Mike Hammond Gyokko Ryu Seminar

This weekend just gone I attended the Ninjutsu Seminar run by Jissen Dojos International in conjunction with Takanoha Dojos Australia. The presenter was Australian Ninjutsu pioneer and 10th Dan, Mike Hammond. Some folks might remember Mike from Blitz Magazine articles during the 90's. Mike has a strong background in Close Personal Protection, Emergency Medicine and Education, as well as the martial arts.

Saturday started with Introductions and was follwed by Mike demonstrating the Kosshijutsu of the Gyokko Ryu system. Mike's medical background was evident in his accurate descriptions of the anatomical landmarks used to find the intented targets. A huge variety of points were covered, most demonstrated with painful effectiveness on me. I didn't mind as I'd volunteered, as feeling is believing! When the technique is done on you, you know where the target is, how to attack it and exactly how effective it is. We covered targets ranging from fingers, to ears, subscapular plexus, brachial plexus, insertions of bicep and triceps, thumbs, mastoid process and a whole lot more.

Other topics covered included the stances and basic receiving techniques of the kosshi sanpo, sanshin and torite goho. These were shown at a beginner level but also at a advanced level (ie blackbelt). Also covered were the Go Dai 5 element attitudes in combat, using the same technique but changing its 'flavour' with the different elements.

Some of the esoteric facets of ninjutsu were covered, including the healing side of ninjutsu and exercises based around the Sakki test.

Footwork was covered in great detail.

We practiced grappling and anti-grappling techniques, which Mike had learned a BJJ practitioner associated with the Gracie Family.

We covered knife defense and disarms. These Mike neatly summed up as 'IOU'; inside, outside and underneath.

Mike also entertained us with stories from the early days of ninjutsu, both in Australia and on from his travels to Japan to train with Soke Hatsumi and other senior Shihan. Mike also passed on anecdotes and advice from Soke Hatsumi.

I thoroughly enjoyed the seminar, the first Mike has consented to teach in nearly a decade. It is a testament to Sensei Johnstone for his tenacity and persistence. It is also a testament to the mutual respect between Sensei Hammond and Sensei Johnstone.

Hopeful we will get to do it all again next year.

For further information try these links:

Takanoha Dojos Australia

Jissen Dojos International

Bujinkan Hombu Dojo

Hock Hochheim 2010 Brisbane Seminar

This weekend just gone, 6/7 march 2010, Hock held a seminar at Defensive Measures International's Brisbane Training Facility at Mt Gravatt. It was an action packed weekend, making it hard work to get up early to go to work this morning.

Hock covered various aspect's of Stick, Knife, Gun and Barehand Fighting, covering various counters to being attacked by these weapons.

Hock covered Stick level 1, knife 1 (revision for last year's participants), knife 2 and a fair bit of his Pacific Archipelago Unarmed Combat.

We did some great Arnis, Silat and Escrima type stick, knife and hand work. We did some very JKD / Wing Chun / Fillipino type handwork, including trapping drills, hubud and destructions, covering what would take months or years to cover at a normal club. As always the trick will be maintaining the skills developed and remembering all that we did.

It was great to get to practice some fast handwork and wake up some old neural pathways. Caught up with Dan, an old training buddy. Great to practice handwork with someone who can work at the same break-neck speed.

Learned some great stick drills, including some concepts which Dan said he hadn't learned in over three years of training Fillipino martial arts. It seemed to be a bit of an 'a-ha moment' for him, which is great. The stick disarms ending in joint locks were painful (and therefore good in my books) and I could tell Sempai Raymond was enjoying them as much as me.

The knife material was also brilliant, and can be found in Hock's Knife/ Counter Knife Book, which was a popular seller at the seminar.

A big thanks to Tim for playing crash-dummy for Hock and helping us all when we weren't quite getting it, Sensei Paul Johnstone for arranging the seminar, All the lads from regular training who showed (you know who you are!) and all the other participants. And of course a big shout out to Hock for a great weekend. To sum up the seminar, it was top notch!!! Hock is great in that he has some much info that if the group asks about a particular topic, he can explain and show the answer in great detail (that's how the two and a half hours of handwork drills started). It is a flexible approach that allows the group to really learn what they want to know with no BS about rank or readiness. If you ask, you are ready to here about it.

Hock's back in Australia this month

Well Hock Hochheim is heading back down under this month. Last years seminars were fantastic and I have no doubt that this years will be even bigger and better. For more info go here:
http://www.street-edge.com.au/hock_hochheim_seminar.php
or here:
http://www.hockscqc.com/shop/product353.html

Hock will be in Brisbane this weekend (6 & 7 of March 2010) covering knife, stick, gun and unarmed threat responses. Looking forward to this. Hock really takes time to help each participant and has a whole lot of funny stories to illustrate his points.

See you soon Hock!

Also heard a rumour that Richard Dimitri of Senshido may be returning to Australia this year too...