderness“ is going to be conducted by a natural catastrophe scenario or some other emergency that requires retreat on some unreachable location and organizing a long-term living with a group of people. By learning these skills, the members of the dojo will be able to take care of their family and to provide basic living conditions in the wild in case of danger.

During the seminar, the socialization of the members will allow them to get to know each other better and to deepen the friendship between them.

Be a part of the new history that is starting to be written on 26th/27th of July, 2014. Do not miss the opportunity to learn the techniques of living in the nature, that in case of a natural catastrophe or other emergency will be more than needed. 

On this seminar all members of the dojo of Bujinkan Macedonia / Taiyou e no Michi can participate, regardless of their degree.

Required equipment: anything that can be used for survival in nature and that will fit in your backpack.

Date: 26th/27th of July (2014)

Location: in the surroundings of Lipac

Program:


Saturday 07.00 hours – departure from Skopje

Sunday 18.00 hours – return

Applying and information via inbox, by phone or on the Forum.

P.S. Residing in nature brings several dangers. All participants come at their own risk. Have the required doctors’ examination before you apply.

The June testing held in Bujinkan Macedonia

Author koryuPosted on Categories Home

At the yesterday’s testing for student degrees that took place in the dojo of Bujinkan Macedonia in Skopje, total of 15 students successfully passed the test.

The 10th kyu was passed by Jovan G., Jane N., Martin P. and Filip T., and the ninth by: Kristijan A., Martin G., Sofija D. and Daniela G.
The students Taki G. and Kristijan M. successfully passed the test for the eight, and Risto Ch. and Sanja S. for the seventh kyu.
The sixth kyu was passed by Mihail D., and the fifth by Vladimir A.
Bujinkan Macedonia also got a new sempai, and that is Todor A., who successfully passed the test for the second kyu.
We congratulate all members that earned a higher degree for their dedication and we wish them even greater success in the future.

The first book in Macedonia for classical Japanese martial arts has been published

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On the premises of the winery „Kartal“ in Skopje, yesterday a promotion for the first book in Macedonia dedicated to the classical Japanese martial arts was organized. This event was attended by almost all recent and many of the retired members of Bujinkan Macedonia, or the Organization for teaching traditional Japanese martial schools – Taiyou e no Michi.

The author of the book „Conversation with the students“ is shidoshi Igor Dovezenski, that so far has signed on several books and documentaries in the field of ethnology, but this is a first project that takes the old Japanese martial schools.
The promoter of the „Conversation with the students“ was Aleksandar Vuchkovski, a long-term member of Bujinkan Macedonia and a childhood friend of Dovezenski, that recalled of the beginnings of Taiyou e no Michi, but also gave a brief explanation of the contents of the book. 
During this event the atmosphere was fantastic, and the wine-tasting room, too small to fit all the interested. Several of the students of shidoshi Dovezenski asked him to continue writing books on similar subject in the future.
„This is the first book dedicated to the classical Japanese martial arts in Macedonia. The National University Library St. Clement of Ohrid so far had categorization only for BUDO (modern Japanese martial arts), but now specifically for us a new sub-categorization has been made for BUJUTSU. With this, another page in the Macedonian history was written and the path was opened for other authors. More than twenty years ago, I brought the classical martial arts in Macedonia, but now I am overjoyed when I see that many of my students are ready to continue the tradition and to transfer it to the next generations“, pointed out Dovezenski on the promotion. 
On the occasion of the publishing of the book, many friends of our dojo from the countries around the world congratulated the author, and several of them asked for an English translation of the book as well.

Seminar „Shinken gata Tora no Maki“ held

Author koryuPosted on Categories Home

The intensive seminar „Shinken gata Tora no Maki“ confirmed the physical and combat readiness that the member of BujinkanMacedonia posses.

During this weekend, the participants studied 12 kata from the fourth level known as „yondan“. Besides the numerous bruises and swellings on the arms and legs, which are always an extension of the school Kukishinden ryu and the system Tora no Maki, the students weren’t holding themselves back to avoid the pain. On the contrary, to the last kata, they energetically attacked and defended using the techniques from this ryu-ha.
At the end, we agreed that in a couple of months to organize another Tora no maki seminar, this time dedicated on the level „godan“. 

Shinken Gata Tora no Maki (yondan) - intensive seminar in Hombu

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„Shinken gata Tora no Maki has many similarities with Kukishinden Ryu. That martial form was created in the late Edo period by Ichiyanagi Kazuma. He was a student of Kano Joshihiro, who was a master of the school Kukishin ryu. For the foundaton of Shinken gata Tora no Maki, techniques from Kukishin ryu (Daken)Taijutsu were taken, as well as the knowledge that Ichiyanagi had of the school Shinden Fudo ryu Taijutsu, that he was also studying at a certain period in his life. The martial system is consisted of kihon and five levels called shodan, nidan, sandan, yondan and godan.“

On 10th and 11th of May, shidoshi Igor Dovezenski is organizing the fourth intensive seminar for this martial system. During the event kata from the fourth level – yondan will be practiced.

On this seminar all students of the Bujinkan Macedonia dojo can participate, as well as of the Organization for teaching traditional Japanese martial arts – Taiyou e no Michi.

Subject: Shinken gata Tora no Maki (yondan)

Date: 10th/11th May, 2014

Location: Hombu Dojo – Taiyou e no Michi

Equipment: keiko gi and obi (mudansha) / keiko gi and hakama (yudansha)

Applying and information of the Forum, in the dojo or by e-mail.

„The Strength of Yari“ seminar succesfully held

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As every year, the seminar „The Strength of Yari“ attracted a lot of attention and students of Bujinkan Macedonia to take participation on this traditional event.
The seminar took place at the already well known location „Slepo Kolo“. The energy that surrounds this place is unbelievable, and the view from the hill Elenac and the mountain Lipac gives additional strength for more dynamic training. 
The event started with lectures about the basic postures of the body, and was followed by practice of the basic strikes and jabs with spear. Next was the training for the kata, and at the end the participants were acquainted with the ways of using combat formations. 
At the end of the seminar, instructor Dovezenski announced that from the next year, those who participated on five seminars for spear (yari), are going to get a copy of his densho, as a reward for the effort and the dedication to the schools of Bujinkan.