Budoshin Summer Camp 2007
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Budoshin Summer Camp 2007 took place 17 - 19 August 2007, at the North Oak Park Rec Center in Santa Clarita, CA. This is the annual intensive 3-day seminar certification and Master Training of black belts and students approaching black belt level in Budoshin Jujitsu. The camp is organized by Professor George Kirby, Judan, and draws participants from several Jujitsu Ryu across the United States.

 

This photo shows the participants on August 17th.

 

This photo shows the participants on 18 August.

 

NEW BUDOSHIN JUJITSU YUDANSHA KATA

Training on the 17th involved extensive hands-on review of the new Nidan (morning) and Sandan (afternoon) Kata. There are 10 Kata in each group - and from these Kata, according to the new Black Belt Handbook, prospective new Nidans and Sandans will be tested starting this year and next. These Kata will be reviewed and outlined (with photos) elsewhere in the AJA website. At the end of the day all participants acknowledged that they had used up over 5,000 calories and were all dragging themselves out of the Rec Center. Good thing, too, because...

...the evening of the 17th was spent at Vicenzo's Pizza Parlor in an enjoyable social event eating monster pizzas as guests of Sensei Kirby.

Watch a video of a sternum submit

Watch a video of an Ashi Waza

 

BJJY MASTER TRAINING SERIES

Saturday the 18th of August was devoted to BJJ Certification Seminars:

Training on the morning of the 18th began with a philosophical discussion and practical training by Sensei Kirby, Judan, of defensive maneuvering and avoidance strategy: where is the asymmetric threat; how to use/not use eye-contact; can you use furniture or other objects to interfere with or temporarily partition off a menace approaching you; where are the ways out - the escape paths? Like a good driver, a Jujitsuka should always be aware enough of his/her circumstances to almost instantaneously pick the path to safety with little or no warning of a threat. The catch-word at the end of this session was "where are the doors?!!" This is one of the certifications required to advance in the ranks of the Yudansha (black belt holders; see below).

Training during the afternoon of August 18th was "Real-World Weapons Defenses: Fact vs. Fiction - Level One." This is the first of the new Budoshin Jujitsu Yudanshakai Master Training Series, an outcome of the major revisions recently completed in the Black Belt Handbook by the Budoshin Jujitsu Black Belt Consortium, chaired by Professor Kirby. It was an extensive review taught by Mark Jordan, Godan, of demonstrably bad ways currently being taught - even in the law-enforcement community - for how to deal with a pistol or knife threat. We watched video of testosterone-infused "training" provided by self-appointed "experts" that verged on the level of "Jackass," though apparently sincerely intended. We saw - graphically - the consequences of trying to grab a .38 revolver, or trying to grab the slide of a semi-auto. We reviewed statistics from law enforcement about the accuracy and reliability of handguns used in street crime. From these and other discussions, several general rules were outlined, then practical methods were taught to realistically deal with a gun or knife threat. Details of this training may or may not be presented in this website in the future: the issue is under review. The general rules, however, are easy to articulate: When threatened with a handgun or knife, Rule #1 is to RUN. Rule #2 is to RUN. You can guess what Rule #3 is. There are statistically defensible reasons for this emphasis, one of which is the poor accuracy of a handgun against a moving target by a moving shooter. And where to run? Back where you came from, because that is the only direction you personally know is open. The rest of the utterly practical training evolved naturally from several policies: under no circumstances should a defender attempt to grab a pistol or knife being wielded against them (there are several good reasons for this) - and you must protect your own eyes and ears at least as well as the rest of your body. Should you stand in front of a spouse or significant other to protect them? That only invites two deaths with a single shot. There are far more effective ways to protect them.

Watch a video of a stick-up defense

 

BLACK BELT TESTING - ADDITIONAL SEMINARS

The morning of the 19th was largely taken up by 3+ hours of formal testing: two individuals tested for Yodan (4th Dan) and one for Sandan (3rd Dan) black belts. For lower-ranking students this was highly educational, because it showed them the path they will inevitably follow to advance.

The Black Belt Board

 

Four Promotions Awarded: Damigo (Sandan), Castarenas (Yodan), Wynn (Yodan), Tucker (Godan)

 

The guys who REALLY deserve the applause: the UKES (Steve, Jared, Willie, Kevin)

 

DIRTY ROTTEN NASTY:

Final Short Seminars

Following the training, three additional short courses were offered: (1) "Fast and Effective Street Stuff Not Normally Taught" (e.g., dirty-rotten-nasty tricks) by Professor Kirby; (2) Additional Handgun defenses supplementing yesterday's training by Mark Jordan (Godan), and (3) Subtle tricks for how to deal with a boxer, by Marc Tucker (Godan): understand the boxer's ranging technique, what moves to watch for, how to use directed open hands, how to "sneak" an Ippon Seio Nage into the mix:

 

At the end of the three days, Prof. Kirby handed out promotion certificates and individual sheets that included the formal certifications for the several training seminars provided. We changed into street clothes and reconvened at "El Presidente" for an early-afternoon lunch (also provided by Kirby Sensei), then participants dispersed to points as far away as Texas, Denver, and Washington State.